“Who‘s Afraid of Yellow?,” Civic 514 Gallery, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown, is Tony Sienzant’s first solo show in 14 years.

Sienzant states that his work “has evolved from minimal paintings based on the X symbol to one maximizing divergent styles, mediums and techniques.”

He declares that, “I am open to any tool, any method, any means, any material, any medium - high or low - to achieve the sublime state of not knowing what I’m looking at.”

“Florals for Trish” is painted in acrylic and other medium with bold colors, shapes, and brushstrokes worked into a stretched floral bed sheet. The piece is named for his girlfriend, Trisha Onuskanych, who is a florist.

“There is all different stuff is in here, some of this black is black powdered toner from a Xerox machine. I use that. I use wood stain ...” Sienzant says, adding, “I use collage. Almost every piece has collage in it. Some of them are more overt than others.”

Sienzant studied art at Northampton Community College and Tyler School of Art, but in the 12 years prior to his debut show at the Banana Factory, Sienzant pursued “other things.” This included performing music and managing singer-songwriter Hannah Graser. He said of this stage of his life, “… there is so much crap out here I don’t want to add to it. I don’t want to be a mediocre whatever.”

Of his re-entry into the art world, he says, “I got to a point where I didn’t care what anybody thought. I am going to do what I like and that’s it,” interjecting, “I have this huge background in modern art. If it can interest me, I know it can interest someone else, on a higher level.”

When asked how he came up with the title of his exhibit, Sienzant answers, “The inspiration for the title of the show isn’t even here. It’s a yellow piece that I never finished. It was very yellow. So, I was calling it ‘Big Yellow.’” Pointing to a large work painted with a big yellow circular shape and yellow stripes, he continues, “But this one became ‘Who’s Afraid of Yellow?’” The artwork became the centerpiece of Sienzant’s gallery show.

In keeping with the color theme of the opening reception, Sienzant asked attendees to wear something yellow. Even the food offered to visitors was some shade of yellow, including bananas, cheese and yellow peppers. Wearing a button-down yellow shirt and black neck tie, a buoyant Sienzant bounced around the gallery, greeting guests and well-wishers.

Background music at the “Third Friday” opening reception Oct. 21 was provided by Siezant’s “Always Lost in Evergreen” CD where he plays piano, guitar, bass and other instruments. The exhibit concluded Nov. 5.

Civic 514 Gallery information: civictheatre.com, 610-432-8943.