Lecture Series & Events

Chautauqua Visual Arts (CVA) hosts a public lecture series of profound thought leaders in the visual arts from all over the world. We are delighted to present luminaries who will share their current projects and discuss relevant topics of the day.

All of our lectures and are free and open to the public, unless otherwise listed.

Additionally, CVA is meant to be a place where people can visit freely, participate, share and experience a wide variety of master and enrichment classes and workshops through our programming in our physical Arts Quad, the large Drawing Room and our Galleries. There is something for anyone who wants to embrace their creativity, even if they’re simply curious to take a peek and observe those who are professional artists living a creative life. Come join us.

To watch recordings of our past Chautauqua Visual Arts Lecture Series and other events, visit and subscribe to our YouTube playlist.

View Past Events

“Sense of Place” Exhibition Opening Reception

Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries

"Sense of Place" exhibition Opening Reception June 25, 3–5 p.m. Exhibitions runs June 25–July 23. This is a non-traditional landscape exhibition that considers our relationship to place. These works conjure more of an aura than an illustration of a particular location. Through painting, textiles, photography, and ceramics, they explore the interconnectedness of earth, water, and […]

“Prisms & Paradigms” Exhibition Opening Reception

Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor

"Prisms & Paradigms" exhibition Opening Reception June 25, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs June 25–August 2. This exhibition brings together sculpture, photography, and textiles that focus on the use of iridescence and color gradients. Filling the gallery with rainbows, these works collectively speak of change and transformation and the magic of existing in more than one […]

“Body Language” Exhibition Opening Reception

Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor

"Body Language" Opening reception June 25, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs June 25–August 20. Body Language focuses on all desires, moods, interpretations, and wonder that each of us possess. Paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs are featured in this thematic exhibition, including two Chautauqua School of Art Alumni. Realistic based work abounds with a strong sense of […]

“Mutual Attraction” Exhibition Opening Reception

Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor

"Mutual Attraction" exhibition Opening Reception June 25, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs June 25–July 20. Welcome to the world of Yeon Soo Kim and Jiye Han, who are partners in life as well as collaborators in their artistic practices. These ceramic sculptures blend beautifully together, highlighting their personal styles and ambitions. Both artists have risen to […]

“Washed Ashore” Exhibition Opening Reception

Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden

“Washed Ashore — Art to Save the Sea” is centered on plastic pollution and its impact on sea life. The exhibit will consist of 14 elaborate sculptures that represent marine life affected by plastic pollution. They are made by artisans who use debris found washed up on beaches. Mixing art and science, the exhibit aims to […]

CVA Visiting Artists Lecture: Venancio Aragon

Hultquist Center, Room 101 19 Miller Ave, Chautauqua, New York

Venancio Aragon, “Prisms & Paradigms” exhibiting artist, is a Diné textile artist and holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees: one in Cultural Anthropology from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and the other in Native American Studies from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Prior to becoming a full-time artist, Venancio worked for the […]

Art in the Park

Miller Park

Hosted by the Friends of CVA, Art in the Park is an open art fair with 70+ vendors held in Miller Park, showcasing art by members of the Chautauqua community, artists-in-residence from the School of Art, and artisans from the region around Chautauqua Institution. Items for sale include ceramics, paintings, prints, Chautauqua-themed trinkets, pieces made […]

“Positive Change: CVA Alumni” Exhibition Opening Reception

Fowler-Kellogg Art Center 2nd floor

"Positive Change: CVA Alumni" exhibition Opening Reception July 5, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs July 5–August 13. As the School of Art takes a pause this summer, we want to acknowledge the positive change that the Chautauqua Visual Arts has made on the lives of hundreds of artists during many stages of their careers over the […]

“Posters for Positive Change” Master Class with Brett Taylor

Posters for Positive Change with Brett Taylor. Watch and learn as visiting CVA School of Art Alumni artist Brett Taylor demonstrates how to pull a silkscreen print. He will talk about his own creative process and the motivation behind similar works on view in the exhibition "Positive Change: CVA Alumni" at Fowler-Kellogg Art Center. There […]

Friends of CVA Social Evenings

Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, back porch

In the hopes of fostering and growing our Friends of CVA community, we are hosting two Social Evenings on the porch of Fowler-Kellogg Art Center on July 12 and August 9 from 6:00-8:00pm. Kick back and join us for a glass of wine and conversation – the galleries will be open late especially for you! 

“Untitled 7” Exhibition Opening Reception

Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor

"Untitled 7" exhibition Opening Reception July 23, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs July 23–August 20. Jeremy Boyle and Mark Franchino began a collaborative practice in 2012, exploring common interests in their individual studio practices and artwork. Their forthcoming exhibition / installation at CVA’s Bellowe Family Gallery will be their seventh solo exhibition of collaborative work, with […]

“In Conversation” Exhibition Opening Reception

Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries

"In Conversation" exhibition Opening reception July 26, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs July 26–August 21. While quite distinct in form and material process, each of these mostly monochromatic works evoke a sense of transformation or "becoming" through pattern and repetition. While creating very different objects regarding form and tone, these artists generate conversation around layering, ornamentation, […]

Gallery Talk with Gabe Brown & Donté Hayes

Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries

Gallery Talk and Q&A with exhibiting artists Donté Hayes and Gabe Brown. Please join us for a discussion in the gallery among exhibiting artists Donté Hayes and Gabe Brown joined by co-curators Judie Barie and Erika Diamond. They will briefly discuss the exhibition "In Conversation" and answer questions from the audience. Gabe Brown holds her […]

Party on the Art Quad

School of Art Quad

Party on the Art Quad. In lieu of the annual Stroll through the Arts Gala and Auction, this one-time only event is presented by Friends of CVA and Chautauqua Visual Arts in the heart of the CVA Arts Quad. All proceeds benefit much needed renovations to the CVA School of Art facilities.

Art in the Park

Miller Park

Hosted by the Friends of CVA, Art in the Park is an open art fair with 70+ vendors held in Miller Park, showcasing art by members of the Chautauqua community, artists-in-residence from the School of Art, and artisans from the region around Chautauqua Institution. Items for sale include ceramics, paintings, prints, Chautauqua-themed trinkets, pieces made […]

“Into the Blue: Open CVA Members Exhibition” Opening Reception

Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor

"Into the Blue: Open CVA Members Exhibition" Opening Reception August 7, 3–5 p.m. Exhibition runs August 7–August 23. We invite all Exhibiting Members of CVA to submit work related to this year’s theme and title – Into the Blue. These works can reference the soothing color of the sea, the sky peeking through clouds, or […]

Friends of CVA Social Evenings

Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, back porch

In the hopes of fostering and growing our Friends of CVA community, we are hosting two Social Evenings on the porch of Fowler-Kellogg Art Center on July 12 and August 9 from 6:00-8:00pm. Kick back and join us for a glass of wine and conversation – the galleries will be open late especially for you!

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