The Spice of Life- Sally Newman

Portsmouth, NH- What if the ordinary moments of daily life were seen from above; alive with motion, color, and rhythm? In her latest exhibition, oil painter Sally Newman transforms familiar scenes into animated compositions that pulse with movement and storytelling.
Newman’s distinctive style, which she calls “Anirealism,” merges realism with the heightened intensity of animation. Everyday imagery becomes layered and expressive, framed by bold dark lines that amplify color and emphasize action. Many of her paintings are viewed from above the picture plane, offering a sweeping perspective that draws viewers directly into the scene rather than positioning them as distant observers.
Long fascinated by the world around her, Newman focuses on the gestures and routines that define human experience. Her work captures not just what we do, but the energy and spirit within those moments.
A graduate of the City College of New York with further fine arts study at Notre Dame College in Manchester, New Hampshire, Newman has exhibited widely across the United States. Her work has received national recognition, including mention in the Huffington Post, and she has earned awards from numerous arts organizations. Most recently, she received the 2025 Artists Choice Award from the Nashua Artists Association and an Honorable Mention from the New Hampshire Art Association. Newman is a member of the New Hampshire Art Association, the National Association of Women Artists, and the Copley Society of Art. Her paintings are held in private collections throughout the country.
Through “Anirealism,” Newman offers a renewed way of seeing; one that reveals the animation, color, and vitality embedded in everyday life.

Spaces and Places Reimagined- Tom Cawthon

Portsmouth, NH- A shaft of light across concrete. The geometry of a stairwell. The quiet tension between shadow and structure. In Spaces and Places Reimagined, photographer Tom Cawthon reveals the subtle drama embedded within architectural spaces and everyday environments.
This series dissolves the boundary between the built world and abstraction. Through precise composition, sharp lines, and richly textured surfaces, Cawthon transforms familiar structures into contemplative studies of light, form, and atmosphere. His images encourage viewers to slow down and rediscover the poetry hidden in ordinary places.
A self-taught photographer, Cawthon divides his time between Florida, New England, and Belize. His early years photographing the natural landscapes of North Florida, and covering collegiate sports, laid the foundation for a career that would later include leading graphic design, commercial photography, and videography teams. After stepping away from corporate work, he returned to a more personal exploration of the world around him, focusing on the spaces we inhabit and the human presence within them.
Working in both color and black and white, Cawthon is known for his attention to detail and composition. Whether capturing architectural forms, street scenes, or abstract elements of the natural world, his photographs highlight moments of structural elegance. His work has been exhibited widely in galleries and institutions throughout North and Central America. In Spaces and Places Reimagined, Cawthon offers a new way of seeing; one that uncovers abstraction, intimacy, and meaning within the spaces we often overlook.
The Slice of Life and Spaces and Places Reimagined will be on view at Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, from April 1st-26th, with an opening reception on April 3rd, 5-8 pm. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 am to 5 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm