ART | "As Above, So Below" 

Rochester-based artist Steven Justice paints satirical, dazzlingly-hued portraits of scientists, musicians, poets, politicians, monarchs, saints, and sinners. Often each image is a mash-up of various personas and cultural references, and each one comes with a witty short description that blends personal anecdotes with questionable bits of mythologized history. I snarfed my coffee more than once while browsing his website.

"I like to find that sweet spot between fact and fiction, between stasis and motion, and between line and color," Justice says in a provided statement. "What I want to do is entertain, enlighten, and educate, in any order, and this is how the magic happens. Yes, I said magic. Being an artist, I don't have to explain my science."

RIT's University Gallery (166 Lomb Memorial Drive, James E. Booth Hall, Room 2765) will host an exhibit Justice's work, titled "As Above, So Below," from June 5 through July 29. A reception is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. 475-2866; rit.edu/fa/gallery.