Arapahoe Libraries is proud to host art exhibits each month at Eloise May, Koelbel and Smoky Hill libraries. Library galleries offer the community a place to view a variety of art at no cost while also providing visibility to local artists. A volunteer art selection committee selects exhibits based on artistic quality, variety of exhibits and the suitability of format for each exhibit space.
Have a question about the galleries or interested in showcasing your art? Visit the Art Galleries page for more information.
Lisa Fligelstone
Inspired by Colorado’s vibrant landscapes, I paint with acrylic on wood to express an ongoing appreciation for the natural world. Painting is grounding, blending emotional expression with detail. I hope that my work captures the grandeur and intricacies of the natural world.
What is your favorite piece in the show and why?
My favorite piece in the show is "Canada Geese, 2025", which I painted earlier this year. I’ve always found Canada geese to be charming (although people can see them as pests). It also challenged me technically, especially in painting elements like water and rocks. I found the process both relaxing and rewarding.
What motivates you to create?
Creating art offers a sense of tranquility and focus. I'm motivated by the challenge of translating what I see and feel into something visually engaging—whether it’s through mastering technical skills, experimenting with color mixing, or refining the fine details. I enjoy working with my hands and find satisfaction in the physical act of painting. Ultimately, I’m driven by creating something intriguing.
Who are your biggest artists influences?
Nature is my greatest inspiration, and I’m particularly drawn to artists who interpret the landscape with both emotion and technical innovation. I'm influenced by David Hockney with his bold use of color and contemporary approach to nature, and Doris McCarthy, whose landscapes reflect personal connection and simplicity. Rosa Bonheur’s realism resonates with my own appreciation for nature’s strength. Wolf Kahn inspires me to explore mood and movement through color.
What message do you want your art to convey to viewers?
I want my art to offer a sense of tranquility—a quiet moment of pause. Through depictions of natural landscapes, I aim to convey the beauty found in isolation, inviting viewers to connect with the stillness and space that nature provides. My work often follows the seasons, reflecting change and continuity. I hope viewers feel encouraged to slow down, and find a bit of their own calm within the landscape.
Reece Bailey
"Embryonic Color Studies" is a series of nine prints that explores color theory, contrast, and pattern within the context of plant embryonic development. Each piece presents a stage of embryogenesis seen in the seed of flowering plants, while bold, complementary colors guide the viewer on a journey through the color wheel. The hard, angular patterns inspired by the golden rectangle and Fibonacci sequence in the background contrast with the soft, organic forms of the plant embryo, creating a vivid interplay between structure and nature
My favorite piece in this show is color study No. 8 with the blue background and orange embryo. I feel the shape of the embryo in this stage of development is dynamic and frees up space in the overall composition of the piece. Creating a balance between the figure and the background.
What motivates me to create is the opportunity to experiment with different methods of communicating stories about the lives of plants, fungi, and microbes; and how these organisms impact our lives.
My biggest artists influences are Neri Oxman, Anika Yi, and Ernst Haeckel.
I want my art to communicate the complexities of the biological world we live in through visual and physical means so, that the science behind biology becomes largely accessible to everyone.
Angi Beaueim
Angi Beauheim is a watercolor artist in Loveland, Colorado. Her work is mostly cats in (or as) space. Occasionally the muse requires a small deviation, resulting in a chicken, dog, rat, or other critter.
What message do you want your art to convey to viewers?
Cats in Space are a fun exploration of shape and color. They make people smile. And they're a gentle reminder to stay curious.