Showcasing a huge range of works by a wildly diverse group of artists, “The Art of Solitude” continues through Sunday, October 6 at the Local NY. Featured above is the wonderfully talented Dominican artist Milka Montero standing next to her oil painting “Solitude.” A small sampling of images of additional artworks featured in “The Art of Solitude” — co-curated by Bonnie Astor and Lois Stavsky — follow:

Korean American illustrator and graphic designer Min Lee “Waiting,” 2024, Gouache, oil pastel, colored pencils on hot press paper

Queens-based Bangladeshi American visual artist Kaiser Kamal, “We Are All; Is That True1?” Mixed media on canvas

The hugely creative South, “Untitled,” Mixed media on canvas

Self-taught artist Billy Waldman aka Billy Crystal, “Birch Ceremony on Earth,” Acrylic on canvas

Queens-based, largely self-taught Pakistani-American artist Sharjeel Khan, “McKenna’s Amazon,” Ink on board

Located at 1302 44^th Avenue in Long Island City, The Local NY is easily accessible via the Court Square E, M, G, and 7 trains. The exhibition can be viewed from early morning until late at night.

And here you can view multimedia journalist Elle McLogan‘s delightful story on CBS News spotlighting the two Queens-based ArTech artists — Melissa Torres and Sydney Buford — included in “The Art of Solitude.”

Photos: Lois Stavsky

The image pictured above, “Here Comes Evelyn,” was fashioned with mixed media on a birchwood panel by the self-taught Oregon-based artist Anne Marie Grgich. What follows are several more images of faces in a range of styles and media seen in varied settings this past year:

The late Cleveland, Ohio native Kevin Wendall aka FA-Q, who after moving to NYC became active in the Rivington School, “Untitled.” Acrylic on repurposed cardboard, as seen last summer at Vanderplas Gallery

The late Spanish self-taught artist Antoni Tàpies, “Head and Varnish” Oil paint, varnish, coloured pencil on canvas, as seen this past spring at Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid

Fountain House Gallery artist Anthony Newton, “Golden Child Series #1,” Acrylic on canvas, as seen at Fountain House Gallery

Self-taught artist Davey Sandy aka The Dread, “Untitled,” Oil stick on paper, as seen earlier this year at the Sitting Room Gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

Philadephia-born self-taught artist Ron Burman, “Chewing the Fat,” Mixed media, as seen last summer at Vanderplas Gallery

Fountain House Gallery self-taught artist Roger Jones, “Watercolor,” Watercolor and ink on paper, as seen this summer at Fountain House Gallery

Photos of artworks: Lois Stavsky

Presenting a wonderfully diverse array of works in a huge range of media, “Compulsive Genius: New Work from Fountain House Studio Residents” celebrates resident Long Island City Studio artists, along with those artists who participated in Fountain House’s Governors Island program last year. Curated by Studio Director Karen Gormandy and by Fountain House Gallery Director Rachel Weisman, the exhibition continues through July 24.

The delightfully dreamy image featured above, A Dogmatic Composition, was fashioned this year by the wonderfully inventive self-taught artist Alyson Vega with acrylic ink and paint on wood block. A small selection of additional images captured on our recent visit to Fountain House Gallery follow:

Alyson Vega alongside her new artworks

Resident painter Bernadette Corcoran, “A Psychedelic Feeling,” 2023, Acrylic on wood panel

Multimedia artist Lauren Covey, “Psychoacoustic Divination: A Sonic Tarot Mind Map,” 2024,
Tarot cards, paper, tape, wood and cardboard

Painter and fashion designer Guiomar Giraldo-Baron, “The Green Doors (In Memory of Judy Meibach),” 2024, Acrylic on canvas

Multimedia self-taught artist Angela Rogers, “Spirit,” 2024, Mixed media

Fountain House studio director Karen Gormandy with the alluring artistic visions of Ambar Martinez to her left and Suzette Lehrer to her right

Located at 702 Ninth Avenue at 48th Street in Manhattan, Fountain House Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday 1pm to 7pm.

Note: Fountain House Gallery and Studio provides an environment where artists living with mental illness can express their creative visions, exhibit their work, and challenge the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Photo credits: 1-3, 5 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 4 & 7 Rachel Alban 

Presenting over 60 works in a range of media on varied surfaces, “Somewhere to Roost” freely and broadly interprets the notion of home. The untitled image featured above, painted with oil on a board by the late Southern artist Clementine Hunter, depicts a funeral home. Several more images captured while visiting the intriguing exhibition at the American Folk Art Museum follow.

