biography
I have been creating art since I was a young child. Growing up in a family surrounded by professional musicians and creatives, my natural artistic abilities were always encouraged and nurtured. Inspired by the Old Masters, I was classically trained in oil painting at the Minnesota River School of Fine Art from 1998-2005. There is evidence of the Atelier training in my style, yet I try to include a contemporary energy in my work to keep it current. My passion lies in the figure and portrait with texture, landscape, and rich color as complimentary elements.
photography/art workshops
I have been a portrait artist, photographer, and educator for decades now and still enjoy all disciplines. Having enjoyed a thriving portrait studio for the past 25 years I have recently chosen to dedicate the majority of my time to my first and greatest passion, freehand painting. I still accept a limited number of photographic portrait clients and utilize my experience in both portrait photography and lighting for the creation of my freehand portraits. I continue to study both disciplines and hosts art retreats at The Nest in Apple Valley MN, (my home/studio) as well as teaching workshops on location.
encaustic and cold wax
My most recent works are created in encaustic wax and oils. I am drawn to the sculptural quality in both the encaustic and cold wax having first discovered wax as a medium in the “lost wax method” of creating bronze sculpture. In this method the wax is used to create an original sculpture from which the finished bronze piece is cast. The tools used for sculpting in wax are amongst the many tools used for both encaustic and cold wax painting.
My artistic aspiration is to connect with and engage the viewer through the visual language of my paintings. With multiple layers of paint and wax I endeavor to create a depth that invites and draws the viewer in. Haunting and emblematic, the paintings have a spiritual nuance that I am hoping will set them apart.
curriculum vitae
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 1957. Studied Classical Realism at the Minnesota River School of Fine Art. Exhibited and sold at auction, Sothebys New York City 2021. Finalist in ARC International Salon 2020. Permanent collection, The Museum of Encaustic Art Santa Fe New Mexico. Exhibited RJD Gallery New York, Ille Its New York, The Chaffy Museum, Ontario, The Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, Gallery One, OPNVU Gallery, Mpls. Lives and works in Apple Valley, Minnesota
selected exhibitions and awards
2022 New York Figurative Exhibition, (jury of awards Max Ginsberg and Hyeseung Song) “Dionysus” Skylight Gallery Salmagundi Club New York
2021 Annual National Juried Exhibition ANJE, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art (curator and awards judge:Peter Trippi Editor in Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine) “in My Life” Honorable Mention, “Tapestry, and “Isabella Grace”exhibited.
2021 The American Artists Professional League 93rd Grand Exhibition (awards judge:Peter Trippi Editor in Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine) “Dr Ndely” Salmagundi Club New York City
2021 Minnesota Artists Association fall exhibition (curator Marty Harris) “Vision at Ghost Ranch” award of Excellence, and “Healer 2_Allissa” White Bear Center fr the Arts
2021 Auction sale, Sotheby’s New York oil painting “Espère”
2021 Richeson 75 International Art Competition, Figure and Portrait :”Dionysus”, and “Metamorphosis” Kimberly, Wisconsin
2021 Allied Artists of America 108th annual exhibit “In my Life” Salmagundi Club New York City
2021 Metamorphosis (curators Susan Stover and Lisa Pressman) International Encaustic Artists, Tubac Center for the Arts, AZ “Mikaela Juliet”
2021 “Illumination” The New PreRaphaelites (curator: Kerry Dunn)
2021 110th Fine Arts Exhibition, Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN “Isabella Grace” (curator:) Award of Excellence Plymouth arts Council and Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative
2021 selected finalist , MEAM Barcelona Spain “Dionysus”
2021 Minnesota Artists Association Spring Exhibition (curator:director of Landmark Center Gallery) St Paul, MN Award of excellence and peoples choice award “Selene Goddess of the Moon”
2021 Shifting Perspectives (curator: Jerry McLaughlin) Museum of Encaustic Art, Santa Fe NM Second place award “The Gift”
2021 Painting the Figure Now (curators: Stephen Bennett and Dr Elaine Mellotti Schmidt) Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, WI
2021 Iconic (curators: Stephen Alan Bennett and Dr Elaine Mellotti Schmidt) Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, WI
