2026
EXHIBITIONS
DIURNAL-NOCTURNAL
CAITLYN DORAN
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, February 6th, 5-9pm
February 6th, 2026- April 4th, 2026
Var Gallery is excited to announce the opening of Caitlyn Dorn's solo exhibition Diurnal-Nocturnal.
"In an era inundated with distractions and dichotomies, Diurnal–Nocturnal explores a spliced attention span stretched across sunlit days and steamy nighttime settings. Through meticulous graphite drawings, vivid mixed-media paintings, and immersive gallery details, the work captures the fragmented nature of modern life. These tactile representations are hand-rendered from digital collages composed of personal and appropriated imagery. Each piece summons the sensations, personalities, and points of view of diurnal or nocturnal creatures. Together, these choices reflect the tension of an ever-divided focus, our disparate states of being, and the depth humans yearn for within a singular moment."
Caitlyn Doran (b. 1994) is a figurative painter and educator from rural Illinois and based in Chicago. She received her BFA in Drawing from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 2016 and then attended the Kanazawa College of Art’s Masters in oil painting program in 2018/19 in Japan. She is the recipient of the Albert P. Weisman award in 2021 and 2022 as well as a Luminarts Fellowship. She completed her MFA at Columbia College Chicago in 2022 and became an artist in residence at Lillstreet Art Center, Ox-Bow school of Art, and Ragdale the following year. Doran now works as a teaching artist at Lake Forest College, DePaul University and other institutions in the Chicago area. She regularly participates in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad.
VERDANT DAYDREAM
MICHELLE SCHILLING
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, June 19th, 6-9pm
June 19th, 2026- August 16th, 2026
Var Gallery is excited to announce the opening of Michelle Schilling's solo exhibition Verdant Daydream.
"Centered around ever-changing moments in nature, Verdant Daydream is a reverie of lush woodland foliage. Initially drawing inspiration from personal photographs of natural environments, this collection of mixed media paintings captures brief glimpses into reimagined earthy scenes. Rich colors and delicate brushstrokes work to convey a dreamlike sensation, which is complemented by the textured additions of paper, thread, and yarn. This sensory otherworldliness is mirrored in the flora itself, possessing its own innate qualities of complex beauty and mystery. Ultimately, these works are a deep reflection on vibrant landscapes—an invitation to slow down and notice the brief, magical moments unfolding in nature."
Michelle Schilling is a Milwaukee-based mixed-media artist whose work is deeply rooted in the Midwestern landscape. After receiving her BFA in painting from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2016, she began translating her regional explorations into nature-focused acrylic and mixed-media paintings. An artist with Var Gallery since 2017, Michelle has participated in various local exhibitions, including her 2020 solo show, Ethereal Garden, which was a collection of atmospheric paintings inspired by overgrown gardens. She remains dedicated to experimenting with new ways to convey the beauty and excitement of nature to those around her.