For Immediate Release
February 3, 2026

Suffolk County Community College Presents Intimate Frequencies of Care by Ernest Shaw February 12 through March 10 at the Flecker Gallery on the Ammerman Campus

Songye 2, 2019 Acrylic on Canvas 60 x 36 x 1.75 in. For a hi-res image, visit https://photos.app.goo.gl/ekWKKrS29gjKsTjSA

Suffolk County Community College is proud to present Intimate Frequencies of Care, a selection of recent paintings by Ernest Shaw, on view at the Flecker Gallery from February 12 through March 10. A virtual artist talk will take place on March 5 at 2:00 p.m., followed by an in-person reception at 3:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Ernest Shaw is an artist, educator, and muralist whose work explores Black American and Black Africanist identity through portraiture that is both intimate and revealing. The exhibition highlights Shaw’s powerful visual language, which combines finely observed portraiture with abstract and contemporary environments.

Shaw’s compositions often incorporate symbolic elements, abstract African masks, and vibrant spatial scenes that situate the human figure within broader cultural, spiritual, and historical frameworks. His work invites viewers into a relational exchange—foregrounding care, presence, and humanity as essential narrative and artistic values. Through nuanced and dignified portrayals of the Black body, Shaw challenges historical misrepresentations and offers deeply humanized perspectives within contemporary visual culture.

In addition to his studio practice, Shaw is widely recognized for his large-scale murals throughout Baltimore. His artistic work is rooted in a strong commitment to community engagement and education, which he regards as an extension of his creative practice. Shaw currently serves as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, Baltimore City Community College, and the Maryland Institute College of Art. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Howard University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Morgan State University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Philosophy and Art Theory at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts.

Gallery Hours:

Monday through Thursday 10AM – 4:00PM (and by appointment).For more information, please contact the Flecker Gallery at 631-451-4093.

About Suffolk County Community College

Suffolk County Community College is the largest, most comprehensive community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students in over 100 degree and certificate programs. With approximately 145,000 alumni, Suffolk County Community College is dedicated to meeting the demands of regional employers. The college has built an extensive track record of successfully training and educating its students through pathways from high school to college and into careers.