The work of artist Diane Britt opens Friday at the Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art Gallery.

This exhibition looks back on almost 20 years of Britt’s work through the lenses given her by Jewish themes, imagery and historical and personal experiences. Those inspirations for her drawings, sculptural work, artist books and installations include the stories told by her bubbe (grandmother), contemporary Yom Kippur liturgy and ancient folktales.

According to Britt, “My work is never untouched by past or contemporary stories and emotion. The vast refugee populations fleeing war, climate disaster and famine reverberate for me and embrace an unavoidable historical context with echoes into the present and future.”

Britt studied art and art history at UMass Boston and attended graduate school at Lesley College and Penn State. She worked as an artist and computer typesetter and became a psychologist.

“Diane Britt: Jewish Works” will be on display through April 30 at the gallery, located at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane. An artist reception is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. March 10 with storytelling by Britt at 1:30 p.m. For more information, go to jccyoungstown.org or call 330-746-3250.