(Featured Image: Earth Mother by Lake County artist (Wauconda) Rudy DeRam, acrylic, canvas & resin, 24×48)
CAVA is a group of celebrated artists over the age of 50. Their latest exhibition, titled Later Impressions, opens this Friday at The Art Center Highland Park. A free public reception will be held on the following Friday, August 14 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.
CAVA’s Signature Annual Juried Exhibition Later Impressions Opens August 7 at The Art Center Highland Park (Highland Park, IL). More than ninety contemporary works by artists age 50 and older will fill the galleries of The Art Center Highland Park when the Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) presents Later Impressions, its signature annual juried exhibition and longest-running yearly exhibition, August 7 through September 26, 2026. The exhibition marks CAVA’s first partnership with The Art Center Highland Park and showcases artwork created within the past two years, emphasizing the continued creativity and vitality of experienced artists.
Selected from more than 230 submissions, the exhibition features 93 works spanning painting, photography, printmaking, encaustic, pastel, mixed media, and sculpture in bronze, wood, metal, assemblage, and other media. Installed throughout the Main Gallery, the Cindi Elkins Gallery, the main foyer, and additional first-floor spaces, the exhibition offers visitors an immersive fine art experience.
Fellow Highland Park artist Julie Scoma describes her acrylic painting “Clouds” as quiet and meditative, adding that she values CAVA because “so often people don’t find their art until later in life.”
CAVA’s Exhibition Manager Susan Bennett believes The Art Center Highland Park provides an exceptional setting for CAVA’s signature exhibition, allowing visitors to experience the remarkable diversity of the artwork. James Lynch, Executive Director of The Art Center Highland Park, called the exhibition “a wonderful way to close out our gallery season. Many of CAVA’s members regularly exhibit at TAC, and we’re excited to welcome both familiar and new artists into our galleries,” while TAC Gallery Manager Caleb Smith said the exhibition will foster new artistic connections and creative collaborations.
Awards of Excellence, including Best in Show, will be presented during the Opening Reception on Friday, August 14, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., with awards announced at approximately 6:30 p.m. Admission to both the exhibition and reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. All artwork is available for purchase with proceeds supporting independent artists and The Art Center Highland Park.
CAVA will also present its annual Learning Symposium on Saturday, September 26, from noon to 3:00 p.m. at The Art Center Highland Park. Topics include estate planning for visual artists, the VibrantCast digital platform, and a panel discussion on gallery representation for older artists. The symposium is free for CAVA members and open to the public for a $10 fee.
About CAVA
Founded in 1988, the Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, exhibiting, and promoting experienced visual artists through exhibitions, education, professional development, and community engagement. Learn more about CAVA, its events and exhibitions, or to become a member at www.wearecava.org.
About The Art Center Highland Park
The Art Center Highland Park is the North Shore’s home for artistic discovery and creative exploration, offering exhibitions, classes, and programs for artists and the community. Learn more at theartcenterhp.org. The Art Center Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park IL and is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays.