After Dark

After Dark is a virtual exhibition from the Maryland Federation of Art exploring the atmosphere of twilight and nighttime. The show considers how darkness changes perception through paintings, photographs, installations, and mixed-media works that use limited palettes, softened forms, restrained contrasts, light, shadow, silence, and ambiguity to create an immersive, reflective experience.

Works were selected through a blind jury process open to artists internationally, except those from sanctioned countries. The exhibition is juried by Kevin Murphy, a curator of American and European art at Williams College Museum of Art, whose previous work includes founding-curator experience at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and curatorial work at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

When: October 15–December 14, 2026

Showtimes: The virtual gallery is available throughout the exhibition period. The page does not list specific viewing times.

Venue: Maryland Federation of Art’s Virtual Gallery, presented by Circle Gallery. The page lists Circle Gallery at 18 State Circle, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, with daily hours of 11 AM–5 PM.

Tickets: Price not available

Theme: The exhibition focuses on the quiet, mysterious, and evocative world that emerges after sunset, from lamplight in a window to starlit outdoor landscapes. It invites viewers to consider the nocturnal through mood, atmosphere, introspection, and the transformation of ordinary scenes by fading light.

Artwork: The exhibition includes selected original two- and three-dimensional works, including paintings, photography, installations, and mixed-media pieces. The page features Michael Kotarba’s watercolor *The Old Guard* and Jelisa Peterson’s archival pigment print *Bright Light Night*.

Juror: Kevin Murphy, Eugénie Prendergast Senior Curator of American and European Art and affiliate faculty member at Williams College Museum of Art. Murphy joined the museum in 2013, has organized interdisciplinary exhibitions, and co-teaches a course on the art market. He previously worked as a founding curator at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and as associate curator of American art at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. He holds a PhD in art history from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a bachelor’s degree in art history from Pitzer College.

Awards: The juror-designated awards total $500. The awards and the juror’s statement were scheduled to be published on November 2, 2026, at 5 PM.

Exhibition schedule: Online submissions opened June 23; the entry deadline was August 26 at 11:59 PM; acceptance notifications were scheduled for September 24 at 5 PM; the exhibition opened October 15; awards were announced November 2 at 5 PM; and the final day is December 14.

Sales: Artwork may be offered through MFA’s Virtual Sales Gallery. Artists in the 48 contiguous United States may set prices, while other artists must list works as price on request. Artists receive 80 percent of sales, or 85 percent for MFA members, with MFA retaining the remaining commission. Artists are responsible for fulfillment, and the page notes that applicable sales tax is processed by MFA.

Shipping: MFA may reimburse up to $35 in shipping costs for online-sale shipments by artists in the 48 contiguous United States when a receipt is provided.

Accessibility: The page does not provide specific accessibility information.

Age guidance: No age restriction is listed.

Note: The virtual gallery is not liable for special or consequential damages arising from use of, or inability to use, the online exhibition gallery.