Arapahoe Libraries proudly hosts rotating art exhibits each month at Eloise May, Koelbel, and Smoky Hill libraries, with quarterly exhibits at The Space. Our 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.
Carrie Christopher
Website: carriechristophercreative.com, opens a new window
Liminal Lexicon is my love letter to Koelbel Library—its librarians, staff, patrons, and the enduring power of language, imagination, and inclusive third spaces. The library is my happy place, and I’ve spent hundreds of hours reading, creating, imagining, and editing within its walls. It’s a delight to give back by sharing my art with the Koelbel community.
I can’t choose a single favorite piece from this body of work. I invite viewers to look closely at each piece and discover the hidden words and maps embedded within the layers.
What motivates you to create? I’m a sixty‑something punk elder and creative who has loved books and making art for as long as I can remember. Fantastical stories—wood‑between‑worlds, pirate ships, underworld journeys, space adventures, portals, and dragons—continue to fill my creative well. I work across ceramics, abstract painting, encaustics, field recordings, and found sound collages. When not creating, I’m working toward my MA in Publishing and finishing my debut speculative fiction novel, Quicksand Bardo, to be released in early 2027.
What message do you want your art to convey? The throughline of my work is a deep appreciation for the absurd, the rebellious, and the transformative power of liminal spaces—it’s where the magic happens. I hope Liminal Lexicon sparks curiosity and imagination and inspires viewers to explore their own creative wells and journeys beyond the map.
Exhibit dates: May 4–May 30, 2026
Artist talk & reception: Thursday, May 7, 6:30–8:00 PM or Sunday, May 10, 3:00–5:00 PM, Koelbel Meeting Room C
Lauren Thurman
Facebook: Artist Lauren E. Thurman, opens a new window
Instagram: @laurenevethurman, opens a new window
As a former middle school art teacher, creativity and storytelling have always been at the heart of my work. I love experimenting with new techniques and mediums and stretching myself creatively.
My paintings are full of playful energy, often featuring whimsical animals, bold landscapes, expressive florals, and a curious collection of bugs, snakes, and other wild wonders. With a love for bright color and imaginative detail, I strive to create art that sparks joy, invites curiosity, and celebrates the magic in the everyday.
Tamara Elovikova
Instagram: @elova.pro.photo, opens a new window
In a culture that encourages us to erase wrinkles, this series chooses to honor them. Each line reflects experience, resilience, and the passage of time—evidence of a life fully lived rather than something to hide.
What is your favorite piece in the show, and why? My favorite piece is a close portrait where the wrinkles are most visible and unfiltered. There’s a quiet strength in the subject’s expression that feels honest, and that honesty is what matters most to me.
What motivates you to create? I’m motivated by a desire to notice what others overlook. Photography allows me to slow down and reveal depth in ordinary moments.
What message do you want your art to convey? I want viewers to see beauty in what is often hidden or erased. Wrinkles are not flaws, but evidence of a life lived fully. I hope people look at aging with respect, not fear.
C. Scott DeWeese
Showing at The Space
Website: csdeweesewoodworking.com, opens a new window
Instagram: @c.scott.deweese.98, opens a new window
Born in Grand Junction, Colorado, I grew up watching and helping my father in his garage wood shop, where I fell in love with woodworking. I relish the touch, smell, and excitement of creating finished pieces.
Over time, I’ve created custom furniture, cabinetry, toys, heirloom pieces, and lathe‑turned bowls and vessels. My Basket of Illusions works are embellished pattern pieces inspired by nature, architecture, texture, and Native American design. I enjoy experimenting with different woods, styles, and techniques, and I am always learning and evolving my work.