Ricky Gagnon, the director and curator of the New Hope Arts Gallery in Cranston, has an ongoing art exhibit through Sept. 28 at the Cranston Public Library (Central Library) in the James T. Giles Community Room.

Gagnon is a 60-year-old, self-taught artist who has been creating art since his childhood. He has been a lifelong resident of Rhode Island who was educated at Toll Gate High School in Warwick and the Community College of Rhode Island, where he received a degree in Mechanical Drawing and Architecture in 1978.

“Like many artists, I rarely created art as life got busy building my career in my next few decades,” said Gagnon.

It was not until many years later, when he was in his mid-40s, that he began his journey back to art to relieve stress, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I create vibrant colorful art in many styles and themes,” said Gagnon. “My art style has been called many things which I enjoy. Art should evoke feelings from the viewers and pull them into the conversation. I like to work in a series in each style and theme until I express my feelings and thoughts. Then I get restless and transition into a new series. I have created many series of paintings in abstract, landscape, figurative or a combination of a few styles.”

The show at the Cranston Library features work from his very early years of painting and features from his figurative series, which he is currently working on. The show is a retrospective of his artistic journey, he said.

In 2010, Gagnon was asked by his friend Lee Sperduti from DCYF to create an art show for the dedication of the new Training School Building in Cranston.

“Our first show was a success and New Hope Art Gallery was born,” said Gagnon. “As the gallery creator and director, I began meeting talented artists interested in our mission to bring art into everyone's life that would not normally have the chance to experience it. Our gallery flourished at Training School for five years and continued our expansion in size and scope until we moved to the Michael Traficante Enrichment Center at 1070 Cranston St. three years ago.”

The Gallery just celebrated its eighth Anniversary.

“We are now a very large, two-floor gallery featuring about 400 pieces of art in every style and media of art from about 100 local, national, senior, special needs and student artists,” said Gagnon. “Our dedicated volunteer staff includes assistant curators David Koukol, Barbara Rosenbaum and refreshment coordinators Lou and Zita Gagnon.”

Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except holidays. The New Hope Gallery is a nonprofit with a mission to bring art to all people and all people to art.

For more information call Ricky Gagnon at 401-280-6282.