Echoes of Plein Air:
Cincinnati Reimagined
Opens November 5th, 2026
Do you love Cincinnati, its artistic history, and the traditions that have shaped the city's cultural identity?
On Thursday, November 5, Eisele Gallery invites you to experience Echoes of Plein Air: Cincinnati Reimagined, an exhibition bringing together six contemporary Cincinnati artists in conversation with the city's artistic past.
For this exhibition, each artist blindly chose a historical painting depicting a recognizable Cincinnati location. Rather than simply reproducing the original composition, these artists were challenged to revisit the location and create something entirely their own, drawing inspiration from three sources: the historical painting, the location as it exists today, and their own artistic vision.
The result is a collection of new paintings that explore how Cincinnati has changed, what has endured, and how contemporary artists continue to interpret the city that inspired generations before them.
But the conversation doesn't end with the paintings. Throughout the process, we are filming a documentary series featuring each of the six artists, capturing their thoughts, creative decisions, and personal interpretations of their assigned historical works. Through individual interviews, we explore how each artist approaches the original painting, how they respond to the location as it stands today, and the artistic conversation that develops between the past, the present, and their own canvas. These documentaries will give viewers an opportunity to hear directly from the artists and gain a deeper understanding of the ideas, challenges, and discoveries behind each painting.
Looking to add a work of art to your collection that connects present-day Cincinnati to its remarkable artistic history? Each artist's completed painting will be available for purchase, along with the numerous preliminary studies and sketches they created while exploring their assigned locations. These studies offer collectors a unique opportunity to see the artistic process unfold, from the earliest observations of a familiar Cincinnati setting to the development of the finished composition. Whether you're interested in a major painting or a smaller study, the exhibition offers a range of original works that connect Cincinnati's present to its artistic past.
Through the accompanying documentaries, collectors will also have the opportunity to learn the stories behind these works directly from the artists who created them, making each painting and study more than a representation of a place, but part of an ongoing conversation about Cincinnati's history and artistic identity.
Meet the Artists
Nate Flanagan
Joseph Henry Sharp, Fountain Square Pantomime, 1892 (Cincinnati Art Museum)
Known for his energetic brushwork, expressive use of color, and ability to capture the atmosphere of urban life, Flanagan brings a contemporary perspective to Cincinnati's historic Fountain Square. His assigned painting, Sharp's Fountain Square Pantomime, captures the bustling activity of the city's commercial center in the late nineteenth century.
Brad Davis
E. T. Hurley, Garfield Park, 1917 (Cincinnati Art Museum)
Davis approaches landscape painting with a sensitivity to light, color, and the atmosphere of familiar places. His historical counterpart, E. T. Hurley, documented Cincinnati's urban landscape through his distinctive artistic vision. Davis revisits the site of Garfield Park, considering the changes in the city's physical landscape and its continuing relationship with the past.
Caroline Augusta Lord, Rookwood Pottery, C. 1910 (Cincinnati Museum Center)
Chetverikova's paintings demonstrate a careful attention to composition, light, and the character of her subjects. Her assigned work by Caroline Augusta Lord depicts Rookwood Pottery, one of Cincinnati's most celebrated artistic institutions. Through this historical connection, Chetverikova explores a location deeply rooted in the city's legacy of artistic innovation and craftsmanship.Ellina Chetverikova
Lewis Henry Meakin, Eden Park, c. 1900 (Cincinnati Art Museum)
Grounded in academic training and a strong command of drawing, composition, and traditional painting techniques, Luschek brings a thoughtful approach to his subjects. His historical painting, Lewis Henry Meakin's Eden Park, connects him to one of Cincinnati's most beloved landscapes and an important figure in the city's artistic history.Richard Luschek
Tony Lipps
Myer Abel, Mount Adams, 1934 (Cincinnati Art Museum)
Lipps's work reflects a strong connection to the Cincinnati landscape, with an emphasis on the distinctive character of its neighborhoods and architecture. His assigned painting by Myer Abel depicts Mount Adams, one of the city's most recognizable historic neighborhoods. His interpretation places the neighborhood's present-day appearance in dialogue with Abel's earlier vision.Pam Folsom
Frank Harmon Myers, In the Park, 1927 (Cincinnati Art Museum)
Folsom brings an expressive understanding of landscape, color, and atmosphere to her work. Her assigned historical painting, Frank Harmon Myers's In the Park, offers a glimpse into Cincinnati's outdoor spaces as they were experienced by an earlier generation. Folsom's contemporary response considers the continuing role of these spaces in the city's identity.