Connecticut has long been home to many well-known artists. Now the work of the state’s emerging creators is on display in a new exhibit at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield.

"I am what is around me" is the very first in the series.

Executive Director Cybele Maylone says it’s the biggest show the museum has ever presented, featuring the works of 40 Connecticut artists.

“The series was conceived by the museum’s Diana Bowes Chief Curator, Amy Smith-Stuart. And she really set out to organize, with our assistant curator Caitlin Monachino, an exhibition that spoke to the great diversity of the state of Connecticut. So there is a really wide variety of materials and types of work here, everything from photography to sculpture to painting. And this exhibition really seeks to speak to a number of parts of the museum’s mission, which offers emerging or under-recognized artists their first museum exhibitions.”

The show brings together all artists who have never had solo exhibitions in the state of Connecticut before.

The museum’s Sculpture Garden also features works by these artists.

“We really hope that our visitors and our community are taking advantage of it, both as a part of the museum’s program, but also it’s just a beautiful way to connect in nature and enjoy this public space.”

The garden is free and open to the public from dusk till dawn, seven days a week.

The museum is open six days a week.