COMMUNITY by Marie Riccio
March 4–28, 2026
Marie Riccio, Community/ Glacier, oil on board, 12 x 48 inches
Reception: Thursday, March 5, 6–8 PM
Artist Talk: Saturday, March 28, 3–5 PM
FIRST STREET GALLERY is pleased to present “COMMUNITY” a series of still life paintings by Marie Riccio on view March 4–28, 2026 with a reception on Thursday, March 5, 6–8pm and an artist talk on Saturday, March 28, 3–5pm.
Marie Riccio’s still life oil paintings use objects as stand-ins intended to create a community of relationships and color—individual forms gathered together, dependent on one another for meaning and survival within the work. When placed in close proximity the objects enter into quiet conversation, suggesting cooperation, protection, and shared resilience with edges sometimes meeting and close spaces wrapped in protective material and hidden shadows. In hostile or uncertain environments survival is not an individual act but a collective one and these arrangements reflect that necessity.
Color plays a central role in establishing unity for Riccio. Through repeated hues, subtle variations, and shared tonal relationships, she uses color to act as a binding force that connects separate forms into a cohesive whole. Even when objects differ in size, shape, and color it’s the relationships that allow them to inhabit the same world, reinforcing the idea that unity does not require sameness.
Riccio works from direct observation and in many of these works she has painted with a restricted palette, pared down to see how deeply relationships can reinforce unity and support.
Riccio will be present at the reception on Thursday, March 5, 6–8pm and at the gallery on Saturday, March 28, 3–5pm for an informal talk about her work and will be available to answer any questions you may have about the exhibit. You can listen to more about Riccio’s work and the “Community” exhibit on an episode of the podcast Creative Contemplation to be released mid-February.
To view more of Riccio’s work visit First Street Gallery’s website HERE or, visit www.mariericcio.com. For inquiries contact the gallery or mariericcio42@gmail.com.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 11am—6 pm.
