University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum invites the public to the ninth installment of the annual Enchanted Brush Exhibition. The exhibition, “Hidden Worlds,” is on display from June 15 to September 15, 2023 in University of Findlay’s Lea Gallery. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Daniel Chudzinski, M.F.A. is the founder of the Enchanted Brush Exhibition and serves as the Curator for Mazza Museum. “It has been my honor to introduce visitors to the original art of some of the most iconic fantasy artists in the world,” said Chudzinski. “The pieces represent artists from across the world, from as far away as Australia and Europe, to several Ohio-based artists.”

Chudzinski compares “Hidden Worlds” to great literature that offers an escape. “Neverland. Narnia. Wonderland. Somewhere over the rainbow, in a place between dreaming and awake, the wondrous awaits,” he said. “To venture into these sacred realms, one must step beyond the mundane and into a conscious rejection of reality.” In total, 20 artists will have their work on display in the exhibition.

The first Enchanted Brush Exhibition took place during the summer of 2015, when Chudzinski was simply known as a guest artist and had no affiliation with Mazza Museum. After a cancellation, Chudzinski received a call from Mazza asking if he could fill a gallery on late notice. “It just so happened that I was at dinner that night with a large group of fantasy artists,” Chudzinski recalls. “The artists at the table represented some of the most sought-after artists in the genre. I proposed an exhibition to the group, and they said yes.”

What began as a last-minute gallery substitution has grown into nearly a decade-long tradition in the University of Findlay’s Lea Gallery. “I am deeply honored to have played a small role in its creation,” said Chudzinski.

The ninth annual Enchanted Brush Exhibition will remain open at the University’s Lea Gallery inside Mazza Museum until September 15, 2023. As guests embark on the surreal voyage where fantasy reigns supreme, a number of the artworks on display will be available for purchase. 100% of the proceeds will be directed to the artist. For more information on Mazza Museum, including its exhibits and upcoming events, visit mazzamuseum.org.