The late Jamaican artist and religious leader, Mallica Reynolds aka KAPO, “Roberta Flack,” 1970, Oil on canvas. At the time of this painting, Roberta Flack was the only Black person living at the Dakota, the Upper West Side building that was also home to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

The late Alabama- born folk artist Mose Tolliver, “Untitled,” c. 1960’s Enamel on wood

The late prolific Southern artist Sam Doyle, “Untitled,” c. 1970’s, Enamel and house paint on metal door

Unknown artist, “String Quilt,” c. 1920-1940, Wool with cotton binding

The late Iowa-based farmhands Clarence Woolsey and Grace Woolsey, “Untitled,” c. 1961-1972, Pierced metal bottle caps, repurposed wood crate, paint, nails, wire and hinges

Folk artist Miguel “Mikie” Perez, “Camino Real,” 1985, Enamel on masonite panel

The late — now legendary — Alabama-born artist Thornton Dial, “Birds Got to Have Somewhere to Roost,” 2012, Wood, carpet scraps, corrugated tin, burlap, nails and enamel on wood

Curated by Brooke Wyatt and generously supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, “Somewhere to Roost” continues at the American Folk Art Museum through May 25, 2025. Located at 2 Lincoln Square (Columbus Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets), the American Folk Art Museum is open Wednesday–Sunday: 11:30 am–6:00 pm. Admission is always free.

Photos of artworks: Lois Stavsky

On Sunday, May 19, the Cat Museum of New York City — founded by Jenny Pierson, Reynard Loki and Susan Steshko — held its first public event in SoHo. Co-hosted by the Museum of Interesting Things as part of its Secret Speakeasy series, the pop-up featured cat art, cat books, cat music, cat board games and more.

It was standing room only — two or four legs — with an appreciative and attentive group of humans, along with one Sphinx cat.

A NYC based veterinarian and veterinary acupuncturist, Dr. Jeff Levy strummed cat-themed songs on his guitar.

Among the artists present whose work was on exhibit and for sale was the talented Milka Montero. A Pratt graduate, she creates works that capture a dream-like quality of big cats through the use of mixed gesso backgrounds and deftly-applied oils which shine in a pearlescent glaze.

Founding Executive Director Jenny Pierson focused on her mission of securing nonprofit status and finding a permanent home for the Cat Museum of New York City. She educated the attendees on the benefits of cat ownership, the issue of unhoused cats in the city, and the need for funds for shelters, food and cat care.

Be sure to follow the Cat Museum of New York City on Instagram. And to become directly involved in the museum’s mission, you can email: [email protected]

Reported by Bonnie Astor

Born into a family of musicians in 1971 in Vienna, Laila Bachtiar began displaying autistic behavior as a young child. Always intent on creating art, she began frequenting the House of Artists in Gugging in 1990, and since 2003, she has been working in Gugging’s open studio. While visiting Museum Gugging and Galerie Gugging earlier this year, I discovered her delightfully distinct aesthetic, characterized by varied lines and swooping shapes.

The image featured above — one in her ongoing series of people — was fashioned with pencil and colored pencils in 2017. Several more images I captured of Laila Bachtiar‘s artwork while visiting Gugging’s museum and gallery follow:

“Laila’s Horse,” 2017, Pencil and colored pencils

“A Koala,” 2007, Pencil and colored pencils

“Piano Player,” 2008, Pencil and colored pencils

“Eine Ente,” 2007, Pencil and colored pencils

“Two Women,” 1992, Pencil and colored pencils

Photos of artworks: Lois Stavsky

While visiting The Dream, a delightfully intriguing exhibition featuring three self-taught artists at Sitting Room Gallery on the Lower East Side, I had the opportunity to pose a few questions to Billy Waldman aka Billy Crystal.

When did you first start drawing?

I’ve always been drawing — from the time I was very small. It was the language that came naturally to me.

What inspired you to do so?

I grew up upstate and everyone around me was creating art of some kind. And — like I said — it was my main means of expression, from age one or two.

What is your earliest art memory?

When I was five years old — and in the first grade — I won an art contest on the theme of “conservation.” My drawing illustrated how we can conserve water while taking showers.

