Diane Williams &
Maryann Steinert-Foley:
The Realm of Possibility

December 12, 2025 – February 1, 2026
Reception: December 12, 6-9 PM
Artist Talk: January 10, 2-3:30

In The Realm of Possibility, artists Diane Williams and Maryann Steinert-Foley explore the persistence, generosity, and unseen forces that sustain both nature and humanity. Williams’ layered mixed-media paintings incorporate roots, branches, and floral subjects. She builds and excavates her surfaces with paints, oil sticks, ink, pencil and collage, revealing traces like memory. Steinert-Foley’s sculptures give tactile, three-dimensional form to themes fundamental to the human endeavor. Her figurative works address the tension between religion and procreation, while her Boats (Vessels) carry people, goods, and culture across time and space.

This exhibit is sponsored by Nancy Roe.

Charlene Will:
Here For A While

January 9 – February 28, 2026
Reception: January 9, 6-9 PM
Artist Talk: January 31, 2-2:30

Charlene Will’s work is rooted in a reverence for nature. Through her interest in exploring the depths of California’s remote wilderness areas, she reaffirms basic universal truths: beauty, rebirth, chaos, and order. Working with oils on canvas, she
uses traditional and self-taught brushwork, glazes, and the removal of layers to reveal the ephemeral qualities of light and color found in various natural ecosystems.

Will is the 2025 winner of the Pence Gallery Emerging Artist Award. The Award and exhibit are sponsored by Rosa Marquez & Yatish Mishra.

Please be aware that this exhibit is located in our upstairs gallery. Access may be slightly limited due to occasional events and classes that occur in this space. To ensure that your visit and enjoyment of this exhibit is not interrupted, please refer to our Programs page.

Worn: A Group Show

January 9 – February 8, 2026
Reception: January 9, 6-9 PM

How does clothing reflect our personal identity, our culture, or both? The artists in Worn capture the connection between clothing, identity, and culture in various ways, illustrating how
clothing is a large part of how we see ourselves and the world around us. Many artists show how garments are reminders of loved ones and cherished family traditions. Others convey how clothing can be a costume of sorts, allowing for disguise or the creative freedom to explore a new identity. They transform ordinary garments into works of art, filled with memories and meaning.

Participating artists include Ren Allathkani, José Arenas, Federica Armstrong, Karthika Baiju, Alaine Blaise, Pinar Brummer, Sue Bradford, Yi-Chuan Chen, Raquel Cox, Katie DelaVaughn, John Fortes, Nola George, Jori Jori, Katherine Klein, Cheryl Lobenberg, Ro Mottsmith, Joanne Tepper Saffren, Deziree Seidner, Susan Silvester, Melanie Walas, Susan Broadhurst Werrin, and Patricia Whang.

This exhibit was curated by Caitlin Schwarz and Sophie Jorcino, two museum professionals with a background in costume history, and Pence Education Director, Katharine Schultz.

This exhibit is sponsored by Haven and Joe DePietro.

Maris Kaplan: Amateur

January 9 – February 18, 2026
Reception: January 9, 6-9 PM

Maris Kaplan is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Sacramento who loves playing with color and creative reuse. With a focus on sustainability, her work often incorporates secondhand materials such as thrifted fabric, upcycled clothing, and found objects. Amateur features an ongoing series of smaller works that showcases experimentation with new techniques and materials. Inspired by the organic artistry that can only come from being a complete beginner at something – these pieces embrace wobbly lines, wrinkles, textured seams, crooked stitches, unexpected shapes and random color combinations. These works emulate the surprise and joy that can come from children’s art and beginner’s luck.