Oceana Rain Stuart

“Torso of a Female”

biography

Internationally acclaimed, figurative, bronze sculpture artist and poet, Stuart was born in California and grew up in a multi-generational artistic family. At a young age, Stuart knew her life path was to create art. Stuart attended California College of the Arts on a full scholarship for fashion design and fine art with a double minor in Ecological Practices and Writing and Literature. She has exhibited in over 60 exhibitions museums and galleries internationally and in the U.S., such as the Leonardo Da Vinci Society in San Francisco, California; the California Art Club at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the National Sculpture Society at Brookgreen Garden outside of Charleston, South Carolina; the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California; the American Women Artists, where she will be awarded Signature Master in Fall of 2022; the Salmagundi Art Club in New York City; and the Louvre Museum in Paris. 

Some of Stuart’s awards include: 2021 Allied Artists of America Award for Sculpture of the Gold Medal Exhibition; 2021 Board of Directors Award for Sculpture from the American Artists Professional League Gold Medal Exhibition; 2021 Art Lover’s Choice from the 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition of the California Art Club; 2020 and 2021 finalist for the 14th and 15th annual Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon; 2018 and 2021 finalist for the Non-Commissioned Portrait category by the Portrait Society of America; 2019 Alizarin Award by the Representational Figurative Art Conference; 2017 Figurative Artist of the Year by Art Comes Alive and 2017 and 2021 Pre-Selected Artist by the “Figurativas” competition of the Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona (MEAM). She is an Elected Member of the National Sculpture Society and holds a Signature Master status of the American Women Artists.

Stuart’s work appears in the permanent collection, on public display, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Catania, Sicily (MACS).

Stuart has two artworks going to the moon! In 2022, an analogue image of Stuart’s work “Reminiscence” is going to the Oceanus Procellarum region of the Moon as part of The Lunar Codex, within the “The Nova Collection”. Stuart’s work will be in an historical museum on the moon in a time capsule aboard a lunar lander, making her one of the first women to have artwork on the moon. In 2023, a digital image of Stuart’s work “ETERNAL LOVE” as well as “REMINISCENCE” are going to the South Pole of the Moon as part of The Lunar Codex, within the “The Polaris Collection”. Stuart’s work will be in a  within a time capsule attached to the Griffin Lander which also carries the Viper. The Viper will be searching for water on the moon. This will be the second mission to the moon that will include Stuart’s work.

artist statement

As a figurative bronze sculpture artist and poet, my purpose is to find empathy in the work I create, and to explore tension and complexity of the subject matter. I’m fascinated by subtle physical gestures, like the movement of a hand, the gaze of the

eyes, as well as contradictions that are enclosed in body language and how each face shares a lifetime of stories. My passion is in expressing this through my work. 

Something powerful happens when we let our guard down – we become vulnerable, instinctively primitive and essentially raw. It is an honor to witness moments in life like these, that lure the viewer in, if only for a moment, it is an experience and an opportunity, so naturally expressed by life that it is inspiring artistic material for me. And in these moments the human condition gives me endless ideas for my practice.

I sculpt primarily from life in plasticine clay. I then utilize the lost wax method for bronze and apply a patina and wax sealant on the finished bronze figure. I am particularly interested in emotionally evocative subject matter, expressive of humanity and often use symbolism in my work. My molding techniques and surface treatments often blend qualities of realism and surrealism.

exhibitions

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS

Customs House Museum

“Breaking through: The Rise of American Women Artists

Artwork: Reverie

Clarksville, Tennessee, 2022

NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY and BONITA MUSEUM

Artwork: GUESSING GAME

Bonita, California, 2022

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA

MEMBERS ONLY COMPETITION

Artwork: INTROSPECTION and REVERIE

Tallahassee, Florida, 2021

AWARD: FINALIST for both works

AMERICAN ARTISTS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE

Salmagundi Gallery

Juror of awards: Peter Trippi of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

Artwork: POESIA

New York, New York, 2021

AWARD: BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARD FOR SCULPTURE

QUEST FOR THE MODERN FIGURE

33 Contemporary Gallery

Artwork: REMINISCENCE- Woman from the Moon

Chicago, Illinois, 2021

THE LUNAR CODEX / ARTISTS ON THE MOON [AOTM]

 “The Nova Collection”

An analogue image of Stuart’s work “Reminiscence- Woman from the Moon” is going to the Oceanus Procellarum region of the Moon as part of The Lunar Codex, within the “The Nova Collection”. Stuart’s work will be in an historical museum on the moon within a time capsule onboard a Lunar Lander, making her one of the first women artists to display their art on the moon.

