Another Sotheby’s “Take Home a Nude” fundraiser success! The evening always flys by in the blink of an eye but I got to catch up with many familiar faces and see some really incredible works by some of my academy peers. My painting “Trust Fallen” was included and sold to a collector who’s purchased another one of my works though the Academy. That’s always a happy thought! It was a short stay in NYC for me but well worth the trip!
Beginning of Fall
This past month has been a busy one. I went straight from exploring the Irish countryside to another island a couple thousand miles away. For the past five weeks, I’ve been painting, drawing and teaching in Nantucket. I spent most of my time in the studio but I’m happy to report that I did finally manage to get some swimming in and it was heavenly.
Now, I’ve run back to Providence to start the fall semester at RISD. I’ll be teaching two semesters of drawing this year with the Illustration department. It’s a balancing act, juggling all the working, teaching and traveling but I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.
Last Moments at Kylemore Abbey
Four weeks just flew by and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experiences I had and the people I met. The Kylemore Residency ended with an exhibition showcasing all the work created over the past month. This was accompanied with readings from the creative writing students we shared the experience with and members of the entire community showed up in support.
It’s hard to return to a regular schedule after an experience like this but I have a feeling I’ll be back.
Kylemore Residency in Ireland
Artist’s residencies are a privilege. They’re a way to break up your normal routine, change your environment and expand your artist community. I’ve been waiting on this one for a few years now and I’m so thrilled to be spending the month in the west coast of Ireland.
The first of four weeks of The Kylemore Residency was spent in Galway and it was anything but boring. We hiked in Coole and Burren Parks, sketched, explored the museums in Dublin, ate way too much delicious food and walked in a near constant transition between drizzle and sunshine.
The remaining three weeks have been spent living and working in a Benedictine Monestary at Kylemore Abbey. To say these views are amazing is an understatement. I’ve been painting and of course hiking almost every day. The studio is a converted library with the most distractingly gorgeous view of the mountians opposite the lake. I’m surprised I’m getting any work done here, but I’ve been working on a floral still life, plein air studies and many small sketches.
Thank you to @newyorkacademyofart and @undkylemore for making this residency possible.
Move to Providence!
Regardless of the terrible inconvenience of moving canvases, paints and easels, I have somehow become a bit of a nomadic artist over the past few years. I’ve been everywhere from New York to Charlotte to Nantucket, but I am finally settling in somewhere (sort of) in the middle of it all. This past month I set up my studio space in Providence, RI.
I lived here for four years while studying at RISD but the rumors about a RISD bubble are very true and honestly I didn’t get out into the city very much. That was also quite a few years ago now so everything feels new and exciting.
I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of painting and getting out some of these ideas I’ve had swimming around my heard for the past few months. It’s a good start to 2024!
"Choices" sold at Sotheby's Auction House in NYC
“Choices,” featuring two figurines in a strange tabletop dance, sold at the annual “Take Home a Nude” fundraiser at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York City. I was thrilled to have my painting selected in the curated exhibition and was even more excited to meet the collector who took her home. There was a mini bidding war which is always exciting to see if not a little nerve-racking. The whole evening raised over $650,000 in scholarships and programing for future artists at The New York Academy of Art.
2023 Artist-Patron Award
I’m a little late with the news but I wanted to make note of the momentous event that was The Artists Association of Nantucket’s 2023 Annual Meeting. It was here that I was awarded the Robert C. McDougall Promising New Artist Award. You can tell by the size of my smile that I was pretty happy about it.
My Week of Portrait Painting
It’s the end of the second and final week with Rome Art Residencies and instead of continuing to paint outside, I decided to learn from two of the living masters within the comforts of a studio. We focused on a single portrait painting, dividing time between demos and painting from life. The class was taught by David Kassan and Shana Levenson, two artists who I have admired for years. I tried to micic their very specific way of working, using a full palette of bright colors, tiny brushes and a slow buildup of countless hashmarks, but alas a little of my own tendencies crept in. Artists can only try so hard to mask their innate way of working but in the end I learned some new techniques and that David and Shana are incredibly patient artists.
Two weeks have never gone so fast but I had an amazing time all thanks to Rome Art Residencies.
Rome Art Residency
Thanks to the generosity of Rome Art Residencies I have been living in Rome for the past week and a half. I am all settled and can finally grasp how lucky I am to be in one of the most beautiful cities and learning from the great minds of artists like Daniel Sprick and Brian Booth Craig-Wankiiri. My residency began with daily plein air painting across Rome, each day with a new view and new painting. The second week I get to study with David Kassan and Shana Levenson. This is literally heaven.
“The Birds and the Bees”
This weekend marks the end of “The Birds and the Bees” with Robert Lange Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina. It featured art from a number of artists asked to share their bird and bee inspiration. They specifically asked me to revisit my wreath paintings with a feathered approach. I’m not sure I would have gotten their on my own so I’m incredibly grateful to them for this new combination.
For me, the ears have always been quiet, but the combination with the loud feather imagery and “eyes” in the peacock wreath is something I am quite excited about. These may not be my last wreath works after all.
"Welcome Back" at The NYC Culture Club
“Temptation” is part of an exhibition in a very exciting new venue with @nyccultureclub from July 21st through August 28th. It will be on view at The World Trade Center Oculus C1 Level with works from a great group of artists.
