Luvon Sheppard Solo Exhibition at Gallery r

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Gallery r features watercolor narratives by Luvon Sheppard, “Goes Solo—with Luvon Sheppard,” through July 19.

Gallery r “Goes Solo—with Luvon Sheppard.”

Sheppard is a renowned Rochester painter and illustrator whose involvement in community life has inspired many of the themes found in his work, from watercolor street scenes to portraits of local African-American heroes, including Frederick Douglass, Garth Fagan and Mildred Johnson.

He also is a professor in the School of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he has taught since 1972.

In tribute, Gallery r, RIT’s student-run metro showcase for contemporary art, is hosting a solo exhibition of Sheppard’s watercolor narratives from June 12 through July 19—with an opening reception scheduled from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 13.

Sheppard has lived in Rochester since the age of 5, when his family moved from Florida to Kelly Street in the city’s north end. He studied fine arts at RIT, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and Master of Science in Art Education.

In 1970, he became the Memorial Art Gallery’s first neighborhood affairs coordinator. He was also fundamental to the establishment of the Allofus Workshop, a groundbreaking organization created to provide community art classes.

Sheppard’s work has been displayed in Rochester, Buffalo, Geneseo, Cleveland, Syracuse, Rome (N.Y.), and New York City. His work is included in private and corporate collections throughout Rochester and is in the permanent collections of the Memorial Art Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), University of Seoul (Korea), the Henrietta School District, Rochester Institute of Technology, City of Rochester, Rochester Savings Bank, Garth Fagan Dance and many others.

Gallery r, 775 Park Ave., is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free and the gallery is handicapped-accessible. For more information, call 585-242-9470 or visit the Gallery R website.