Two artists engage in rich dialogue
Building on the success of their first joint exhibition in 2023, artists Mark Bettis and Nabil El Jaouhari reunite for Between the Two of Us: Part II, opening June 14 at Mark Bettis Gallery in Asheville’s River Arts District. This new body of work highlights the striking interplay between Bettis’s bold, dynamic paintings and El Jaouhari’s layered collages enhanced with delicate wood burning. According to a press statement, Lebanese-born El Jaouhari draws on his fine arts background to create textured wooden panels that merge fragments of previous paintings, prints, and drawings. His process explores cycles of breaking down and rebuilding — transformation and renewal. Bettis complements these pieces with energetic brushwork and vivid color fields. Together, their contrasting yet complementary styles form what the gallery calls an “innovative collaboration,” inviting viewers into a rich dialogue of form, texture, and emotion.
Between the Two of Us: Part II runs from June 14-28 at Mark Bettis Gallery (123 Roberts St., River Arts District, Asheville). An opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 5:30-7:30pm. See markbettisgallery.com.