Our can’t miss picks for art this month include an artist that creates his work through nostalgia and an exhibition from impressive Stony Brook University soon-to-be grads. 

Stanko: Happy Trails

“Cone Flowers,” 30×30 oil

By using bold colors and his signature “New American” style, Stanko’s paintings bring new life to mundane objects such as sunflowers, grilled cheese sandwiches, candy and beach scenes. The simplicity present in his work provides an adolescent perspective—colorful, playful and fun. A native Long Islander, Stanko has exhibited his paintings both locally and nationally. In Happy Trails, his fourth show at Ripe Art Gallery, he once again combines child-like vibes with a skillful hand to inspire an infectious joy.

STANKO: Happy Trails will be showing April 30 through May 14 at Ripe Art Gallery in Huntington. (631) 239-1805, ripeartgal.com

SBU Student Shows

Ye-Seul Choi, Transformation, 2015

The Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University will feature the year’s best work from graduating art students in two separate April shows. SUM: 2016 MFA Thesis Exhibition opens the month with the work of five graduating Master of Fine Arts students. Their pieces explore themes such as the fragility and beauty of the human body and society’s role as creators and consumers. Senior Show 2016, an annual juried exhibit, follows with a showcase of the top artwork from undergraduate art majors and minors. Both exhibitions include sculptures, paintings, photographs, mixed-media art, digital media and various other mediums.

SUM: 2016 MFA Thesis Exhibition will be showing March 22 through April 9. Senior Show 2016 will be showing April 30 through May 20 at Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery in Stony Brook. (631) 632-7240, zuccairegallery@nullstonybrook.edu