Art Source Gallery will present Boise artist Shelly Johnson’s Urban Flower Series, a collection of watercolor paintings inspired by the resilience and unexpected beauty of flowers growing in seemingly neglected and abandoned places throughout the city.
The exhibition runs Sept. 28 through Oct. 31, 2026, at Art Source Gallery, 1516 W. Grove St., in Boise’s Linen District. An opening reception and meet-the-artist event will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Johnson developed the Urban Flower Series during her first spring in Boise. She was struck by the spectacular displays of flowers thriving in places where nature appeared to have been overlooked or forgotten. That experience became the inspiration for a series that explores the relationship between the natural and manmade environments.

“I invite my viewers to discover beauty in unexpected places,” Johnson said. The paintings celebrate the resilience of nature while drawing attention to the contrasts and juxtapositions found in an urban landscape. Flowers become the focal point within settings shaped by sidewalks, buildings and other elements of the built environment. As with Johnson’s broader body of work, the paintings emphasize strong composition, the portrayal of light and an exploration of color. The exhibition will include both studio paintings and a selection of plein air works created on location. Through watercolor, Johnson transforms ordinary urban scenes into opportunities for observation and reflection. Her Urban Flower Series encourages viewers to slow down and notice the beauty that can emerge in overlooked corners of the city.

The exhibition will be on display during regular gallery hours from Sept. 28 through Oct. 31, 2026. The opening reception on Oct. 1 is free and open to the public.