Artist Roxanna Melendez’s studio is filled with new paintings. Even in the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has found inspiration.

“Feeling, emotion – and I was compelled,” she says.

Moved to create, Melendez says that she found inspiration especially after seeing the sacrifices of health care workers.

“It was like being possessed by this energy to attempt to communicate,” she says.

Melendez is among more than 50 artists whose work is featured in the art exhibit “Art in the Age of COVID,” featuring artwork produced during the pandemic.

“In many ways, I think the artists have a different experience and this show is evidence of that,” says Ellen Martin of the Atlantic Highlands Art Council.

The council is hosting the exhibit. Martin says that art demonstrates how differently each person reactions to living during the pandemic. Some of the art is inspired by now-familiar sights, such as a person wearing a mask, a sculpture evoking the red coronavirus symbol or a park with no people.

“Art in the Age of COVID” is a free exhibit open to anyone. It will be up through Jan. 23.