Hendershot Art Gallery Exhibit featuring artist Darryl Halbrooks

Labette Community College invites the public to view the first Hendershot Art Gallery exhibit of the 2026 fall semester,  “The Adventures of Buster and Joey" featuring artist Darryl Halbrooks.

"The Adventures of Buster and Joey" showcases Halbrooks' masterfully crafted paintings, featuring narrative-driven works that blend distinct characters with rich, atmospheric depth. Halbrooks uses vivid color, texture and composition to construct a unique world that challenges the imagination and invites the viewer to delve deeper into the iconography and character relationships present in the work. Visitors can expect an engaging visual experience that showcases both contemporary narrative painting and technical precision.

Halbrooks is an artist, writer and professor emeritus from Eastern Kentucky University as well as visiting professor at East Carolina University. His art work varies greatly in subject matter and style, ranging from abstract to hyper-real.

“My first real duty is to entertain and please myself. If I know the work is good, I can write about tragedy, paint fake religious figures or total abstractions … and have the most fun ever,” he said.

He works every day in his studios in Kentucky or Colorado. His work has been included in over 200 exhibitions, including solo shows at the Huntington (WVA) Museum and the Memphis Museum of Art and elsewhere and is represented in many private, public and corporate collections. He is the author of twelve books of fiction and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. His artwork and fiction can be viewed at www.darrylhalbrooks.com.

“I am very thankful that he accepted my invitation to exhibit his work at LCC and hope that our campus and local community find something of value from their visit,” said Burt Bucher, LCC Art Department Program Director and Hendershot Art Gallery Director.

The exhibit will run through Oct. 5 and is open during regular college hours, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The college will be closed Labor Day.

A closing reception featuring a special video talk/discussion by the artist is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 in the Hendershot Art Gallery. Light refreshments will be provided.