The “Faces and Spaces” exhibition opens today at the Johnson Center for the Arts and features the paintings of Ozark portrait artist Lindy Bruggink.

Vicki Pritchett, JCA executive director, said she is excited and honored to have the work of a noted artist from South Alabama on exhibit.

“Lindy Bruggink’s exhibit is testimony to the outstanding artwork that is being created by Alabama artists,” Pritchett said. “We look forward to having Lindy’s marvelous portraits exhibited as well her beautiful landscapes.”

Bruggink has studied painting, drawing and sculpture with several notable artists at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia, The Florence Academy of Art in Italy and the Fredericksburg School of Art in Fredericksburg, Texas.

“In 2002, Lindy was commissioned to paint a portrait of Secretary of State Colin Powell by his classmates at The National War College as he appeared as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Pritchett said. “The portrait hangs at the National War College at Fr. Lesley McNair in Washington, D.C.”

Among others, Bruggink has painted clerks of the United State Supreme Court and notable judges.

“The ‘Faces and Spaces’ exhibit includes several portraits of judges,” Pritchett said. “In fact, the Kirk Gallery has been dedicated as the ‘judges’ room.’ The eyes of the judges seem to follow you around the room. It’s amazing.”

Pritchett said what is most fascinating about Bruggink’s portraits is her ability to capture the personalities of her subjects.

“With her paintings, Lindy creates a sense of what a person is really like,” Pritchett said. “She captures, not only the outward appearance of her subjects, but also the essence of their personalities. It’s so remarkable that, although you don’t know the subject personally, you will get a sense of that person’s personality through Lindy’s paintings.”

Bruggink said that, when she paints, she wants to create drama, realism and a particular mood.

“If I am painting a person, I hope the viewer will be able to sense what the person is really like,” Bruggink said.

“I hope to capture their likeness using shadows and light, hard and soft edges and colors that will reveal the person’s personality. When I paint, I attempt to capture a person’s spirit  — the sense of self.”

Bruggink said, aside from the teachers she has had, her inspiration comes from Ilya Repin, Anders Zorn and John Singer Sargent, who are all painters from the last turn of the century.”

Bruggink has taught painting workshops in Alabama as well as in Washington, D.C.

She has received recognition for her work from The Portrait Society of America, an international organization. Locally, she has received a Best of Show Award at the Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition and the museum’s Thornton and Pat Clark Award.

The Johnson Center for the Arts is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is always free.