Luminous Darkness— Maïté Agopian & Finding the River— Olena Elli
On View: February 6–28, 2026
First Friday Opening Reception:
Friday, February 6, 5–7 p.m.
(Gallery opens at noon on First Fridays.)
The Bear Gallery is located on the third floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts building in Pioneer Park,
2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska.
Admission to the Bear Gallery is free of charge and open to the public Monday–Saturday, 12–6 p.m.
Fairbanks Arts Association is pleased to present two concurrent exhibitions in the Bear Gallery this February, Fairbanks Arts Association is pleased to present two exhibitions in the Bear Gallery this February, featuring work by Maïté Agopian and Olena Ellis. While distinct in medium and approach, both exhibitions explore themes of transformation, inner landscapes, and the ways individuals navigate change.
Finding the River — Olena Ellis
In Finding the River, Ellis presents ceramic sculptures with mixed media that trace a personal journey of rediscovery shaped by major life transitions. Her work draws on intuitive and symbolic forms—such as spirals and flowing lines—to reflect cycles of growth, uncertainty, and becoming.
Working with clay as a grounding, elemental material, Ellis connects her practice to movement, memory, and transformation. Finding the River offers a quiet, contemplative experience rooted in the process of remembering oneself and continuing forward with intention.
About the Artist
Olena Ellis is a ceramic artist whose work is rooted in intuition, feminine symbolism, and the natural environment. She earned her BFA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and has completed residencies and mentorships focused on sculptural practice and conceptual development. Ellis’s work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly and is held in a permanent public collection at the Fairbanks Mayor’s Office. She works between Alaska’s Interior Boreal Forest and Coastal Rainforest.
Luminous Darkness — Maïté Agopian
In Luminous Darkness, Agopian invites viewers into immersive shadow environments rooted in puppetry and light-based installation. Her work centers shadow as both material and metaphor, asking visitors to shift attention away from physical objects and toward shadows themselves—as windows into imagination, memory, and perception.
The exhibition unfolds across interactive and abstract spaces, offering multiple ways to engage with darkness as a site of play, wonder, and possibility. By embracing shadow rather than resisting it, Luminous Darkness encourages reflection, curiosity, and reconnection with an inner sense of exploration.
About the Artist
Maïté Agopian is a puppeteer and teaching artist working in shadow theater, carved wooden puppets, and mixed media. She builds her own puppets and creates original stories that explore transformation, connection, and memory. Agopian has presented work locally, nationally, and internationally, and her puppets have been exhibited in Fairbanks, Homer, and Juneau. She is a two-time recipient of an Individual Artist Award from the Rasmuson Foundation and holds a master’s degree in cultural anthropology and social geography.
Workshops with the Artist: Maïté Agopian
In conjunction with Luminous Darkness, Maïté Agopian will lead a series of small-group, hands-on workshops exploring shadow, puppetry, and visual storytelling. Workshops meet in the Bear Gallery the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts at Pioneer Park.
All workshops are limited to six (6) participants to ensure focused instruction and individualized engagement.
Shadow Puppetry Workshop
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
3:30–5:00 p.m. — Children & Families
5:30–7:00 p.m. — Adults
Participants will explore the fundamentals of shadow puppetry using simple materials, light, and movement. The workshop emphasizes creativity, play, and storytelling while introducing techniques central to Agopian’s artistic practice.
Cost:
$25 Fairbanks Arts members
$30 non-members
Masks in Shadows Workshop
Saturday, February 21, 2026
10:30–11:45 a.m. — Children & Families
1:00–2:30 p.m. — Adults
This workshop focuses on creating and animating masks for shadow performance. Participants will experiment with form, silhouette, and motion to transform everyday materials into expressive shadow characters.
Cost:
$25 Fairbanks Arts members
$30 non-members
Registration & Information:
Register online:
👉 https://form.jotform.com/260216393792158
Contact Daniell Stromanthe
📧 gallery@fairbanksarts.org
📞 907-251-8386 x3
About Fairbanks Arts Association
Founded in 1966, Fairbanks Arts Association is the local arts council for Interior Alaska. Fairbanks Arts works to connect, support, and showcase the artists and audiences who make creativity a defining part of life in the Interior. Bear Gallery exhibitions are free and open to the public thanks to the generosity of our members and donors.
Have you filed for your PFD yet? You can make a difference when you Pick.Click.Give to Fairbanks Arts Association while filing for your Permanent Fund Dividend by March 31, 2026.
Stay up to date with Fairbanks Arts Association programs, exhibitions, and membership opportunities at FairbanksArts.org, follow @fairbanksarts on social media, and sign up for Fairbanks Arts News delivered straight to your inbox.