The Bruce S. Kershner Gallery at the Fairfield Public Library will present Into the Light, a new exhibition showcasing the works of Laura Barr, Jim Fiora, and Suzanne Heilmann, on view from November 8, 2025, through January 3, 2026. A public reception will be held on Thursday, November 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the artists speaking about their work at 6 p.m.
Located at 1080 Old Post Road in Fairfield, the gallery continues its mission of celebrating the depth and diversity of Connecticut’s contemporary art scene. Into the Light brings together three distinctive artistic voices united by their exploration of illumination—through color, material, and form.
Jim Fiora: Geometry, Whimsy, and the Built World
A self-taught photographer with more than three decades of experience, Jim Fiora captures the quirks and poetry of the built environment. His images draw viewers in through bold color, graphic composition, and a touch of nostalgic humor.
“In my work I’m drawn to the constructs and quirks of the built environment,” Fiora says. “I love creating colorful juxtapositions and balance through asymmetry. My goal is to create compositions that transcend their simple form and achieve a poetic balance.”
Fiora’s work has been exhibited throughout Connecticut and is held in numerous private collections. His technical precision and playful sensibility reflect a lifelong respect for craftsmanship and the art of printmaking.
Laura Barr: The Beauty of the Ephemeral
Based in Branford, Laura Barr explores the intersection of abstraction and representation through her luminous oil paintings and pastels. A graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University and a member of the Lyme Art Association, Barr’s work often focuses on water, reflection, and impermanence.
“My work explores color, transparency, reflection, and light,” Barr explains. “I’m interested in blissful, fleeting, transcendent moments where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.”
For Into the Light, Barr presents works from four series—including her Ocean Elegy oil pastels, the multi-panel Here and There collection, and In the Moment paintings—each capturing the delicate interplay of light and perception that defines her style.
Suzanne Heilmann: Texture, Light, and Transformation
Ridgefield-based artist Suzanne Heilmann brings a design sensibility and a global perspective to her textured, multidimensional works. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, she began her career in packaging design, earning a Clio Award nomination before turning her focus to fine art.
“Fascinated with texture, 3-D layers, light, space, and shadows is how The Texturalist was born,” Heilmann says. Her pieces often combine materials like fabric, metal, wood, and plaster, transforming recycled or found elements into vibrant, light-reactive surfaces.
Her art bridges design and sculpture, creating works that shift character with every change in light and perspective.