Studio B Art Gallery, 39 E. Philadelphia Ave. in Boyertown, PA, announced winners at the opening of an art exhibit entitled “PETS!” on August 28, 2026 featuring artwork from dozens of local artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run through, November 1, 2026.
The exhibit is curated by artist Bob Hakun, Studio B’s gallery director. Winners are listed below followed by comments from the juror Sandra Severson.
Best of Show: “Klimt’s Cat” by Kathryn Morgan – I had a huge emotional reaction at first sight, and the Asian beauty kept me captivated. If I saw this in a museum I would spend a lot of time appreciating it, (and I did!). Gorgeous!
2nd Place: “Kylee” by Sharon Merkel – This is so beautifully done: draftsmanship, values, and composition/design. What puts it over the top is the emotion – it’s filled with joy!
3rd place: “Sophie” by Michael Adams – Beautiful design and composition, wonderfully executed. I Love the emotion and happiness of Sophie’s face!
Honorable Mention #1: “Lola In Repose” by Kathi Ember – The whimsy and execution caught me! I was especially taken with the landscape behind the figure. It creates a whole world. Great job!
Honorable Mention #2: “Up Too Early” by Gail Fronheiser – A gorgeous, bright and strong work of art. Everything about it is masterfully executed!
About the Juror:
Juror Sandra Severson grew up immersed in the Philadelphia art scene as the daughter of noted artists Gerardo and Edith Belfiore. Under the tutelage of her parents, she won the Henry Coscia Award for Painting at Da Vinci Art Alliance and Third Prize in the Philadelphia Teen Art Competition at the age of 13.
Her deep love of horses and other animals led her to move to the family farm in 1980, where she developed hands-on skills and anatomical knowledge of her equestrian subjects as a horse owner/rider, 4H leader and “Horse Show Mother”.
After studying drawing and portraiture at PAFA and pursuing an opportunity to study with Nelson Shanks, she was accepted to show at the Kentucky Derby Museum and the International Museum of the Horse, becoming an associate member of the American Academy of Equine Art. Sandra’s paintings have appeared on the covers of the Chronicle of the Horse, Oasis magazine and the American Lipizzan Registry.
Alternative art shown under her maiden name of Belfiore won her First Prize for Painting at Woodmere Art Museum and the Jamison Award at Wayne Art Center.
Internationally, Sandra won First Prize at Corso Nationale Arte Figurativa in Salerno, Italy, and has been commissioned to paint the British steeplechase horse Tagamet, Brazilian cutting horse champion Magella, and other portraits in Belgium and Morocco.
Featured Image: “Henry at the Door”, oil on linen by Sandra Severson (private collection)
