Member’s Spotlight Exhibitions

The Member’s Spotlight Exhibitions at The Contemporary Dayton celebrate the vibrant creativity of our local and regional artist community. Open to all current artist members, this ongoing series offers participants the unique opportunity to present a focused body of work in a solo exhibition curated by Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs and Engagement.

Each exhibition is installed in The T. Chase Hale & Jonathan A. Hale Gallery and remains on view for one month, opening with a public reception on the first Wednesday and continuing through the last Saturday of the month. These exhibitions not only highlight the diverse practices and perspectives of our members but also provide a professional platform for artists to gain visibility and engage directly with audiences.

Most artworks are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to advance equity, diversity, and access through contemporary art. Participation in the Member’s Spotlight series is one of the many valuable benefits of being an artist member of The Contemporary Dayton.

Currently on View

Amy Dolan, Virtual Blooms, 2026, acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, $600. Courtesy of the artist.

Amy Dolan: Along the Path

April 1 – 24, 2026

Opening Reception: April 1, 6 – 8 pm

Closing Reception: April 24, 4 – 6 pm

 

Amy Dolan: Along the Path features new work by the Dayton-based artist. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Dolan’s paintings explore the balance between chaos and harmony, capturing moments that feel both still and in motion. Influenced by her upbringing in upstate New York and the Finger Lakes region, Dolan is deeply attuned to the ways light, color, and reflection shape our experience of landscape.

Each work begins on a black canvas, building outward through layered color, texture, and expressive mark-making. Her intuitive process embraces irregularity and change, allowing each composition to evolve organically. Guided in part by her background in design, Dolan balances this looseness with a strong sense of structure and visual harmony.

The works in Along the Path reflect both a physical and emotional journey, one shaped by observation, memory, and a sensitivity to the natural environment. Through vibrant color and fluid brushwork, Dolan invites viewers to experience a sense of tranquility alongside a quiet energy, offering space for reflection, connection, and renewal.

 

Artist Statement
I am drawn to the irregular, chaotic lines found in nature, forms that suggest movement while remaining still. It is this coexistence of chaos and symmetry that fascinates me: an imperfect perfection that feels both organic and intentional. My work seeks to capture that tension through a process that is deliberately loose, intuitive, and expressive.

Each painting begins not with a blank canvas, but with a black ground. Starting from black creates a sense of depth, allowing the work to emerge gradually through layered color, texture, and gesture. I let the painting evolve organically; the initial vision often shifts as I respond to the movement of paint and the energy of each mark. Loose brushwork is essential, as I aim to avoid stillness and instead create a sense of flow and vitality.

My background in design informs my compositions, particularly through the use of the rule of thirds to establish balance and visual harmony. At the same time, color plays a central role in shaping mood. I am deeply interested in how light transforms the natural world—how color shifts with angle, shadow, and reflection—and I work to translate those fleeting moments onto the canvas.

Growing up in upstate New York, with time spent camping and at a family cottage in the Finger Lakes, I developed an early connection to the landscape. The brilliance of color, the play of light on water, and the immersive quality of those environments continue to influence my work.

Ultimately, Along the Path reflects both a literal and intuitive journey—through nature, through process, and through perception. I want my paintings to evoke both tranquility and energy, two forces that coexist much like the natural forms that inspire them. My hope is that viewers experience a sense of calm alongside a quiet vitality, leaving them with a feeling that is both grounding and uplifting.

About the Artist

Born and raised in upstate New York, Amy Dolan earned her BFA from the University of Dayton, with a focus on painting, pottery, and sculpture. The natural beauty of upstate New York and the Finger Lakes region continues to shape her artistic sensibility, particularly her enduring fascination with light, color, and the rhythms of the natural world.

Dolan spent more than 25 years in the advertising industry as a designer and account executive, bringing a strong foundation in visual communication and composition to her studio practice. In addition to her professional career, she has shared her passion for art through teaching at the Dayton Art Institute and leading independent classes that encourage and support young artists.

Working across jewelry, sculpture, and painting throughout her career, Dolan now focuses primarily on painting. Her process begins with a black canvas and is guided by research, reflection, and an intuitive, layered approach that results in loose, expressive compositions. She remains committed to continual growth, consistently exploring new techniques and evolving her practice.

An active member of the Dayton arts community, Dolan is affiliated with The Contemporary Dayton, the Dayton Society of Artists, and the University of Dayton Alumni Artists. Her work has been included in numerous local and regional exhibitions, as well as several national exhibitions. Learn more at www.AmyDolanFineArt.com.