Artist Andy Donnan invites viewers to pause, reflect, and experience the quiet beauty of the aquatic world in Lilies and Lotuses, on exhibit Sep 1 – 26, 2026, in Gallery III at Artists Collective | Spartanburg.
The exhibition will feature approximately 18 to 20 acrylic paintings depicting water lilies and lotuses in natural and human-made environments. Created in Donnan’s characteristic impressionist style, the works explore the colors, movement, light, and stillness found in and around water.
A reception with the artist will be held during ArtWalk.
“The natural surroundings have so much beauty and peacefulness to experience,” Donnan said. “I want everyone who comes to have a chance to forget about all the negativity in our world and leave it behind.”
Donnan spent approximately one year creating the exhibition. His inspiration came from observing the natural world and recognizing the serenity that can be experienced through both sight and sound.
“There is stillness that we can find within each of us when we take the time to slow down and enjoy our beautiful world,” he said.
Visitors can expect impressionist interpretations of ponds, gardens, and other aquatic settings filled with lilies or lotuses. Rather than simply documenting these environments, Donnan uses color, texture, and expressive brushwork to convey the feelings they inspire.
He hopes viewers leave the exhibition with a greater appreciation for the aquatic world and a renewed sense of peacefulness.
“Art is something that needs to be experienced,” Donnan said. “The artist is only part of the equation. Whether you love it or dislike it, hopefully you feel something when you experience this show.”
A native of Frederick, Maryland, Donnan has been creating art for approximately 30 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Heidelberg University in 1981 and a Master of Medical Science from Emory University in 1985.
His work was accepted into a juried exhibition in Albany, Georgia, in 2003 and a juried exhibition at the Spartanburg County Public Libraries in 2019. His previous exhibitions at Artists Collective | Spartanburg include Auntie and Andy, It’s Relative, Andy’s Gone Native, and the Newcomers Show.
Donnan has been a member of Artists Collective | Spartanburg for nine years. He values both the opportunity and the challenge of developing a complete body of work for an exhibition.
“I love the opportunity to work on a show and the pressure to bring it all together,” he said. “This collective is so supportive and motivating. It is a great group of artists.”
The paintings in Lilies and Lotuses will be available for purchase, with prices ranging from $100 to $350.
