Exhibition, gallery talk is Friday

Bartoz Beda's work will be displayed at the Cox Gallery at William Woods University for four weeks. A reception will be late Friday afternoon to kick off the showing.
Bartoz Beda's work will be displayed at the Cox Gallery at William Woods University for four weeks. A reception will be late Friday afternoon to kick off the showing.

Bartoz Beda, an internationally renowned artist, will present a gallery talk at his exhibit's opening reception 4-6 p.m. Friday at William Woods University.

He is bringing his "Ten Starts From One" art exhibit to the Cox Gallery in the Gladys Wood Kemper Center for the Arts.

"Ten Starts From One," featuring the work of the Polish-born artist, focuses on social and political issues while inviting viewers to discover the metaphysical connections between his paintings and the space around them. Admission to Cox Gallery is free.

"I like to explore political issues in my work," said Beda, who lives in Manchester, England. "These issues often expose themselves in hidden meanings, and art has often educated and opened eyes to social and political issues. I want to believe that my paintings reveal on the canvas a kind of intellectualizing of the internal human conflict of reality and hope, and of my conflict as well."

Beda's work has been shown around the world, including in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Poland and Colombia. Beda was chosen for the 2012 Catlin Art Guide as one of the most promising emerging artists in the U.K., and also won the esteemed Towry Award for the Best of North of England. He received his bachelor of arts and master of arts in Fine Arts from the Manchester Metropolitan University in 2011 and 2012.

The exhibit will run through Nov. 18. Cox Gallery and is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.