Top: photo by Robert Gerhardt; painting by Steve Matthews

The Murfreesboro City Hall Art Committee, along with the Murfreesboro Peace and Justice Art Project, announced an exhibition celebrating diversity during Black History Month, showing photographs by Robert Gerhardt of New York City and paintings by Steve Matthews of Murfreesboro.

The artwork is on display until March 14. City Hall is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Steve Matthews, a Murfreesboro resident and owner of Steve’s Fine Art Gallery, located at 415 S. Academy St. in Murfreesboro, is a self-taught artist. He paints with oils in a photorealism style. His portfolio consists of a variety of portraits, landscapes, murals and animals.

“It is my desire to preserve a portion of (African) American culture on canvas. This will enable future generations to view who we are: past, present and future,” Matthews says. “I want the younger generation to be inspired by my struggles and ambitions, to know that they too can follow their dreams.”

Robert Gerhardt received his M.F.A. from Lesley University College of Art and Design in Cambridge, MA. His work is shown internationally. These photographs are part of his series “Muslim/American, American/Muslim” which is currently on display at Tennessee Tech University.

“I desire to look into the stories, people and places that others simply glance at, or overlook completely,” Gerhardt says. “For me, it is not a matter of visiting a place, making photographs and leaving. It is about getting to know the people and places I photograph, which can only be accomplished over extended periods of time. It is about trying to step out of my world and into theirs. To sometimes stop being a photographer and know when to put down the camera, and listen and talk instead.”

View Steve Matthews’ work at stevesfineart.com. View Robert Gerhardt’s photography at robertgerhardt.com.

For more information on the exhibit, visit facebook.com/murfreesboropeace.