Collection: All Mixed Up

Nov 21, 2025 – Jan 11, 2026

Artist Reception: Friday, November 21, 5–8 p.m.

***HOLIDAY HOURS 2025***
Closed Thurs November 27th for Thanksgiving.
OPEN Friday November 28th
Closed December 25th - January 1st.
Open again on First Friday, January 2, 2026

Niza Knoll Gallery presents the second of two shows from The Mix, a co-op of artists usually located in the back of the gallery at 915 Santa Fe Drive, who, once a year, share their work throughout the entire gallery. 

The exhibition, entitled “All Mixed Up,” features Mark Friday, Aliki McCain, Kristy Melodia and Paula Romero Schmitt.  The show runs through the heart of the holiday season, providing a perfect opportunity bring out-of-town guests and shop for charming, original gifts. 

Mark Friday will offer a fresh batch of mixed media collages and assemblage sculptures —new relics, strange configurations, and mysterious objects. He started his art practice with traditional screen printing, later creating three-dimensional structures with printed elements. Early in the 21st century, he shifted to scrounging for random leftovers and unwanted discards to use in his assembled sculptures. He creates mostly with wood and metal materials, adding collage and paint, with an occasional light source to draw the eye.

Aliki McCain’s works in this show are dedicated to Mother Nature, the continuous muse that provides her with an unending flow of inspiration, filling the need to escape from the daily chaos and revealing clarity, truth and balance. McCain’s creative process focuses on problem-solving each work by selecting mediums she finds inspirational and relevant to the piece. She creates with the intention of getting lost in her practice and obtaining a state of flow.

For this show, Kristy Melodia invites her viewers to take a trip underwater and explore humor in its depths. Inspired by the form and flow of tropical and freshwater fish, she uses her unique sense of play to imbue a distinct personality and presence into each wall-mounted ceramic piece. Melodia has been a ceramic artist for more than 20 years, combining her sense of humor and love of nature to create charming works of art. 

Also stirred by her love of nature and architecture, Paula Romero Schmitt hand-builds ceramic sculptures, focusing on detailed textures and applying glaze as if working on a watercolor painting. Each work is unique, conveying a sense of character that she picks up through closely watching birds and discovering wonky old buildings to recreate in her signature style.

All final artworks will be available to view and purchase online starting Nov 21.