(From left) Trade Off, New Dawn and The Beginning by Mai Harris

Captivated

Smyrna’s EarthSoul Gallery will present “To Stand Strong,” a solo exhibition of new work by local artist Mai Harris. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 3, from 6-9 p.m., and the work will remain on display until March 31.

The series “To Stand Strong” features 20 new paintings by Harris. The body of work is about empowerment, overcoming struggles and defeating personal demons, she says. It will feature all of the usual trademarks of Harris’s work with vivid colors and a Frida Kahlo-esque narrative style that uses female figures to express intense emotions. Each painting portrays a woman in a position of strength, either having just conquered some personal demon or in the process of letting something go and moving forward. The artist uses this series as a way of expressing her own personal growth and hopes it inspires its audience to be filled with motivation and empowerment from their own struggles they have survived.

This will be Harris’s first solo exhibition since 2008, but she has been building her art reputation by painting live at local concerts and running the group Art Life, which works to strengthen the local art community. More information can be found about the artist at facebook.com/maiharrisart or wix.com/maiiharris/art.

EarthSoul is located at 307 Hazelwood Drive, Smyrna. For more information on the gallery, visit earthsoul.co.