“Shadow & Light” Opens at Key West Museum

David Perez’s oil on canvas, “A Key West Courtyard,” highlights the shifting light and shadows of a tranquil local scene. -Photo credit: David Perez

The Key West Museum of Art & History is pleased to invite the community to the opening of its newest juried exhibition, “Shadow & Light: Island Contrast,” on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, with a free public reception from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The celebration will take place in the museum’s Bryan Gallery and will feature the work of more than 40 Florida Keys artists, including Karen Beauprie of Key West, John David Hawver of Islamorada, Michael Palmer of Key West, and Kitty Rose of Key West, among many others.

Guests are encouraged to explore the exhibition, meet participating artists, and enjoy beverages available for purchase at the museum bar while taking in one of Key West’s most storied historic spaces. The evening marks the debut of an evocative collection that examines the profound relationship between illumination and darkness in the artistic process.  The exhibition features works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, fabric, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media, each one reflecting the artists’ individual interpretations of how light and shadow influence form, mood, and meaning.

Sarah Carleton’s photograph, “Breaking into Light,” captures crashing waves along the shoreline of Fort Zachary Taylor, highlighting the dramatic interplay of sunlight and shadow. -Photo credit: Sarah A. Carleton

“Shadow & Light” delves into the expressive possibilities of natural light, its ability to shape form, reveal texture, cast shadows, and transform everyday scenes into moments of striking beauty.  The resulting body of work is both visually dynamic and deeply introspective, offering viewers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and rediscover the world through the interplay of contrast.

“We wanted to create a space where artists could respond to the extraordinary quality of light that defines life in the Florida Keys,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Key West Museum of Art & History.  “Light shapes our experiences in ways we often overlook, and this exhibition invites visitors to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty in even the simplest moments.”

“Shadow & Light: Island Contrast” will remain on view through February 15, 2026, at the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front Street, Key West.  For more information, please contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected] or visit the museum’s website at kwahs.org/event/shadow-light.