BEREA, KY – If you’ve ever wondered what horses, hounds, and husbands have in common, two Kentucky artists have the answer: they all make excellent subjects for a painting.
Lesa Aker and Sharon Matisoff are bringing more than 35 original oil and pastel works to the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea for Manes, Muzzles & Other Muses, an exhibit celebrating their greatest inspirations. The show opened November 7 and runs through January 16, 2026.
For Aker, a self-taught pastel artist from southern Kentucky near Somerset, the inspiration comes naturally. She grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of Pulaski County, surrounded by animals and the rhythms of rural life. Her work captures horses, dogs, wildlife, and landscapes with a naturalist’s eye and an artist’s heart.
“I’m fascinated by living creatures and the natural world,” Aker has said. Her dazzling technique with pastels has earned her recognition in regional and national competitions, and her work can be found in private collections across the country.
Matisoff, a Frankfort-based artist, brings a different background to the same subjects. Trained in traditional portraiture and figurative art, she discovered the joy of painting horses after moving to Kentucky later in life. Her Impressionist-Realist style captures horses and riders in dynamic, expressive compositions that blend movement and emotion.
“I feel intimately connected with horses through my paintings,” Matisoff explains. “My unique style explores the boundaries between traditional realism and impressionism.”
Matisoff’s credentials include signature membership in Chicago Pastel Painters, artist membership in Oil Painters of America, and associate membership in the American Academy of Equine Artists. Her work has earned top honors, including a Best of Show award at Chicago Pastel Painters’ 2024 Strokin’ 10 exhibition.
Together, the two artists offer a rich exploration of animal subjects—from the power and grace of thoroughbreds to the quiet companionship of beloved pets. The exhibit’s playful title hints at the range: manes (horses), muzzles (dogs and other animals), and other muses (including the occasional human subject).
The Kentucky Artisan Center is located at 200 Artisan Way in Berea, just off Interstate 75 at Exit 77. The exhibit is free and open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 859-985-5448 or visit kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov.
Whether you’re an art lover, an animal enthusiast, or simply curious about what draws artists to their subjects, Manes, Muzzles & Other Muses offers a chance to see Kentucky’s natural beauty and beloved creatures through the eyes of two accomplished artists.
IF YOU GO:
Manes, Muzzles & Other Muses
📅 Now through January 16, 2026
📍 Kentucky Artisan Center, 200 Artisan Way, Berea
🕘 Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
💵 Free admission
📞 859-985-5448
🔗 kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov