Show at the Brenton: June 11 and Aug. 20, 5–7. Now in Boston College Magazine. See below!
PROUDLY PAINTING NEWPORT, RI, NEW ENGLAND & BEYOND. SEE FOR YOURSELF.
Click below for a collection
BF Watercolors Returns to The Brenton Hotel for Summer 2026 Exhibition Series
Newport, RI — BF Watercolors will be featured at The Brenton Hotel's collaboration with Newport Artists Collective Salon Series for two special summer exhibition dates on June 11 and August 20, 2026, 5–,7 pm continuing an ongoing partnership that highlights contemporary watercolor interpretations of coastal life and maritime culture .
The exhibitions will showcase a curated selection of new works by Brendan Flynn, whose paintings capture the energy, atmosphere, and quiet moments of coastal New England and beyond. Known for his expressive water-based technique and focus on light, motion, and place,
Flynn’s work reflects both the rhythm of the sea and the lived experience of shoreline communities. The June 11 showing will open the summer season with a fresh collection of works that explore early-summer coastal light and activity, while the August 20 exhibition will present a complementary body of work shaped by the deeper tones and textures of late summer along the coast.
Both events will be hosted within The Brenton Hotel’s signature contemporary waterfront setting in Newport, offering guests an immersive experience where art and environment meet.
“I’m genuinely excited to be part of what’s become a bit of a Thursday night Newport institution at The Brenton," says Flynn. "It means a lot to have honest, genuine people around the work. And it’s a privilege to keep sharing pieces in a place that feels this connected to the water, the art, and the people who move through it.”
Guests will have the opportunity to view and acquire original works while engaging directly with the artist. BF Watercolors continues to build on its presence within the Newport arts community, with recent exhibitions and collaborations across local galleries and artist collectives.
Event Dates: June 11, 2026 August 20, 2026
Location: The Brenton Hotel, 31 America's Cup Ave, Newport, RI 02840
Time: 5–7pm
For more information, visit bfwatercolors.com or contact the artist directly for exhibition inquiries and available works.
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BF Watercolors is the studio practice of Brendan Flynn, a Newport-based watercolor artist whose work explores the landscapes, harbors, and coastal light of New England. Through original paintings, exhibitions, and social media, Flynn shares expressive interpretations of place shaped by observation, memory, and atmosphere.
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PRESS ROOM!
BF Watercolors GETS A BOSTON COLLEGE SHOUT OUT: BC MAGAZINE MenTIONS THE ARTIST AND EDUCATOR.
NEWPORT, R.I. —Brendan Flynn, founder of BF Watercolors, was recently included in the Winter 2026 issue of Boston College Magazine, which highlighted his career path from advertising and education into fine art and the launch of his watercolor practice. A former senior art director at Hill Holliday in Boston, Flynn left advertising to teach design before later developing statewide curriculum with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Today, through BF Watercolors, he focuses on expressive watercolor paintings inspired by New England’s coastal landscapes. Flynn’s work has been shown in galleries across Newport, Rhode Island, including The Brenton Hotel, Spring Bull Gallery, CUSP Gallery, and the Newport Art Museum, as well as other venues beyond Rhode Island.
He shares his process and finished work with a growing audience on Instagram at @bf_watercolors and through bfwatercolors.com.
“Watercolor gives me a way to capture not just what a place looks like, but what it feels like,” said Brendan Flynn, founder of BF Watercolors. “I’m drawn to the coast because of its changing light, movement, and quiet energy, and I hope my paintings invite viewers to slow down and experience that sense of place with me.”
BF Watercolors continues to grow as Flynn expands his body of work rooted in the character, beauty, and rhythm of coastal New England.
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BF Watercolors is the studio practice of Brendan Flynn, a Newport-based watercolor artist whose work explores the landscapes, harbors, and coastal light of New England. Through original paintings, exhibitions, and social media, Flynn shares expressive interpretations of place shaped by observation, memory, and atmosphere.
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designhouseFinalReveal.m4vBF Watercolors
at Design House RI:
Reception FeB. 27th.
at Design House RI:
Reception FeB. 27th.
From January through April 2026, BF Watercolors will be featured in a large-scale artistic residency at Design House in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. This exclusive four-month installation marks a significant milestone, with 33 original watercolor paintings meticulously curated to take over the walls and define the atmosphere of the entire showroom space.
Reception is set for February 27, 2026 from 6–8pm. Open to the public.
Design House is Portsmouth’s premier upmarket interior design destination—a 3,500-square-foot collaborative environment where fine art, luxury furniture, and high-end architecture meet. This immersive exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see a massive, cohesive body of BF Watercolors’ work integrated into a sophisticated, lived-in setting, demonstrating the transformative power of art in home design.
The exhibition is further enhanced by the functional artistry of Mia Campopiano, a Newport-based interdisciplinary artist whose signature ceramics will be featured on the shelves throughout the space. Together, these works create a dialogue between bold wall-to-wall color and elegant, handcrafted form.
Location: 1050 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871 On
View: January – April 2026
Experience the Takeover: Join us during showroom hours to witness this unprecedented installation and explore the latest collection of BF Watercolors in person.
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artmusuemannouncement.m4vBF Watercolors Selected for THE Springboard EXHIBITION at Newport Art Museum
BF Watercolors is honored to be included in Springboard: Members’ Juried Exhibition at the Newport Art Museum, running from January 22 through May 31, 2026. Selected by guest juror Julie Keyes—founder of Keyes Art and a renowned contemporary art consultant—this exhibition invites artists to explore history as a living source of inspiration.
The Springboard Exhibition specifically focuses on themes of cultural inheritance and collective memory, challenging artists to connect the past with the present. In this unique presentation, selected works by BF Watercolors will be displayed on the first floor of the historic Griswold House, hung in dialogue with highlights from the Newport Art Museum’s permanent collection. Being chosen for this juried show underscores BF Watercolors' commitment to technical excellence and original perspective within the New England contemporary art scene.
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI Exhibition Dates: January 22 – May 31, 2026
Visit the Newport Art Museum to experience this conversation between historic and contemporary watercolor, and celebrate the vibrant community of artists shaping Newport's creative future.
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