Naked Art celebrates 20th anniversary with one-of-a-kind exhibit on Sept. 21

Owner Vero Vanblaere said for Naked Art Gallery’s 20th anniversary, she asked past and current artists that have been featured in the Forest Park space to make the “dream” piece of art they always wanted to make. 

“I thought it would be more fun to challenge them in that way,” she said. “They could go back into their notebooks and find the piece they wanted, make it for this show.” 

Because she’s featured hundreds of artists over the years, each one will only be able to submit one piece of art, and it must be a new one. 

Vanblaere said she can’t believe it’s been 20 years since the start of Naked Art Gallery.

“For 20 years it’s gone through a lot, but it still kept its head above water,” she said. “It’s a business that’s sustained itself uniquely on selling art. … It makes us proud to survive on art all that time.”

The opening reception will be Sept. 21, 5-8 p.m., in sync with Third Friday and Tour de Loo. The event will include prizes, birthday cake and a musical act by Matilda Cabezia, Monsieur Thunder. Refreshments will be served by the Junior Board at Workshops, Inc. Restaurants in the area will have specials and be open late.

The celebration will continue Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with coffee and more birthday cake. 

The exhibit will be up until Oct. 5. Learn more about the gallery at nakedartusa.com.