Solo Gallery Exhibit by Tashema Davis opening at Jasper Arts

Jasper Arts is pleased to present the work of Marion, IN artist, Tashema Davis for the months of May, June, and July 2026 at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center. The solo exhibition titled ‘Talitha Cumi’ features original, oil and acrylic paintings.

Davis states, “Ever since I can remember, I’ve been captivated by vibrant, expressive colors. When words fail me, color has a way of communicating. Its expressive nature brings me comfort. Initially, portraits posed a significant challenge for me. I dedicated extensive time and effort to practice and eventually mastered the skill. Now, I find joy in painting faces, particularly brown ones, for various reasons.”

“Faces are universally relatable. We are naturally drawn to our caregivers’ faces from infancy, where we begin to express our emotions, love, and fears. My artistic goal is to spread joy and showcase the beauty of brown faces,” says Davis. Davis has been creating works of art for her personal enjoyment and enhancing her skills continuously since graduate school. Within the past two years, she has started creating more commissioned pieces for close friends and family.

Davis shares, “I grew up in projects of Gary Indiana, but I somehow truly enjoyed my life and my surroundings. I often find myself creating pieces that remind me of home and the times of my childhood. I left Gary in 2000 to attend Ball State University where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. After a few months I realized that was not my passion, so I returned to Ball State for graduate studies. I received my Masters in art and a license to teach art 2010. I’ve been teaching various art courses at Marion High School in Marion Indiana since 2011 and I absolutely love teaching art! Along with teaching art, I am also the sponsor of the Marion High School art club, sit on the advisory board for the art and writing scholastics of the Fort Wayne museum of art, book illustrator, and do community beautification projects.”

“The ultimate purpose for my art is to be an expression of all things beautiful and meaningful in life. I believe art transcends the typical and doesn’t always dwell in the realm of just color, line, and form. Art is also composed of higher thought, in the divine commission to help others become better, and to spread peace”, says Davis.

Tashema will join us for a Gallery Talk at The First Thursday Opening Reception on Thursday, May 7th , from 5:00 – 7:00pm. Free event and open to the public.

A special thank you to Kimball Electronics for their support in bringing this exhibit to Jasper.

The galleries at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, located at 100 3rd Avenue, Suite A, Jasper, IN 47546, are open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 3:00 pm. School groups, clubs, and students are welcome. Admission is free. Donations appreciated.

For more information, please call 812-482-3070. Jasper Community Arts is a department of the City of Jasper. JCA is supported in part by Friends of the Arts, Inc., the Indiana Arts Commission, the Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library, and the National Endowment for the Arts.