The Arkansas Arts Council's annual touring visual arts exhibition, Small Works on Paper, will open May 5 at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain at 1100 College Drive in Mena.

The artwork will be on view in the Carver Grand Hall of the Ouachita Center from Monday, May 5, through Wednesday, May 28. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A reception will be held at 10 a.m. May 8, Thursday.

Small Works on Paper is a juried visual art exhibition that showcases artwork no larger than 18- by-24 inches. Now in its 38th year, the exhibition showcases artwork by Arkansas artists. Most works will be available for sale with all proceeds benefiting the artists. This year’s exhibition features 40 pieces of artwork by 35 Arkansas artists. The exhibition will tour to nine venues statewide.

This year's Small Works on Paper entries were juried by Mario A. Robinson, a full-time professional artist based in New Jersey. Originally from Oklahoma, Robinson attended the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He is a figurative painter who works in pastel, watercolor and oils. He is the author of "Lessons in Realistic Watercolor," a comprehensive guide of watercolor techniques. Robinson's work is widely collected by private and public collectors.

As the juror, Robinson reviewed more than 200 artwork entries to select the 40 pieces that are part of the Small Works on Paper exhibition. Of the selected pieces, three artists' works were selected as purchase awards and will become part of the Small Works on Paper permanent collection. The artists receive cash awards that are equivalent to the value of their artwork. Artwork by the following artists were selected for purchase awards: Jennifer Barnett and Derek Slagle, both of Little Rock, and Richard Stephens of Hot Springs.   

Participating artists in the 2025 exhibition:

Jennifer Barnett, Little Rock

Maria Botti Villegas, El Dorado

Susan Chambers, Little Rock

Nathan Cook, Conway

Laura Dowling, Little Rock

L.S. Eldridge, Rogers

Sean Fitzgibbon, Fayetteville

Terra Fondriest, St. Joe

Kaci Hazen, Magnolia

Dani Ives, Rogers

Shabana Kauser, Fayetteville

Alexia Lams, Pine Bluff

Will Lang, Russellville

Melissa "Mo" Lashbrook, Cabot

Rhaelene Lowther, Magnolia

Kiaya Luper, Van Buren

Dennis McCann, Maumelle

Cheryl McMickle, Marianna

David McRoberts, Sherwood

David Mudrinich, Russellville

Lo Patt, Little Rock

David Rackley, Russellville

Robert Reep, Little Rock

Lynn Reinbolt, Searcy

Krista Schoening, Little Rock

Kasten Searles, Little Rock

Trevor Segraves, Siloam Springs

Gary Simmons, Hot Springs

Derek Slagle, Little Rock

Richard Stephens, Hot Springs

Lam Tze Sheung, Little Rock

Equilla Walker, Little Rock

Carissa Watson, North Little Rock

Steven Wise, Rogers

Mark Wittig, Sherwood

For more information about Small Works on Paper, contact Cheri Leffew, special projects/events manager, at 501-324-9767 or at [email protected]. To read more or see a list of venues for Small Works on Paper, visit www.ArkansasArts.org.