A HYBRID EXHIBITION
IN-PERSON at our new gallery in Worcester, MA
with INTERNATIONAL PROJECTED ARTISTS
ON VIEW UNTIL NOV 1
RECEPTION OCT 10, 6-9PM | FREE + OPEN TO ALL
[CREATIVE BLACK ATTIRE ENCOURAGED]
Juried by Michelle May and Payal Thiffault
at JUNIPER RAG CONTEMPORARY
There is art you notice and there is art that stays with you long after you’ve left the room.
VELVET is an exploration of darkness, ethereal moments and the beauty that exists just beyond the visible. The vibe stirs in the shadows, in nocturnal spaces, in the tension between what we reveal and what we keep to ourselves. This is darkness with dimension, atmospheric, intimate, unsettling, sometimes decadent and unexpectedly beautiful. We are presenting artwork that draws you closer rather than giving everything away.
At JUNIPER RAG CONTEMPORARY, we 100% believe art should do more than take space on a wall. It should change the temperature of a room, open a conversation, challenge a familiar way of seeing, or make you feel something you cannot quite name. VELVET brings together a group of artists who understand the power of mood, material and visual storytelling—and who are willing to follow an idea somewhere less predictable. Art will be viewed in person and projected.
Think cinematic shadows, dimly lit interiors, heavy chiaroscuro, decadent fabrics, distorted figures, spiritual iconography, poetic illusion, mysteries of the mind and the strange elegance of things slightly undone.
Interpretation is wide open. The atmosphere is yours to create on your own. Art is a reflection of ourselves. Artists become vulnerable when they make art and even more so when they share it.
Following the extraordinary response to DELIRIUM and JUNIPER RAG’s recent exhibitions featuring guest jurors Jess Klay and David Carson, VELVET continues our commitment to presenting distinctive contemporary work with presence, originality, and cultural relevance. We bring artists, collectors, and the wider community into the same conversation—because discovering art should be an experience, not simply a transaction.
For collectors, VELVET offers an opportunity to encounter compelling work with a point of view. For artists, it creates space for experimentation, recognition, and connection. For our community, it opens a door into contemporary art that rewards curiosity and invites a closer look.
We welcome emerging and established artists working across all visual mediums. We are drawn to work that takes risks, resists easy answers, and leaves something behind in the imagination.
VELVET is not simply about darkness. It is about what becomes visible when we look more closely.
We are looking for atmosphere. We are looking for artists with something to say. We are looking for work that lingers. The final curation reflects a balance of mediums, perspectives and dynamic voices, creating an exhibition that captures the fevered beauty and unsettling allure at the heart of VELVET.
🏆 3 Curator's Choice Awards for VELVET will be chosen.
👁️ Selection Criteria:
Works will be evaluated for conceptual strength, originality and alignment with the theme’s intended psychological and aesthetic depth. We will consider how effectively each piece evokes atmosphere, engages the viewer’s senses, and lingers in the imagination. Technical skill, material choice, and overall presentation will factor into the selection, but equal weight will be given to emotional resonance and narrative impact.
Subscribe to our newsletter, (scroll to bottom) where we announce the winners!
PRO TIPS: Check out the vibe of our past exhibitions, NIGHT, VEIL, DARKNESS & DELIRIUM. We are not looking for grotesque or gore or anything “on-the-nose of the candy holiday”. Check out the vibe there.
ARTIST: SARAH MCCABE
🏆
3 Curator's Choice Awards for VELVET:
SARAH SPRINGER, PETER SANDBACK & PEYTON BAILEY
SARAH SPRINGER
Sarah Springer’s Closing Soon demonstrates her exceptional creativity, technical skill and conceptual depth, transforming a globe encircled in barbed wire into a compelling reflection on vulnerability, boundaries and the world we inhabit today.
PETER SANDBACK
Peter Sandback is once again recognized for the strength of his composition, exceptional craftsmanship and compelling subject matter, demonstrating a thoughtful balance of technical precision and artistic vision that aligns with VELVET’s celebration of work with depth, intention and a distinctive point of view.
JENNY BROWN
Jenny Brown was selected as a juror and crowd favorite for her inventive floral compositions, which bring a distinctive perspective to the natural world and embody VELVET’s exploration of beauty, atmosphere and unique visual intrigue.
PEYTON BAILEY
Peyton Bailey’s As A Living Sacrifice, Bless These Bruised Knees stood out for its evocative title and painterly and powerful artistic expression, inviting us all to take a deeper reading of sacrifice, resilience and the complexities of our collective human experience.
MARNI DHEERE
Marni Dheere’s ceramics were selected for their strong alignment our brief for VELVET, capturing the exhibition’s dark, atmospheric sensibility through thoughtful forms, tactile surfaces and a distinctive artistic vision. Her work embraces the balance of beauty and unease at the heart of VELVET. Marni rocked how material, craftsmanship and concept can come together to create a compelling visual experience.
ART: SALLY STANTON
an exhibition
inspired by the grand codex of botanicals, the natural history cabinet and the poetry of scientific observation.
COMING SOON
ART: PETER SANDBACK
WHY DO HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS WORK WITH US?
A PLACE COLLECTORS DISCOVER HIGH QUALITY CURATED ART
JUNIPER RAG IS AN EXHIBITION PLATFORM (VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON) &
A MARKETING & EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS
We create personal relationships– with as many artists as we can. We learn about their work, their stories and their processes to share as much of the essence of what drives the creation work to help viewers understand and appreciate the work itself.
Elevation of your work – Juniper Rag exhibitions are recognized for their curatorial excellence and thematic sophistication, attracting collectors, curators, corporate partners, non-profits and press.
Curated Audience – We cultivate an engaged community of art lovers who value conceptual depth and technical skill.
Artist Features – Selected artists are spotlighted in Juniper Rag’s digital platforms, expanding their visibility beyond the exhibition.
Professional Credibility – Being part of a Juniper Rag exhibition enhances an artist’s CV because we only select the high level of art for our concept-driven exhibitions.
Diverse Reach – Our audience spans local, national, and international audiences..
Thoughtful Curation – Each show is crafted to create a strong visual and thematic narrative, elevating every participating work.
Supportive Environment – We actively promote participating artists through marketing, social media campaigns, and networking opportunities.
Long-Term Impact – Many past exhibitors have gone on to sell works, secure commissions, and gain future exhibition invitations, solo shows and acquisitions into large scale corporate purchases as a result of their Juniper Rag participation in just one exhibition.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
We are always interested in collaborative relationships.
If your like-minded business would like to sponsor any Juniper Rag exhibition, please contact
michelle (at) atelieridglobal.com.
We look forward to sharing this body of work with you.
ART: AULA ALAYOUBI