Artists Talk with LVA: February 19, 2026

Matt, Tim, & Dawn

The 2026 Art in City Hall exhibit is now open, and this week our guests are 3 of the artists: Dawn Della Bella, Matthew Hagan, & Tim O' Connell. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM / Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Dawn Della Bella was raised in San Diego, California, but she and her family moved to Louisville in 1994. She and her husband both worked for the Archdiocese of Louisville for over 25 years and retired together in 2022.  Now, I spend all of my free time painting. 

Tim O’ Connell took a 20-year sabbatical from art in the 90s to coach volleyball. First at Male High School, then at DuPont Manual. Art filled the void after he retired. Since then, he has been selected to display at the Kentucky Bourbon Festivals, and, more recently in the Galt House East.

Matthew Hagan is an accountant by trade and also a landscape and wildlife photographer. He lives in Louisville, KY, with his wife and two daughters. He and his family love the great outdoors and can often be found hiking, kayaking, and traveling. Matthew is also an avid fisherman, and when not working or with his family, can usually be found wading in a stream or on a river.

The 2026 Art in City Hall exhibit runs through January 2027 at Metro Louisville’s City Hall. This year’s exhibition also includes work from Sheila Fox and Isabella Corine.

Artists Talk with LVA: January 8, 2026

This week, Luanne Smith & Bob Lockhart will discuss her new exhibit, Biophilia, now at Pyro Gallery. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM / Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

For Luanne Smith, painting is both a return and a renewal.  After raising her family, she rediscovered her lifelong passion for art through watercolor.  Her realistic depictions of wildlife, botanicals, and landscapes offer a close look at nature with attention to light and detail.

Primarily self-taught, Luanne continues to develop her skills through workshops and ongoing study with noted watercolor artist Cathy Hillegas.  She has exhibited in numerous community shows and is also a juried member of the Louisville Artisans Guild.  She is a member of Pyro Gallery, where she has just opened an exhibit of new watercolors called Biophilia, which runs through January 25, 2026

Luann Smith will be giving a Gallery Talk at Pyro on January 10 at 1 pm.

Bob Lockhart is an award-winning sculptor whose work is in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, the Indianapolis Art Museum, and many others. In addition, Lockhart's pieces have been commissioned by the Louisville Zoo, by numerous churches and schools, and by private collectors.