(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents unveiled26, an exhibition featuring works by artists from South Orange and Maplewood, opening Thursday, September 17, at the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. The exhibition will remain on view through November 8, 2026.
Marking SOPAC's fifth collaboration with Studio Tour SOMA, the exhibition brings together work by artists from South Orange and Maplewood ahead of the 23rd annual Studio Tour.
Sixty-nine works. Sixty-nine points of view. One community of artists. Look closely, and the conversation begins. Cathleen McCoy Bristol's bold Call Tyrone commands attention, while Samar Hussaini's Palestine Remembered brings memory, culture, and identity into the Gallery. Jay Pingree's Platform 14 finds a story in the quiet, in-between moments of everyday life, while Burt Solomon's mysteriously Untitled photograph proves that sometimes a change in perspective is simply a matter of noticing the joke hiding in plain sight. Humor turns up in unexpected places, alongside ceramics, fiber, and dimensional works throughout the Gallery. No two artists seem to be looking at quite the same world, and that's precisely the point.
"Put 69 works by 69 artists in one gallery, and you don't get one story, you get a conversation," said curator Jeremy Moss. "Each artist brings a different way of seeing the world, and that's what makes the exhibition exciting. You move from one work to the next, and your perspective keeps shifting. For just a moment, you're seeing through someone else's eyes."
A free public opening reception will be held from 6:00pm–8:00pm. The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery at SOPAC, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ. The reception is free and open to the public; RSVP requested. You can RSVP here.
The conversation only gets bigger from there. Studio Tour SOMA brings together more than 100 artists on Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8, from 11:00am–5:00pm, opening studios and creative spaces throughout South Orange and Maplewood. SOPAC will again serve as a Tour destination on Saturday, hosting several participating artists in The Loft and offering a natural place to begin before heading out to discover the artists, artwork, and unexpected finds waiting throughout the community.
"Art gives us a beautiful way to experience both what we share and what we see differently," said Miriam Vales, SOPAC's Interim Executive Director. "There is something powerful about gathering in one place, surrounded by the work of people who live and create in our community. We talk, we laugh, we discover something new, and maybe we leave understanding one another a little differently than when we arrived."
We invite you to spend time with the work in unveiled26, then follow that curiosity out into the community to discover unfamiliar voices, reconnect with familiar ones, and see the world from new perspectives through the eyes of the artists who call South Orange and Maplewood home. Studio Tour SOMA reminds us there are always more perspectives, more stories, and more discoveries waiting beyond the Gallery.
But for one evening, we all come together here.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center curates a distinctive lineup of exhilarating and expansive performances, bringing exceptional artists and unforgettable experiences to audiences in the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming setting. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines, and seating. SOPAC offers a rare connection between artists and audiences—where every seat feels close to the stage and every performance feels personal. Guests experience the excitement of seeing world-class performers in a space that creates the feeling of exclusive access, where artists share their work, stories, and passion in a way that larger venues simply cannot replicate. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery, where exhibitions showcase the work of local, regional, and nationally recognized visual artists, providing free access to the visual arts for residents and visitors throughout the year. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
SOPAC is invested in arts education and creating meaningful opportunities for students of all ages to experience, participate in, and connect with the arts. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, performing Arts Residencies, and an annual juried art exhibit entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. With its artistic partnership with SOPAC, the Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty. Through these collaborations, SOPAC continues to expand access to the arts and create opportunities for learning, connection, and discovery across generations.
SOPAC opened its doors in 2006, born from a shared vision of the South Orange Village Trustees and Seton Hall University to create the artistic destination of the community and the centerpiece of an ambitious redevelopment plan. More than 2 decades later, SOPAC continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone for the region, an economic driver for the community, and a catalyst for artistic opportunity.
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