In a city increasingly punctuated by political urgency and rising costs, one art collective is pressing pause — and play. Balmoré Art’s latest group show, “Endless Summer,” opens June 25 with a message that feels especially timely: art doesn’t have to be exclusive to be extraordinary.
Spanning just six days, the exhibition promises warmth and welcome without the weight of intimidation or sticker shock.
The show gathers six emerging artists — Ainsley Burrows, Charley Jones, Ellie Works, Emma Childs, Emma Kimmel and Josef Isaiah — for what the collective describes as a celebration of the season, discovery, and access.
This isn’t about exclusivity. It’s about creating space — real space — for joy. And letting people encounter art that feels fresh, emotionally resonant, and financially attainable.
“Balmoré Art stands at the forefront of this innovation with care,” said Kimmel, “offering a vital space for artists like myself.”
Set in a yet-to-be-revealed D.C. venue, “Endless Summer” is refreshingly free of pretense. Rather than cater to speculative markets or institutional gatekeepers, it centers community and affordability — an increasingly radical act in today’s art economy.
Kimmel, whose lush figurative work “Vera Vita” anchors the show’s feminine heartbeat, sees the exhibition as a chance to reflect on place and possibility.
“Living in the DMV my whole life, I’ve noticed that the city grows with you and takes you beyond what you thought to be possible,” she said.
Her work, a contemporary response to D.C.’s historically significant portrayals of women, pulses with new life.
“Representations of women are shifting,” Kimmel continued, “and I believe paint can capture this more embodied experience of being a woman.”
The other artists echo a similar ethos of connection and immediacy. From the lyrical abstractions of Burrows, who said, “There’s a raw energy here, a community that keeps me honest and hungry,” to the street-found object work of Baltimore-based Works, the show offers both intimacy and experimentation.
“My practice revolves around collecting objects on the streets of Baltimore and working them into artworks,” Works explained. “I’m excited to be showing in D.C., where these found materials can continue to live in new contexts.”
There’s also international flair, with Jones bringing Colombian influences into the fold.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to place my work from Colombia in the mix with amazing people in a project pushing the boundaries,” Jones shared.
As inflation stretches household budgets and even modest cultural outings begin to feel like luxury, “Endless Summer” lowers the temperature — inviting the public not just to view but to support, acquire, and delight in the works on display.
The pricing is intentionally modest, with pieces available for collectors of all levels.
Endless Summer runs June 25 through June 30, 2025, with an opening reception on June 25 from 6–9pm. Location details will be shared via @balmore_art on Instagram.
