What Remains
What Remains Opens at ECCO Art Gallery Featuring Lakefield Artists Annette Vlieg and Mary-Anne Johnston
Lakefield, Ontario — ECCO Art Gallery is pleased to present What Remains, a new exhibition featuring the work of local Lakefield artists Annette Vlieg and Mary-Anne Johnston.
The public is warmly invited to attend the reception, meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and take part in conversation around this thoughtful and moving exhibition. What Remains brings together painting and sculpture in an exploration of nature, memory, connection, and the quiet truths that endure. Both artists are self-taught and bring a deep sensitivity to their work, creating pieces that invite viewers to pause, reflect, and consider what continues to hold meaning in a rapidly changing world.
Mary-Anne Johnston’s paintings speak to the fragility of the natural world and the emotional weight of ecological loss, consumerism, and disconnection. Her work asks viewers to consider what we truly value, and what may be at risk when we look away. Annette Vlieg’s sculptural figures offer a quieter but equally powerful response. Wordless and expressive, her work conveys empathy, compassion, and a deep sense of connection to oneself, to others, and to the natural world.
Together, the artists create an exhibition that is both tender and urgent. What Remains reminds us that even amid distraction, loss, and uncertainty, what is real and true still remains — waiting to be remembered.
The exhibition opens Wednesday, July 8 and runs until Sunday, August 9, 2026, with an opening reception on Saturday, July 11 from 1–4 pm.
