Circus Play
November 25 – December 19, 2026
Reception: Thursday, December 3, from 6–8pm
Carrie B. Belk, Harlequins, oil on wood panel, 36 x 36 inches, 2025
First Street Gallery proudly presents Circus Play, Carrie B. Belk’s debut solo exhibition at the gallery. The paintings will be on view from November 25 through December 19, 2026, with an opening reception on Thursday, December 3, from 6 to 8pm.
Belk’s latest body of work honors her commitment to abstraction while acknowledging the connections observers draw from their own lived experiences and most vivid memories, whether joyous, grievous, tumultuous, or absurd. These paintings present half-glimpsed moments and protagonists, chased through layers of color and acrobatic contortions of abstract form. Movement, balance, and surprise invite the eye to wander—and the imagination to make discoveries.
Belk treats abstraction as a dynamic language, inviting viewers into a visual dialogue shaped by form, light, and shadow. The interplay of opposing and complementary shapes generates an undercurrent of tension and movement. Her work thrives on contrast: line against wash, sharp edges and textures against softer planes, foreground elements in conversation with depth. Rendered in hues ranging from subtle to bold, the paintings reveal themselves gradually. More than visual spectacles, they are emotive landscapes where the calculated and the intuitive converge, bridging traditional technique and contemporary expression. Firmly rooted in color abstraction, they nonetheless flirt with visual allegory, teasing the observer.
More of Ms. Belk’s work can be seen at carriebelk.com and on Instagram at @carriebbelk. For press inquiries, please contact the gallery at (646) 336-8053 or info@firststreetgallery.org.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm
