Artist John Matthias paints his work “White Street” which would later be awarded First Prize in the annual Paint Red Bank 2026 contest. (Photo by Pam Burke)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
On a perfect sunny afternoon in Red Bank, Sunday, the artists were seemingly everywhere.
One had an easel set up in front of a vacant storefront on Monmouth Street, capturing the forlorn beauty of a spot that had been raided by the cops for illegal drug sales last year.
Across town, another toiled on a painting of the beloved “mushroom house” built by an eccentric early 20th-century Broadway actor, capturing the buidling’s quirky essence before it meets the wrecking ball.
Another painted a ghostly image of a wedding dress in the window of Mustillo‘s, arguably the longest-running business in town and a place with an unending well of stories to tell.
At those spots and 23 others around town, artists participating in the second annual Paint Red Bank event presented by the Art Alliance of Monmouth County and MonmouthArts spent the day capturing our wonderful town in all its colorful, shadowy glory and telling its stories through paint and pastels.
We’ll stop typing here and let the pictures tell the story.
Thanks to Pam Burke for these photos of some of the plein air artists at work.
Keep scrolling for a video slideshow of all the works, along with details on how you can see them in person.
The works will remain on display to the public through Saturday, June 13 at ArtSpace, the exhibition space operated by MonmouthArts at 99 Monmouth Street (right next to the Count Basie Center for the Arts).
The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 pm. It runs until June 13.
All paintings will be for sale.
Here is a video slideshow with photos of all the works.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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At those spots and 23 others around town, artists participating in the second annual Paint Red Bank event presented by the Art Alliance of Monmouth County and MonmouthArts spent the day capturing our wonderful town in all its colorful, shadowy glory and telling its stories through paint and pastels.
