Exhibitions

Merkin Fashion Show:
Thursday, October 30 |  7 PM to 10 PM 
TICKETS

Maryland Art Place (MAP) in collaboration with Baltimore-based fashion designer Kenn Hall is proud to present Merkin Dream III, a runway show. The first Merkin Dream show was held during the 100th Anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement during the Covid pandemic.The third iteration of Merkin Dream Fashion show will continue to expand on themes such as women’s rights, sex work, body image and dysphoria.

Volume 10: Dismantled explores queer identity and community as an exercise of celebration by bringing together artists from the Bureau of Queer Art and Maryland. Volume 10: Dismantled will serve as the backdrop to the third biennial Merkin Dream Fashion Show. Merkin Dream III  will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 7 PM to 10 PM.

Merkin Dream III will be an exclusive event and limited to only 80 guests due to capacity limitations. Purchase your ticket HERE.  MAP is located at 218 West Saratoga Street between Park and Howard Streets just within theBromo Arts & Entertainment District. 

What is a Merkin:

A merkin—a pubic wig for women —first appeared around 1450, primarily as a practical solution for hygiene serving both sanitary and economic purposes for sex workers who suffered from lice. It was also used in early theater, allowing male actors playing female roles to conceal their genitals on stage.

By the mid-18th century, merkins took on a decorative role, often embellished with ribbons, pearls, and dyes to reflect fashion trends or social status. In contemporary times, their most common use is in film and television, where they provide modesty for actors during nude scenes, help productions meet rating standards, or offer privacy for performers who prefer not to appear fully exposed. Outside of Hollywood, merkins are occasionally seen in fetish contexts.

About Kenn Hall:

Kenn Hall began as an assistant designer eventually moving on to production and development roles for renowned names like Donna Karan, Men’s Wearhouse, and Express. Kenn currently resides in Baltimore to expand his own brand identity OMRY International.

UNDER $2500 

Prospectus 

Virtual Application

UNDER $2500 Benefit Exhibition and Sale: Friday, November 21 | 6 to 10 p.m.  | Tickets $40

Last Chance (physical):  Saturday, November 22 | 12 to 4 p.m.

Virtual Exhibition & Sale:  Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m. – Black Friday, November 28, MIDNIGHT.

The Virtual Exhibition will go LIVE on Saturday, November 22 @ 10 a.m. | REGISTER HERE

To SPONSOR, or DONATE click HERE

Deck the walls by giving the gift of art this holiday season! Maryland Art Place (MAP) is excited to host its 13th annual UNDER $2500 affordable art sale where artwork is sold on a first-come-first-served basis right off our gallery walls! Newly rebranded as UNDER $2500 - this event promotes the purchase of artwork by artists in the Maryland region. Guests can expect to mingle with other artists, collectors, patrons, and general art enthusiasts at the event. Take your purchases home with you the night of the event. Gift wrapping will be available on-site! 

The opening night sale (physical) will take place Friday, November 21 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ticketed) and then again on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from Noon - 4 p.m. (free). Saturday is a ‘last chance’ opportunity to snag any artworks that remain on MAP’s walls. Tickets are $40 for opening night and can be purchased at the door or in advance HERE.

A Message To Our Patrons: In the last 2 years inflation has been a huge contributing factor to rising artwork sales prices. Simply put, the cost of goods for artists to create their art is far higher than it used to be. The majority of galleries consider the most important contemporary artwork value segments to be under $5,000 - $10,000 according to ARTSY (2023). It is with that in mind that MAP is presenting UNDER $2500 as affordable. We look forward to showcasing a more diverse, and broader, range of artworks this year at both the UNDER $2500 and UNDER $500 price ranges.

MAP will have holiday trees on display. Enjoy a cheerful atmosphere with an open bar, light fare, and some holly jolly tunes.

A virtual sale and exhibition will also take place and will be featured online HERE from Saturday, November 22 @ 10 a.m. – BLACK FRIDAY, November 28 @  MIDNIGHT.  Artwork will NOT be available to view online until November 22 @ 10 a.m., be sure to register in advance in the interim! Registration is free.

Virtual Buyers Sales & Pick Up: Sold artworks from the virtual auction need to be delivered by the artist to MAP after the sale closes November 28th. MAP is aiming for all sold work to be on site for Buyer pick up by Tuesday, December 2nd just in time for the holidays. Buyers will be notified once your purchase is secured and onsite at MAP. BUYERS - Please make sure your artwork is at MAP before coming to pick it up. The pickup window will be Dec 2 – Dec 6, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or by appointment. All artwork will be wrapped and ready to fulfill its destiny as the perfect holiday gift! Call #410.244.1959 or email Caitlin@mdartplace.org to make sure your work is on site prior to coming to MAP.

Zahi Khamis | Hotel Indigo 

On View: Friday, August, 29 - Thursday, November 27, 2025

Reception:Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 6 PM to 9 PM

Hotel Indigo | 24 West Franklin Street | Free & Open to the Public

Maryland Art Place, in partnership with Hotel Indigo Baltimore is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Maryland-based artist, Zahi Khamis. The exhibition is on view at Hotel Indigo, located at 24 West Franklin St. from August 29 - November 27, 2025.  A public reception will take place Thursday, September 11 from 6 PM to 9 PM. 

About the artist: 

Zahi Khamis is a Palestinian visual artist from the village of Reineh near Nazareth, now based in Baltimore, Maryland. A self-taught painter with a background in Mathematics and Literary Theory, Zahi is also a professor at Goucher College. His art is defined by vibrant colors and delicate, poetic human figures, reflecting his deep connection to the Palestinian experience and his life in exile. Drawing from the realities and aspirations of his people, as well as his own journey, Khamis explores themes of identity, memory, loss, love, yearning, and hope. Each piece emerges from a patient, meditative process, rooted in his personal and collective narrative.

Zahi’s work has been exhibited widely across the United States, including solo and juried group shows at prestigious venues such as the United Nations, the U.S. Senate, The Palestine Center in Washington, D.C., and the Carnegie Institute for Peace. His art has also graced the covers of novels and musical albums and has been featured in international journals. Through his vibrant palette and poignant imagery, Zahi seeks to affirm human beauty and evoke a sense of belonging and solidarity—not only with Palestinians but with all oppressed peoples.

Artist Statement:

My work is an exploration of the profound emotional landscapes of the Palestinian experience and the universal human condition. Through vibrant oil and acrylic colors, I seek to capture states of sadness, love, memory, and resilience. Informed by my life in exile and the enduring narrative of my Palestinian people, my art strives to affirm the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Each piece is a meditation on the tension between hope and tragedy, expressed through bright, optimistic colors juxtaposed with the poignant expressions of my subjects. This interplay aims to amplify the value of life and the enduring power of hope. My paintings invite viewers to pause, reflect, and discover their own meanings within the layers of color, texture, and form.

I believe art has the unique ability to transcend boundaries and connect us on a deeply human level. My hope is that my work resonates with viewers’ innermost emotions, evoking a sense of solidarity and inspiring a renewed appreciation for the beauty and fragility of our shared existence.

Hotel Indigo located at 24 West Franklin St.