ART GALLERIES

EXHIBITIONS
INQUIRY & APPLICATION
RESOURCES & MORE
ART SELECTION COMMITTEE

SHARING ART WITH OUR COMMUNITIES

Arapahoe Libraries is proud to host art exhibits each month at Koelbel, Smoky Hill and Eloise May libraries. Library galleries offer the community a place to view a variety of art at no cost while also providing visibility to local artists.

Eloise May Gallery

Koelbel Gallery

Smoky Hill Gallery

ART EXHIBITIONS

From the Archive: A Visual Discourse on Memory and Nostaglia

Visit Koelbel Library November 4-January 26 to explore an interactive art exhibit that highlights the surreal, fragmented nature of memory.

Art Gallery Exhibitions: November 2024

Discover artwork from Neil Scanlan, Pushpa Sunder Mehta, M.D. and Catie Michel on display November 1-30.

Art Gallery Exhibitions: October-November 2024

Discover artwork from Neil Scanlan, Amber Sliter and Catie Michel on display October 1-November 30.

INQUIRY & APPLICATION

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Applications are closed for 2025.

Read the Art Exhibit Guidelines for more information. For further questions you can send an inquiry using the form below or call (720) 603-8606 .

ART EXHIBIT GUIDELINES

If you would like your art to be considered for exhibition, please read the following information.

ARTIST APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR 2025

Applications for 2026 will open on September 15, 2025.

GUIDELINES
Monthly art exhibits are featured at Eloise May, Koelbel and Smoky Hill libraries. The exhibits introduce the community to new art forms and creative ideas, while providing exhibition opportunities to local artists. A volunteer art selection committee selects exhibits based on artistic quality, variety of exhibits and the suitability of format for each library’s exhibit space. 2D art is only being accepted at this time. Artists will be notified of exhibit acceptance or rejection within four weeks after the submission deadline. Exhibit dates will be determined by the artist and the library after acceptance. Must be 18 or older to apply. All skill levels welcome. If you would like your art to be considered for exhibition, please read the following information.

WHEN AN APPLICATION IS ACCEPTED:

The artist will install the exhibit with assistance from a staff member, including a label for each piece of artwork listing title, medium, date and price if applicable.
The library will include exhibit information on its website during the month of the exhibit.
The artist will provide the library with high-resolution digital images for website promotion.
Artwork must be wired and ready for hanging.
Arapahoe Libraries assumes no responsibility for damage, destruction or loss to the exhibit or exhibited materials while on display or during storage or moving on library property.
The artist will provide the library with an artist’s statement and an inventory list of titles and prices if applicable.
The artist is encouraged to donate 20 percent of the sale price of any artwork sold while on exhibit at the library to The Friends of Arapahoe Libraries.
The library will provide an exhibition agreement to be signed by the artist and a library representative.
All artwork will remain on display for the duration of the exhibit.
Arapahoe Libraries reserves the right to establish and enforce policies and guidelines regarding quality of the material, time, place, manner of display and suitability for viewing by patrons of all ages.

UNINSTALLING ARTWORK
On the last day of the exhibit, the artist is responsible for removing all art from the library before closing.

QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact the Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Art Galleries Nicole Dumville with the form below or call (720) 603-8606

ASK A QUESTION

Have a question about the art galleries? Please complete the following form and we'll get back to you.

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At which libraries are you interested in displaying your art?*

Select all that apply. We will do our best to accommodate your request to display your work in the library you choose, but we cannot guarantee this space.

Eloise May Library (31 Linear Feet)

Koelbel Library (27 Linear Feet)

Smoky Hill Library (33 Linear Feet)

What question do you have about showcasing your art?*

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Examples: he/him, she/her, they/them. Why we ask each other our pronouns.

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This information will be submitted via email. .

RESOURCES & MORE

Castlewood Makerspace

Our DIY creative space features all the tools you need to tinker, craft and create anything you can imagine.

Digital Media Stations

Go digital with your old media! Find out how to reserve this one-stop vintage and virtual shop to convert old media to new digital formats.

Creativebug

Experience the joy of making with over 1000 award-winning video classes taught by top designers and artists.

MEET THE ART SELECTION COMMITTEE

THAD J. MCCAULEY

Thad J. McCauley is a K-8 art teacher and professional artist. He is a Colorado native and has shown his art all over the state, including shows with the Arapahoe Library District. His work has been shown in New York City and one of his pieces was part of a show at the Denver Art Museum.

Thad believes it is important for art educators to be working and showing artists. He was once was recognized by the Colorado Art Education Association as the Middle School Art Educator of the Year.

Thad wants to encourage you to find a way to include creative outlets into your daily life and always remember, "Art Will Not Hurt You!".

JACQUIE KITZELMAN

BEHNAZ AHMADIAN

Behnaz Ahmadian was born in Iran and raised in the United States. She is currently living and working in Colorado. She is an artist and an art instructor. She likes to work with many different mediums but the main medium she works in is acrylic. Behnaz is very fascinated with pattern and color and incorporates them in her paintings.

Behnaz grew up in a family of creatives and has always loved art and being creative as a child. Behnaz is a self-taught artist always making art as a child in her spare time. She obtained her bachelor degree in Biology wanting to go into medicine but her love for art and design made her pursue her career in interior design. While working as an interior designer, she was led to create unique paintings full time. Her sense of color and pattern creates pieces that are truly unique which she drew from her experience as a designer. Her designs are recognized for their vibrant colors, details and patterns.

Behnaz’s mother has been her true inspiration. Her mom has now passed but with each piece that she creates, she hopes to share the feeling of love and joy that her mom worked so hard to nurture in her as a woman, artist and designer. Now painting each piece is like a journey that takes Behnaz back to when she was introduced to art and fabrics with color and patterns through her mom who was a fashion designer. Her mother was the one who taught her how to draw and always encouraged her to be creative and incorporate meaning into her every piece.

SHARON ROUSE

Sharon Rouse received her BA from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Art Education from UNC. She taught K-12 art for 25 years, 17 of which were at Graland Country Day. After retirement, Sharon supervised art education teachers for 5 1/2 years for Metropolitan State University. She has served on the Colorado Art Education Board and Rep Council for 18 years and was a founding member of Art Source Colorado, a professional component of CAEA. She has also served as a docent at the Denver Art Museum for 40 years and was an art education consultant for them. As an artist, her media of choice is watercolors. Through the years, Sharon has also taught watercolor classes for various adult education enrichment programs, including for the DAM.

OCTAVIA BETZ

DON BUDY

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ART GALLERIES

ART EXHIBITIONS