The Arta Gallery threw an opening reception to welcome visitors and artists’ creations of icons.

The artists were everything from painters to sculptors to sketchers.

Their creations stemmed from inspirations of historical artifacts to pop culture.

The event was hosted Thursday, Sept. 13 at 14 Distillery Lane close to Parliament Street. The artists included Steve Sardo, Jibola Fagbamiye, Christina Lovisa and more.

Nexus on carved beechwood called a wenge base created by C. W. Heinecke

A painting inspired by Forever Young, created by Vadim Dolgov.

ketches of Alicia Keys and Tupac created by Renee Moulelis

Thaw kiln formed glass, created by John Davidson

A sketch of pop star Rihanna created by Renee Moulelis

Anyone was more than welcome to come down and enjoy the free event.

The artists were lively since it was a special night for them. They stayed back to talk to visitors about the work they established and the meaning behind them.

Steve Sardo, 59, loves musical icons, most specifically the ones from the 70s, when he was a teenager. He started drawing in his early years of high school.

The whole thing started when he discovered Andy Warhol’s painting on Mick Jagger, an English musician and lead singer in the British rock and roll band, The Rolling Stones. At sometime during his high school years he stopped doing art for 30 years.

Ten years to 12 years ago, he picked up a paint brush again then decided to focus on digital art.

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With digital sometimes he’ll print out his work on paper and paint over it, adding the finishing touches with other sources of material. One creation he made was of Marilyn Monroe. He designed it to be colourful and exotic.

“A friend of mine introduced me to the idea,” Sardo says.

The time he puts into his art work all depends on the amount of work that needs to be done. Some may last up to 16 hours to finish, others possibly 80.

He doesn’t think of the time art work takes to be complete. If it’s a painting or drawing he coats it with resin. With digital, you could continue to add how much you want until it’s done.

Elisabetta Giraudi, 23, a a new intern at the Arta Gallery says the Icons show gives her insight of the gallery works.

She’s also an artist herself.

“I look at the piece and decide when I think it’s ready to be done, the work is never done. You can always improve it,” Sardo said.