What to know about the Diane Belfiglio art exhibition

CANTON − An exhibition honoring the late Stark County artist and Walsh University professor Diane Belfiglio will feature her vibrant and colorful style of photo realism and painting.

"Diane Belfigilio − An Artist's Legacy" is a retrospective show featuring Belfiglio's life work in painting. The exhibition will open at 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at Strauss Studios in downtown Canton and continue through April 19 during gallery hours. The exhibition also will be showcased beginning at 6 p.m. March 1 during First Friday.

This is the first opportunity to see Belfiglio's artwork displayed in public since the lifelong Plain Township resident died at age 66 in March 2023. Strauss Studios is at 236 Walnut Ave. NE.

Strauss Studios gallery is on the second floor of the building, which also features a furniture and gift showroom. Normal gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Here's what you need to know about the exhibition.

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Who was Diane Belfiglio?

Belfiglio received her bachelor of fine arts in drawing, painting and graphics from Ohio State University in 1978 and a master's degree in painting from Syracuse University in 1980.

She was an award-winning artist whose works were featured at numerous galleries and museums around the world, Strauss Studios noted.

Belfiglio also was an assistant professor of art at Walsh University, while serving as studio coordinator on campus. Belfiglio taught at the university for 23 years.

She also had taught at Syracuse University, Kent State University and the University of Akron.

What was Belfiglio's style of painting?

The Canton-based artist specialized in her own interpretation of photo realism, Strauss Studios said in a news release.

Her subject matter centered on architecture and flora focusing on the play of light and shadow in the subject matter, according to the studio.

She worked in multiple art mediums, including acrylic, oil pastels, colored pencils and watercolor.

More about the late artist Five questions with Diane Belfiglio whose artwork is featured at North Canton Library

What awards did Belfiglio receive?

Belfiglio received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the Ohio Arts Council. She also received numerous professional artistic awards, including four grants from ArtsinStark.

Belfiglio also received numerous honors at Walsh University.

Where was Belfiglio's art exhibited?

Her artwork was exhibited in more than 200 group and solo art shows around the world, the release said.

Belfiglio's work is in the permanent collections of six museums, including the Butler Institute of Art in Youngstown, the Canton Museum of Art and the Ichiku Kuboto Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan.

Belfiglio's art pieces also are held in 16 corporate, university and hospital collections, as well as in numerous private collections, Strauss said.

Her painting “Trumpeter of Justice” was selected for the permanent collection at the Stark County Courthouse. In 2018, she was chosen by Ohio first lady Karen Kasich to be the “featured spotlight artist” in the governor’s mansion in Columbus.

What was the inspiration behind the Belfiglio memorial art show?

John and Carisa Strauss, co-owners of Strauss Studios, approached Belfiglio's family shortly after she died with the idea of honoring her art with a solo exhibition.

"Her impact and achievements are no less relevant today than they were during her life," he said.

Victoria Belfiglio said her sister's "innovative and personal style resulted from years of intense practice and observation."

"She was always exploring and revisiting recurrent themes in her art," she said. "Although realistic, she stressed the underlying abstract qualities of the forms. Shadows, ethereal by nature, took on rigid structural aspects in her compositions."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) at @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Walsh University professor and Ohio artist Diane Belfiglio remembered