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Affinities and Differences: A Dialogue of Abstraction in Painting
Exhibition in Neil Britton Gallery features the works of John Rudel and James Williams
University News | September 17, 2025
The Neil Britton Art Gallery at Virginia Wesleyan University presents Affinities and Differences: A Dialogue of Abstraction in Painting, an exhibition featuring the works of artists James Williams and John Rudel. On view through December 12, 2025, the show highlights the distinct yet interconnected approaches of two contemporary painters whose friendship spans more than two decades.
Though they have known each other since their high school years in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Williams and Rudel are exhibiting together for the first time. Their paintings and mixed media works invite viewers to explore how abstract expression takes form through different visual languages—offering a dialogue between affinities and contrasts.
“Abstract painting is a curious endeavor, as it involves a process of visual discovery,” notes Rudel, Professor of Art, Curator of Exhibitions, and Director of Undergraduate Research and Creativity at Virginia Wesleyan University. “In creating such paintings, artists are guided by intuition and aesthetic sensibilities, often unsure of the final outcome until it gradually emerges. We engage in a form of language creation where the elements of art serve as our grammar. This exhibition is particularly intriguing as it juxtaposes two unique languages of abstraction side by side, allowing visitors to appreciate each piece within a context that encourages comparisons between the two bodies of work, potentially leading to deeper insights.”
Williams, Professor of Art and Chair of the Visual Arts Department at Tidewater Community College, brings a parallel yet distinct perspective to the exhibition. Together, his and Rudel’s works create a space where expression and interpretation meet—where similarities foster connection, and differences deepen understanding.
The public is invited to celebrate the artists at a reception on Saturday, October 4, from 3–5 p.m. in the Neil Britton Art Gallery, located in the H.C. Hofheimer II Library. Refreshments will be served. Admission to the gallery and reception is free.