The weather is warm, so feed your curiosity, take a stroll, and talk to the owners about art and life. Here they are:

Michele Mariaud Gallery, 155 South Country Road

Albert Delamour, owner and fine art photographer, had quite the international, Manhattan, and local crowd with “Serge Bloch Lines of Thought,” recently. (It’s up until June 17.) Bloch, a Parisian, whose visual work regularly appears in The New York Times and Le Monde, utilized his poetic linework and signature humor. It’s his first interactive photo-sketch series debut in the U.S. Thirty pieces, mostly 20-by-16, line the walls, plus sculpture blocks. “I met him in New York, in 2007, via my wife [Michele Mariaud]. She knew him,” Delamour said of their long friendship. Which ones were his favorite? (Tough question for an art lover.) “I love this series,” he said, standing in front of “Emotional Tie” and “Marriage Bonds,” plus two others that employ red thread to illustrate attraction and love connection with his line drawings. Delamour, with his adorable King Charles cavalier Felix, encourages people to come in, ask questions, and not be intimidated. “I love to share,” he said. On his door, there are “Be curious,” “It’s free.”

Bellport Arts & Framing, 137 South Country Road

Samples of custom frames march across owner and artist LuAnn Thompson’s west-facing wall here; she’s framed much of the artwork for Bellport’s gallery owners. “I get to see so many wonderful styles,” she said. (She also frames for the Bellport Festival poster contest.) But in this charming store that also offers pretty journals, decorative wrapping paper, pads, pencils, pens and cards, is Thompson’s own art. “I do abstracts, watercolors, pastels, photography,” she said. Several works face customers when they enter, including Bellport scenes. Then there’s “Bellport has its perks,” featuring the village’s three coffee establishments: Brewport, Bellport Apothecary and Bayport General Store. It is charming. A Main Street business for over 20 years, Thompson is also co-president of the Bellport Chamber of Commerce. She is one busy girl!

Jay Sylvester Art, 2 Bell Street - Krebs Cycle complex

Artist and studio owner Jay Sylvester hones in on promising vines he can fashion into gorgeous forms on his walks in Brookhaven and elsewhere. His Open Studio Party is Saturday, May 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.  Music by DJ RedFlag. There are at least 40 artistry works in his studio, beautiful forms sourced from nature, including a rectangular that evokes raven feathers. “It refers to ravens and crows and also fires,” he said of palm bark painted black. It’s part of his new ongoing series that began during his 2025 Desert Residency in Palm Springs. Another, called “Silent Pass,” has a swooping design. “I wanted to capture the wind and the snow; it has a weaving motion.” Those assemblages are derived from the East and West Coast and include  wild wisteria, bittersweet, black elder and honeysuckle vines, bamboo stocks, palm bark, sagebrush, cholla wood, cotton twine. Private collectors and corporations have purchased his work. He’s been exhibited in prestigious places, but no haughtiness here; Sylvester welcomes those who stop in. “I don’t mind when people come by. They have interesting questions,” he said.

Pamela Lerner Home & Design, 145 South Country Road

In this elegant, cheery storefront of eclectic furniture, lamps, sculptures by local artists, and affordable bags, candles, houseware and self-care products, is art. Is that a striking rendition of Isabella Rossellini by the jewelry section? “It’s by Leonardo the Fabulous,” said Lerner. “His inspiration is Frederic Meylan. It’s from a photo. It’s 20,000 pen strokes.”  There’s the swirling “Salmon Sky” by James Johansen. “He’s like our new Valta Us,” she said. (She carries Us, too). Then there’s the adorable “Peek A Boo” chick from Patrice Casanova’s private collection, who just released his artist’s proof. Past parties celebrating artist Cecile Defforey have been a delight. Plus, Lerner, who is British, is a great listener with a fabulous past. Just ask her.

Neil Anthony Edwards, Art Collection, 2 Orient Avenue, Brookhaven

Neil Anthony Edwards may live a mile down the road from Bellport’s Main Street, but he was featured in Pamela Lerner’s store and is a frequent visitor. From his home studio, this renowned artist and former NBA player has attracted a distinguished client base of celebrated athletes and prominent Hamptons individuals. Edwards attended the High School of Art and Design, where he studied color theory, critical thinking, and artistic techniques. His latest and most successful series, “We Are All Fading,” was created to reflect upon the fleeting fragility of time and explore the lasting beauty of fashion. These paintings transport you to a time of glamour and elegance. The faces have faded, but the fashion lives on.

Marquee Projects Inc., 14 Bellport Lane

Mark Van Wagner and Tonja Pulfer welcomed 75 visitors last Friday with the exhibit opening of research-based multimedia artist Lauren Ruiz’s “Fresh Relics,” which explores the ancient tradition of relic making. (It’s up until June 22.) “These are fresh relics,” said Van Wagner. “They can take on an abstract thrust; some contain crystals and pearls. We can project what type of relic we see in ourselves.” Thirteen relics are under exquisite blown glass; four of the six larger pieces hang, taking on bodily interior parts in gorgeous shades. They are quite startling. Ruiz, who lives in Islip, utilizes netting, silicone, spray foam, acrylic, expandable foam, clay, for the larger pieces; she created the exhibit in her Stony Brook University studio. Artist John Cino, who has viewed her work in Stony Brook, stopped by. “She has such imagination,” he said.

Cornell Auctions, Objects & Trade, 152 South Country Rd.

Owners Roy Braeger, artist, and Carlo Libaridian want you to know there’s an open house this Friday, May 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. They were gearing up for an auction on June 7 when we got to them. “We’re trying to get another 100 lots done for this creation,” said Libaridian. They’ll have “amazing furniture, custom-made pieces for brands and showroom archival pieces,” said Libaridian of the one-of-a-kind items (think Moschino, Jean Paul Gaultier and Alberta Ferretti), made for a showroom from a midtown Italian fashion headquarters. It’s a fun place to browse and as Braeger has said, they sell art for everyone, including Braeger’s sculptural pieces. Check out the “Affordable Art Room.”

Pinajian, The Bellport Years, 139 South Country Road

May 31 is the last day to catch this pop-up show of Bellport’s famous artist, even though Arthur Pinajian eschewed fame. You’ll also get to meet Christa Melchior, the enthusiastic, knowledgeable chief archivist who has been photographing and cataloging his paintings. There are 35 here, including the “Lake Miracle Landscape.” Pinajian’s 7,000 abstract pieces, found in a garage in 2006 by Thomas Schultz, who, with Larry Joseph, were looking to flip a house, were eventually appraised at $30 million in 2013. Curator Schultz, who now lives in Pinajian’s home, manages the Pinajian art collection at Gallery 125. (After May 31, Pinajian’s work can be viewed by appointment via Gallery125@optimum.net.