Gee, that’s impressive! What keeps you making art?

Creating art is a means of releasing benevolent energy. It is a therapy tool in a world that needs therapy.

Have you any favorite artist?

David Hammons. I built his solar power system at his studio. He was always welcoming and receptive. He’s an amazing, versatile artist and he opened my eyes.

I know that you were deep into the skate boarding culture. What, would you say, are your cultural influences?

The entire universe.

Is there a central theme that ties your work together?

My love of life. Life is the greatest gift we will ever have.

How has your artwork evolved in the past few years?

It increasingly flows. It has become more dynamic.

Are you generally satisfied with your artwork?

Never!

How long do you usually spend on a piece?

Usually a couple of days. But, actually, my whole life — trying to figure out what to do next.

What is your favorite piece that you’ve created?

My masterpiece is the family that I created with Juliana Villela de Andrade Monteiro: Wave, 19 Luca Blue, 14, and Leo Sky, 10. Through them I have fulfilled my soul blueprint, aligning us with universal love.

How important is it to you that others like your work?

I don’t deal within the realm of likes or wants; it’s loves and needs.

What is your favorite media?

I like playing the paintbrush like a musical instrument on my rhythmic journey.

What are some of your other interests?

Embracing our natural world; identifying what it has to offer, nutritionally and otherwise, and learning how to be a good father.

How does your family feel about what you do?

I’m looking for a bond thicker than blood. I feel love from the entire universe.

Where are you headed?

I would like to be a benevolent force — the ultimate shaman — that enables the universe to release its positive energies.

Note: Featured in the first photo is the artist with his son, Leo, alongside one of his works on exhibit in Sitting Room Gallery

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky; photos 1-3, 5 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 4, 7 & 8, courtesy the artist

Bringing “mental health into the open,” Museum van de Geest (the Museum of the Mind) showcases works by artists marked by a range of disabilities. While visiting its Amsterdam location in the monumental H’ART Museum last month, I came upon works by both renowned late outsider artists and some who are currently active.

The image pictured above, “Truth Festival” was fashioned in mixed media by the late Dutch artist Willem van Genk. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, van Genk is deemed one of the leading masters of outsider art. Several more images currently on view at the Museum van de Geest follow:

Dutch artist Piet Schopping — who largely communicates with the world through his drawings — “The Woman,” Mixed technique on canvas, 2016

The late Spanish artist Anselme Boix-Vives, “Bird formation,” Gouache and oil on cardboard, 1964

Dutch artist Derk Wessels — born in 1972 with Down’s syndrome — “My Secret #2,” Crayon on paper

Emotionally impaired, Amsterdam-based artist Evert Panis, “Sunflowers”, Marker on canvas, 2009 

Physically challenged Dutch painter Roel Heijmans, “Lamb of God,” Acrylic on paper, 2015

Located inside the  H’ART Museum, the Amsterdam branch of Museum van de Gees — featuring rotating exhibitions of outsider art — is open daily from 10 AM to 5PM.

Photos of images: Lois Stavsky

Located at the H’ART Museum in Amsterdam, the Outsider Art Galerie features a diverse range of artworks by outsider artists from Amsterdam and beyond. Currently on view is Tap It and It Sings featuring work by 14 artists associated with Reakt Den Hague, an organization that supports people who are facing mental health issues.

The expressive, psychedelic drawing featured above was fashioned by Voorburg-born, multidisciplinary, artist Raphaël Ranôt Heckman. What follows are several more images of artworks I captured while visiting the welcoming Outsider Art Galerie:

Also by multidisciplinary artist Raphaël Ranôt Heckman

Netherlands-based artist Marleen Hagenaar — whose paintings and drawings tend to focus on horses and their riders

Dublin-born, Netherlands-based artist Tim Duncan

Netherlands-based multidisciplinary artist Tino van Leeuwen

The elusive Victoria Brown whose puppet is central to her artistry

The exhibition remains on view through March 2 and can be visited Wednesday – Saturday 12 -5 PM at Neerlandiaplein 7, 1018 DR Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Note: The 14 artists featured in this exhibit have created a print-on-demand book in collaboration with Maldoracca – an artist initiative by Ibrahim R. Ineke and Anthony Blokdijk.

Photos of artworks: Lois Stavsky