INTO NEVERLAND:

Swirling Dreams of Southern Memories

Artwork of Channing Gray

June 5 – August 31, 2025

The main galleries will be transformed into the world of Channing Gray, whose work is a “constellation of swirling images that intertwine stories of her kin and being a Quarter-Rican Florida girl living in the U.S. South.” Channing’s books, paintings and installations are inspired by her memories of southern waters, grandmother’s quilt, and rocket launches.

Opening Reception

You're Invited!

Thursday, June 5 | 5:00-7:00pm
Artist Talk at 6:00pm

Join us to celebrate this solo exhibition with an opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00pm Thursday, June 5th. Enjoy light refreshments PLUS live music by Morgan McManus. The evening will also include a 6:00pm gallery talk with exhibiting artist Channing Gray. A cash bar will be available for beer and wine. This FREE event is open to the public.

About the Artist

Channing Gray is a studio artist who makes paintings, illustrated books and hanging mobiles. She lives in Orlando, and works as a exhibition designer and museum preparator at the Orlando Museum of Art. Born in Sacramento, Gray received her MFA in Studio Art at the Florida State University in 2020 and a BA in Fine Art from University of Central Florida in 2017. Her work has been shown at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts, Orlando Science Center, Art Fields and 621 Gallery at Railroad Square Art Park. Virtual spaces include Bean Collective, We Found Space, Social Distance Gallery (COVID-19), Lacuna Festivals, and Polemical Zine. She was part of two virtual artist residencies in 2020: CRISIS Residency: Creativity In-Place and SPUR.WORLD Residency. In 2022, she became a finalist in the Pathways: The Carlos Malamud Prize where her work was displayed at the Rollins Museum of Art and the UCF Art Gallery. Gray spends her spare time reading, hosting open mics and stargazing.

Artist Statement

"My work is a constellation of swirling images that intertwine stories of my kin and being a Quarter-Rican Florida girl living in the US South. Discovering their allegories of cultural expectations, historical revelations and vivid dreams; I found the crossroad of escape, myth and memory. What I make in the studio depicts narratives about connecting to these entities through dreaming bodies, found objects and colorful motifs. My practice is to create gravity-less realms into imaginary spaces that elude the traditional figure, platform simple artifacts and distort the horizon line. The characters and personal items tumble together in the sheets of nostalgia as they are in motion of swimming, sleeping and floating. My books, paintings and installations are inspired by memories of southern waters, grandmother's quilt and rocket launches. These memories are turned into illustrative aesthetics of outlines, layered color and repeating forms as I meet people, find beauty in the little things and feel the fast wind." — Channing Gray