PHOTOS: 2025 Mid-Season Art Exhibitions at Barn Gallery in Ogunquit | Regional Artists: An Open Juried Show

The Ogunquit Art Association’s 2025 Mid-Season Exhibitions were celebrated in spectacular fashion with a vibrant Gala Reception on June 28th, drawing artists, collectors, and art lovers from across New England. The Barn Gallery hummed with energy as guests mingled, sipping wine and savoring hors d’oeuvres while exploring an extraordinary lineup of exhibitions. From the dynamic diversity of the “OAA Expressions” exhibition to the curated brilliance of “Regional Artists: An Open Juried Show“, the evening was a vivid reflection of the thriving creative spirit resident in the region.

“Regional Artists” Juror, Véronique Plesch — Professor of Art History and Chair of the Art Department at Colby College, and Editor of The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly, was on hand to celebrate the selected works, which showcased both emerging talents and established names.

“In 2025 162 artists entered 263 works of art to our “Regional Artists” exhibition,” stated Deidre O’Flaherty, President – Ogunquit Arts Collaborative/Barn Gallery. “As juror, Véronique Plesch selected 108 pieces — 37 works by 30 Members of the Ogunquit Art Association and 71 works by 56 Regional Artists. We thank Veronique for selecting an exciting and beautiful exhibition and thank all of the artists who enter work in this exhibition year after year!”

For those who missed it, the 2025 Mid-Season Art Exhibitions at Barn Gallery continue through July 26th. Visit the gallery to experience the same sense of discovery and connection that made the Gala Reception a night to remember.

Continue reading below for photos from the event plus the juror’s statement…

Photos of the Gala Reception for the 2025 Mid-Season Exhibitions at Barn Gallery (by OAA Artist Member, Dave Wade)

2025 “Regional Artists: An Open Juried Show” Juror’s Statement by Véronique Plesch

What a pleasure it has been to jury this year’s Regional Artists: An Open, Juried Show! The submissions offered a true cornucopia of styles and themes and were of remarkably high quality. Although the selection was daunting, spending an afternoon going through the many works that were entered was a memorable experience. I got acquainted with each of the submissions in different ways and at different moments of the process. In my selection, I tried to balance a range of criteria, such as the artwork’s originality and the skill with which the medium was handled.

Once the selection was completed, I grouped the works into different sections. Figuring out these ensembles offered me an opportunity to see the works anew: setting them in conversation often revealed new aspects. It felt like being a hostess, inviting like-minded guests to a party.

The show bears witness to the vitality of the Ogunquit Art Association. You will find a large range of media: besides oils, watercolors, and drawings, we have a cluster of photographs that explore the medium’s possibilities and its many different processes and approaches. The same is true for printmaking.

You will find a group of paintings characterized by a gutsy painterly treatment, their colors and overall effect strong, assertive, and dynamic. You will also find works that are quiet, serene, and even meditative. This often corresponds to the choice and handling of the medium, with thick oil impasti and gestural marks, or with gossamer glazes and ethereal watercolors. This opposition is sometimes echoed by the format: large expressive works and small gems. All successfully engage the viewer, but in very different ways.

There are works that are confidently representational and others that embrace abstraction. These stand at opposite ends of a spectrum. In between, there is an exciting selection of approaches, with works in which the subject matter is clearly identifiable while in others, it is less so. In others still, what at first glance appears to be sheer abstraction, upon closer inspection reveals figurative elements. Some works are grounded in their creator’s commitment to careful observation while others are born of an exploration of their inner world. Some works display an unflinching belief in traditional subject matter and treatment, while others subvert conventions.

The visitor who takes the time to consider each of the works in this exhibition will be rewarded. Be prepared to be in turn delighted and uplifted, amused and challenged, surprised and even puzzled. In the end, I hope this will feel like getting to know the artists and becoming privy to their personal and creative world. I hope you will enjoy every artwork in the show and that you will find, as I did, connections between them across media, subject matter, and styles.

I wish to express my gratitude to the OAA volunteers who assisted me in the most gracious way; working with them was yet another highlight of the jurying.

— Véronique Plesch