Kramer’s solo show explores womanhood, memory and identity

Art League Gallery will present Icons and Tidal Pools, a solo exhibition by award-winning artist Valerie Kramer, from August 26th through September 26th.

Kramer’s latest work blends stained-glass motifs with modern portraiture, featuring female figures framed in luminous halos and layered symbolism. The mixed-media series explores themes of womanhood, memory and identity, offering a reflective look at life transitions and the spiritual resonance of middle age.

“I’ve always asked the question, who am I and what do I represent?” Kramer said. “If it draws the viewer in to stop and think, that is the greatest compliment.”

A lifelong artist and educator, Kramer holds a BFA and MFA from the University of Cincinnati. She spent 17 years as a professor of fine arts at Defiance College in Ohio and has exhibited widely across the Midwest and Southeast. Her work has been featured in juried shows at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Sarasota Art Center and ArtSpace in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kramer cites Wayne Thiebaud, Richard Diebenkorn and Edward Hopper among her influences, shaping a a body of work that is both visually arresting and deeply personal.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, August 27th, from 5 to 7 p.m., and a gallery talk is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9th, at 2:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Art League Gallery is located inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina at 14 Shelter Cove Lane. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Art League of Hilton Head is the island’s only nonprofit visual arts organization with both a gallery and teaching academy. The gallery showcases work by more than 250 local member artists, with new exhibits each month. The Art League Academy, located at 106 Cordillo Parkway, offers classes and workshops in various media for artists of all skill levels.

For more information, visit ArtLeagueHHI.org or call 843-681-5060.