The Unseen Emotional Landscape: Emma Kalff’s “Searcher”

The arrival of a new painting at 33PA is always a moment of anticipation, but the latest addition from Emma Kalff feels particularly resonant. Titled “Searcher” (2026), this oil on panel work is a striking example of Kalff’s ability to bridge the gap between the physical reality of the American West and the internal, often unseen, emotional worlds we inhabit.

A Cinematic Glimpse into the Inner World

Measuring an expansive 10 × 24 3/4 inches, “Searcher” utilizes a panoramic format that immediately evokes a cinematic quality. The composition features a central figure—a man in a muted green shirt—whose gaze is fixed on something just beyond the frame. Behind him, the rugged, sun-drenched landscape of the West, complete with a natural rock arch, serves as more than just a backdrop; it becomes a metaphor for the vastness of the human psyche.

Kalff’s work is often described as a distillation of everyday life, filtered through the lenses of memory, emotion, and dreams. In “Searcher,” this distillation is evident in the way she handles light and color. The sky is a clear, yet soft blue, and the earth tones of the rock formations are rendered with a precision that speaks to her classical training under American realist painter Auseklis Ozols.

The Artist’s Journey: From Farms to Fine Art

Emma Kalff’s path to becoming a recognized "Artist to Watch" (as noted by Plein Air Magazine in 2023) is as compelling as her paintings. After her training at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Kalff spent 2018 and 2019 traveling across the United States, working on various farms. This period of labor and exploration birthed her Finding America series, which eventually led to her first solo show in Telluride, Colorado, in 2020.

Now based in Ridgway, Colorado, Kalff continues to explore the line between realism and surrealism. Her work has been featured in prestigious publications such as Southwest Art (as part of their “21 Under 31” list), American Art Collector, and Aesthetica.

"Her paintings are a genuine exploration of the beauty and despair of our inner worlds. She paints aspects of ordinary life as a way of giving voice to the unseen emotional world that lies beneath our physical reality." — 33PA Gallery

Why "Searcher" Matters

In an era of rapid-fire digital imagery, Kalff’s work demands a slower, more contemplative engagement. “Searcher” is not just a painting of a man in a landscape; it is an invitation to consider what we are all searching for in our own lives. Whether it is a sense of belonging, a moment of peace, or a deeper understanding of our surroundings, Kalff’s "Searcher" stands as a quiet, powerful sentinel for the human experience.

We invite you to experience this remarkable new arrival at 33PA. For those looking to expand their collection with a piece that offers both technical mastery and emotional depth, “Searcher” is a must-see.

To view the full details of the painting and learn more about Emma Kalff’s work, visit Artsy.

Los Ojos Que Ven": A Solo Exhibition by Sara Scribner →

33 Contemporary Presents "Los Ojos Que Ven": A Solo Exhibition by Sara Scribner

LAKE WORTH, FL — 33 Contemporary is proud to announce Los Ojos Que Ven (The Eyes That See), a solo exhibition of new works by acclaimed figurative painter Sara Scribner. The exhibition will be on view from March 29 through December 31, 2026 on Artsy and for a limited time at the gallery’s Lake Worth/Palm Beach location.

In Los Ojos Que Ven, Scribner presents a series of evocative portraits that explore the intersection of classical realism and symbolic narrative. The title, which translates to "The Eyes That See," serves as a thematic anchor for a body of work that invites viewers to look beyond the surface and engage with the deeper, often unspoken, dimensions of the human experience.

"I have long been drawn to symbolism, and to the eye as a vessel of meaning," says Scribner. "Symbols act as a quiet bridge between human beings, carrying shared understanding across time, culture, and language. They allow us to recognize ourselves in one another, to communicate what is felt but not easily spoken, and to find connection in images that resonate on a deeply human level."

The exhibition features Scribner’s signature technique of oil on aluminum, a medium that lends a luminous, ethereal quality to her subjects. Her portraits often incorporate celestial motifs, halos, and intricate symbolic details that elevate the figures into a realm of quiet divinity. Through this work, Scribner explores the possibility of communion with a "higher self"—a presence rooted in stillness, offering unconditional love and clarity.

Los Ojos Que Ven is more than a collection of portraits; it is an invitation to a gentle awakening. Scribner’s soft and steady gaze, turned toward the self, encourages the viewer to recognize the quiet truths that reside within.

