Exploring Color Fearlessly

Exploring Color Fearlessly is a solo exhibition of large, vibrant abstract paintings by artist Noreene Janus at Waverly Street Gallery. The show centers on Janus's signature use of a saturated palette built around red, yellow, orange, and blue, which she describes as an invitation to "live life to the fullest." Her compositions layer strong black lines and colored ribbons that twist, turn, and weave across the canvas, with hints of swings, ladders, windows, and passageways hidden within the complexity. Janus explains that these elements often lead to "interesting chaos," much like life itself. She develops each composition on her iPad before transferring it to canvas, a process that allows her to communicate intangible, intuitive emotions without the constraints of realism.

Janus's artistic journey began with small representational watercolors before she found her voice in bold, large-format abstractions. Her influences trace back to a Midwestern suburban childhood overlapping the social revolutions of the 1960s and 1970s, followed by years spent in Mexico, Spain, France, and India. Working in international development, primarily with USAID, she was happiest in the villages of Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and Bolivia, and she remains passionate about Latin American life and its local art. Janus now lives and works in Falls Church, Virginia, and maintains an art studio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which continues to inspire her work. The exhibition also includes several titled pieces, including "Urban Vibes," "Lofty Vista," "Tangled," "Abyss," and "Rebel Path."

When: Sunday, October 25 through Saturday, November 21, 2026.

Reception: Friday, October 30, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Venue: Waverly Street Gallery.

Artist: Noreene Janus, an abstract painter based in Falls Church, Virginia, with a studio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Featured works: Urban Vibes, Lofty Vista, Tangled, Abyss, and Rebel Path.

Tickets: Price not available; contact the venue for admission and reception details.

Run time: Ongoing exhibition; visitors may view the show during normal gallery hours.

Ages: Not specified.

Note: The exhibition presents Janus's large colorful abstracts, which explore emotion through bold color, layered line work, and abstract forms rather than realistic imagery.