“Because I Am Flesh,” a collection of recent paintings by Emily Strong, continues through April 5, Glass Box Gallery, Rothrock Library, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville, North Whitehall Township.

Strong, an Easton-based figurative oil painter, finds beauty and inspiration in a diversity of body types, unrestricted by age, gender or race.

“We are honored to have Emily here,” says LCCC Assistant Professor of Fine Art Jeremy Siedt.

Although student exhibitions have been held in the Glass Box Gallery for the past few years, Strong is the first “professional-grade artist” from the region invited to show her work there.

According to Siedt, the “beautiful space” of the Glass Box Gallery inspires his students in the college’s associate degree art program. “Our program is growing,” says Siedt, who heads the fine art department with more than 100 students enrolled.

Strong interviewed the models in her exhibition and posted excerpts from their responses alongside the works with comments accessible via QR (Quick Response) codes on a smartphone.

Strong, born in Allentown in 1992, received undergraduate degrees in Studio Art and Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Moravian University in 2015.

“Because I Am Flesh,” Emily Strong, through April 5, Glass Box Gallery, Rothrock Library, Lehigh Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville. Gallery hours 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, Closed Saturday and Sunday. www.lccc.edu/glassboxgallery/

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com