2021 Selected for ModPortrait2020 Juried Exhibition MEAM (Barcelona, Spain) Museu Europeu d’Art Modern Special Catalog.
2021 Artists Magazine Artists over 60 competition Winner
2021 Music Man (curator: Alessandro Tomasetti) interactive online exhibit through 33 Contemporary Gallery
2020 Finalist Art Renewal Center ARC Annual International Salon online and traveling exhibit (Sothebys New York)
2020 Annual National Juried Exhibition (curator: Sergio Gomez) Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art,Wausau, WI
2020 Ethereal Epiphany (curator: Sergio Gomez) 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago IL
2020 Painting the Figure Now (curator: F Scott Hess) Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, WI
2020 Minnesota Artists Association Fall Exhibition (curator Julie Snidle) Online in conjunction with Ames Center for the Arts, Award of Excellence “Georgia”
2020 Ardent Olders ( curator: Jennifer Seale) 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago IL
2020 Encaustic Today (curator: Yulia Mamontova) Russia, International Exhibit, Prize Award “Healer #1 Allissa”
2020 The New PreRaphaelites (Curator: Jessica Libor) Era Contemporary
2020 Ambivalence (curator:Carol Hodes) 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago IL
2020 109th Fine Arts Exhibition, Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN
2020 Shelter (curator: Dr Samuel Peralta) 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago IL
2020 Flux, Wax in all Forms, Arts Benicia Gallery (curator:Sara Post) Benicia CA
2020 American Art Collector Online, Premier Contemporary Realism and Figurative Art, 33 Contemporary (curator: Didi Menendez)
2020 Shades of Light, RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton NY juried group exhibition
2020 Spring Floral Exhibition, Studio Pintura Mpls Mn (curator: Steve Levine)
2020 Minnesota Artists Association Spring Exhibition, Banfill_Locke Art Center, (curator: Abby Kosberg executive director), Award of Excellence “Courage to Survive”
2020 Concealed Stories ,Beautiful Bizarre Magazine 33 Contemporary featured paintings “Resurrection” and “Tapestry’
2019 ANJE Annual National Juried Exhibition, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau,WI (Curator: John Dalton, Ireland) Honorable Mention: “Resurrection”
2019 Movie Night, Ille Arts Gallery, Amagansaet,NY (curator: Rick Davidman)
2019 Bold Brush Painting Competition Winner, Outstanding Digital Entry
2019 IBPC International Bienniall Portrait Competition, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, WI (Curator: David Hummer, Executive Director of WMOCA and Margaret Bowland, Painting Instructor at New York Academy of Art)
2019 21st Century Realism, Six Minnesota Artists, OPNVU Invitational at Gallery One, Minneapolis, MN (Curator: Ronald S Ridgeway, Founder/Director of OPNVU Gallery)
2019 Minnesota Artists Association Spring Exhibition, Edina Center for the Arts, Edina, MN, People’s Choice Award: “Espére”
2019 Art Fete 2019, Burnsville Visual Arts Society Juried Exhibit Award of Excellence: “Tapestry” (Curator: James Conaway, Hamline University, St Paul, MN)
2019 50 States 200 Artists, Invitational Exhibition MoEA, Museum of Encaustic Art, Santa Fe, NM (Catalog: 50 States 200 Artists (Curator:Douglas Meherns, Founder, Museum of Encaustic Art)
2019 IEA Survey of Contemporary Encaustic, International Encaustic Artists Association, Chaffee Museum, Ontario CA (Curator: Matt Gleason, Founder of Coagula Art Journal)
2018 Small Works, Juried Group Exhibit, Core New Art Space, Denver, CO (Curator: Victoria Eubanks, Board of Directors and Faculty Member of Arts Students League of Denver)
2018 No Creative Boundaries – Anything Goes, MoEA Annual Juried Exhibition, Museum of Encaustic Art, Santa Fe, NM (Juror: Ellen Koment)
2018 Fall Exhibition, Juried Group Exhibit, Ames Center Art Gallery, Burnsville, MN Award of Excellence: “Dr. Ndely”, Peoples Choice Award: “Jimi” & “Dr. Ndely” Judge’s Choice: “Dr. Ndely” (Curator:Tara Sweeny, Professor Emeritus, Augsburg College)
2018 Annual Members Juried Art Exhibition, Inez Greenberg Gallery, Artistry Center for Visual Arts, Bloomington, MN (Curator: Cassie Garner, Founder Gamut Gallery)
2018 7th Annual Juried Group Encaustic Exhibit, Morpho Gallery, Chicago, IL (catalogue/collab/curated/juror)
2018 107th Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN Award of Excellence: “Dr. Ndely” (Curator: Kristie Bretzke)
2017 106th Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN
2016 MINNescapes, Invitational Group Exhibit, Gallery One OST, North Loop, Minneapolis, MN (Curator: Ron Ridgeway, Founder of the Art Leadership Program)
2016 Juried Group Exhibition, Twin Cities Photography League
1999-18 Dakota County Fair, Professional Division Fine Arts Exhibit, Hastings, MN Awarded Grand Champion yearly 1999-03, 08-18
2015 Juried Show, ASP Traveling Loan Collection
2011 Juried Group Exhibit, Savage Center for the Arts Savage, MN Honorable Mention, “Painting”
2009-2015 PPA International Juried Exhibition, Professional Photographers Of America, Various locations, new each year