About Sara Scribner

Born in 1982 in Fremont, California, Sara Scribner is a Colorado-based figurative painter known for her ability to blend classical techniques with whimsical, narrative-driven themes. She earned her BFA in painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2005. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the United States and Europe, earning her a reputation as a significant voice in contemporary realism.

About 33 Contemporary

33 Contemporary is a premier art gallery located in Lake Worth/Palm Beach. The gallery is dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists who push the boundaries of their respective mediums while maintaining a strong connection to technical excellence and narrative depth.

Exhibition Details:

•Title: Los Ojos Que Ven

•Artist: Sara Scribner

•Dates: March 29 – December 31, 2026

•Location: 33 Contemporary, 500 N Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth/ Palm Beach, FL, 33460

More Notes on Moments of Gesture

Notes on Moments of Gesture
by John Hughes

Nadia Ferrante

Finally I love myself, 2026

White pastel, green pastel, charcoal on cotton paper tonalized with cadmium red

17 × 30 in | 43.2 × 76.2 cm

The work of many serious painters today—those we might loosely call representational or figurative—is aligned by their common bobbing in the same moment of the day. Alive at the same time, they inevitably survey the same interconnected cultural scenery, the same mortal and existential anxieties, and they seek similar solaces through the unique craft that is making art.

The poet Wallace Stevens once said of poetry that “it must give pleasure,” and that is one criterion here as well. Yes—simple, hedonistic pleasure: the aesthetic appreciation of something too often dismissed or mistrusted, what we call Beauty. We see this first at the most immediate level—in the colors and forms present in these works. The quality of the work one observes when looking up the artists’ names is, in one sense, overwhelming, and in another sense not.

As I confided to Didi after a first perusal: “My gosh, these are serious workers.” The obsession, the diligence, the pursuit of the art—the craft both technical and emotive—is evident everywhere. One can tangibly see how figurative realism has absorbed the lessons of photography, cinema, existential thought, psychology, and hyperrealism. All of these cultural forces are sublimated into the elemental gesture of the brushstroke as it walks the line between intention and something more Delphic—something given.

When I observe one of these paintings—say, a portrait of a face, or a study of the way light passes through a glass marble—it can feel as if the whole of contemporary consciousness is faintly implied within it. These artworks carry an awareness of the observer that is particular to our time. They have absorbed the lessons of abstraction. They are not traditional in any simple sense, yet they clearly derive from very traditional lineages. One can sound very high-minded, even philosophical, writing about these paintings. But one could also say more bluntly: in their various genres and modes, they bring pleasure.

They have no problem being as beautiful or compelling as a page from Vogue or a magazine cover. Yet they move beyond that surface appeal precisely because the abstract mechanics of paint—pigment itself, whether oil, pastel, chalk, crayon, or pen—can at any moment pierce through the illusion of representation and assert itself.

If we look at paintings such as those by Nadia Ferrante, the imagery is clearly inflected by the surrounding culture. The poses feel cinematic, almost photographic. Yet more fundamentally they are crafted out of pigment, manually, by hand and eye. In that sense the painting becomes a reclamation by the organic of the technological. Likewise, in the expressions of the faces, we can faintly detect the traces of personality—each “who they are.” Each time that implied personality leaps forth as unmistakably contemporary, belonging to the present moment.

Even the lines of a face carry the history of countless micro-expressions, sensitive reactions formed within the very situation we ourselves inhabit: the shared condition of being alive together.

Patricia Schappler

Daughters and their Stories, 2026

Oil on board

9 3/4 × 8 in | 24.8 × 20.3 cm

A similar phenomenon appears in paintings such as those by Patricia Schappler. In the expressions of the faces there is something ineffably contemporary. We recognize these people almost unconsciously. That recognition exists entirely because of how the painter has made the face. This is craft in the service of art. It is the art of the possible, even as it hints at transcendence—or immanence (and what is the difference?).

The people are rendered in a style that understands how viewers today live amid a steady diet of media, photographs, images, and shifting valences of light and color. Through the craft of the painter, all of these visual languages are imported, reconstituted, and returned to us. In that process, the painting answers the curiosity of the viewer—their capacity to respond, to feel, to be alive. Good painting calls to life.

Alexandra Telgmann | Water as the Inspiration

Alexandra Telgmann specializes in the natural interaction between the female form and the element of water. The deep connection between the artist and the sea is visible in many of her paintings. For her, the sea is a decelerating place of power that creates inner peace and at the same time reflects states of consciousness of one’s own life.

