Southwestern Illinois College Assistant Professor of Art Cory Sellers is letting the world see his immediate family and their development – at least in a symbolic way – through his paintings on display at the Houska Gallery in St. Louis now through Feb. 25.

An opening reception for the show, titled “Foundation Jump,” has been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 11 from 5-8 p.m. at the gallery, 4728 McPherson Ave., in St. Louis’ Central West End.

Sellers has taught painting, printmaking, drawing and art history at SWIC since 2012. Also, he has taught as an adjunct instructor at many other St. Louis area colleges and universities.

He has exhibited his work throughout southern Illinois, St. Louis, Chicago, and New York City. His works are in private and public collections nationally and internationally.

Sellers earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Painting and Drawing from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, in 2011 and his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois in 2007.

In “Foundation Jump,” Sellers says he has been thinking about his immediate family and their development. The painted forms are symbolic in their placement, color, and usage. Certain features get manipulated or exaggerated using a variety of preliminary drawings both digital and traditional. This process continues until Sellers feels the composition has developed its own characteristics, reminding him that the finished product does not have to look like the initial intention.

The Houska Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A virtual tour of the show will be available soon. Visit houskagallery.com for details.

For more information about the SWIC Art program, visit swic.edu/art.