Join us for a special Meet the Artist Closing Reception with Lesley Clarke and Anice Hoachlander. Celebrate the conclusion of their solo exhibitions, enjoy an opportunity to chat with the artists and hear about their creative processes while you connect with fellow art lovers. Don’t miss this engaging afternoon of art, conversation, and community. Plus, celebrate Saya Behnam's 50 for 50 Spotlight exhibition.

Join us for an evening of art as we celebrate the summer exhibitions, including solo exhibitions by Lesley Clarke and Anice Hoachlander, an open exhibition group show as well as a 50 for 50 Spotlight by Lori Katz.

Lesley Clarke: Echoes of Place

This body of work reflects Lesley Clarke’s experience of traveling through four countries that left a lasting impression: Scotland, Iceland, Nepal and Croatia. Each place is represented through a sequence of three sizes of paintings that explore the way memory evolves over time. Working in encaustic, Clarke builds layers of pigmented wax that are fused with heat, creating depth, translucency and textured surfaces.

Anice Hoachlander: Nature As Architect

For more than three decades, architectural photographer Anice Hoachlander has explored the relationship between structure, light, and form through the built environment. In Nature as Architect, she turns that same disciplined eye toward the organic world. Hoachlander approaches Nature as her client, revealing the quiet geometry and design embedded within forests, botanicals, and ancient trees. These photographs blur the boundary between natural form and constructed space, inviting viewers to consider nature itself as the original architect.

50 for 50 Artist Spotlight: Lori Katz

Lori Katz makes artworks that are a visual and tactile exploration of her materials, and increasingly include the substitution of areas that were, or could have been clay, with wire, recycled kiln parts and the occasional found object. Connection, conceptually and in practice, looms large as she coaxes sometimes disparate elements to work together.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary.

Join us for the Opening Reception of David Gootnick’s 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight. Gootnick is a mixed media artist working principally with wood. His designs draw from kumiko—a uniquely Japanese art form developed roughly 1400 years ago, with his works being contemporary interpretations of this technique at the interface of art and design.

Plus, preview new solo exhibitions by Anice Hoachlander and Lelsey Clarke during this special evening event.

Don’t miss this nighttime dance party. Sip on a rickey while you groove to the Too Much Talent Band. Enjoy selections from our dessert bar as the night unfolds with great music, energy, and atmosphere.

Join us for the Grand Reception of Medium Material Method, a vibrant group exhibition celebrating the materials, techniques, and creative processes behind the contemporary art practices of Touchstone artists as part of Touchstone’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Dress to impress in your most artful attire (70s inspired is welcome!) and immerse yourself in over 100 works of art and interactive materials as you explore how ideas become finished works.

Join us to discover how the Touchstone Foundation for the Arts Emerging Artist Fellowship can support your artistic growth. Chat with current Fellows about their experiences and learn how the gallery provides opportunities for emerging artists. Drop in before the Ain't No Place curatorial tour to learn more.

Join us to celebrate the work of artist Kira Belostotska, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from May 19-25. This reception will precede the Oliver Jones Smith 50 for 50 performance at 7:30 pm.

Kira Belostotska is a visual artist based in Washington DC. She has a dual degree in Studio Arts and Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Her art practice is shaped by close observation of natural patterns and an interest in how meaning shifts through repetition and process. When not making art, Kira enjoys reading, learning languages, and exploring local farmers’ markets.

Oliver Jones Smith presents Preliminary Research on the Behavior and Migratory Patterns of Traffic Cones in the DC Metro Area as part of the time-based media programming for the 50 for 50 series.

The gallery will open at 6:00 pm for exhibition viewing prior to the 7:30 pm performance.

This work is a live performance structured as a formal research briefing delivered in the tone and format of a field update at a research conference. Framed as preliminary findings from the artist’s ongoing Coneology research in the DC metro area, it draws upon sustained field documentation, including time-stamped photography, longitudinal comparison of individual subjects and fixed sites, and a six-hour census documenting over 500 cones across approximately 166 acres of the National Mall.

