Provided by ARTfactory
“Patient Zero: An Exhibition”
On display Oct. 3 to Nov. 1, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct. 3 | 6 to 8 p.m.
Meet the artists, explore the collection, enjoy refreshments and live music, and soak in the eerie atmosphere, with scare actors from Factory of Fear: Outbreak haunted house adding to the experience.
Exhibit Summary
In conjunction with ARTfactory’s annual Factory of Fear event and fundraiser, the Caton Merchant Gallery is proud to announce the opening of Patient Zero: An Exhibition, a juried group exhibition featuring over 70 compelling works of art by 54 talented artists from across the DMV region.
Running from Oct. 3 through Nov. 1, 2026, Patient Zero blurs the line between fine art and immersive storytelling. Inspired by this year’s terrifying Factory of Fear theme, Outbreak, the exhibition transforms the gallery into a chilling archive of mysterious events, unsettling discoveries, and the unknown.
The exhibit embraces the eerie, the haunting, and the beautifully macabre. While artwork inspired directly by the zombie-themed haunted house is encouraged, artists have also explored broader interpretations of darkness and mystery. Visitors can expect anatomical studies and scientific curiosities, supernatural figures, ghostly portraits, dystopian visions, folklore, decay, the ethereal, and the undead. From psychological and gothic imagery to surreal and horror-inspired works, the exhibition offers an unsettling variety of artistic perspectives.
The exhibition features a diverse range of mediums, including photography, sculpture, painting, digital art, fiber art, printmaking, and more.
Featured artists:
Rockeats Alcoreza, Mia Alvarenga, Carter Austin, Zee Berrios, Andria Bielski, Meghan Bogue, Amanda Bohn, Christopher Bradford, Cher Carr, AC Chen, Margaret Connors, Vicarrieous Creations, Lauren Cunningham, Katie Keller Dugan, Heather Felt, Amanda Fletchersmith, Michele Frantz, Mandi Fultz, Whitney Fuss, Denise Erin Gerhardt, Shannon Gilbert, Amber Goerner, Elizabeth Hall, Sara Humphries, Amelia Irausquin, Ginnefine Jalloh, Jortt, Rebekah Keener, Jonathan Kincade, Kirk Knoll, Katie Kuntz, Laura Lavarnway, Maxwell Leitch, Lenni Lemon, Janet Hansen Martinet, Moira Montgomery, Tim Montgomery, Meredith Moss, Ketchup Jon Mustard, Brad Nance, Kym Nguyen, Nancy M Patrick, Jose (Pepe) Piedra, Anna Polanco, Jen Poteet, Mandy Powell, Sarah Richardson, Maryann Segovia, Xexilia Shadows, Kelly Snyder, Spades, Richard Tyler, Rebecca Visger, Leah Watson
*Artwork available for purchase.
Upcoming Events
3rd Culture: Unseen Threads
Exhibit dates: Nov. 7 to Dec. 6
Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov. 7, 6 to 8 p.m.
Through painting, fabric, photography, relief, pattern, and abstraction, Ofori-Yirenkyi weaves Ghanaian heritage—including Kente and Ankara textiles, Adinkra symbols, and family narratives—with contemporary American influences to examine how culture evolves across generations. His faceless figures emphasize presence, relationships, gesture, and belonging, while layered patterns and imagery reveal the unseen threads connecting ancestry, memory, values, and lived experience. Based in Virginia, ABSKU draws from his experiences growing up between Ghanaian and American cultures to create mixed-media works that ask what we inherit, what we transform, and what we carry forward.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
“Off the Wall” High School Art Exhibit & Competition Application
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, Nov. 15 by 12 Midnight (via JotForm)
Notice of Acceptance: Tuesday, Nov. 17
Exhibit dates: Dec. 18, 2026 to Jan. 17, 2027
Awards Ceremony: Saturday, Jan. 9, 2 to 4 p.m. (Snow Date Jan. 16)
Each year the area high school students are invited to share their talent by participating in a high school art exhibit and competition presented by the ARTfactory. The competition encourages student expression and creativity in a professional setting.
The exhibit includes student work in the following categories: Art & Technology, Painting/Drawing, Poetry, Wearable Art, and Photography! Each category is adjudicated by a professional in the field.
Make an Impact
Donate to the ARTfactory gallery!
Support your local art gallery – it’s a vital space that uplifts DMV region artists, fosters community creativity, and keeps local culture alive and accessible to all. DONATE.
