A new exhibition uncovers expressive figures and city energies through layered mixed media works on view November 7-28.

Wilmington, Del. (November 3, 2025) - The Delaware Division of the Arts is pleased to present Urban Dwellers, a solo exhibition of recent mixed media works by Delaware artist Kim Klabe, on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from November 7-28, 2025. A free opening reception will be held on Friday, November 7, from 5-7 p.m.

In Urban Dwellers, Klabe presents a collection of expressive figures and creatures inspired by the people, animals, and energies that animate city environments. Seen through vibrant color, layered textures, and her distinct process of building forms from abstract foundations, the works celebrate the complexity, humor, and shared humanity of urban life. The exhibition features pieces created using rice paper on wood panels, acrylic paint, charcoal, and a variety of mark-making tools that introduce movement and dimensionality.

"Each piece begins as an abstract," Klabe explains. "From that abstract, a figure is uncovered and outlined. The background is then muted to bring that figure forward - the original chaos and energy of the city remains, held inside the form. The colors and themes vary, but together they create the feeling of a melting pot - all the diverse beings that dwell together in urban settings."

A longtime Delaware-based artist, Klabe is known for both her mixed media practice and her signature "pours" technique, where she guides watercolor across textured paper to reveal forms within unexpected patterns. Her work has been exhibited widely across the region and she was recognized as a 2021 Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellow in Works on Paper.

About the Artist

Kim Klabe is a Delaware-based visual artist known for her expressive mixed media work and innovative approach to uncovering figures within layered abstractions. Working primarily with acrylic paint, charcoal, rice paper, and textured mark-making materials, Klabe builds her compositions through an intuitive process - beginning with spontaneous abstract forms and revealing characters that emerge from within. Her work reflects the vibrancy, humor, and shared experiences of everyday environments, particularly the energy of urban life and the beings who inhabit it. A 2021 Individual Artist Fellow of the Delaware Division of the Arts, Klabe's artwork has been exhibited throughout Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region. She lives and works in Rehoboth Beach.

About the Mezzanine Gallery

The Mezzanine Gallery, located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building (820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE), is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The gallery highlights the work of Delaware's Individual Artist Fellows, showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent throughout the year. For more information, visit https://arts.delaware.gov/mezzanine-gallery.

Images in the banner: "Sutras" (2025), mixed media, 12×12″

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, [email protected]

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.