May at Arts on Douglas April 15 2026
KARLENE McCONNELL
Rhythm & Hues
On Exhibit: May 2 - June 20, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 2, 4-7 PM
Artist Talk: Friday, May 15, 11 AM
About the Exhibition
Known for her colorful, gestural paintings, Karlene McConnell employs simplified lines and abstract shapes to convey movement and emotion across a diverse range of subjects: from sweeping coastal landscapes to intimate still lifes of roses. In this latest body of work, she turns her attention to the dynamic intersection of music and visual art through a series of expressive paintings of musicians.
The inspiration for Rhythm & Hues originated from an offhand conversation that left a lasting impression. McConnell recalls, “Several years ago, I commented to a gallery owner about the boldness of another artist’s work. She responded that, yes, the other artist’s piece had a lot of bass but, in my art, she felt the bass was accompanied by some flute. I have always cherished that description.”
This exchange prompted McConnell to consider the shared vocabulary of art and music—terms such as rhythm, tone, balance, repetition, tension, and harmony—and how these concepts inform both disciplines.
Building on this idea, McConnell developed a series of gestural paintings and drawings that translate the experience of music into visual form. “Gesture drawing has long been a favorite for me,” she explains. “It is meant to capture the mood, movement, and character of a subject very quickly and intuitively. There is a sense of awareness of what is happening in a single moment.”
As a whole, this exhibition captures the ephemeral nature of live performance, from fleeting gestures to expressive moments, inviting viewers to reflect on the transient experience of listening to music and the emotional resonance it leaves behind. McConnell further conceived this exhibition as an installation designed to create an immersive environment, “mimicking a night at a local bar and evoking the experience of sharing these fugacious moments with friends.”
About the Artist
Karlene McConnell is a professional artist living in Florida. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education from the University of Central Florida. She is a former Special Education Art teacher and former curator/educator at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows from New England to the Miami art fairs. Her art is included in several corporate and private collections, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, Security First Insurance, FL, and the permanent Lemerand Collection at Daytona State College, FL. Her art was recently included in a public utility box art project in Ormond Beach, FL. Karlene has juried and judged several Art events, including the Halifax Art Festival in Daytona Beach, FL.