Annual Student Exhibition
Sponsored by Suzie Bennett, in memory of Jay Wright
05/08/2026-06/26/2026
Main Exhibition Hall
Opening Reception Friday, 05/08 6-8pm
Middletown Arts Center offers art education in Painting, Drawing, Glass, Ceramics, Photography, Fiber, Enameling, Metalworking and more. The talented MAC instructors help hundreds of students each year to develop their artistic skill. Our annual exhibition showcases the best of the best of our students' work.
Prospectus Available Here
Pictured: 2025 Best of Show, Student Jan Holladay Scheuber
Line, Shape, Color, Art - Artwork by Dana Olsen
05/06/2026-06/25/2026
Lobby Gallery
Opening Reception Friday, 05/08 6-8pm
The majority of my paintings have their own story. When something catches my eye, I think how would I paint that. It might be a scene from one of our hiking trips, observing people shopping for purses or turkeys in my backyard. I think about colors, shapes and composition while keeping in mind a balance of abstraction and some realism. But most importantly, I think what are the attributes of that object or scene that initially intrigued me and makes that object look like that object. I usually write lists of what stands out to me and what I want to make sure I include in the painting.
Following this, I often work on simple studies of shapes, compositions and indicate possible color choices next to shapes. After that, with intention, I go for it!! Working on the painting, I breakup space, add shapes, take parts out... because everything in a painting has to work together. Although I have an idea of what the most important components and colors are, there is a point where I end up following the painting. Some paintings are completed very quickly while others take many months.
I work in oils and acrylics but recently I have been experimenting- and working outside my comfort zone - with mixed media. Looking forward to seeing what my artistic future holds!
Pictured: Love Troubles in Turkey Town, Dana Olsen
Annual Photography & Digital Art Exhibition
7/17/26-8/20/26
Main Exhibition Hall
Submissions: May 11-June 4
Opening Reception Friday, 7/17 6-8pm
Middletown Arts Center presents their annual Photography and Digital Art Competition. Prospectus available here.
All Professional and Amateur Photographers and Digital Artists ages 16 years or older are eligible to submit digital photographs, film photographs or other digital works of art on our website.
Regional professional and amateur photographers and digital artists compete to exhibit their best work. This esteemed exhibition features a variety of photography and digital art subjects including architecture, landscape, and portraits.
Pictured: Factory Butte Night Sky, Robert Hawkins, Best of Show 2025
Resist & Reveal: Contemporary Batik Paintings
by Deb Jo Jones
7/17/26-8/20/26
Lobby Gallery
Opening Reception Friday, 7/17 6-8pm
Through layered color and shape, I present my worldview in intricate batik compositions inspired by the beauty and uniqueness I observe. My work is built through a meticulous process—each piece typically involving 15–20 steps of waxing and dyeing. A simple batik may consist of just one layer of wax and dye, but I return to the cloth again and again, building complexity with each stage. After the final dyeing, the wax is removed—by ironing, boiling, or dry cleaning—revealing the finished textile.
Batik is an art form that demands careful planning and strategic thinking to achieve a desired result. Yet within that structure, there is also room for discovery. The moment when a new color flows over previous layers—creating unexpected hues while preserving others—feels like magic to me. Some shapes and textures emerge exactly as planned; others become treasured moments of spontaneity.
“I did batik in junior high, but it didn’t look anything like this!” is something I often hear when viewers first encounter my work. That sense of surprise reflects the depth and complexity of the process, which has captivated me as an artistic medium. Through batik, I continue to explore and express my interpretation of the world.
Pictured: Yellow Iris, Deb Jo Jones
In partnership with
Steel in a Different Light
A special collaboration of works by renowned steel artist Mike Elsass and employees of Cleveland Cliffs
9/4/26-10/15/26
Main Exhibition Hall
Opening Reception Friday, 9/4, 6-8pm
Community Block Party, 9/19, 11am-3pm
Steel in a Different Light celebrates the union of fine art and Middletown’s steel heritage, showcasing works by renowned steel-based artist Mike Elsass alongside creations from employees of the Cleveland-Cliffs organization. These steel-inspired artworks honor the material that has shaped our community while highlighting the creativity and vision of artists and industry professionals alike.
Through this exhibition, visitors can explore the history and impact of steel in Middletown, learn about Cleveland-Cliffs’ 125-year legacy, and see how steel continues to influence the present and future of our city.
In partnership with the Middletown Historical Society, the display also features historical context, giving a deeper understanding of the steel industry’s role in building the community.
Celebrate community, creativity, and industry during the free, all-ages Block Party in partnership with the City of Middletown, part of MAC’s Annual Event Series. Enjoy hands-on activities, live music, food trucks, touch-a-truck, and immersive art experiences while experiencing the innovative and inspiring works featured in Steel in a Different Light.
Bob Hawkins: Life at Every Distance
9/4/26-10/28/26
Lobby Gallery
Opening Reception Friday, 9/4, 6-8pm
Community Block Party, 9/19, 11am-3pm
Bob Hawkins: Life at Every Distance presents a rich visual journey across scale, subject, and perspective. His photographs move from sweeping landscapes to intimate still lifes, detailed floral close-ups, and dynamic wildlife scenes, embodying “life at every distance.”
The exhibition highlights Hawkins’s command of vantage point and time—from expansive aerial views captured by drone to carefully composed studies of weathered objects that evoke the passage of time.
Nature is central to his work. Images of rugged mountains, winding rivers, and delicate blossoms reflect the endurance of the natural world amid human turbulence. In parallel, his still lifes—created using light painting and featuring aged, everyday objects—suggest the persistence of history and memory, revealing how ordinary artifacts hold collective experience.
Together, these works invite reflection on continuity, fragility, and resilience. By placing nature alongside timeworn objects, Hawkins creates a dialogue between permanence and transience, asking viewers to consider both fleeting moments and the long arc of history. Life at Every Distance ultimately celebrates photography’s power to shape how we see, remember, and connect past, present, and future.