Fall 2026 Exhibition Reception

This fall, the Hollywood Art and Culture Center presents three compelling solo exhibitions by acclaimed contemporary artists Kristen Thiele, Harumi Abe, and Cari Cohen. Opening with a free public reception on Thursday, September 17, from 6 to 9 PM, the exhibitions invite visitors to explore themes of memory, place, identity, and transformation through painting and sculpture. Together, these exhibitions offer distinct yet interconnected perspectives on how we experience the world around us—through the landscapes we inhabit, the spaces we build, and the roles we perform.

Kristen Thiele’s oil paintings capture moments in time and bring the viewer to the era of Hollywood’s Golden Age of Cinema. The women dressed in opulent gowns and feathers are more than mere entertainers to be admired. Thiele’s works invite us to think about the lives of each of the characters she paints. The work is commanding in subject and in Thiele’s ability to emulate the emotions of silent tension, the desire for beauty, and exhilaration of performing with Hopper-esque qualities.

Harumi Abe is known for her vibrant paintings that merge the landscapes of her native Japan and the ecosystems of her adopted home of South Florida. In Whispers from the Land, Abe introduces the figure into her work with wondrous interpretations of prehistoric Japanese clay artifacts or dogū. These mythical beings act as guardians of the environment with their flower-like features and exaggerated plant and insect qualities. The exhibition also features more than twenty of these figurines sculpted from earthenware and glaze. With a fusion of myth, ecology, paint, and clay, Abe creates a visual language that is spiritual, joyful, and meaningful.

The unique sculptures and paintings of Cari Cohen are rooted in architecture and design.  Bright bold colors combined with bold geometric or organic shapes are transformed into imaginary cities. Utilizing industrial materials such as concrete, plexiglass, acrylic, and paint, Cohen creates distinct three-dimensional works that blur the boundaries of reality and memory.

Together, these exhibitions transform the galleries into spaces for reflection, discovery, and dialogue, reinforcing the Hollywood Art and Culture Center’s commitment to presenting thought-provoking contemporary art that connects South Florida audiences with artists of national and international significance.

-Jodi Sypher, Exhibition Curator

“This season brings together three remarkable artists whose work invites us to slow down, look closer, and reflect on the ways we experience the world around us. From Harumi Abe’s meditations on nature and memory, to Cari Cohen’s architectural explorations of place, to Kristen Thiele’s captivating examinations of identity and performance, these exhibitions celebrate the power of contemporary art to inspire conversation, curiosity, and connection. We are proud to share these extraordinary voices with our community as we continue our mission of making art accessible, engaging, and relevant for all.”

–Jennifer Homan, Executive Director of the Hollywood Art and Culture Center.