Exhibitions by Paul Ching-Bor and Alice Dalton Brown open Sunday at the Butler Institute of American Art.

“Dramatized Propositions” is Ching-Bor’s second solo show at the Butler and consists of 10 large-scale paintings that reveal the artist’s daring exploration of watercolor while expressing how the contrasting dark and light spirit of life in New York City has inspired him.

These haunting images of buildings, bridges and tunnels are quietly intense in their bleakness. The dark and heavy surfaces in these cityscapes interrupted by soft, streaked or radiant light demonstrate how Ching-Bor’s bold and dynamic approach to watercolor defies the naturally delicate and transparent qualities of the medium.

Ching-Bor was born in China and lived in Australia before moving to New York in 1996. His works are in many private and public collections in the Australia, England, Japan and the United States

“Dramatized Propositions” will be be on display through Nov. 3 at the Butler, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown, and Ching-Bor will attend a reception for Butler members on Sept. 26.

“Pastels” is a retrospective of works by Alice Dalton Brown from 1973 until earlier this year. She studied at Oberlin College, Cornell University L’Universite de Grenoble and L’Academie Julian.

In the catalog for the exhibition, Butler Director Louis Zona writes, “Alice Dalton Brown is one of those rare talents who seems to be able to hit a home run at every turn. Her work is glorious … original and exceptionally well crafted. If fact, I know of so very few artists who seem to be able to call up so many talents in the creation of truly memorable work.”

Her work will be on display through Nov. 24, and a meet-the-artist reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday is free and open to the public.