"Louder Now", pastel by Christine Cittadino

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- art629 Gallery, located at 629 Cookman Ave in the heart of downtown Asbury Park, is presents their latest exhibition, "Floral Muse", showcasing artwork in a variety of media by 18 artists. The exhibition has an Opening Reception on Saturday, March 23 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm and will be on display until May 27, 2024.

Flowers can represent a multitude of emotions and feelings from love, passion and desire to purity, innocence or even death. Found in masterpieces throughout history from Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt to Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keefe, flowers have been applied to express the surreal and the sublime, the joy and the madness, the beauty and the broken.

The upcoming exhibit is a celebration of flowers, showcasing their beauty in various art forms and interpretations from realism to abstract. The artwork, ranging from sculptures to oil paintings, will be available for purchase. Not only will art enthusiasts have the chance to buy unique pieces, but they'll also get to meet and  interact with many of the artists during the opening.

"Pride" by Annette Juliano, 24x30

Art629 curator, Brittany James, expresses her enthusiasm for the show, highlighting its diverse collection. "The display will include not just traditional mediums like watercolor and photography, but also innovative floral-themed furniture!" Brittany believes that the exhibit offers a fantastic opportunity to welcome Spring, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of floral art.

“Floral Muse” will feature 18 local artists including Annette Juliano, Brittany James, Carla Valentino, Carol Magnatta, Christine Cittadino, Christopher Taylor, Denise  Dmochowski, Emilia Durkin, Eric Miller, George Melton, Heather Brown Cadalzo, Irina Shoyhet, Judi Hull, Jim Twerrell, Kristen Tanchak, Lea Lumiere, Sandy Taylor, and Tracy Coon.

"Breaking Free" - photograph by Irina Shoyhet

art629 Gallery was founded by artist Patrick Schiavino in 2009.  The gallery is located on Cookman Avenue, in the heart of downtown Asbury Park, and has been host of many shows including painting, photography, sculpture, theater, spoken word, and musical events like the Asbury Underground. art629 is dedicated to the exhibition of fine and contemporary art with the objective of giving all artists a voice while bringing new ideas to the region. Brittany James joined the gallery in 2015, curating themed group exhibitions for local artists, and bringing figure drawing and painting classes to art629.

"A Moment of Sonder" - oil painting by Brittany James