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The Pearl City Clay House will welcome artist Kenneth Labuskes for A Personal Mythos, a solo exhibition opening today with a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m.
The exhibition will remain on view through Oct. 16.
The exhibition follows Labuskes' recognition as Best in Show at ArtScape Jamestown 2025 for his painting Earth Goddess. As part of that award, Labuskes received the opportunity to present a solo exhibition at Pearl City Clay House.
A Personal Mythos brings together a collection of paintings that combine mythology, imagination, everyday observations and humor. Labuskes builds his work around what he describes as the classic elements of art: color, shape, line and texture, layering imagery and detail to invite viewers further into each piece.
"Some images are from mythology, some from my imagination," Labuskes said in his artist statement. "I do not know where the characters come from. They are a response to my everyday life, things I see and ideas that occur to me. Sometimes they are there to make me laugh."
Among the works featured in the exhibition is Labuskes' Elemental Goddess series, including Air Goddess, Fire Goddess, Water Goddess, Earth Goddess and Aether Goddess.
Labuskes developed the series around the idea of five elemental goddesses, creating the works in a style reminiscent of Gustav Klimt. By placing specific limits on the project, he found that the paintings developed with more structure than much of his other work.
The larger exhibition moves beyond the Goddess series to explore an eclectic cast of subjects and characters, from animals and insects to figures drawn from mythology and Labuskes' own imagination. Works range from playful pieces such as Magic Bunny and Zen Kitty to Three Graces, Juggler, Memento Mori and others, reflecting the mix of humor, symbolism, vivid color and layered detail found throughout Labuskes' work.
Today's reception will be hosted at the Pearl City Clay House, 220 E. Second St., Jamestown.