College of The Albemarle (COA) is pleased to present “Beach Vibes Only,” a solo exhibition of works on paper by Richmond-area artist Lauren Rice. The exhibition opens on Aug. 18 at the COA – Dare art gallery (located on the second floor of B Building, 205 U.S. Highway 64, Manteo).

Through an idiosyncratic approach to abstraction, “Beach Vibes Only” continues Rice’s exploration of dichotomies, investigating binaries that appear opposed but, in fact, belong to the same system. Inspired by a slogan found on a mass-produced mailbox flag, Rice examines the contradictory nature of the phrase “beach vibes only,” reflecting on the beach both as a place of human relaxation and as a site of constant change, unknowns, and potential ecological destruction. Identifying as a painter, Rice employs a range of materials and techniques that disrupt traditional artistic hierarchies.

“When I make my paintings, I think of them as simultaneously surface, object, and ritual,” Rice said. “I see myself as a collector, populating the paper’s surface with poured paint, discarded scraps, beads, string, sequins, stickers, and components of my children’s abandoned drawings. Through my formalization of throwaway items, I suggest the range of potential within all things, big or small, high or low.”

In addition to her studio practice, Rice is an associate professor of art at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and a Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from American University in Washington, D.C. She lives with her family in suburban Richmond.

“Beach Vibes Only” will be on view starting Aug. 18. Admission is free and open to the public.

The exhibition will remain on display through Thursday, Sept. 25, with gallery hours Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.​

For more information or media inquiries, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA Director of Communications and Marketing, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2420 or [email protected].