May 2026

This inspiring new exhibition features the captivating works of two remarkable artists.

Kenneth Wagner’s “Art on the Wing” presents a stunning collection of bird photography that highlights the vibrant, intricate behaviors and stunning colors of Florida’s native bird species.

Contrasting yet complementing Wagner’s work, Rita Irvin’s “Beneath the Surface” delves into the emotional and textural depths of mixed media art.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the Studios of Cocoa Beach, located at 165 Minutemen Causeway in downtown Cocoa Beach. This is the perfect opportunity to meet the artists, explore their contrasting yet harmonious bodies of work, and enjoy an evening immersed in art and conversation.

Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition that pairs the fluid beauty of birdlife with the textured complexity of human experience. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, art lover, or simply curious, “Art on the Wing” and “Beneath the Surface” offer something profoundly moving to discover.  

Ken Wagner has been fascinated by birds since his childhood in Montreal, Canada. When not traveling to other locales, including Central and South America for birding adventures, he spends his time between Cocoa Beach, Florida and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is an avid wildlife photographer and guide in the US and Canada.

In this exhibit, Kenneth presents a stunning collection of his bird photography that highlights the vibrant, intricate behaviors and colors of Florida’s native bird species. Wagner captures each subject in its natural state, combining artistry and education by carefully composing his images and enhancing backgrounds without altering the birds themselves. His photographs invite viewers to witness the grace and daily drama of avian life, taking us on a visual journey through the skies of Florida and beyond.

“Art on the Wing”
Photography
by Kenneth Wagner

“Beneath the Surface”
Mixed Media by Rita Irvin

“Ballerina Spotlight”

Rita Irvin finds painting the most challenging and rewarding thing to do. She has always been creative and especially loves to explore how things are made. Rather than seeking perfect resolution, her work embraces evolution.

“Beneath the Surface” delves into the emotional and textural depths of mixed media art. Drawing on a lifetime of creative influence shaped by her upbringing in Berlin and extensive career in interior design, Irvin crafts layered compositions filled with subtle fractures, scraped edges, and evolving forms. Through layering, she builds and disrupts each surface, allowing texture and process to remain visible.

Her work challenges the notion of perfection, inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and engage with themes of memory, control, release, and hidden intensity.

“Where Thoughts Swim”

“Flicker Spectacle”

“Silence Under the Skin”