Fragments of Time, an exhibit of portraits by  Instructor of Art Melissa Newcomb, will be on  display in the Lightner Gallery through March 31.

A reception is scheduled Thursday, March 11 from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. in the  gallery, located on the first floor of Lightner Library. The exhibit and  reception are free and open to the public.

“I’ve always been interested in portraits through various media,” said Newcomb. “To me, a portrait is not just a preservation of likeness but an individual with a life and story. I’ve always been a people person and liked hearing people’s stories. Through various works of art, I have captured the portrait through fragments of time brought to life through my story.”

Part of the exhibit features a variety of colorful paintings of dolls, which viewers can relate through the expression and emotion of play and dress, according to Newcomb.

The exhibit also features photographs captivating the beauty of dolls with a printed book titled Captivate.

“All the work in this exhibit is a result of continued research, documentation, and exploration of memory within my life,” said Newcomb. “I have presented the paintings and photographs so I could share my story.  I hope viewers can relate to many things being communicated and presented within the paintings and photographs.”

Newcomb plans to pursue a new series of portraits “representing individuals of the past. It could be a portrait of someone’s sibling, or parent, or grandparent. The anticipation is worth the wait for it will be another series brought back to life.”