Imagine the best works of 58 contemporary Hawaii artists under one roof, continuing a dialogue they started 19 years ago.

“Hawai‘i Art Now,” an exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art (formerly Academy of Arts), is that collection. The show celebrates the works of artists from past “Biennial of Hawai‘i Artists” exhibitions that began in 1993.

The biennials, which had been organized by The Contemporary Museum, which merged with the Academy in July, typically comprised the new works of six or seven artists.

This exhibit is a special, one-time event in conjunction with the “Biennial of Hawai‘i Artists X,”which runs from Thursday to July 22 at Honolulu Museum of Art Spalding House in Makiki Heights (the former Contemporary Museum site).

The scope of the show is varied and broad, according to co-curator Inger Tully. Artwork ranges from video to sculpture, watercolor, woodworking, printmaking, painting and mixed-media installation, by artists from Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island.

The works express contemporary viewpoints on culture, society, history, politics and range from the introspective to the humorous and slightly absurd.

“It’s a coming together of all the artists from biennials one through nine,” said Tully. “These are artists that we feel are doing outstanding work. This exhibition is a chance for us to reconnect with those artists and get an update on what they’re doing now, to see their growth. It’s also a wonderful way to bring our art community back together.”

Some artists go back as far as 19 years, while others have joined the scene in the last few years.

There’s a spectacular woven tapestry created by Masami Teraoka in 2011; it’s an unexpected piece from an artist renowned for his watercolor and oil paintings.

Teraoka discussed his work Wednesday at the first of weekly “Meet the Artist” programs that run through April 18.

The works of three late artists — sculptor Michael Tom (1946-1999), photographer Sergio Goes (1964-2008) and fiber artist Walter G. Nottingham (1930-2012) — are included in the show.

Nottingham died as the show was coming together. His most recent pieces are part of the exhibit.

Kauai artist Wayne Zebzda offers an unusual multimedia installation that includes a suit patched together from reflective materials he gathered from roadways and a video of him wearing it while walking at night. Other works include toads that became roadkill that the artist cast in aluminum and transformed into sculptures.

Native Hawaiian artist Kaili Chun, a lecturer at Kapiolani Community College, offers a row of oo, Hawaiian digging tools, more than 5 feet tall and made from repurposed wood.

Chun, who specializes in large-scale conceptual installations, was part of the 2003 biennial, during which she exhibited four tall koa oo in a work called “Ha.”

“The contrast between the native woods and haole woods were, I thought, striking,” she said. “It kind of reflects the manifestation of our people, anyways. We’re all hapa, pretty much.”

Those who saw the 2007 biennial will recall ceramic masks by Wayne Morioka representing the spirit world. His “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” from that show is part of the exhibit.

Other works of art are more current, such as conceptual artist Gaye Chan’s display of a nonworking seed-sharing station that she set up at several locations around Oahu. Chan is reviving the ancient practice of seed sharing as an answer to industrial seed production.

“It’s a very high level of work from some of the very best artists in Hawaii,” said James Jensen, curator of contemporary art and co-curator of the show.

Some folks featured in the show no longer do art, while others have moved away. But Jensen said he found the majority still living and working in Hawaii.

Museum director Stephan Jost said his institution is making a concerted effort to support local artists.

“It’s a way we can tip our hat to what The Contemporary Museum did over the years,” said Jost. “We’re partners and the same institution now.”

Jost confirmed that the academy’s “Artists of Hawai‘i” show will continue to run every two years. He also promised more solo exhibits by local artists.