FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2026

Library, Arts & Culture Media: Maryl Fleisher
Email: MFleisher@GlendaleCA.gov
Phone: (818) 937-7806

City Media Contact: Communications and Community Relations
Email: Communications@GlendaleCA.gov
Phone: (818) 548-3342

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Brand 54: 54th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper Grand Opening

Glendale, CA - Brand Associates, in partnership with Brand Library & Art Center, is pleased to announce the opening of Brand 54: 54th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper, on view from June 6 through August 28, 2026, at Brand Library & Art Center. The exhibition will feature artworks chosen by juror Tracy Bartley. The public opening reception on Saturday, June 6 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM will be a festive and fun affair, bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds presenting their first foray into a gallery as well as seasoned professionals whose work is widely known.

This year, over 1,350 artworks were submitted to Brand Associates through an open call process. Juror Tracy Bartley was tasked with selecting which artworks to feature in the exhibition. The majority of artworks on display in Brand 54 are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to support cultural programming at Brand. Art and catalogs will be for sale at the opening event and beginning the following week from the Associates’ website: AssociatesOfBrand.org. A digital version of the catalog will also be available on BrandLibrary.org/Gallery for the public to learn more about each artist.

Gallery admission is free and open to the public during library operating hours. On-site, free parking is available; ride-share is encouraged.  Brand Library & Art Center is located at 1601 W. Mountain Street in Glendale, CA. For Brand Library & Art Center hours, view BrandLibrary.org/Visit.  

Accessibility features:  

Brand Park features six (6) handicapped parking spaces, four (4) are located adjacent to the Brand Library building. Attendees may be dropped off adjacent to the library side entrance if all spaces are occupied. For other access needs, please contact Brand Library & Art Center at (818) 548-2051 or at Gallery@GlendaleCA.gov five (5) business days in advance and we will make every effort to assist you. 

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ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION

The Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper has been organized and sponsored by Brand Associates since 1971 in cooperation with the City of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department. It is one of the region’s most prestigious juried shows, drawing entries from across the country. Over the years, the exhibition has evolved to include an increasingly diverse array of three-dimensional artworks as well as an expanding range of approaches to the two-dimensional paper surface. Exhibition chairperson, Debra Thompson, is the President of Brand Associates and a retired adjunct Assistant Professor of Art History at Glendale Community College. Says Thompson, ”Every iteration of the Works on Paper exhibition has its own feel produced by the meeting of artists and juror. This year feels grounded in personal experiences of nature and humanity, which perhaps arise from a need for connection in troubled times. There are stories to be told, walks to be taken, vistas (both internal and external) to be explored, and emotions to be shared. The artworks, all heartfelt, are gifts to the viewer.”

This year’s juror joins a distinguished roster of jurors who have given their time, energy and expertise over the 54 years this exhibition has been mounted. Included among these artists, gallerists, curators, and educators are Sigrid Burton (2025), Shana Nys Dambrot (2024), Ara Oshagan (2023), Shannon Currie Holmes (2022), Marvella Muro (2021), Dan McCleary (2020), Alma Ruiz (2019), Edward Goldman (2018), Leslie Jones (2017), Jack Rutberg (2014), Peter Frank (2011), Lita Albuquerque (2007), Ruth Weisberg (1985) and Millard Sheets (1979) among many other prominent arts professionals.

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ABOUT TRACY BARTLEY

Tracy is Project Manager and Senior Researcher for the David Hockney Catalogue Raisonné Project. A co-founder of AFELL (Artist Foundations & Estate Leaders List) with over twenty-five years of experience in artist’s studio management and legacy planning, she led the R.B. Kitaj Estate after managing his Los Angeles studio for a decade. She has worked with Charles Garabedian, Gwynn Murrill, Derek Boshier, and Michael Todd, among others. Additionally, she is an accredited fine art appraiser specializing in Post-War, Modern, Contemporary, and Emerging Art, and 20th Century Design.  

My experience as juror for Brand 54 has been such a joy. With over 1,350 entries to review I found myself energized by the immense creativity taking place around the country. Bravo to all of the artists who submitted work; it was a very difficult decision-making process to come to the final selection.

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ABOUT BRAND ASSOCIATES

Brand Associates is a nonprofit community-based organization that endeavors to make possible and support a rich array of cultural, arts, and educational programming at the iconic Brand Library & Art Center. For 57 years, the organization has created an enthusiastic membership base throughout Glendale and beyond to support an array of inclusive, diverse and free events such as music, dance, visual arts, film, special events, and talks for all ages. Founded in 1969, the organization aspires to continue growing the depth and diversity of programming at Brand, making it a place where the arts and community can truly connect. Support us today!

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ABOUT BRAND LIBRARY & ART CENTER

Brand Library & Art Center has been a cornerstone for the arts in Southern California since 1956. This unique public library focuses on visual arts and music and provides free services and programs for a diverse community, including a collection of over 110,000 items, subject specialist librarians, exhibitions, concerts, lectures, dance performances, films, and hands-on craft programs for children and adults. Always evolving, Brand Library & Art Center continues to develop innovative programs, services, and collections to serve an ever-widening public interested in the arts. Brand Library & Art Center is a branch of the City of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department.

@BrandLibrary #BrandLibrary

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ABOUT LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE   

Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission, which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library, Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT). For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at (818) 548-2021 or via email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov .

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ABOUT GLENDALE

Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of almost 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks & facilities, with easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking. Visit GlendaleCA.gov for more information and follow us on social media @MyGlendale.