Image by Allyson Ely Selected by the Triton Museum
Ellen Gilkerson | Published on 4/6/2026
Enigma Variation No. 1, 2023, an image by Allyson Ely, was selected for inclusion in the Triton Museum of Art’s statewide 2D Art Competition and Exhibition, 2026 Salon at the Triton. Of more than 2500 submissions across multiple disciplines, 117 works were selected. Jurors were Mei-Ying Dell’Aquila, artist and art educator; Lorraine Lawson, artist; and Preston Metcalf, Executive Director of the Triton Museum of Art.
Salon at the Triton will be on display from May 2 through August 16. The Artists Reception will take place on Saturday, May 16, from 12 pm to 2 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. Award winners for the various categories and Best of Show will be posted next to the winning works at the reception and throughout the exhibition.
Allyson says:
I create images that are obscure, fantastical, and illusory: abstractions straddling two worlds, the real and imagined. I am intrigued by the way light can alter our perception of an object or space, distort, create mood, or imbue a sense of mystery. In this image, high contrast shadows and shafts of light delineate the geometry of a space. The interplay between line, form, shape, and light creates opposing forces: chaos and restraint, balance and tension.
Allyson Ely:
Enigma Variation No. 1, 2023
The Triton Museum of Art was founded by W. Robert and June Morgan in San Jose in 1965; it moved to its current location within two years. The Triton provides accessible exhibition and education programs that promote a broad range of contemporary California art. In addition, it collects and exhibits contemporary and historical works with an emphasis on artists of the Greater Bay Area.
Details:
The Triton Museum of Art:
https://www.tritonmuseum.org/
1505 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-247-2438
staff@tritonmuseum.org
2026 Salon at the Triton:
May 2 – August 16
Artists reception: Saturday, May 16, 12 pm to 2 pm
Cowell Gallery hours:
Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am to 4:30 pm
Closed Mondays and holidays
Free admission, free parking