Artwork: Reminiscence

The Moon, June 2022- infinity

COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA

Pacific Rim Sculptors

Artwork: “Eternal Seduction”, “Reminiscence- Woman from the Moon”, “Eternal Bliss”

Curator: Robert Melton of the De Young Museum

San Francisco, 2021

POETS ARTISTS

“Couples”

Artwork: Eternal Love

online 2021

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS

National Exhibition: “Lifting the Sky: Elevating the Works of Women Artists”

Artwork: Poesia

2021

AWARD: SIGNATURE MASTER

WAUSAU MUSEUM of CONTEMPORARY ART

ICONIC

Artwork: “Woman from the Mountain” and “Poesia

Curated by the Bennetts

Wausau, Wisconsin, 2021​

ALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA

108th Annual Exhibition

Online

Artwork: “Woman from the Mountain”

NY.NY, 2021

AWARD: 2021 ALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA AWARD FOR SCULPTURE 

NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY

88th Annual Awards Exhibition

Artwork: Woman from the Mountain

2021

AWARD: ELECTED MEMBER

NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY

PANDEMIC

Online

Artwork: POESIA

2021

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB  110th ANNUAL GOLD MEDAL EXHIBITION

Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University

Orange, California

Artwork: Woman from the Mountain

2021

AWARD: ART LOVER’S CHOICE

ART RENEWAL CENTER

15th ARC Salon

Artwork: POESIA

2021

AWARD: FINALIST

WAUSAU MUSEUM of CONTEMPORARY ART

4th Annual National Juried Exhibition

Artwork: Guessing Game

2020        

ART RENEWAL CENTER

14th ARC Salon

Artwork: GUESSING GAME

2020

AWARD: FINALIST

ALLIED ARTISTS of AMERICA

107th Annual Exhibition

Online

Artwork: Guessing Game

2020

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of WOMEN ARTISTS 

Online exhibition.

Artwork: Poesia

2020

THE ART of the NUDE

Online exhibition at 33 Contemporary Gallery

Artwork: Poesia

SCULPTURE of THE PACIFIC RIM

Curator: Robert Melton curator of De Young College Arts Program and founder and executive director for Nexus ArtReach Art Collective.

Artwork: “Eternal Warrior” and “Eternal Seduction”

The Commonwealth Club of California

San Francisco, California, 2020

100 CONTEMPORARY GRANDMASTERS OF FINE ART

Online exhibition

Artwork: multiple works featured

2020

SALMAGUNDI FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING

Exhibition at the  Salmagundi Club

 Artwork: Eternal Bliss

New York, NY, 2020

SPARKS GALLERY and THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY

“Contemporary California Sculpture: Modern Works From The National Sculpture Society In California”,

Exhibition at The Sparks Gallery

Artwork: Eternal Warrior

San Diego, California, 2020

MARIETTA/COBB MUSEUM of ART

The Metro Montage XlX Exhibition

Artwork: Eternal Bliss

Marietta, Georgia, 2019

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTIST’S SPRING ONLINE JURIED SHOW

Artwork: “The Woman from the Mountain”

US, 2019

TRAC (the representational art conference)

Exhibition: The Crown Plaza Hotel

Artwork: “Eternal Bliss”

Ventura, 2019

AWARD: The ALIZARIN AWARD

WAUSAU MUSEUM of CONTEMPORARY ART

“International Biennial Portrait Competition”

Work exhibited: The “Eternal Bliss”

Wausau, Wisconsin, 2019

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB

Museum of California Art

“108th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition”

Two Works exhibited: “The Guessing Game” and “Reminiscence”

Pasadena, California, 2019

SALMAGUNDI ART CLUB

“Figuratively Speaking” Juried Exhibition

Work exhibited: “The Woman from the Mountain”

NY, NY, 2019

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA

“Online Juried Exhibition”

“Non-Commissioned Portrait Finalist”

Work: “Eternal Bliss”

Florida, 2018

ALLIED ARTISTS Of AMERICA

“Annual Associates Juried Online Exhibition”

Work exhibited: “Eternal Bliss”

US, 2018

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS (AWA)

The Haggin Museum

“Full Sun: American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum Juried exhibition”

Work exhibited: “Eternal Bliss”

Stockton, California, 2018

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS (AWA)

“Spring Online Juried Show”

Work exhibited: “Eternal Bliss”

2018

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB

The Natural History Museum

“107TH Annual Juried Gold Medal Exhibition”

Work exhibited: “Eternal Bliss”

Los Angeles, California, 2018

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB-NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

Peninsula Museum of Art

“Art Between the Lines Juried Exhibition”

Work exhibited: “A Love Remembered”

Burlingame, California, 2018

CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLF ART CLUB

NATIONAL ARTS CLUB

“121st Annual Juried Exhibition” – Benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Work exhibited: “Eternal Embrace”

Manhattan, New York, 2018

ART COMES ALIVE/BLINK ART

Work Exhibited: “Eternal Embrace”

Cincinnati, Ohio, 2017

Winner of the “2017 Figurative Artist of the Year” award

(selected by a 26-member jury)

​THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY

Brookgreen Gardens

“84th Annual National Sculpture Society Juried Awards Exhibition”

Work exhibited: “Eternal Bliss”

South Carolina, 2017

​INTERNATIONAL

MEAM · MUSEU EUROPEU D’ART MODERN

(MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-BARCELONA)

