The Hazleton Art League welcomes Lake Harmony resident Mark Peterson back to the area after 14 years in Los Angeles.

Happy to return to the NEPA, Mark brings with him an extensive art collection amassed during his time on the West Coast.

Mark’s professional career as a hotel concierge for over three decades was split between Manhattan and L.A. When living in Los Angeles, he would go to local galleries and world-class museums for inspiration, then head to various shops and art fairs to see what treasures were waiting for his discerning eye.

Mark would often see the same artists and vendors on his frequent visits to the Melrose Trading Post in L.A.’s Fairfax District. There were certain vendors who would regularly have interesting works of various kinds -photographs, sculptures, works on paper, paintings, etc. for sale.

What you will see at the Hazleton Art League’s “Made in L.A.” exhibit this September are works by artists primarily from the Los Angeles Latinx and African American communities with genres that include street art, outsider art, abstracts, landscapes and more. Many of these artists have never been formally exhibited and are unknown outside of Southern California.

Featured artists include Mazo, a painter with a bold, almost abstract style, and Kellybrew, whose mix of pop-art, folk art, cartoon characters and abstract landscapes are expressed through various media.

Mark Peterson built his collection with the idea of introducing little-known and undiscovered artists to the public.

Most of the works in the exhibit will be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will help fund the Hazleton Art League.

The show will run from Friday through Sept. 26. The opening will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 3, is part of Downtown Hazleton’s First Friday celebration. There will be light refreshments and Mark will provide a brief gallery talk around 7 p.m.

Please visit http://www.hazletonsartleague.org for more information.