Join us for an evening of art as we celebrate the opening of new exhibitions, including a solo exhibition by Makda Kibour, Ain’t No Place: History and Legacy in the Black Community, a group show of Touchstone artists, plus a 50 for 50 Interactive by Rick Gonzalez.

Learn more about the current solo exhibitions by McCain McMurray and Rosemary Luckett in two artist talks. Come early to explore the exhibitions and celebrate the end of the first round of 50 for 50 Exhibitions.

2:00 pm McCain McMurray

Overlapping planes of color animate the works in McMurray’s Shape & Surface. This work is a continuation of and an expansion of his earlier joined panel work. These works are cut and shaped to form interlocking forms of mostly primary colors inspired by the ideas of the De Stijl movement.

3:00 pm Rosemary Luckett

Luckett’s solo exhibition Searching and Shelter reflects on movement as a fundamental force in human life—moments when individuals are compelled to search, leave, or transform. Some journeys are visible and life-altering, while others unfold quietly until they emerge into awareness. Through an intuitive practice of layering paper, paint, and assembled forms, the artist allows images to evolve and reveal their own meanings.

Join us to celebrate the work of artist Xenia Gray, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from April 19-25.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary. The Visual Artist Spotlight portion of this program features week-long single artist exhibitions.

About Xenia:

Xenia Gray is a contemporary figurative ar tist who primarily works in mixed media, including oil, acrylic and charcoal. Fascinated by unexpressed feelings and things left unsaid, Xenia explores emotions t hrough paintings of the human body.

Xenia grew up in Siberia in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, and her sense of color and aesthetics is heavily influenced by the industrial environment of her hometown. Xenia enrolled in a local art school at the age of nine and continued her art education in Saint Petersburg where she achieved an MA in advertisement design from Saint Petersburg State University of Technology and Design. She moved to the United States in 2010 and currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia.

Join us to celebrate the work of artist S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from April 12-18.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary. The Visual Artist Spotlight portion of this program features week-long single artist exhibitions.

About Manya:

S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino is a Maryland-based artist known for gestural, mixed-media paintings that exist between representation and abstraction. Her work often weaves together human, avian, and natural forms to explore transformation, ambiguity, and the persistence of memory

Manya earned her BFA from the University of the Arts (Philadelphia College of Art) and her MFA from the University of Pennsylvania. Early in her career, she spent extended periods working independently in Italy, where the study of light, narrative, and the figure deeply informed her practice. She maintains an active studio practice in Maryland while exhibiting regularly, with works held in numerous private collections

April 11 is International Slow Art Day. Visit Touchstone Gallery to view a small number of artworks by artists McCain McMurray, Salvador Rubio, Rosemary Luckett, Janathel Shaw, and Chris Combs, and then join a group discussion of the viewing experience.

Celebrate the beauty of Cherry Blossom peak bloom at a fun evening reception featuring drinks, art, and impeccable vibes. Guests can enjoy rosé, a signature spring cocktail while enjoying the current exhibitions in this vibrant spring soiree. Debuting at this event will be the work of Salvador Rubio Rivera, who was selected to participate in the 50 for 50 exhibition.

Experience the height of DC Cherry Blossom season with Touchstone 🌸🥂🎨

Salvador Rubio is a Mexican-born, West Coast-raised multimedia artist. He earned a BA in Studio Art from Western Washington University and works across oil and acrylic painting, as well as airbrush. Now based in Washington, DC, Rubio’s work has been exhibited in local pop-up shows and fairs, including Squarefoot, Umbrella Art Fair and other independent exhibitions. He has also participated in live art and community-based projects throughout the city, collaborating with The Anthem for a DC Central Kitchen event, the Clipper Race Fleet Week at The Wharf, and creating a mural for NoMa in Color with the NoMa BID.

Celebrate the photography and legacy of Michael (Mike) Lang. Lang  became a Touchstone artist member on April 1, 1999, and was active in the gallery until his passing in February 2026.

Gallery visitors from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm will also receive a zine that honors Mike’s artwork and includes information and activities about the practice of street photography. Those unable to visit Touchstone Gallery on April 1 can receive a mailed copy of the zine by making a donation of any amount to the Touchstone Foundation for the Arts, the nonprofit education and community outreach organization, founded by Lang and others.

Join us for an afternoon of art as we celebrate the opening of new exhibitions, including solo exhibitions by McCain McMurray and Rosemary Luckett, the group show Garden & Gallery, as well as a 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight by Lakshmikant Gupta plus an interactive sculpture by Chris Combs!

Shape & Surface by McCain McMurray

Overlapping planes of color animate the works in a continuation of and expansion of McMurray’s earlier joined panel work. These works are cut and shaped to form interlocking forms of mostly primary colors inspired by the ideas of the De Stijl movement. The simplicity and primary colors allow an order that provides a dynamic that moves between reason and intuition.

Searching and Shelter by Rosemary Luckett

Luckett’s exhibition reflects on movement as a fundamental force in human life—moments when individuals are compelled to search, leave, or transform. Some journeys are visible and life-altering, while others unfold quietly until they emerge into awareness. Through an intuitive practice of layering paper, paint, and assembled forms, she allows images to evolve and reveal their own meanings. Created amid contemporary debates around immigration, the work also reflects broader histories of migration and the enduring search for home.

50 for 50 Artist Spotlight: Lakshmikant Gupta

“If not for human emotions the world would be just a bland mix of colored chalk. Humans express themselves via nuances of how they carry themselves – how they sit, the gesture of a finger, placing of a hand, their attire and ornamentation.”

Gupta’s art is an examination of these human forms and moods. Through this art, Gupta desires to gaze at the grace, the dignity, and vulnerabilities of people by veering away from traditional portraiture.

50 for 50 Interactive Art: Pollination by Chris Combs

This flower-shaped artwork responds to faces and spoken words. Its camera recognizes faces and splays them into rotating flower-like shapes; a central microphone listens for speech and shows its transcripts on a multitude of small screens.

Join us to celebrate the work of artist Leonard Jewler, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from March 22-28.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary. The Visual Artist Spotlight portion of this program features week-long single artist exhibitions.

About Leonard:

Leonard Jewler has had a lifelong interest in photography and has been able to pursue this morepurposely since retiring in 2015 from a career as a technology consultant and manager. Leonard was born in Washington, D.C. and, after living in Boston and New York, resides in his hometown. He received a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University and pursued graduate studies in regional planning at Harvard University. He studied photography at the Corcoran School of Art and at Photoworks in the DC area.

Over the last decade, Leonard’s photos have been accepted in approximately forty national and international juried exhibits in cities across the United States. On January 21, he concludes a two-part solo exhibition at the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC, titled “Washington Seen” which presents nine photos from April 1968 of 14th Street after the urban riots and another twelve photos that present scenes of the city over the last decade. A second solo exhibit is planned for the Glen Echo Stone Gallery in June 2026 which presents sixteen images of Washington in 1968 and 1969 that document political turbulence and everyday community life.

Join us on the final day of the current solo exhibitions I Am Every Woman by Susanne Tabet and Vocabulary by Jenny Singleton. Chat with the artists in informal discussions about their work and creative practice, plus see the work of Leonard Jewler in this week’s 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight.

Join us to celebrate the work of artist Jacques Liautaud, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from March 15-22.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary. The Visual Artist Spotlight portion of this program features week-long single artist exhibitions.

About Jacques:

Jacques Liautaud is a DC-based painter, born in Port-au-Prince in 1954. He started painting in 1979 in Montreal as a university student. He works in oils and most of his works are figurative. He participated in several shows in Haiti and in the US in the 80s and 90s, with the last one in taking place in 1995 in Miami Beach (Contemporary Expressions of Haitian Art), after which he stopped showing until 2024. He has participated in two recent shows at Touchstone Gallery: Iteration Reiteration (2024) and The District 51 (2025).

Join us to celebrate the work of artist Rebecca Karabin, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from March 8-15.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary. The Visual Artist Spotlight portion of this program features week-long single artist exhibitions.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Karabin is a Painter and Printmaker from Alexandria, Virginia. Karabin recently completed her bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work centers around the idea of alienation, using commonplace items and contorting their context, creating unrecognizable environments and specimens. Karabin's practice is primarily painting; however, she often experiments in many processes like monoprinting, etching, screenprinting, glass kilnwork, and metals. Her work has been shown across Virginia and DC, most recently at Touchstone Gallery, Olin Hall Gallery, and The Anderson.

Join us to celebrate the work of artist Nasim Kaheh, featured in the 50 for 50 Visual Artist Spotlight from March 1-7.

50 for 50 is an artist opportunity that invites 50 community artists to showcase their work at Touchstone throughout 2026, the year of Touchstone’s 50th anniversary. The Visual Artist Spotlight portion of this program features week-long single artist exhibitions.

About Nasim:

Nasim Kaheh is an Iranian-American visual artist working in collage and mixed media in Washington, D.C. Her practice examines human connection, inner worlds, and the subtle dynamics between people. By using faceless figures and layered silhouettes, Kaheh avoids singular narratives and makes space for viewers to project their own interpretations. Informed by experiences across cultures and by observing interpersonal complexity, her work remains quiet, restrained, and contemplative—inviting recognition rather than explanation.

Join us for a vibrant night of art as we celebrate the opening of new exhibitions. Come curious, leave inspired! 🎨✨

Susanne Tabet’s I Am Every Woman honors the multifaceted power of the female experience. Through expressive, figurative painting, Tabet explores strength, vulnerability, resilience, and grace, revealing how each woman carries her own story while reflecting the universal spirit of womanhood.

Jenny Singleton’s Vocabulary is a reference to her personal language of mark-making. Working in abstraction, she has developed a distinctive visual vocabulary that carries from one painting to the next, despite the clear differences between individual works. Singleton explores this vocabulary through tessellation, meandering calligraphic lines, starry skies, swirling backgrounds, semi-dry brushing, and multicolored tangles of paint set against white ground.

Plus, see the first 50 for 50 visual arts spotlight exhibition with painting and sculpture by Jaya Sullivan, and a group show featuring Touchstone artists.

Learn more about the artist’s behind the current solo exhibitions, Mary D. Ott’s RetroSpective and Veronica Barker-Barzel’s Chimeric Cartography on their final day.

Touchstone Gallery invites you to the first reception of 2026—Touchstone Gallery’s 50th Anniversary year! Explore RetroSpective by Mary D. Ott and Chimeric Cartography by Veronica Barker-Barzel. Explore the art, meet the artists, and connect with fellow art lovers while you enjoy a creative atmosphere and complimentary beverages. Plus, learn more about our current calls for art and year of anniversary programming!

Echoes & Future, a group exhibition by Touchstone artists will also be on view to usher in the New Year.

About the exhibitions:

Kicking off the 2026 celebration of Touchstone@50, Mary D. Ott’s RetroSpective includes paintings, drawings, and hand-pulled prints that span her career as a visual artist. Among the paintings are abstractions that comprise squiggly lines on a color field, rather than two-dimensional images. Prints include intaglios, lithographs, monotypes, photogravures, screenprints, and wax relief prints created during her 35 years as an artist, 25 of which have been with Touchstone.

Veronica Barker-Barzel’s paintings and artworks utilizing collage and original printmaking methods in Chimeric Cartography explore playful worlds of adventure. The imagery is inspired by the cultures of places she’s lived, traveled, and her immersion into classic European literature, fairy tales, and folklore. The viewer is invited to dive into a surreal realm where myth and adventure intertwine.