The Union County Board of County Commissioners is hosting the 2025 Union County Senior Art Exhibit, featuring over 160 original artworks created by local artists 60 and older. The exhibit, which runs through June 3, is being held at the Conference Center of UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ, in Scotch Plains.
The exhibit showcases works by both professional and non-professional artists residing in Union County, with media categories including drawing, pastel, watercolor, oil painting, acrylics, photography, digital art, mixed media, printmaking, craft, and sculpture. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon praised the annual event, saying, “This annual celebration brings people together in a way which encourages our seniors to develop their interest and cultivate local community. The Board of County Commissioners is proud to dedicate space for this art exhibit each year, and we hope everyone in Union County—regardless of age—can take something great away from this experience.”
Independent professional artists Barbara Wallace, Brian Branch-Price, and Joseph Borzotta selected the award winners for each media category. Audrey Yankielun of Westfield won Best in Show by a Professional Artist for her craft work “Party Dress,” created from thousands of postage stamps.
Audrey Yankielun of Westfield won Best in Show by a Professional Artist for her craft work “Party Dress.”Courtesy County of Union
Mark Albertson, also from Westfield, received Best in Show by a Non-Professional Artist for his oil painting titled “Patience.”
First-place artworks from the exhibit will advance to the state level and be displayed at the 2025 New Jersey Senior Citizens’ Art Show in East Windsor later this fall.
The Union County Senior Art Exhibit is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and is coordinated annually by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.
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Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.
