The Byrne Gallery proudly presents Paysages Français: A Journey Through the French Countryside. This September, immerse yourself in the romance and beauty of France with Paysages Français, a captivating exhibition of plein-air oil landscapes. From the windswept shores of Brittany to the sun-drenched lavender fields of Provence with a little Paris thrown in, this collection captures the spirit and serenity of the French countryside.
Featuring works by three celebrated local plein-air painters—Laura Bollettino, Katie Flack, and Gerald Hennesy—this show offers a vibrant and varied exploration of France’s timeless scenery.
Join us for a special reception with the artists on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. All are warmly invited. In addition, a gallery talk is scheduled for Sunday September 21st from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The exhibition runs from Wednesday, September 3rd through Sunday, September 28th.
Laura Bollettino
Laura Bollettino has a passion for capturing nature’s landscape and the emotional reaction it inspires through her art. She invites the viewer to be in the moment with her through bold and expressive use of paint, texture, and palette knife work. Her paintings embody the lived experience of the breeze, the sun, the peace, and the fresh air – they are all on the canvas for you to explore.
Laura's work was on display in several juried shows in the surrounding DC area and she was most recently awarded the Juror’s Choice Award at Flowrailia Paint the River, an Honorable Mention at Paint Great Falls and second place in the Clifton Art Guild Plein Air Painting Festival & Competition. She is very active in the DMV art scene as part of the Columbia Pike Artist Studios and her passion for capturing landscapes in the plein air tradition finds her traveling frequently to places and experiences that move her.
Katie Flack
Katie Flack is a DC based award-winning artist whose work has been exhibited throughout the country in galleries, juried shows, and competitions. Katie has painted plein air landscapes for over 10 years. Her evocative work captures the fleeting moments of light and life across the landscape. Her colorful palette and richly painted scenes invite the viewer to experience moments of natural wonder. A worldwide traveler, she keeps her paints nearby to capture sights that enchant her: from the rugged coastline of California to the fragrant lavender fields of France and the rolling hills of Virginia.
Katie has participated in national plein air events, earning honors such as 2nd Place at Paint Great Falls 2025, and an Award of Merit at Paint Annapolis 2025. Katie was also juried into the prestigious Carmel Art Festival Competition and the Adirondack Plein Air Festival. She was awarded Best in Show at The Art League of Alexandria’s 2024 June gallery show. She is a member of the NOVA Plein Air Painters, the American Impressionist Society, American Women Artists, and The Art League of Alexandria.
Gerald Hennesy
Gerald Hennesy painted in an impressionistic style, working both in plein-air and in his studio. He passed away in March 2022 and was one of our most beloved artists and an inspiration to all who knew him. A Master of Composition and Plein Air landscape, it was important to Gerry that subject he chose for the painting was exciting to him, so it was then also exciting and interesting to the viewers of his completed work. Once a scene was selected and the composition sketched in, Gerald painted rather rapidly, while attempting to achieve a freshness of color and expressiveness in his brushwork. He was particularly concerned with depicting the effect of light on his landscapes. He made numerous trips to various regions of France, walking and painting in the footsteps of the Impressionists he admired.
His work has been exhibited widely in commercial and museum galleries including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Georgia Museum of Art, The Corcoran Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Museum. His paintings are in numerous private, corporate and public collections, including the U. S. House of Representatives, the State Department, the Maryland State Mansion, the DAR Headquarters, and the American Legion Headquarters. He is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Art.
Please come to visit the Byrne Gallery to see and enjoy Paysages Francais, the exhibit beginning on September 3rd and continuing through September 28th. The Byrne Gallery is located at 7 West Washington Street in Middleburg, Virginia. Gallery hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment only, Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Contact the Byrne Gallery for more information at (540) 687-6986.