Exhibitions

Merkin Fashion Show:
Thursday, October 30 |  7 PM to 10 PM 
TICKETS

Maryland Art Place (MAP) in collaboration with Baltimore-based fashion designer Kenn Hall is proud to present Merkin Dream III, a runway show. The first Merkin Dream show was held during the 100th Anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement during the Covid pandemic.The third iteration of Merkin Dream Fashion show will continue to expand on themes such as women’s rights, sex work, body image and dysphoria.

Volume 10: Dismantled explores queer identity and community as an exercise of celebration by bringing together artists from the Bureau of Queer Art and Maryland. Volume 10: Dismantled will serve as the backdrop to the third biennial Merkin Dream Fashion Show. Merkin Dream III  will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 7 PM to 10 PM.

Merkin Dream III will be an exclusive event and limited to only 80 guests due to capacity limitations. Purchase your ticket HERE.  MAP is located at 218 West Saratoga Street between Park and Howard Streets just within theBromo Arts & Entertainment District. 

What is a Merkin:

A merkin—a pubic wig for women —first appeared around 1450, primarily as a practical solution for hygiene serving both sanitary and economic purposes for sex workers who suffered from lice. It was also used in early theater, allowing male actors playing female roles to conceal their genitals on stage.

By the mid-18th century, merkins took on a decorative role, often embellished with ribbons, pearls, and dyes to reflect fashion trends or social status. In contemporary times, their most common use is in film and television, where they provide modesty for actors during nude scenes, help productions meet rating standards, or offer privacy for performers who prefer not to appear fully exposed. Outside of Hollywood, merkins are occasionally seen in fetish contexts.

About Kenn Hall:

Kenn Hall began as an assistant designer eventually moving on to production and development roles for renowned names like Donna Karan, Men’s Wearhouse, and Express. Kenn currently resides in Baltimore to expand his own brand identity OMRY International.

Zahi Khamis | Hotel Indigo 

On View: Friday, August, 29 - Thursday, November 27, 2025

Reception:Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 6 PM to 9 PM

Hotel Indigo | 24 West Franklin Street | Free & Open to the Public

Maryland Art Place, in partnership with Hotel Indigo Baltimore is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Maryland-based artist, Zahi Khamis. The exhibition is on view at Hotel Indigo, located at 24 West Franklin St. from August 29 - November 27, 2025.  A public reception will take place Thursday, September 11 from 6 PM to 9 PM. 

About the artist: 

Zahi Khamis is a Palestinian visual artist from the village of Reineh near Nazareth, now based in Baltimore, Maryland. A self-taught painter with a background in Mathematics and Literary Theory, Zahi is also a professor at Goucher College. His art is defined by vibrant colors and delicate, poetic human figures, reflecting his deep connection to the Palestinian experience and his life in exile. Drawing from the realities and aspirations of his people, as well as his own journey, Khamis explores themes of identity, memory, loss, love, yearning, and hope. Each piece emerges from a patient, meditative process, rooted in his personal and collective narrative.

Zahi’s work has been exhibited widely across the United States, including solo and juried group shows at prestigious venues such as the United Nations, the U.S. Senate, The Palestine Center in Washington, D.C., and the Carnegie Institute for Peace. His art has also graced the covers of novels and musical albums and has been featured in international journals. Through his vibrant palette and poignant imagery, Zahi seeks to affirm human beauty and evoke a sense of belonging and solidarity—not only with Palestinians but with all oppressed peoples.

Artist Statement:

My work is an exploration of the profound emotional landscapes of the Palestinian experience and the universal human condition. Through vibrant oil and acrylic colors, I seek to capture states of sadness, love, memory, and resilience. Informed by my life in exile and the enduring narrative of my Palestinian people, my art strives to affirm the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Each piece is a meditation on the tension between hope and tragedy, expressed through bright, optimistic colors juxtaposed with the poignant expressions of my subjects. This interplay aims to amplify the value of life and the enduring power of hope. My paintings invite viewers to pause, reflect, and discover their own meanings within the layers of color, texture, and form.

I believe art has the unique ability to transcend boundaries and connect us on a deeply human level. My hope is that my work resonates with viewers’ innermost emotions, evoking a sense of solidarity and inspiring a renewed appreciation for the beauty and fragility of our shared existence.

Hotel Indigo located at 24 West Franklin St.