Step into the abstract, panoramic worldview of Dolly Holmes. Her exhibition Horizon/tal is on display for the month of July in the Library Gallery.

Since the early 2000s, Holmes has explored wide rectangular forms in her work, evoking panoramic landscapes, reclining figures, and a sense of continuity beyond the edge of the canvas. Her abstract panels use color and form to translate thought and emotion into visual experiences. In her words, “In a world that constantly urges us to speed up, this work serves as a reminder to slow down and embrace the beauty within.”

Holmes is a painter and graphic designer based in Petersburg. Educated at The Cooper Union and Hunter College in New York, she credits early American modernists such as Marsden Hartley, John Marin, and Arthur Dove as mentors. Since moving to Old Towne Petersburg in 1997, she has exhibited nationally, including at the Painting Center in New York, Perspective Gallery at Virginia Tech, and locally at the Walton Gallery and Sol Cooper Gallery.

In addition to her studio work, Dolly designed the historical timeline that is permanently installed in the Rotunda of the Petersburg Public Library. This installation reflects her ongoing fascination with wide rectangular compositions.

Horizon/tal is open to the public during regular library hours through July 31, 2025.

To learn more about the artist and view additional works, visit dolmarva.com/dh.

  • Exhibit Dates: July 01 – July 31, 2025
  • Location: Petersburg Public Library, 201 W. Washington St. Petersburg, Virginia 23803