2010 ASP Traveling Loan Collection, American Society of Photographers
2008 Juried Exhibit, Burnsville Area Society for the Arts, Burnsville, MN
2007 Juried Exhibit, Burnsville Area Society for the Arts, Burnsville, MN
2005 Invitational Exhibition at EPCOT Center, Orlando, FL
bibliography
2021 Fine Art Connoisseur: Cover December issue and Feature on self Portraits
2021 Star Tribune, article about Sothebys auction piece and artwork going to the moon with Nova Collection
2021 Channel 9 news segment
2021 Star Tribune, front page article about JuliAnne And Art being sent to the moon with Peregrene collection
2021 Museu Europeu d’Art Modern Special Catalog.MEAM (Barcelona, Spain)
2021 The Artists Magazine: Feature article Artists over 60
2020 American Art Collector: Figure feature in magazine Dec Issue
2020 American Art Collector Online: Premier Contemporary Realism and Fine Art
2020 Fine Art Connoisseur: Landscape feature in magazine Oct issue
2020 Interview : Zeiss Conversations on YouTube
2020 Summer Catalog 33 Contemporary
2020 Camercraftsman of America Book 4pg spread
2020 Director of Figurative Artists on Instagram
2020 Curators Choice Sept 33 Contemporary
2020 American Art Collector Online: Premier Contemporary Realism and Fine Art
2020 ASP magazine, American Society of photographers Featured article in Fall Issue ASP magazine
2020 Wax Fusion, International Encaustic Artists Spring issue “Innovation” featured artist, Cover and Back of magazine
2019 Outstanding Digital Entry: Bold Brush October
2019 Fine Art Connoisseur, Dec issue “Dressing the Part” feature “Meatamorphosis” pg 060
2018 Museum of Encaustic Arts Featured Artist: “True Inspiration”, Winter Issue Encaustic Arts Magazine, Winter issue
2018 Strokes of Genius 10, Rachel Rubin Wolf editor: Inspiring Subjects (The Best of Drawing), November 6, 2018; “Portrait of a Roman Man’ pg. 122
2016 101 Mistakes Photographers Should Never Make Book
2015 21st Century Guide to Portraiture, Book
2015 Cameracraftsmen of America Book 4pg spread
2012 Painter Showcase Edition 1 Amazon Book pg 112-137
1995 to present Featured on numerous covers and in articles in trade magazines and book publications
The Loan Collection books, Showcase books, Rangefinder, The Professional Photographer
artist residencies/classical atelier education
2019 Artist Residency at The Encausticastle in Lexington, Kentucky
1996- 2006 Atelier Training in Classical Realism, Minnesota River School of FineArts, Burnsville, MN
1995 – 2018 Continuing education through the Professional Photographers Of America and affiliate organizations
2001 – present Studied under Master Artists including: Stephen Early, Daniel Gerhartz, Marc Hanson, Michael Kline, Suchrita Bhosle, Mario Robinson, Jeff Hurinenko, James Edward Scherbarth, Rebecca Crowell, Jerry Mclaughlin, Joyce Wilson
selected honors/awards
2021 Included in exhibition and auction Sothebys, New York
2017 Elected Member, International Society of Portrait Artists ISOPA
2014 Elected Member of the Photographic Council, Lifetouch National Studios
2015 Elected Corel Painter Master Elite
2011 Exceptional Businesswoman Award, Dakota County
2010 Elected Member, Cameracraftsman of America
2002 Inducted into The American Society of Photographers
2008 Canon Par Excellence Award
1995-2015 received numerous international, national, regional, and local awards for illustrative photography and photographic portrait art from the Professional Photographers of America and their affiliate organizations
selected education degrees/professional certifications
2015 Master Artist Degree, Professional Photographers of America
2003 Photographic Craftsman Degree, Professional Photographers of America
2002 Accredited Artist Certification, Minnesota Professional Photographers Association
2002 Accredited Photographer Certification, Minnesota Professional Photographers Association
2002 Master of Photography Degree, Professional Photographers of America
collaborative projects
2015 Cinematographer for music video “Running Home,” for the band Cedar Avenue (created in collaboration with Director William Marsh and Fitzgibbons/Davis Productions)
commissions
2021 “Merlin” pastel on paper
2021 “Terra, healer” oil and wax
2021 “Twin Flames” oil and wax
2020 “Espinda Banick wedding, oil and wax
2020 “Wilder, repose” oil and wax
2019 “Jean” encaustic portrait
2008 Bronze sculpture “Amie Nicole” created using the lost wax method for Kjelshus Corp.
2004 Bronze sculpture “ Shelter” created using the lost wax method for Sauer Childrens Foundation
collections
2021 Bernie and Anna Zimmerman, Private collection, “Transcendence”, “Metamorphosis”, “Resurrection” and “Espere” (Sothebys auction New York)
2021 Leslie and Brad Hoyt, Private Collection “Jesus Wept” (through Museum exhibit Iconic)
2019 Included in the permanent collection of MoEA, the Museum of Encaustic Art, Santa Fe, NM “Caitlin” encaustic wax on panel
2019 Nanette P, Private Collection “Transcendance”
2010 Oil on canvas, “Embracing God’s Will,” River Valley Church, Apple Valley, MN
2017 Pastel on board, “Repose,” Expressions MD office, Rosemount, MN
2019 Mixed media, “Norma Jean,” Hollywood Hair Studios, Burnsville, MN