Celebration of Friendship

Celebration of Friendship, a vibrant new exhibition featuring the work of artists Loretta Day and Esther Osayande, openend April 1, during our Spring Open (Hot)House, and runs through May 25, 2026. Co-curated by Jhyle Rinker and Beth Onward, the exhibition highlights the artists’ enduring creative partnership and the powerful role of friendship in shaping artistic growth.

Celebration of Friendship brings together a dynamic collection of paintings and mixed media works that reflect a lifetime of shared experiences, collaboration, and artistic evolution. From public art projects to innovative explorations of enamel on steel, Day and Osayande’s work reveals how their creative practices have influenced and strengthened one another over time.

About the Artists:

Loretta Day, a visual artist known for her acrylic portraits and mixed media work, returned to her fine art roots after contributing to the 1994 Celebration of Life Mural project in North Minneapolis. Since then, she has built an extensive portfolio and exhibited widely throughout the Twin Cities, including at venues such as Hennepin Gallery, Pillsbury House, and the Basilica of St. Mary. A member of the ROHO Collective and a SEED artist with the John Biggers SEED Project, Day continues to expand her practice into abstraction and steel-based work. “Creating images that are one of a kind has become one of my passions,” Day says. “I love the process of not knowing what the end result will be once I get started.”

Esther Osayande is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Known for her bold use of color, dynamic shapes, and incorporation of found objects and metals, Osayande draws inspiration from often-overlooked moments in everyday life. Her work invites viewers to find meaning and beauty in the subtle details that surround us. “Sometimes it’s the little things that matter,” she reflects.

Together, Day and Osayande’s work in Celebration of Friendship speaks to decades of artistic dialogue and mutual encouragement. The exhibition captures their journey, from early collaborations in public art to ongoing experimentation across mediums, demonstrating how friendship can be both a personal and creative force.

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm or by appointment.
To set up a viewing please contact Jhyle at jhyle.rinker@cafac.org