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

My art aims to forge a deep connection between nature and the view- er, inspiring awareness and conservation of our environment. I draw inspiration from the natural element of water, capturing the beauty, power, and adaptability of marine life and the female form in the ocean. Through my paintings, I hope to evoke a sense of serenity and strength, encouraging people to pause, reflect, and appreciate the world beneath the surface. By highlighting this connection, I aim to foster a deeper appreciation for the ocean and its protection.

Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
Connecting with artists worldwide is a significant part of my life. Through international exhibitions, workshops in Europe, a scholar- ship in Rome, and social media, I’ve met amazing artists who share my passion. This network provides valuable support and insights on techniques, galleries, and exhibitions. I especially appreciate the 33 Contemporary/Poet Artists community led by Didi Menendez, which offers unwavering support and fosters connections among artists. This community has been a source of encouragement and inspiration, helping me stay motivated and engaged in my work. It’s wonderful to connect with others, especially since we often work alone. I’m truly grateful for everyone’s support and the sense of camaraderie it brings to my personal and professional life.

What is the best advice you have received in your career?

To become what you want to be, you must be patient with yourself and others. Stay focused, and understand that time, combined with discipline and dedication, will reveal new directions to both yourself and those around you. The best advice I’ve received in my career is to remain focused on my goals despite obstacles or setbacks. Envision the goal and work toward it day by day.

Has the press or media ever mentioned your artwork?

I’m very grateful for the interest the press has shown in my art- work. Earlier this year, I was honored to be a finalist in the NTD International Figure Painting Competition, which included an ex-

hibition at the Salmagundi Art Club in New York, USA. This recog- nition led to interviews and features on platforms like the Epoch Times and on TV, where one of my statements was broadcast on the news. My work has also been showcased in magazines such as American Art Collector and Fine Art Connoisseur, and featured in various newspaper articles in northern and central Germany.

As my visibility in the media grows, I feel it’s essential to use my voice to engage the audience in a deeper conversation about our connec- tion with art, nature, and the importance of its conservation. Through my art, I aim to inspire a greater appreciation for the beauty and signif- icance of the natural world, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the environment and to find a beautiful pause from the hustle and bustle of life through mindful observation.

Describe a piece of art you are most proud of. Why?

When starting a painting, we never know how it will resonate with the world; it begins as an idea brought to life on the canvas. One piece I’m particularly proud of is my shark series. For me, sharks symbolize strength, power, and focus. My second shark painting, titled Golden Ocean Reflection Shark, features a shark moving gracefully through the ocean waters. The sun’s reflection on the surface is depicted with 24-carat gold leaf, creating an intense and captivating shimmer. This reflection also forms a beautiful pattern on the shark’s body, which I love to paint and observe.

This painting holds special significance for me because it embodies personal strength and connection with the ocean’s beauty and its creatures. It was the first painting from my collection to be included in the Lunar Codex, stored on the Moon thanks to 33 Contemporary gallery. You can also find it for sale on Artsy. This painting is dear to me because it represents a journey from the depths of the ocean to the Moon, marking a significant milestone in my art career. It also invites viewers to connect with the wonders beneath the ocean’s surface.

ADD TO YOUR ART COLLECTION @ARTSY

Patricia Schappler | Evocative Paintings →

What's the purpose or goal of your work?
Most of my work begins with the desire to share a meaningful image and in that sense, connect with the viewer. I want to create moments of recognition whether through a familiar gesture, a quality of light, or the passage of time which reaches the viewer in a way that remains, so we join within the space of the work as friends.

Which art trends inspire your current work?
I look at contemporary realism and work from centuries past equally, swayed by quality, mood, and conviction. I love pattern and look at textiles from around the world and have been thinking more about connecting the spaces I’m interested in: nature/our planet, animals and the figure.

How do you manage a work-life balance as an artist?
Sometimes managing a work life balance is messy.  I teach drawing and painting, paint out of a home studio, have four adult children just beginning families, and an extended family with both spectrums of newly born and far into the aging process. I exhibit as regularly as possible and don’t when I can’t.  At the moment, I have work at WMOCA, and at the Dunfey exhibit, as well as online with 33 Contemporary. Within the next month, I’ll be exhibiting with Great Bay Community College, New Hampton School, and St Anselms College. Work balances with family, tipping to and fro depending on human needs, but art is a way of living and never far from my thoughts and actions. I have a lot of good energy, prioritizing home and community and within that, finding many subjects and points of inspiration.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of professional art?
I love the process of thinking and doing, creating something from ideas and observations, moving materials in my hand, watching work come to life through methods and processes until something that wasn’t much becomes something satisfying, engaging… shared. The same applies to seeing works and engaging with ideas, feeling enlightened through another persons’ choices. Demands of social media and marketing are time consuming activities and add to pressure over deadlines, time which I’d prefer to spend in the studio.

