"With Bated Breath" JL Shorr Gallery

JL Shorr Gallery Presents With Bated Breath

A Landmark Exhibition Unites Three Distinguished Contemporary Artists in a Shared Exploration of Life, Form, and Connection

ZELIENOPLE, PA — JL Shorr Gallery is proud to present With Bated Breath, a major contemporary exhibition featuring the work of Josh Hogan, Kristen Letts Kovak, and Jeffrey Smith. On view August 8 through September 19, 2026, the exhibition brings together three of Western Pennsylvania's most accomplished contemporary artists in a collaborative presentation for the first time.

An opening reception will be held Saturday, August 22, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at JL Shorr Gallery, 101 Main Street, Zelienople, PA. The reception is free and open to the public.

The phrase with bated breath evokes a moment suspended between anticipation and revelation—a pause that is at once quiet, expectant, and profoundly alive. That same tension permeates this exhibition, where paintings and sculptural beadwork converge in an exploration of growth, movement, memory, and the intricate patterns that connect all living things.

Working in oil paint and sculptural beadwork, Hogan, Kovak, and Smith each approach the natural world through a distinctly personal lens. While their individual practices differ in material and process, each artist creates work that feels inherently organic. Forms appear to bloom, expand, intertwine, and transform, suggesting the unseen rhythms of life rather than describing them outright. Together, the works create an immersive visual dialogue that blurs the boundaries between abstraction and representation, inviting viewers to consider not simply what they are seeing, but what they are sensing.

Rather than presenting three independent bodies of work, With Bated Breath has been carefully curated as a single conversation. Relationships emerge from one work of art to the next as color, texture, gesture, and form echo across mediums. The result is an exhibition that feels cohesive and deeply interconnected, where each artist amplifies the others while maintaining a distinct voice.

Long recognized for their contributions to the contemporary art landscape of the Pittsburgh region, Hogan, Kovak, and Smith have each established careers defined by innovation, craftsmanship, and thoughtful exploration. Their first exhibition together offers collectors and visitors a rare opportunity to experience these accomplished artists in dialogue with one another.

"One of the remarkable discoveries in curating this exhibition was how naturally these artists' work speaks across mediums," said Jason and Lauren Shorr, owners of JL Shorr Gallery. "There is a shared sense of life coursing through each piece. Whether expressed through gesture, surface, or form, the work reminds us that we are all connected by the same quiet rhythms of growth, change, and breath."

Throughout the exhibition, JL Shorr Gallery will host a series of public programs, including an artist talk, a curator discussion, and an in-gallery painting workshop. Dates and registration information will be announced soon.

JL Shorr Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located in historic Zelienople, Pennsylvania, dedicated to presenting museum-quality exhibitions featuring established professional artists while fostering meaningful relationships between artists, collectors, and the broader community.

For additional information, media inquiries, and exhibition updates, visit jlshorrgallery.com.