Side by Side: The Gurlz of Baltimore
Featuring the work of Joyce J. Scott, Linda DePalma, Oletha DeVane, Ellen Burchenal,
Leslie King Hammond, Patti Tronolone, and Linda Day Clark
Co-curated by Lowery Stokes Sims and Amy Eva Raehse
On view at Goya Contemporary Gallery
August 18 – September 26, 2026
Reception: August 23rd from 4-6pm
For Immediate Release Baltimore, MD — Goya Contemporary Gallery presents Side by Side: The Gurlz of Baltimore, an exhibition bringing together, for the first time in public, all nine members of a remarkable circle of artists, scholars, curators, and cultural leaders whose friendships and working lives have shaped one another and Baltimore’s art community for more than five decades.
Co-curated by Lowery Stokes Sims and Amy Eva Raehse, the exhibition features the art of Leslie King Hammond, Linda DePalma, Patti Tronolone, Ellen Burchenal, Oletha DeVane, Joyce J. Scott, and Linda Day Clark.
The “Gurlz of Baltimore” began in the 1970s with a group of six women—King Hammond, DePalma, Scott, Tronolone, Burchenal, and DeVane—and expanded over time to include Raehse, Day Clark, and Stokes Sims. Their fields and practices differ—painting, photography, sculpture, performance, works on paper, public art, scholarship, and curatorial practice—but the group has never been defined by a common style. What holds them together is friendship: sustained, generous, and unwavering. That distinction matters because Side by Side is not an exhibition about a movement or a school. It is about what becomes possible within a culture of genuine mutual support.
Over the years, these nine women have exchanged ideas, opened doors for one another, shared opportunities, and helped shape the careers and perspectives of generations of artists, curators, institutions, and audiences. The exhibition places their individual achievements alongside the history they have made together. In doing so, Side by Side considers how one can remain fully oneself while belonging to a community. For the Gurlz, the answer has been neither conformity nor rivalry, but an enduring practice of standing in support.
Side by Side: The Gurlz of Baltimore will be on view at Goya Contemporary Gallery from August 18 through September 26, 2026. A public reception will be held August 23 from 4–6 p.m. A new publication accompanying the exhibition will also be available.
Goya Contemporary is free and open to the public.
Hours of operation: Tue – Fri, 10am – 6pm / Saturday, noon-4pm & by appointment.
For press inquiries, images, or additional information, please contact: Amy Raehse, Partner & Executive Director at
Goya Contemporary Gallery, P-410-366-2001, amy@goyacontemporary.com
About Goya Contemporary: Goya Contemporary Gallery promotes the art and culture of our time by presenting ideas through exhibitions, curatorial practice, catalogues, print publishing, artist representation, and collection development. The gallery builds private & public collections, assists in acquisitions, and facilitates auction activity. Goya Contemporary has earned international acclaim for thought-provoking exhibitions, innovative programming, and unique collaborations with artists. Known as one of the most prestigious and long running galleries in the mid-Atlantic, Goya is dedicated to scholarly programming and promoting the work of mid-career artists both internationally and locally. Goya Contemporary Gallery is a proud member of the Art Dealers Association of America and the International Fine Print Dealers Association; two prestigious organizations committed to upholding the highest standards of responsible and ethical practice in the field.
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