Between Reflection and Revelation: David Dunlop’s Material Alchemy

JK Art House, the contemporary fine art gallery in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, announces Between Reflection and Revelation. Opening Reception: Friday, October 16th 5-9 pm Gallery Night Exhibition Dates: October 14th – January 7th, 2027 Private Appointments: Available now through the opening; contact the gallery to schedule. Location: JK Art House, 191 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (Historic Third Ward) Gallery Hours: Monday and Tuesday by private appointments, Wednesday to Sunday 11 am to 6 pm. More Information: jkarthouse.com In this compelling exhibition, painter David Allen Dunlop bridges five centuries of artistic tradition with contemporary innovation, demonstrating how the wisdom of Old Masters illuminates modern practice. Drawing from intensive research into primary sources—from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks to Leon Battista Alberti’s groundbreaking 1436 treatise *Della Pittura*—Dunlop has dedicated his career to both preserving and reimagining Renaissance painting techniques for the 21st century. Dunlop's fascination with reflective surfaces drives this exhibition. Inspired by 17th-century Dutch and Italian paintings on copper and pietra dura, he applies traditional translucent oil techniques to both venerable materials like copper and gold and contemporary substrates like steel and aluminum. The result: luminous color that shifts and glows across metal surfaces as viewers move through the space. More than technical exercise, this work is a meditation on the dialogue between past and present—proof that Old Master techniques remain vital tools for contemporary expression. An award-winning educator and Emmy-winning host of PBS's Landscapes Through Time, Dunlop brings his exploratory studio spirit to this show, inviting viewers into painting as an ongoing conversation across time. David will offer a rare workshop for artists at JK Art House David Allen Dunlop: Lakes, Ponds, and Streams — Reflections and Translucence Saturday, October 17 | 10 am – 4 pm | $175 A rare Milwaukee appearance from renowned oil painter David Allen Dunlop, an Emmy-winning artist and PBS host. Learn the secrets of painting persuasive water reflections, translucence, and the illusion of elements floating on and beneath the water’s surface. Contact the gallery to register. Special Gallery Night Workshop in the Parlor 10/16/2026 5 pm to 9 pm Treasured Postcards Workshop by John Michael Kohler Art Center Inspired by artist Lenore Tawney's postcard correspondence, participants will create one-of-a-kind collage postcards. Using papers, photographs, newspaper clippings, musical scores, and nature guides, they will construct miniature collages ready to mail anywhere in the world. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center holds hundreds of key components from Tawney’s last studio environment, some of which are on display at the Art Preserve. About JK Art House JK Art House is a contemporary fine art gallery located at 191 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, co-owned by Gallery Director Julia Taylor and Karen Ellenbecker. The gallery represents approximately 55 artists and presents eight or more exhibitions annually, with satellite gallery locations at the Milwaukee Athletic Club, and the Journeyman Hotel.