What are your most valued skills as an artist?
I see with empathy.

Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
I have a small local group of artist friends…we comment on imagery, let each other know when competitions are coming up, try to attend exhibits where we have work from the group, hurrah each others’ wins, and in general help each other to feel a part of something a bit bigger than ourselves. I am also part of several artist associations and groups like PoetsArtists where even if I’ve never met the members, we feel like we know each other from our posts, our art work, our general enthusiasm for each other. 

How can your work affect societal issues?
I’m not making work that directly affects societal issues and yet I cannot make work that isn’t about society, how I am feeling within it, where my concerns lay. I’m a woman, a mother, daughter, wife, instructor, artist, so many labels, but it comes down to creating images as a window into my life giving voice to experiences both of joy and sorrow, and, in the process, discovering domestic and heroic scenes are not dissimilar. I present figures through the lens of wonder and respect, the sharing of stories around themes of family, friendship, home … I believe when we recognize loved ones in others, we remember the best of what it is to be human, so perhaps I’m working on my own quiet revolution that celebrates humanity, resiliency and possibility. 

Pippa Hale-Lynch | Submerged Figures

Pippa Hale-Lynch’s paintings use figures and portraits to capture intimate moments of solitude and grief. She is a contemporary figurative realism artist working primarily with oils. Her works incorporating figures suspended within water capture beauty in fleeting moments of solitude.

More recently she is exploring the theme of grief, stemming from her mother's tragic and untimely death when she was 20. At first glance, the playful use of the sugary jam can be mistaken for blood, a visual representation of the wounds left by the destruction of grief experienced by the sitter.

Pippa uses techniques learned over 12+ years of practice and training in traditional representational drawing and painting. She uses herself, her family, and loved ones as sitters to best reflect the intimacy of the work.

Gabriella Di XX Miglia | 2022 Year in Review

Born in Genoa, Italy, Gabriella Di XX Miglia received her art education at the Ligustica Academy of Fine Arts in Genoa doing studies with Rocco Borella and Mimmo Rotella, then for three years continued her training under Guido Chiti and Palma Viardo. Later she received her Masters Degree in Art Restoration and Conservation. In 1983 Gabriella opened her painting studio in Los Angeles. Esther Robles, a pioneer in California modern art , organized and hosted Gabriella Di XX Miglia first personal exhibit in USA .Gabriella's works have been shown annually in both national and international shows. She was featured in 1984 in The Los Angeles Times, Sunday Home Magazine.

Her paintings are in the collections of private, corporate, and public sectors. In 1985 she was nominated for Guggenheim Fellowship, New York.

Was 2022 a good year for you?

Yes it was

What were some of the highlights in your art career?

I finished writing a book “La Rose de la Mariee” and had it published in Italy, and I had few art shows. I was  a finalist in the International Achievement Award Competition at Camelback Gallery, AZ.

What were some of the pitfalls?

I did not make it as final in many other art competitions.

Did your art sell?

Yes, few pieces from studio and through Abend Gallery annual miniature show.

Were you included in any shows?

Yes, I was included in a show “Pandemic" in Dublin, Irland. In Los Angeles with DabArt and in Denver at Abend Gallery. I was included in  online exhibition with PoetsArtists, had more work listed on Artsy online Gallery.

Were you published in any art magazines or periodicals?

I had an eight pages spread of my art with interview on Observica Art Magazine, issue #18, Winter 2022 and I was in the catalog of the art shows I was in.

How has social media affected your daily practice?

Posting my art and exchanging ideas with other artists puts me into a conversation with my audience, is like having an open studio but it takes away painting time and my followers have not grown on Instagram. I started a page also on TikTok.

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

I want to produce a new series of paintings, build a large portfolio of work, do more shows and keep applying to competitions. I am also practicing daily ink and color drawings on my sketch books and this is a great exercise for me. I am a great believer on keeping practicing and experimenting with new materials and tools.

