Susan Meyer, owner of the Meyer Gallery, 350 S. 200 East, will host local artists George Allen and Glen Hawkins for July's Salt Lake Gallery Stroll.

"I've carried these two artists for a number of years, but they have never done a show together," Meyer said. "They seem to be very compatible."

The artists will display a total of 30 paintings on July 17 from 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Hawkins paints nude oil figures, focusing mainly on the curves and beauty of the female body.

But the artist is not limited to nudes, also painting interior scenes of cafes and taverns.

Hawkins is also a teacher and regularly presents workshops at local art centers.

In 2003, he was awarded Artist of the Year by Community Nursing Services.

Nonprofits in the community have benefited from the artist's generous donations, including the Utah Symphony and Utah Rape Crisis Center.

The second half of this duet is artist George Allen.

Allen creates "small, elegant still life and figurative paintings," Meyer said.

Teaching is also part of Allen's background, having taught at Salt Lake Community College for 12 years.

Collaborating with artists from around the world, Allen's style continues to grow. "Many artists will come in just to see his work," Meyer said.

Allen's works appear nationally, as well as locally, at the Springville Museum of Art.

Meyer described both artists' works as having dark, moody spaces.

"I thought these two would complement each other beautifully," Meyer said.

The Salt Lake Gallery Stroll is held on the third Thursday of each month.

More than 25 galleries participate monthly, each hosting a specific artist. The stroll is free.

e-mail: jnicholls@desnews.com