“EMBRACE THE EVERYDAY”: Works by award-winning acrylic painter Thomas Kelly are on view at Ficus Bon Vivant, 235 Nassau Street, through May 6. An opening event is on Sunday, February 4 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

“Embrace the Everyday,” on view in the art gallery at Ficus Bon Vivant through May 6, features Thomas Kelly’s expressionist style paintings and invites viewers to relate to moments observed or relationships they experience in their own everyday occurrences. The community is invited to an opening event with the artist on Sunday, February 4 from 3:30- 5 p.m.

Kelly’s work has been featured at the Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown; Beauregard Fine Art in Rumson; Bethlehem House Gallery in Bethlehem, Pa.; and the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York City. Since 1994, his work has been shared in over 40 solo and group exhibitions around the world. Kelly has also been selected to share his passion in art and writing as a lecturer since 2000.

“My paintings are of common scenes, everyday occurrences in which people struggle to establish and maintain relationships,” said Kelly. “It is these universal emotions and situations which most interest me. The paintings are acrylic on canvas, which lends to the way I work. The idea begins from a tiny sketch. That sketch will have the emotional feeling or gesture that first intrigued me. I encourage viewers to participate in the narrative by placing themselves inside my scenes and characters. When asked by viewers if their interpretation is the true one, I say, ‘The paintings must stand on their own.’ I don’t tell them that their stories often rival my own.”

For more information, visit ficusbv.com/ficusartshow, thomaskelly.net, or call (609) 917-3656.