ArtCenter Unveils 'Delicate Expressions'

Delicate Expressions Ring by Lisa Johnson

(Press Release) Tequesta, Fla., (August 28, 2025) – Lighthouse ArtCenter (LAC) invites the public to experience Delicate Expressions, a whimsical and richly layered exhibition on view from September 11 through November 15, 2025. Featuring 18 playfully photorealistic paintings by award-winning artist Karen Tucker Kuykendall alongside over 50 pieces of contemporary art jewelry selected through a nationwide open call to artists, this exhibition creates a compelling conversation between fine art and personal adornment.

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Located at 373 Tequesta Drive in Tequesta, Lighthouse ArtCenter offers free admission for members and welcomes nonmembers with a suggested $5 donation. The exhibition is presented by Carey Stamp & Co and kicks off with a public Opening Reception on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m., where guests can enjoy signature light bites and meet featured painter Karen Tucker Kuykendall. A second event, the Artists’ Reception on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m., will highlight the jewelry artists selected through the nationwide call and offer visitors a chance to engage with their creative process.
 
At the heart of Delicate Expressions are Kuykendall’s vibrant paintings, which bring Florida’s native flora to life with vivid color and sun-drenched texture. A lifelong resident of the Tampa Bay area, Kuykendall combines scientific precision with imaginative flair—juxtaposing meticulous botanical renderings with whimsical, often surreal elements like doodled cartoons or the deep blue eyes of a Siamese cat. These unexpected details are seamlessly woven into each composition, creating a dynamic interplay between natural realism and playful invention.
 
“Painting is my meditation—my calming grace. I like my images to read like novels, full of layers and subplots, some bold and others more elusive. The balance of realism and surrealism is how I make sense of this chaotic world,” said Karen Tucker Kuykendall.
 
Kuykendall’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the Southeast, including the Tampa Museum of Art, Jacksonville Art Museum, Polk Museum of Art, Museum of Florida Art, and the Morean Arts Center. Her paintings are included in numerous public and corporate collections such as the Florida State Capitol, Rollins College, and the Florida Department of Natural Resources.
 
“This combination of painting and art jewelry in “Delicate Expressions” is a perfect opportunity to see how artists are expanding our ideas about what both jewelry and paintings can be, and how each medium can uniquely tell stories with surprising twists and details, ” said Lighthouse ArtCenter Curator Anthony Record.
 
The jewelry artists in the exhibition echo Kuykendall’s attention to detail and narrative richness. Selected through an open call, their work explores the idea of “delicate expressions” through the lens of intimacy, nature, and personal storytelling. These finely crafted pieces highlight the artistry of adornment, offering thoughtful reflections on beauty, personal meaning, and the natural world.
 
Lighthouse ArtCenter is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the visual arts, with a mission to inspire, engage, and connect the community through a vibrant school of art, unique exhibitions, and diverse special events. The ArtCenter offers 16 outreach programs providing free art classes to underserved youth and adults—including veterans, individuals with special needs, seniors, and children who may not otherwise have access to the arts. Community art classes are offered in Ceramics, Drawing, Glass, Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, and Textiles & Fiber. For more information about upcoming classes, exhibitions, and events, visit lighthousearts.org.