James Hollan and LaPrea Rich at 49 West

James Hollan Bio

James Francis Hollan is a first generation American born and raised in New York’s Spanish Harlem. He attended college in Washington, DC before moving to Annapolis, Maryland in the late 1960’s. Over time he served in progressively more important management roles ranging from vice president for finance and administration at the University of Maryland to president of the National Child Support Enforcement Association and finally president of the Globalization and Localization Association with offices worldwide. He was appointed to two White House Advisory Commissions, served on several International Trade Missions and was a frequent guest speaker at International Trade Conferences. He retired in 2012 and he now has more time for his art, time to drink better than average wine and time to learn from his wonderful and talented grandchildren.

He is a self taught artist focusing most on mixed media. Since retiring his work has been displayed in more than 40 exhibitions including The Maryland Federation of Art, The Maryland State House, The Lowe House of Delegates, The Arundel Center, Baltimore Washington International Airport, The Martino Gallery at Maryland Hall, Gallery B in Bethesda and Edison Place in Washington, DC. His work is also in several private collections.

Constantly exploring new techniques in art he regularly returns to explorations of his world travels and the people he met along the way. His portraits search for the inner person, the uniqueness of that person and the history of that person. He hopes that you will look at his work and imagine the history of the character you see before you.

James Hollan Artist Statement

This collection is mostly about ordinary people. It happens that they come from different places around the world but they share similar stories, similar experiences. I want part of their life history to come through so that the portrait is more about who they are rather than just the way they look. The heavy use of lines are meant to represent their life experiences – heartbreaks, laughter, the tough times and the joyful gatherings they shared with others.

Look at the face of Mustafa in this collection. He has had to struggle all of his life and I want his portrait to captures that struggle. If you look further in this exhibition you will see that I tried a smaller portrait of him with some texture and color to emphasize these same lines. Somedays I think the black and white portrait is better – some days I prefer the colored. That is part of the artistic process. As a footnote Mustafa was my driver for almost a week in an cranky old Jeep Mahindra when I was on a Trade Mission in Uttar Pradesh.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy so I’ve tossed in some lighter material like Post No Bills (part of every New York City neighborhood) and Snowstorm in the City which captures my memory of swirling snows when I was a young boy walking to school.

LaPrea Rich Bio

LaPrea Rich is an Abstract Expressionist from Prince George’s County, MD. She is a dedicated member of the Arlington Artists Alliance, Women’s Caucus for the Arts (DC chapter), Washington Area Lawyers of the Arts and the Maryland Federation of Art. Since embarking on her professional art career, in 2023, she has been selected into ten juried exhibitions, featured intwo editions of the Arts to Hearts Publication (Women Artists On the Rise and The Studio Visit Book Vol. 4). In addition to, participating in over 20+ art shows/festivals, LaPrea also became a semi-finalist in the regional Hilton Hotel Abstract competition, in December 2023.

LaPrea Rich specialty consists of creating acrylic abstract paintings using palette knife techniques. Her artwork explores the relationship between color, texture, and form. She isinspired by the beauty of the natural world, as well as the emotions and experiences that shape our lives. Ultimately, her goal as an Abstract Expressionist is to create artwork that is both visually stunning and emotionally stimulating. She believes that art has the power to inspire, enrich and transform our lives. LaPrea’s art has the power to connect us all to something greater than ourselves and she is honored that she is able to contribute her gift to humanity.

LaPrea Rich Artist Statement​

For me, painting is a deeply personal and intuitive process. I approach each canvas with an open mind, allowing the colors and shapes to guide my hand as I create each piece. I am constantly experimenting with new techniques and materials, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of abstract art. I use materials such as acrylics and mixed media, to build up the surface of the canvas and create a sense of depth and complexity. Ultimately, my goal as an abstract painter is to create works that are both visually stunning and emotionally stimulating. I seek to capture the fleeting moments of beauty and emotion that exist all around us, inviting the viewer to contemplate their own experiences and perceptions of the world. I believe that art has the power to inspire, enrich and transform our lives. As an artist, I believe that my art has the power to connect us all to something greater than ourselves and am honored that I am able to contribute my gift to humanity.

Their work is on display at 49 West located at 49 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401. Open daily.