Five Livingston artists took home awards at the 2026 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show, with three winning first place in their categories.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. honored 35 senior citizens at a ceremony Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Robert O'Toole Community Center in Cedar Grove, Patch reported. The annual competition is open to professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older, with entries judged across 10 categories.

Three Livingston residents claimed first place. Susan Greenwald won Professional Watercolor for "Cosmic Garden." Mary Guerriero took Non-Professional Craft for "Color Symphony." Rosann Toma won Non-Professional Pastels for "My Neighbor's Garden."

Two more Livingston artists earned second-place finishes. Angela Wang placed in Non-Professional Oil for "The Last Stretch," and Barbara Sax placed in Non-Professional Mixed Media for "Peek-A-Boo."

All three first-place winners advance to represent Essex County at the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show, according to TAPinto. That statewide exhibit opens Sept. 28 at Meadow Lakes in East Windsor and runs through Nov. 4. A state awards ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Boathouse at Mercer Lake in West Windsor.

DiVincenzo said in a statement that the show gives older residents a chance to display original work in an organized juried exhibit. He congratulated the first-place winners moving on to the state competition. Jurors Heather Carter and Matt Gosser, along with Deputy Parks Director Kate Hartwyk, joined him at the ceremony.

Residents can see the winning artwork at the Essex County Senior Wellness Day on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange. The free event is open to Essex County seniors and includes health screenings, exercise demonstrations, musical entertainment, dancing, a farmers market and free admission to Turtle Back Zoo.

Upcoming

  • Tuesday, Sept. 22: Essex County Senior Wellness Day, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Codey Arena, West Orange (free for seniors)
  • Sept. 28–Nov. 4: NJ Senior Citizens Art Show, Meadow Lakes, East Windsor