Newton Art Association

11/02/2026

Calling all NAA Members! Join us at the next Meet & Mingle for a panel of four artists who will share how they got their work out into the world. You’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known sooner.

You’ll also leave with a list of over 50 places to land a solo or group show. And you’ll meet other artists who understand exactly what you’re going through. Come curious. Leave with a plan.

Meet & Mingle: “Where to Exhibit your Art”
Tuesday, November 10, 7-8:30pm
Brigham House (20 Hartford Rd. Newton Highlands)

10/30/2026

🚨Don't miss these calls for art!🚨

"In Harmony" at the Attacca School of Music in Belmont is accepting submissions through Sunday, November 1st. This call is now open to ALL NAA members and the entry fee is waived!

The Wakelin Room exhibit at the Wellesley Library is accepting submission through Friday, November 6th. This call does not have a specific theme - it is open to your individual style and we are looking forward to presenting a diverse and engaging collection of artwork.

Click the link in the bio (member login required) and submit your images now! Opportunities like these art calls are just some of the many benefits open to NAA members, and it's never too late to join -

10/29/2026

Last Thursday, we celebrated the Rhythm of Life exhibition at the Cooper Center for Active Living in Newton, MA. We were honored to have jurors Christina An and Robin Hicks from to present the exhibition awards!

Congratulations to our award winners:
1st Place - Ellen Foust
2nd Place - Linda Rinearson
3rd Place - Garrow Throop
Honorable Mentions: Margo Ezekiel, Gail Hansen, Christina Yee

We are delighted for these artists as well as all the members who participated in this annual show. All exhibition artwork can be viewed and purchased on the NAA website - and be sure to visit the exhibition in person before it ends on Nov 30th.

10/27/2026

10/18/2026

This Thursday, NAA will present awards for the “Rhythm of Life” exhibition at The Cooper Center for Active Living in Newton. We are so fortunate to have a wonderful collaborator in The New Art Center New Art Center Newton MA , with Christina An and Robin Hicks serving as jurors for this season’s exhibition. Thank you Christina and Robin and we hope everyone will join us at Thursday’s presentation!

Christina An, PhD, is Executive Director of the New Art Center. An art historian and educator, she began her career teaching elementary school through Teach For America and has since worked at Boston University and the BU Art Galleries, the Cantor Art Gallery, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She currently serves as District Chair for Creative Arts and Sciences for Newton Public Schools. She holds a BA from Stanford University and an MA and PhD from Boston University, and her doctoral research on Vermeer has been featured in recent Rijksmuseum publications. A longtime Newton resident and former New Art board member, Christina believes art is best when shared and accessible to all.

Robin’s interest in fine art began in childhood but blossomed into a true passion in adulthood. Using traditional oil painting techniques, she captures everyday subjects, exploring how light, shadow, color, and pattern transform ordinary objects. Through meticulous attention to detail, she invites viewers to look more closely, sparking curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the beauty found in everyday life.

After 26 years as a pediatrician, she traded her stethoscope for a paintbrush to embrace life as an artist. The same enthusiasm she brought to medicine and child development now fuels her creative journey. Just as every child is unique, so is every painting.

She is currently studying at the Academy of Realist Art in Boston and has previously trained at the Compass Atelier School in Kensington, Maryland, and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. Her artistic journey began at the New Art Center in Newton, where she continues to take classes and serves on the Board of Governors.

10/15/2026

Join us on Thursday, October 22 from 6-8 PM at the Cooper Center for Active Living in Newton - we will celebrate the Rhythm of Life award winners, share NAA updates and connect with fellow artists and supporters. Come see incredible art and support all of our participating artists, while enjoying live music and light refreshments!

We are grateful to our exhibition jurors, Christina An (Executive Director) and Robin Hicks (Board President) from The New Art Center for lending their time and talent to jury this year's show. Thank you also to the Cooper Center for Active Living and Town of Newton for providing this lively and welcoming venue for our exhibition.

10/14/2026

Did you miss last week's NAA Artist Demo with landscape artist Mitchell Albala? NAA members can now view the Zoom recording on the NAA website.

Not a member? Click the link in our bio to learn more about member benefits and to join our community - the associate level starts at $20/year, and students are always free.

In this 1.5 hr demo, Mitchell took us through exercises to develop semi-abstraction in our artwork, followed by lively Q&A and critique. Some of these concepts and more are covered Mitchell's upcoming new book "New Lessons in Landscape Painting" (mitchalbala.com)

We know we'll be revisiting this recording as we put these exercises and techniques into practice! Thank you for a wonderful presentation!

10/13/2026

Since 2010, Keyes Drug in Auburndale has welcomed NAA artists to share our work with the community in their storefront gallery. We are delighted to highlight this month's exhibition from NAA artist Helen Makadia!

Helen Makadia is an artist and conceptual photographer who creates photographs by applying abstraction using in-camera and post production techniques to explore many themes, including time.

From the artist: "My photographs present an altered reality that transcends the reality our eyes see. They invite you, the viewer, to intertwine your interpretation with my creation. These photographs may remind you of something familiar, may jog a memory, or may even trigger an emotion. I welcome you to enjoy these images using your own imagination of what you see in them." Follow for more.

09/30/2026

🚨 Our next demo is October 8! Free and open to all - join us on Zoom:

All painting, both representational and abstract, employs the same formal elements — things like shape, pattern, color, composition, and movement. In this special presentation, landscape painter, instructor, and landscape painter, instructor, and bestselling author Mitchell Albala Mitchell Albala will discuss how those formal elements are prioritized differently in abstract and semi-abstract paintings than they are in representational work. The talk includes a slide presentation followed by Q&A and discussion. Also discussed will be the “Playbook,” a practice that encourage one to focus more on ideas than “things.” The focus will be on semi-abstract works that blend representation and abstraction, offering insight into where representation leaves off and abstraction begins.

09/28/2026

Another great Meet & Mingle!

This time, we talked all about critique groups — what they are, how they can help us grow as artists, how often groups might meet, what actually happens during a critique, and how to go about forming a group of your own.

And now there’s a chance to experience one firsthand!

Cindy Cole has generously offered to host two critique group sessions at her home for NAA members who are curious about how they work. One session is already almost full, but there’s still room in the second:

📅 October 13
⏰ 2–4 PM

If you’ve never participated in a critique group and would like to see what it’s all about, this is a great opportunity to give it a try.

Interested? Members can email [email protected] to sign up! Space is limited. Not a member? Join at 🔗 in bio.