In the galleries: Art picks for February

Visual presentations sure to tickle your aesthetic fancy. February is looking good.

Local artist Ivben Taqiy takes on the winter season with "Green Winter," a selection of paintings featuring iconic figures who influenced the body of work. See it until Saturday, Feb. 21 at Art Sanctuary (628 S. 16th St.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Through interviews with inmates, formerly incarcerated persons, attorneys, criminal justice professionals and others involved in the prison and justice system, muralist Eric Okdeh will exhibit a series of painted panels at Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S. 18th St.). "Beyond the Wall" is open to view until Saturday, Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends.

International artists from Belarus and Bulgaria show work at E-Moderne Gallerie (116 Arch St.) in the pre-Lent celebration of Carnevale and the romance of Valentine's Day. "Carnevale di Philadelphie" features sensual paintings from Inna Race and European and Japanese-inspired modern takes on historical themes from Vasil Anastasov. Take part in Carnevale 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday through Sunday, March 1.

Inspired by 17th century Dutch and 19th century Oriental-ism painters, artist Linda Sosangelis utilizes chiaroscuro techniques in her still lifes and portraits. "Opulence" runs from Friday, Feb. 13 until Sunday, March 8 and opens with a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at Twenty-Two Gallery (236 S. 22nd St.). If you miss the opening, swing by noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Focused on the art of the human form, Community Arts Center's (414 Plush Mill Rd., Wallingford) biennial juried exhibition, "In Person," features wall sculptures, prints, photography and mixed media for this artistic celebration of human anatomy. See it through Friday, March. 13 during gallery hours: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Through Saturday, April 25, "An Exhibition of African American Photographers from the Daguerreian to the Digital Eras," will explore portraiture dating as far back as colonial times and extending through 21st century with contemporary photographers. The 60 selected works will be shown at Haverford College's Atrium Gallery (370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. weekends.

Horticulture is in the air at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (118 N. Broad St.) when a selection of impressionist paintings, autochromes, stained glass, works on paper, rare books and garden sculpture for "The Artist's Garden; American Impressionism and the Garden Movement 1887-1920." On view Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

The first exhibition outside of Japan devoted to Japanese Kano painters, responsible for creating large gold-leaf folding screens, ink paintings, hanging scrolls and folding fans for Japan's shoguns for 400 years, will be shown at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (26th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) from Monday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, May 10. "Ink and Gold: Art of the Kano" is available to view from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and until 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.

Five African American artists' work — centered around the historical and present significance of race, activism, privilege and the conversations that have been brought up around these topics — will be shown at the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Urisnus College (601 E. Main St., Collegeville) through Friday, May 15. Artists featured in "Under Color of Law" are Terry Adkins, Nsenga Knight, Hank Willis Thomas, Nari Ward and Carrie Mae Weems. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on weekends.

While diamonds may be a girl's best friend, gold might be the Penn Museum's (3260 South St.). Their latest exhibit, on view until Sunday, Nov. 1, features tons of gold artifacts and the people who made them. "Beneath the Surface: Life, Death and Gold in Ancient Panama" is available for view 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings.