The International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) announces the official opening of the 2021 Juried Gallery Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois at the Zhou B Art Center on Saturday, June 19, 2021. 

There will be two Divisions - The 6th Master Circle, and The 38th Open. The exhibition will run through July 18, 2021. An awards reception will be held on Friday, June 18 from 5 – 9 pm, however, due to COVID-19 there is a limited number allowed to attend. Contact Red Weber at 781-563-4045 or email redweberiaps@gmail.com should you wish to attend the reception. 

A closing reception will take place on Friday, July 16, 5 – 9 pm. Details will follow. 

The Zhou B. Art Center website will maintain updated visitor information on their website for visiting restrictions and limitations during the run of the exhibition. 

IAPS is a non-profit organization representing pastel societies worldwide, united in the common goal of the promotion and support of the fine art of pastel. As the international organization representing these societies as their members, IAPS represents thousands of artists worldwide. The 2021 Juried Gallery Exhibition features the best pastel artists working today in this medium. This exhibition received over 1000 entries to the exhibition from countries including China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, France, Taiwan, Canada and the United States with 175 paintings selected. 

Jurors for this exhibition were New York-based National Academy artist Jimmy Wright, president of the Pastel Society of America, Halla Shafey, a multiple-award-winning pastel artist who has exhibited extensively in her home country of Egypt and beyond, and Ray Hassard, an Ohio based award-winning artist working in both pastel and oil. 

Frederick D. Somers of Minnesota is serving as the Judge of Awards. Somers has been a professional artist since 1975. He holds an MFA in painting from the University of Iowa and a BFA from the University of Omaha.  

Groups may request a tour of the exhibition by accomplished local pastel artists with extensive knowledge of the medium and the exhibiting artists. 

For more information, please contact: Lisa Rico lisagrico@comcast.net or Red Weber at contact@iapspastel.org; www.IAPSpastel.org