The show “Welcome Back” features works by @alexcohenart @annaweyant @aptheangel @riiisaboogie @cavierart @danielma02 @isisdavismarks @helina.metaferia @chellisbaird @kerryirvinefineart212 @maryamturkey @animotisart @sansbam @nyareeta @geuryunglee @sarpkeremyavuz @serenmorey @digitalbeing @artdegenki @ricardoarangoart @rafunks @jimbroskikanobi @amafoos @rezones
Special thanks to @parkercalvert @claytoncalvert who curated the show!
BBA Artist Prize 2022
If you happen to be in Berlin from now until June 18, 2022 head to Kühlhaus Berlin to see work from the 25 shortlisted artists in the BBA Artist Prize. I’m grateful to be exhibiting three paintings among a number of talented artists from around the world. I wish I could see it in person so if you’re nearby please go see it on my behalf. And send photos!
Venue: Kühlhaus Berlin, Luckenwalder Straße 3, 10963 Berlin
Exhibition: June 3- 18, 2022
Open: Tues-Sun, 11:00 - 19:00
The Hale Residency in Nantucket
Yesterday I arrived at my new home for the next month. All thanks to The Artists Association of Nantucket, I get to make art in a beautiful and scenic island for the month of February. I have been awarded the Hale Residency which includes a private painting studio, spacious apartment, oceans without horizons, sideways snowstorms and ample seashell collecting. I can’t wait to get started. Let’s see where the island takes me.
Second Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant
Around this time last year I was dancing around the room with the news I’d been awarded a prestigious artist grant. Well now I’m able to do that all over again because I’ve just been awarded a second Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant. Their generosity is unparalleled and I’m so honored to be included in the long line of figurative artists who credit the foundation for helping them fulfill their dreams of painting. Here’s to another year of doing what I love most and to the amazing generosity of those who make it happen. ❤️ Thank you #elizabethgreenshieldsfoundation
Maria Tash Collaboration
I’m excited to share with you the products of a collaboration with Maria Tash, a jewelry company specializing in ear curation. Maria and her company are at the forefront of the fine jewelry and piercing industries, with locations in New York, Rome, Dublin, Harrods London, and Dubai. With a cult following of celebrity clients including Rihanna, Zoë Kravitz, Blake Lively and Jennifer Lawrence to name a few, I was super excited when they reached out to me in an effort to combine artistic visions.
She asked her followers to submit photos of their ears sporting their favorite Maria Tash jewelry and I reinterpreted them as centerpieces for my oil wreath paintings. We shared varnishing and time lapse videos of the painting process, as well as images and videos of the environment and highlighted jewelry.
I’m thrilled with the response and the end result!
8” x 8” oil on canvas
Officially a Master of Fine Arts!
On May 13th, 2021 I was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree from The New York Academy of Art. It’s been a busy few weeks of family visiting, birthday celebrating, and finishing up the school year in general, but I can finally sit back and let it sink in. Congratulations Class of 2021!
Opening Night of Sugarlift's Give Me Some Skin
What a fantastic opening of Give Me Some Skin at Sugarlift Gallery in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood. I am still on cloud nine just being included with such a strong group of artists. Here are a few photos of the opening and installation. I could get very used to these.
It’s on view until May 22. 2021 so go check it out if you’re in the area!
Give Me Some Skin Exhibition Opens Tonight in Chelsea
I’m excited to announce that my work will be featured in Give Me Some Skin, an exhibition at @Sugarlift, curated by @michellelynndoll, and @jpvoegele! Come see my work alongside 23 other incredible artists. The socially-distanced opening is on April 22nd, 6:00-8:00pm, at @sugarlift @highlinenine, or view the show online: sugarlift.com/givemesomeskin
Participating Artists:
@christanfagerlund
@bernardosiciliano
@alyssamonks
@michellelynndoll
@davidkassan
@heathervmcleod
@hollisdunlap
@adampaints
@aleah_chapin
@amywerntz_art
@bernardo_torrens
@buketsavci
@danielmaidman
@edienadelhaft
@erinandersonstudio
@nicolasvsanchez
@pattyhoring
@stevenassael
@sullivangiles
@posmodo
@mae.read
@chrisherreraart
@hannah_murray_artist
@kateclarkstudio
NYC Solo Exhibition
I’m super excited to announce that tomorrow is the opening of my solo exhibition Hide and Seek at Trotter & Sholer Gallery in NYC’s Lower East Side.
It will feature a series of recent work investigating a contemporary view of portraiture that I’m so excited to share with everyone! For those of you who can’t make it in person I will do my best to share the experience virtually but please stop by if you can!
@trotterandsholer
168 Suffolk Street
Tues- Sat 12-6
Exhibition on view February 18th- March 14
AXA Art Prize
This week marked the end of the AXA Art Prize 2020 Exhibition.
Even during the crazy 2020 pandemic the 40 finalists were lucky enough to share their work with the public in the NYC exhibition. Thank you to all the friends and family who made it out to see the ears and the other 39 incredible figurative art pieces included in the show. I can’t express how much it means a lot to me. Congratulations to all those involved and I hope to be able to participate again next year!