“FIRST LIGHT”: This work is part of “Here and Now,” a solo exhibition featuring the latest paintings by Robert Beck, on view at Morpeth Contemporary in Hopwell September 14 through October 6.  Beck will be part of the exhibition opening reception on Friday, September 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“Here and Now,” an exclusive solo exhibition featuring the latest paintings by Robert Beck, will be on view September 14 to October 6 at Morpeth Contemporary, 43 West Broad Street, Hopewell. This event marks Beck’s first solo exhibition since his acclaimed retrospective at the Michener Art Museum.  Receptions are on Friday, September 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 14, 1 to 3 p.m.

Beck, a pivotal figure and a leading voice in the Bucks County, Pa., art and cultural heritage, continues to explore the substance of contemporary life through his iconic and expressive oil paintings. His narrative-driven pieces, capturing unique but ever-present moments, have garnered Beck solo exhibits at three major museums.

“Here and Now” provides an intimate glimpse into Beck’s celebrated artistic journey, featuring a diverse range of studio images and works from life, capturing the overlooked but deeply significant, in images that resonate with authenticity and introspection.

Beck’s subject matter spans locales, from the Delaware Valley and New York City to the rugged maritime villages of upper Maine. “Here and Now” also showcases a selection from Beck’s latest focus on New York life, highlighting cultural snapshots of Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Notably, the exhibition includes the gallery debut of two significant works recently returned from museum exhibits: Thicket, which was selected for this year’s Woodmere Open, and December Scallops, featured in the American Society of Marine Artists National Exhibition.

“I’m describing things of our time,” said Beck. “The images are based on our common experience. The paintings aren’t just me; they are us. In my work from life, I try to locate the heart of an encounter and describe what it’s like to be there. The studio paintings are freed from those confines and fed by imagination and experience. There is a bit of call-and-response to it, establishing a dialogue with the observer.”

“You know right away they are Robert’s paintings,” said gallery owner Ruth Morpeth, who first showed Beck in 1997. “They have always connected with people, and each exhibition reveals an expansion of depth and eloquence. The images are engaging and deftly painted. They mean something.”

Learn more about Beck at RobertBeck.net.

Gallery Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (609) 333-9393 or visit morpethcontemporary.com.