THE PEREGRINE COLLECTION

Viktoria Savenkova | Experience, 2018 | Oil on Canvas | 39 2/5 × 23 3/5 in | 100 × 60 cm

Yunior Hurtado Torres CIVILIZATION, 2020 | Oil on canvas | 71 × 71 in | 180.3 × 180.3 cm

Vicki Sullivan | Moon Goddess, 2019 | Oil on linen | 17 7/10 × 13 in | 45 × 33 cm

Irvin Rodriguez | Woman In Black, 2015 | Oil on linen | 40 × 30 × 1 in

News Release : On a Time Capsule to the Moon with 1200 Artists and One A.I.

TORONTO, ONTARIO (March 11, 2021) – The Peregrine Collection – an assembly of thousands of creative works by over 1200 creative artists and one A.I. – is headed for the Moon.

Coordinated by Dr. Samuel Peralta, the Artists on the Moon (AOTM) project is joining NASA’s scientific payloads on Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One, the first commercial launch in history, on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket to Lacus Mortis on the lunar surface. Dr. Peralta, a physicist and entrepreneur, is also an author, whose fiction has hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and whose poetry has won awards worldwide.

“I was fourteen on my first launch, an Antares model rocket kit by powered by an Estes solid-propellant engine the size of my thumb,” said Dr. Peralta. “Now we’re on Astrobotic’s lunar lander on a ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket headed for the Moon. Wow.”

The centerpieces of Dr. Peralta’s payload are the 21 volumes of his own Future Chronicles anthologies, all Amazon bestsellers, and 15 PoetsArtists art magazines and exhibition catalogs, one of which he helmed as guest curator for publisher and art curator Didi Menendez. Each individual volume provided scores of curated contemporary art and short stories for the time capsule.

Together with other art books, anthologies, novels, music, and screenplays - including for the short film Real Artists, which won an Emmy® Award in 2019 - he and his colleagues have digitized literally thousands of art and fiction for the trip to the Moon.

Dr. Peralta noted that between AOTM and its sister project, the Writers on the Moon group coordinated by fellow author Dr. Susan Kaye Quinn, several thousand creative artists and writers are now represented for the lunar journey.

“Our hope is that future travelers who find this capsule will discover some of the richness of our world today,” Dr. Peralta said. “It speaks to the idea that, despite wars and pandemics and climate upheaval, humankind found time to dream, time to create art.”

The Peregrine Collection represents creative artists from all over the globe, including from Canada, the US, the U.K., Ireland, Belgium, Australia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and the Philippines. It includes a collaborative human-AI work of poetry between Dr. Peralta and OSUN, an OpenAI-based machine programmed by Sri Lankan author and researcher Yudhanjaya Wijeratne.

The Peregrine Collection is among the most diverse collections of contemporary cultural work assembled for launch into space, and is believed to be the first-ever project to place the work of women artists on the Moon.

The digitized artwork and literature files are contained in two microSD cards, encapsulated in DHL MoonBox capsules. Delivery is by Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander, through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

Launch is scheduled in July 2021 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and the lander will touch down in the Lacus Mortis region of the Moon, marking Earth’s return, and the first mission carrying commercial payloads, to the lunar surface.

About The Peregrine Collection:

The Peregrine Collection brings together the work of 1200 creative artists, and one A.I., on a time capsule to the Moon, via Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander. Digitizing thousands of artworks, stories, and more, it leverages the Astrobotic/DHL MoonBox initiative to bring one of the most expansive cultural collections to space. A project of Incandence under its Artists on the Moon initiative, The Peregrine Collection is headed by payload coordinator and curator Dr. Samuel Peralta.

Website: peregrinecollection.com

About Samuel Peralta:

Physicist, entrepreneur, and storyteller, Samuel Peralta's fiction has hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and his poetry has won awards worldwide, including from the BBC, the UK Poetry Society, and the League of Canadian Poets.

Acclaimed for his Future Chronicles anthologies, he is an art curator, an award-winning composer, and a producer of independent films, including The Fencer, nominated for a Golden Globe®, and Real Artists, winner of an Emmy® Award.

With a Ph.D. in physics and an expansive career, Samuel serves on the board of directors of several firms, and mentors start-ups at the University of Toronto’s ICUBE accelerator.

About the Publications:

The majority of the artworks being digitized and being sent to the moon are from the publications made possible from PoetsArtists creator Didi Menendez. The publishing house is GOSS183. The designers for these are April Carter Grant and/or Didi Menendez. The publications are available to download from www.iartistas.com or buy in print from Amazon, Blurb, and Magcloud.