Mercer County Photography 2026 Awards Announced

Reported on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Pictured Above: The Mercer County Photography 2026 Best In Show Award went to photographer David Kelly Crow of Lawrence Township for “A Moment on the Canal in Amsterdam.” The show can be seen at Trenton City Museum, located in Cadwalader Park, Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 pm, and Sundays, 1 to 4 pm. Admission is free, with donations welcomed in support of the museum’s programming. Plenty of parking. Learn more at ellarslie.org or 609-989-1191. Photo Credit: David Kelly Crow.

NEWRSOOM POST: TRENTON, JERSEY

David Kelly Crow of Lawrence Twp. Awarded Best In Show at the Mercer County Photography Exhibit at Ellarslie for “A Moment on the Canal in Amsterdam"

Mercer County Photography 2026 Is on View through October 11 at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie

Trenton, NJ — Ten Mercer County photographers received a total of twelve awards at the September 19 Reception for Mercer County Photography 2026 at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie. The biennial juried show, on view through Sunday, October 11, showcases a diverse array of landscapes, street scenes, portraiture, still lifes, abstractions, and more by 41 photographers from throughout Mercer County. Most of the show’s photographs are available for purchase.

Following welcomes by Trenton Museum Society President Deborah Gorczycki and exhibition coordinator Liz Aubrey, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson delivered a message of support of the area’s arts and culture community and announced the awards.

Juror Aubrey J Kauffman, a well-known Mercer County photographer, educator, and exhibitor, selected photographs for Best In Show and Honorable Mention. Commissioners from the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission collected the Purchase Award winners, whose pieces will be added to Mercer County permanent art collection and displayed in County buildings.

The awards given for Mercer County Photography 2026 at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie were:

Best In Show, “A Moment on the Canal in Amsterdam,” David Kelly Crow, Lawrence Twp., NJ

Honorable Mention, “Bottles in Window,” Gary Saretzky, Lawrence Twp., NJ

Honorable Mention, “Solitary,” Anita Bhala, Pennington, NJ

Honorable Mention, “Preparation,” David Kelly Crow, Lawrence Twp., NJ

Purchase Award, “Staff Meeting II,” George Olexa, Ewing, NJ

Purchase Award, “Light Garden,” George Olexa, Ewing, NJ

Purchase Award, “Firenze” Robert Hartman, Pennington, NJ

Purchase Award, “Il Pleut Dans La Nuit: Princeton at Night,” Margery Mark, Princeton, NJ

Purchase Award, “Defending Territory,” Kevin Frankenfield, Lawrence Twp., NJ

Purchase Award, “Cacti Pots in a Miami Backyard,” Luca Graziosi, Ewing, NJ

Purchase Award, “My People,” Sarita Wilson, Ewing, NJ

Purchase Award, “Fall Garden Abstract,” Anastasja Panek-Tobin, Lawrence Twp., NJ

The Mercer County Photography program is made possible by funds from the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Exhibition Juror Aubrey J Kauffman is an award-winning photographer living and working in Ewing, New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from New Jersey City University and completed his Master of Fine Arts in visual arts at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of Art and Design. His work has been exhibited throughout the region, with notable exhibitions at The Newark Museum, Rider University Art Gallery, The New Jersey State Museum, The Morris Museum, Seventh and 2nd Street Gallery in New York City, and The Biggs Museum of American Art. His photographs have also been shown at Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts. His work is included in several permanent collections, including the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, and Johnson & Johnson’s Corporate Headquarters in New Brunswick, NJ. His art is also held in numerous private collections.

See Mercer County Photography 2026 at Trenton City Museum, located in Cadwalader Park, Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 pm, and Sundays, 1 to 4 pm. Admission is free, with donations appreciated in support of the museum’s programming. Plenty of parking. For more information: ellarslie.org or 609-989-1191.