Experience an Evening of Art, Music, and Community at the Art League of Ocean City’s Free First Friday Opening on Aug. 7

OCEAN CITY, MD — July 31, 2026 — The Art League of Ocean City invites the public to a free opening reception on First Friday, August 7, 2026, 5-7 p.m., at the Ocean City Center for the Arts, 94th St. bayside. The public is invited to attend this free event with refreshments and complimentary hors d’oeuvres sponsored by Structure Custom Homes and Surfhouse Properties—live music by The Papers.

The Thaler Gallery presents a collaborative exhibition by father-and-son Berlin artists Kevin and Evan Fitzgerald, featuring both individual works and collaborative paintings. While Kevin is known for his atmospheric landscapes and Evan for his imaginative figurative works exploring identity through symbolic adornment, both artists examine humanity's connection to the natural world. The exhibition also celebrates more than a century of the Fitzgerald family's artistic legacy, spanning four generations of accomplished artists.

​“An exhibit like this shows what extraordinary, national talent we have on the Eastern Shore,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League, said. “Kevin’s and Evan’s artwork is of a very high caliber, a testament to their dedication and constant practice of their craft as well as to their very individual and unique visions.”

The annual Beverly Bassford Memorial Juried Group Show continues through August 15 in the Sisson Galleria, featuring 60 outstanding juried works by talented artists.

Studio E features Water Water Everywhere, with paintings by Pauline Rakis and Galina Kolosovskaya. Rakis is known for vibrant abstract and mixed-media works inspired by color and discovery. Russian-born Kolosovskaya creates delicate floral and bird paintings, drawing on her fine arts background and lifelong passion for nature and wildlife.

The Schwab Spotlight Gallery features the abstract artwork of Gregg Rosner. A self-taught artist, Rosner works in watercolor, oil, and acrylic while experimenting with unconventional materials, including surf wax on black paper. His multidisciplinary creative practice also includes woodworking, photography, and filmmaking.

The Felber Artisan Showcase features Greg Cwalina, a Maryland artist who transforms fly-fishing feathers and UV resin into distinctive jewelry inspired by nature and the seashore. A lifelong fly fisherman, educator, and conservation advocate, Cwalina has exhibited throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania and was honored in 2024 by the Izaak Walton League of America.

Art shows at the Art League’s satellite galleries continue in August. Kathy Denk exhibits her work at the Coffee Beanery on 94th St. and Coastal Hwy. Mason D’Aleo, Artists Paint OC-Plein Air 2026 painter, shows her freshly painted artwork in the Princess Royale lobby, 9100 Coastal Hwy. 

Exhibits at the Arts Center run through August 30, except the Beverly Bassford Show that ends on August 15 for the installation of the “Artists Paint OC Festival” paintings. More information about the exhibits can be found at OCart.org, on the Art League’s app, or by calling 410-524-9433. 

The Art League of Ocean City is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting artistic expression and appreciation for the creative arts in our community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs, and community art projects. Funding is provided in part by the Worcester County Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council, and the National Endowment of the Arts, organizations dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.