Cultural Council showcases photography by Joel Cohen in season’s first solo exhibition

Photographer Joel Cohen opens the season as the first featured solo exhibitor at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is opening its 2025–2026 exhibition season with On the Bright Side, a solo show by Palm Beach County-based photographer Joel Cohen. The exhibition runs from Oct. 31 through Dec. 13 at the Council’s headquarters in Lake Worth Beach. The event is free and open to the public.

Cohen’s On the Bright Side explores the world through bold color, dynamic shapes, and captivating shadows. Drawing on his background in graphic design, Cohen uses his trained eye to transform everyday details into works of art. Known primarily for his black-and-white photography, Cohen turns his lens toward color in this new body of work, celebrating brightness and optimism in a time that often feels dim.

“I try not to shoot the entire thing,” Cohen explained. “I like to look at the parts—the shapes, shadows, and textures. Everything has beauty if you look at it in a different way.”

“Joel Cohen’s work catches your eye and makes you stop and take a long look at the objects, light, shadow, and angles he has captured,” says Jessica Ransom, the Council’s Director of Artist Services. “With these colorful and imaginative images, he also makes you smile.”

That is exactly Cohen's goal. “Everybody is so depressed now,” he says. “I hope these bright colors and bold shapes make people smile and feel happy—even if it’s just one person.”

Orange Door by Joel Cohen.

The exhibition is presented in the Gayle and Paul Gross Gallery, which offers Palm Beach County visual artists an opportunity to showcase their work in a solo show during the Council’s season. Selected through a highly competitive application process, Cohen is one of six local artists chosen by a panel of visual art professionals for this year’s exhibitions.

All artworks are available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the artists.

For more information about On the Bright Side, visit palmbeachculture.com/exhibitions.