Paper Works - May First Friday Art Walk

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Presented by Access Gallery in Denver, Colorado, Paper Works brings together over 20 works on paper by Access Gallery artists. The exhibition is curated by Denver artist and longtime Access Gallery advocate James-Allan Holmes in collaboration with Access Gallery artists Brittany Murdockand Stephen Ray Esparza. Together, they selected the drawings, prints, and other works on paper. For many Access Gallery artists, working on paper is often the first step in their creative practice, with drawing and other works on paper serving as a foundation for artistic exploration and the development of their artistic voice.

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Holmes is known for his multidisciplinary practice and for supporting the work of Access Gallery artists through exhibitions, mentorship, teaching and collaboration. For Paper Works, Holmes invited Brittany and Stephen to participate in shaping the exhibition by selecting works created by their fellow artists.

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For Holmes, works on paper are often the closest work to the artist’s hand. The physical proximity between body, material, and mark allows gesture, experimentation, and decision-making to remain visible in their most direct form. Subtle shifts in pressure, line, and movement reveal the thinking of the artist as it unfolds. These works invite viewers to slow down and look closely, noticing traces of process, touch, and personality within each mark.

Long regarded as an essential yet sometimes understated medium, works on paper create an intimate connection between artist and viewer. Within the context of Access Gallery’s commitment to artistic agency, Paper Works highlights the power of drawing and printmaking to communicate ideas, emotion, and lived experience with clarity and immediacy.

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Together, curators James-Allan Holmes, Brittany Murdock and Stephen Ray Esparza have shaped Paper Works as a collaborative exhibition highlighting the expressive possibilities of drawing and printmaking. The selected works demonstrate how paper can hold experimentation, memory, personal history, and identity.

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While Access Gallery artists have previously curated exhibitions of their own work, Paper Works represents a new approach. By inviting a guest curator to collaborate directly with artists, the exhibition reflects a shared curatorial process that brings artists into the decision-making while creating space for dialogue, exchange, and new perspectives.

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Brittany Murdock Access Gallery Artist since 2005, Open for Commissions

Brittany began her artistic journey at Access Gallery working primarily in painting. Her work is deeply influenced by the culture and art of Aboriginal peoples, which inspired her ongoing exploration of dot painting. This technique has become a defining element of her practice, with Brittany creating intricate compositions built through pattern, color, and carefully placed dots.

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Her research into sculpture has also led her to admire the large-scale work of artist Jeffrey Gibson, inspiring her own larger beaded creations. Brittany’s work often explores pattern, rhythm, and visual storytelling through repeated forms and vibrant color. Most recently, she has begun experimenting with creating artwork using felt, expanding her exploration of texture and material.

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Most recently, Brittany’s dot paintings were featured in Duet: The Works of Brittany Murdock and Allie Gestner, presented by Access Gallery from late fall 2025 through January 2026.In Paper Works, Brittany presents two works on paper exploring butterflies and flowers. In these pieces, the butterfly becomes a symbol of transformation, emerging from the cocoon and growing into adulthood, while also reflecting Brittany’s personal connection to her grandmother.

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Stephen Ray Esparza Access Gallery Artist since 2023, Open for Commissions

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Stephen began making art at a young age, inspired by watching Bob Ross and eager to start sketching. Always exploring new modalities and mediums, he continually seeks ways to expand his creative skills.

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For Stephen, art is both a way to share his talent and a source of comfort, particularly in relation to his mental health. His work is deeply connected to his Latinx culture, with these themes, motifs, and concepts woven throughout his diverse practice. Drawing, painting, sewing, performance, digital art, and other mediums all play a role in his creative expression.

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Since joining Access Gallery in 2023, Stephen has continued developing a multidisciplinary practice while collaborating with fellow artists in the studio. He will also be featured in an upcoming Access Gallery exhibition with fellow Access Gallery artists later in 2026.

First Friday Art Walk: May 1 from 6 PM - 9 PM

Third Friday Meet the Artists: May 15 from 6 PM - 8 PM

On View: April 3 - May 16, 2026

Free and open to the public.​

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Host or Publisher Access Gallery is a nonprofit organization for artists with disabilities.