Anyone who has ever sorted through boxes of old family photos from past generations realizes the importance of labeling. Otherwise, we're left searching for familiarity among faces of strangers. Yet there's still an alluring, almost serene element that comes from sifting through nameless images. Pamela Murphy, an artist who uses old photographs as inspiration for her artwork, would surely agree. After purchasing a discarded box of dated snapshots at a garage sale, she began incorporating into her work people, houses and other subject matter from photos. Her oil and encaustic paintings convey nostalgia through muted colors often brightened by shiny materials such as aluminum, copper or gold leaf. Murphy — who received her MFA in India following a Fulbright Scholarship for her work at the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan — is currently showcasing new works at Renee George Gallery.

Anita Overcash

Price: Free admission