The Mattie Kelly Arts Center (MKAC) Galleries is proud to present two powerful and engaging exhibitions that explore the power of texture, narrative, and artistic evolution. Both BALLISTIC and The 33rd Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibitions open Aug. 18, 2025, and run through Dec. 18, 2025. A shared Artist Reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., offering the public a chance to meet artists and enjoy the shows.
These exhibitions not only display innovative works of art but also embody the Galleries’ dedication to creating meaningful cultural experiences for the region. At the core of this vision is the curatorial leadership of Jennifer Wren Supak, whose thoughtful programming reflects a deep understanding of the community’s voices and needs.
“It is my pleasure to serve by creating cultural programming that enriches the arts and community, provides learning opportunities, that fosters engagement among students, educators, lifelong learners, and artists,” said Jennifer Wren Supak, MFA & MA, Gallery Director & Curator at Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries. “When I curate, I think about generating curiosity or inspiration, but also deeply about the people who live in this region, about who we are, what we do, who we want to be, what we want to know about our place in the world, about how to connect with communities of vacationers, military, students, artists, educators, and families.”
BALLISTIC by Kevin Haran details:
• Exhibition: BALLISTIC – Drawings, Paintings, and Sculptures 2005–2025 by Kevin Haran
• Location: Holzhauer and Hallway Galleries at MKAC
• Exhibition Dates: August 18 – December 18, 2025
• Artist Demo &Workshops: September 3 & 4, 12:30–2 p.m., Marie Snow Greene Fine Arts Building 120, Room 512
• Reception with Artists: September 4, 5–7 p.m.
o Meet artists and ask personally about their work while also enjoying music by a national touring DJ: – DJ Spinzy
This 20-year retrospective traces the creative arc of Kevin, a visual storyteller whose work defies convention. Known for his seamless fusion of realism and fiction, Haran’s drawings, paintings, and sculptures explore themes of military service, machinery, family history, and peace. Through both traditional and repurposed materials, his work invites viewers to reflect on memory, identity, and imagination.
“This is the biggest show I’ve had in 20 years,” said Haran about his installation at Mattie Kelly Arts Center. “For the first time, I get to see my 2D work not as individual pieces, but as one unified installation—alongside the largest gathering of my sculptures in one place. These works are rooted in the military ships and planes I grew up seeing in films, hearing about from family, and talking about with veterans. I’ve been drawing since I was four—never stopped creating. It’s not just art; it’s family history, world history, and a lifelong need to make things.”
Haran is a professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Visual Arts and Design, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate students. His retrospective installation offers a rare opportunity to witness the consistent evolution of a singular vision grounded in both technical skill and narrative depth.
33rd Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibition details:
• Location: McIlroy Gallery at MKAC
• Exhibition Dates: August 18 – December 18, 2025
• Reception with Artists: September 4, 5–7 p.m.
o Meet artists, and ask personally about their work while also enjoying light fare, and music by a national touring DJ and NWFSC alum: – DJ Spinzy
• Welcoming guest judge: Artist and Curator Nicholas Croghan, MA & MFA, Director of Pensacola Museum of Art
Now in its 33rd year, The Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibition returns with a first-time dynamic theme: "Texture and Touch," symbolizing connection, involvement, function, comfort, or need. The curation was guided by a focus on tactile qualities that highlight our shared experiences related to the figure, artifacts, and landscape. The included works explore the physical and metaphysical through various materials and the use of light, texture, scale, and sound. The exhibition highlights how contemporary artists are utilizing drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, woodworking, textiles, multimedia, and site-specific installations to communicate concepts related to our place in the region and cultural milieu. Viewers will engage with pieces that combine skill, emotion, and humor to create an unexpected experience. Through using imaginative visual vocabulary, the artwork on display will inspire curiosity and a deeper kinship with the world around us.
We are honored to welcome Nicholas Croghan, MA & MFA, as this year’s guest judge (juror) for The Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibition. Croghan is the Director of the Pensacola Museum of Art and a practicing artist and curator, bringing a sharp curatorial vision to this year’s selection.
“Viewers will engage with pieces that combine skill, emotion, and humor to create an unexpected experience,” said Croghan. “Through the use of imaginative visual vocabulary, the artwork on display will inspire curiosity and a deeper kinship with the world around us.”
More than 260 submissions were received for this year’s exhibition, with an incredible range of talent and vision. From these, the juror selected 35 outstanding works to be featured in the final show. The juror will also attend the artist reception to speak about the selection process and present the awards. This year’s Best in Show winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a solo exhibition, while second and third place winners will receive $500 and $250, respectively.
These exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, directions, or to schedule a group tour, please contact the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries at (850) 729-6044 or visit mattiekellyartscenter.org/galleries.
