Lighthouse ArtCenter (LAC) - Delicate Expressions: An Open Call for Contemporary Art Jewelry

“Delicate Expressions” is an exhibition that pairs the finely detailed mixed-media portraits of Baltimore, Maryland artist Tommy Mitchell with contemporary art jewelry selected from this open call.

Drawing inspiration from diverse influences such as Byzantine icon painting and fashion photography, Mitchell creates striking portraits that honor the BIPOC individuals in his life. His compositions incorporate abstract elements, architecture, motifs from local street art, and other designs that ground his figures in a specific place while elevating them to a state of exalted veneration. Mitchell uses ballpoint pen to achieve the meticulously detailed features of his subjects, and paint for the surrounding elements, exploring themes of perfection and the complexities of idealized beauty.

In addition to Mitchell's portraits, the exhibition includes jewelry artists selected through an open call. Artists selected for this exhibition use jewelry as a medium for historical and social commentary, storytelling, commemoration, expressions of social status, and other…