Krell’s textured abstract works invite viewers to slow down and reflect on the enduring presence of the natural world.

Wilmington, Del. (April 28, 2026) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present Stone Formations, a solo exhibition of new work by Kira Krell, on view May 1-29, 2026. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 1, from 5-7pm, in the Mezzanine Gallery, located in the Carvel State Office Building at 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. Admission is free and open to the public.

“Stone Formations” guides viewers from volcanic deserts to coastal shorelines through a series of layered, relief-like paintings that trace geological time and place. Krell builds her surfaces by combining sand, plaster, and earth pigments, adding, subtracting, and distressing these materials to achieve textures that appear weathered and time-worn. Intricate details emerge through dry brushing and mark-making with acrylics and pencils, revealing the inner structures of the geological forms she studies. Fascinated by the permanence and strength conveyed by natural landscapes, Krell offers an impression of steadiness and belonging – a counterpoint to the pace and instability of contemporary life. The exhibition invites viewers to pause, breathe, and reflect on the enduring presence of the physical world.

The Mezzanine Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Admission is free.

About the Artist

Kira Krell is an abstract artist based in Townsend, Delaware, whose practice centers on multi-layered surfaces and material exploration. Born in 1973 in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, Krell grew up in a creative family that valued hands-on making, and spent more than a decade traveling internationally as a missionary, experiences that continue to shape her connection to physical environments and place.

Krell began painting during the COVID-19 pandemic, after challenging herself to try drawing. Working with watered-down craft paint, a pen, and an empty CD sleeve, she created her first line-and-wash work. That experimental process led her to canvas and to her current abstract style. Since formally developing her practice in 2021, Krell has refined her work through specialized workshops and ongoing research into historic materials, including plaster and earth pigments.

In 2024, she presented her first solo exhibition, Beauty in Brokenness, at the Newark Arts Alliance Gallery in Newark, Delaware. Her work has also been shown at the Bethany Beach Arts Festival and in group exhibitions at the Newark Arts Alliance. Krell is the recipient of a 2024 Artist Opportunity Grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware State Arts Council. Her paintings are held in private collections in Europe and across the United States.

About the Mezzanine Gallery

The Mezzanine Gallery, located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building (820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE), is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The gallery highlights the work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellows, showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent throughout the year. For more information, visit https://arts.delaware.gov/mezzanine-gallery.

Images in the banner: “Rockport Shore” (2026), plaster, pigment on canvas, 18”x24”. 

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

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• Michael Houghton resigned as Delaware’s marijuana appeals commissioner, effective April 24.
• This follows his removal last month from the state’s economic advisory panel by Gov. Matt Meyer.
• Houghton’s ousting from the economic panel occurred after he criticized the governor’s administration over transparency.

In the weeks following his unseating from Delaware’s long-standing economic advisory panel, long-time budget forecaster Michael Houghton announced his decision to resign from his position as the marijuana appeals commissioner from Sussex County, effective April 24.  

This decision comes after Houghton was ousted from the state’s Economic and Financial Advisory Council last month.  

The controversial removal by Gov. Matt Meyer came a day after a news report where Houghton criticized the Democrat’s administration “over transparency surrounding the state’s prominent corporate franchise,” according to previous reporting from Spotlight Delaware.   

A March 25 letter from Meyer to Houghton shared with Delaware Online/The News Journal did not include a reason behind the leader’s decision, only that he would be choosing a new council member to fill Houghton’s seat. 

A closer look: Gov. Meyer names replacement on Delaware’s financial council

Meyer later named CSC Corporate Counsel and Director of Global Government Affairs Brenda Wise as a replacement on April 7.   

When asked if there were any more potential changes in DEFAC’s future or other panels, Meyer said he and his team look at and analyze each one, and then “do what’s best” for each board and commission.

“Some need new faces, and some don’t,” he said during a press conference on April 15.

Houghton told Delaware Online/The News Journal he felt it was “necessary and appropriate” for him to step down as commissioner at this time, considering the past month or so.

“There are significant issues facing the Appeals Commission,” Houghton said in a statement shared April 24. “With a new appointment to the Commission, the Governor will shape its direction and advance his policies.”

Delaware’s largest rooftop solar project is now online with state leaders hoping it marks a turning point for renewable energy across the state.

The massive rooftop installation at Delmarva Corrugated Packaging in Kent County is expected to generate about 30% of the company’s daily power needs, reducing costs and easing demand on the regional power grid.

The project comes as solar energy continues to grow nationwide.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows solar generation increasing year over year while costs have dropped significantly over the past few decades.

Combined with improvements in battery storage, wind and solar now generate more than 17% of the country’s electricity.

In Dover, the nonprofit Energize Delaware is helping drive that momentum.

The group also operates solar-powered electric vehicle chargers that offer free and clean energy to drivers.

“It’s actually our largest investment in Kent County and it’s phenomenal work they’re doing,” Drew Slater of Energize Delaware said. “They built the building 30% more efficient than what a standard building would be and now they’ve added solar on top of it. It’s just furthering their own sustainability goals.”

The rooftop array itself spans about 10 acres — space that otherwise would have gone unused.

Advocates say rooftop solar offers an alternative to building arrays on open land, though challenges remain.

Large buildings often need to be constructed or retrofitted to support the weight of solar panels which has limited widespread adoption so far.

Still, as technology improves and costs continue to fall, more businesses and property owners may follow suit.

“I think it’s a great sign of things to come,” Slater said.

While projects like this won’t solve all of Delaware’s energy challenges, supporters say every addition helps — and this one is already making an impact.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.