The 2026 Solo Exhibition Recipient is Melanie Berardicelli
Featured Artist, Melanie Berardicelli is this year’s recipient of HAC’s Invitational Solo Exhibition takes place in the Main Street Gallery from September 8 – October 18, 2026. Her paintings and figurative sculpture representing a complete body of work, will fill the gallery. The theme of her exhibition is best described in her own words.
“How do you move on from the loss of a loved one? Devastated after the untimely passing of my older brother in 2020, I searched for answers to my questioning faith and comfort for my never-ending grief, and by fate stumbled upon Paul Koudounaris’s Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs. I was enthralled by the glittering Roman Martyr Catacomb Saints of the German-speaking countries; there lay the promise of heaven and an answer to honoring the dead, and I admired the nuns who clothed and bejeweled the skeletal remains of martyrs from 100 AD. Combining my love of anatomy and sculpture with the ornate, I hand-tailor, embroider, and bead costumes to adorn resin-cast skeletal écorchés, recreating twenty-four-inch saints. Through painting and embroidery, I reimagine these saints in life, restoring identity and re-christening them after heroic people I have known.”
The 2027 Solo Exhibition Application will open in February of 2027
This opportunity is for a single living artist, unincorporated collective, or a not-for-profit. It will NOT have a fee associated with participation, but will require a deposit in case of damages to the gallery. All artists and not-for-profits must be a member of HAC at the time of application. Artists are required to submit 10-15 images that are representative of a cohesive body of work.
There is one Solo Exhibition chosen each year and it will take place in the fall.
The applications will be submitted to our program committee that will be made up of advisors, arts professionals, and board members, etc. The committee makes the final choice of who will receive the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in our Main Street Gallery.
Applications will be judged on artistic merit, cohesive narrative, programmatic interest and growth.
Important Dates will be posted prior to the opening of the application.
- Show Runs:
- Submissions Due:
- Notifications out:
- Deliver Artwork by:
- Claim work on:
Entry Requirements
- 10 to 15 images that are representative of a cohesive body of work
- Artists Bio: 4-5 sentence biography about themselves and what inspires them as an artist.
- Artist Statement: Approximately 50-150 words about the message their art communicates or the inspiration for their piece.
Rules
- Must be an Artist Member of the Huntington Arts Council at the time of applying.
- All Media Accepted
- Entries must be original to the entrant
- Framed entries require wire hanging
Size Limits
- Videos should not exceed 50 MB in size.
Liability
- Works are insured while in the possession of the Huntington Arts Council.
Sales
- HAC retains a 25% commission on all artworks sold. (Including prints)
- HAC collects and remits payment of applicable sale taxes.
Questions? Contact smccann@huntingtonarts.org