How Unexpected: Encounters with the Divine

Friday, Jun 12, 2026 • Art and Art History : Contact

Exhibition "How Unexpected", on view at the Arlington Museum of Art on June 5 - July 26, 2026, explores spirituality, faith, and personal transformation through the work of artist Emelie Stenhammar.

Originally from Sweden, Stenhammar left a midlife career as a medical doctor to pursue her passion for art-making. She is currently based in Fort Worth, Texas, with her family and is a Master of Fine Arts candidate at UTA.

Stenhammar’s work investigates transformation, materiality, and transcendence through painting, sculpture, and collage. Working intuitively with unstretched canvas, wood panels, acrylic and latex paint, charcoal, found materials, and hand-built ceramics, she approaches art-making as an encounter between herself, the materials, and the divine.

Through layered gestures and evolving forms, abstract marks gradually emerge into figurative imagery, reflecting her interest in discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary. Her artistic practice invites viewers to look beyond surface appearances and consider realities that extend beyond what is immediately visible.

How Unexpected is curated by Art and Art History Professor, Benjamin Terry, and hosted by the Arlington Museum of Art.

Exhibition reception: June 18 from 6-8 PM.