“Figurativas Painting & Sculpture Competition”-juried

Preselected – Artist

Work: Poesia

Barcelona, Spain, 2021

GRANDMASTERS of FINE ART

Online exhibition

Artwork: multiple works featured

United Kingdom, 2021

GRANDMASTERS of FINE ART EXHIBITION

Online exhibition

International, 2020

GRANDMASTERS of FINE ART EXHIBITION

Online exhibition

International, 2019

MEAM · MUSEU EUROPEU D’ART MODERN

(MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-BARCELONA)

“Figurativas Painting & Sculpture Competition”-juried

Preselected – Artist

Work: A love Remembered

Barcelona, Spain, 2017

MUSEO ARTE CONTEMPORANEA SICILIA (MACS)

(MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SICILY, ITALY)

Work on display in the permanent collection of the museum

Work exhibited: “Eternal Bliss”

Sicily, Italy, 2017

THE LOUVRE MUSEUM

INTERNATIONAL SALON D’ART CONTEMPORAIN EXHIBITION

Carrousel Du Louvre

“International Salon D’Art Contemporain Juried Exhibition”

Work exhibited: “The Eternity series” and “The Fragments”

Paris, France, 2016

solo exhibitions

​THE LEONARDO DA VINCI SOCIETY

AND THE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA

Juried Solo Exhibition and Lecture

Introduction by Lorenzo Ortona, The Consul General of Italy

Work exhibited: “The Eternity series” and “The Fragments”

San Francisco, California, 2017

LIGHT SPACE AND TIME

Winner of Solo Artist showcase, international juried online exhibition

Work exhibited: “The Eternity series”

International, 2017

THE ETERNITY SERIES

Solo exhibition and lecture on my “Eternity” bronze sculpture series.

The LibertyShip Building

Work exhibited: “The Eternity series”

Sausalito, California

December, 2015

collections

​Public:

MUSEO ARTE CONTEMPORANEA SICILIA (MACS)

Museo Arte Contemporanea Sicilia (MACS) – Museum of Contemporary Art, SICILY

Wikipedia

Private: International Collections

awards & honors

 ART RENEWAL CENTER (ARC)

Finalist for the 14th annual international ARC salon competition

Work: “Guessing Game”

2019

PACE (Plein Air Convention and expo)

As a representative of the National Sculpture Society, I sculpted demos as a faculty member of PACE that demonstrated contemporary and age-old techniques for creating sculptural work and bronze casting.

San Francisco, 2019 

TRAC (the representational art conference)

Second place “the Alizarin Award” in the January/February round

Artwork: “Eternal Bliss”

2019

NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY

Sculpture demo at the Plein Air convention and Expo, representing the National Sculpture Society.

San Francisco, California

2019

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS

Jury elected – “Associate with Distinction Member”

Lodi, California, 2019

CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE

Jury elected- “Exhibiting Member”

California, 2019

PORTRAIT SOCIETY of AMERICA

“Non-Commissioned Portrait Finalist”

Work: “Eternal Bliss”

Florida, 2018

CALIFORNIA ART CLUB 

Jury elected “Artist” member

Pasadena, Ca 2018

ART COMES ALIVE

“Figurative Artist of the Year”

Work: “Eternal Embrace”

Ohio, USA, 2017

LIGHT SPACE AND TIME

Winner of  Solo Artist Showcase

International juried online exhibition, 2017

Work exhibited: “The Eternity series”

International, 2017

MEAM · Museu Eeropeu D’Art Modern

Museum of Modern Art-Barcelona, Figurativas Painting & Sculpture Competition.

“Preselected – Artist”

Work: “A Love Remembered”

Barcelona, Spain, 2017

memberships

American Women Artists (AWA) Jury elected- “Signature Master”

Allied Artists of America (AAA)

Art Renewal (ARC)

​California Art Club (CAC) – Jury elected member “Artist Member”

California Art League (CAL) – Jury elected “Exhibiting Member”

Institute of Classical Architecture (ICAA)

​International Sculpture Center (ISC)

​Leonardo Da Vinci Society, San Francisco Chapter

​National Sculpture Society (NSS)- Elected Member

Poets and Artists (PA)

​Portrait Society of America (PSA)

bibliography

MASTERS OF CONTEMPORARY FINE ART – Volume 3

ART GALAXIE

by Pedro Boaventura 

(four page spread)

2018

BUZZ FEED

By Didi Menendez of POETS AND ARTISTS

“One Hundred Artists-One Tribe”

2018

SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE

“Ones To Collect”

2018

ON ART AND AESTHETICS

Featured Artist Interview and Photos of Work

2018

THE GUIDE ARTISTS

Featured Sculptor of the Month

several page spread and Interview

2018

LIGHT SPACE AND TIME

“The Gallery’s Top Twenty-Five 3D Artists To Watch.”

2018

THE ITALO AMERICANO

Artist Interview and images of work

2018

AGV

Agenzia Giornalistica Il Velino

2017

TOPTENY

Top Ten Talented Sculptors Around the World

2017

THE NEW YORK OPTIMIST

Artist write Up