NONET

Nonet is the final thesis exhibition of the nine 2026 graduates of the Leroy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art.  While each artist in this show has a distinct approach, working together in a shared space has resulted in often surprising visual connections and influences. The exhibition title, Nonet, suggests the kinds of subtle connections generated between musicians working together in a band. So with these artists, diverse bodies of works are united by proximity and collaboration. Their bond as a community is evident in the overlapping conversations, techniques, and content of their apparently diverse work. 

The nine also share an understanding of painting as both image and material object. In Nonet, the materiality of painting is explored in mediums including oil, acrylic, silkscreen, and watercolor on fabric, wood, plastic, and paper. While artists both acknowledge and confront art-historical precedent, each also related in some way to contemporary discourse: the examination of identity and personal history, intercultural connectivity, the exploration of gender and sexuality, concern for the environment, and the meaning of painting in relation to the digital age. 

Nonet is on view at The Peale in the 2nd and 3rd floor galleries from April 4 through May 11, 2026. 

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 11, 2026, 3:00 – 8:00 PM | RSVP 

Check out The Peale’s current exhibits here.