CLARISSA SHANAHAN BIO

EDUCATION

2005     BFA, University of Pennsylvania

2002     Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

             Private study under Bo Bartlett

1998-1999     New York Academy of Art, New York, NY

1997     The Art Students League of New York, NY                                             

Ongoing travel for research

1990-1992     Isabel O’Neil Studio, New York, NY

1990     Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY                                                 

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017     Gravers Lane Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2016     L’Hippopotame, Gallery Gala Event, Philadelphia, PA

2016     Gravers Lane Gallery, Tales from the Ruins, Philadelphia, PA

2015     Carol Schwartz Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2014     Carol Schwartz Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2013     Carol Schwartz Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2012     Nichols Berg Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017     B. Deemer Gallery, Three Person Exhibition, Louisville, KY

2017     44th Annual Fine Art Show, Academy of Notre Dame de Namurs, Villanova, PA

2016     Fleisher Art Memorial, Dear Fleisher, 4x6 Inches of Art, Philadelphia, PA

2016     Wayne Art Center, Faculty Exhibition, Wayne, PA

2015     Alumni Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the FIne Arts, Philadelphia, PA - 116th Annual   Exhibition Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

2015     Ice Box Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - InLiquid 15th Annual Art Benefit

2014     Ice Box Gallery, InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

2014      Artists’ House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - On the Edge: Looking with New Eyes

2014      Artists’ House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - On Hill and Dale: The Art of the Landscape

2013      Paddle 8 in association with InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

2013     InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA - Member Show

2013     Sundance Channel Offices, New York NY

2013     Ice Box Gallery, InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

2013     Artists’ House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2012     Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - Reply Hazy, Try Again

2012     Gallery Nord, San Antonio, TX - Encausticon International Juried Exhibition

2012     The Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA - The Future of the Past: Encaustic Art in the 21st Century

2012     Nichols Berg Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - Duo show

2012     Greg Moon Art Gallery, Taos, NM - After Dark

2012     Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art - 113th Annual Exhibition

2012     Winner, Windsor Whitney Biennial

2012     Ice Box Gallery, InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

2012     Featured Artist of the Month, R&F Encaustics

2011     Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Alumni Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - Small Works Show

2011     The Nichols Berg Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - Wax Poetic

2011     Artists’ House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2011     Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts - Faculty Exhibition

2011     Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA - 112th Annual Exhibition

2011     The Nichols Berg Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - Lucky New Year Show

2006     Samuel Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA - Faculty Exhibit

2002     Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA - Annual Student Exhibition

2001     Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

1999     Pollock-Krasner House & Study Center, East Hampton, NY - Paintings from the film Pollock

1997     Blue Moon Gallery, Hot Springs, AK - Fine Art Of Scenic Artists

 

GRANTS/AWARDS

2004     Recipient of the Bread Upon the Waters [full merit-based] Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania

2003     Recipient of the Senior Associates Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania

1993     Full Scholarship and Invitation from Friends of Vielles Maisons Francaises for project in Buxy, France.      

             Presentation and report to Board of Directors.

1992     Apprenticeship Program Recipient, Tromploy Studios, New York, NY

1991     Full Studio Scholarship, Isabel O’Neil Studio, New York, NY 

 

TEACHING POSITIONS

Adjunct Faculty, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts                                                              2000 present

Instructor, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA                                                                                     2015

Instructor, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA                                                                    2015

Instructor, Cerulean Arts Gallery & Studio, Philadelphia, PA                                                          2014

Instructor, The Studio at Nichols Berg Gallery                                                                              2010 - 2012

Instructor, Samuel Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA                                                           2006

Instructor, The Studio School of Stage Design, Jersey City, NJ                                                     1994-95

Instructor, Isabel O’Neal Studio For the Art of the Painted Finish - New York, NY                           1992

 

PROJECTS AND COMMISSIONS

Artwork for the Logan Hotel in Philadelphia, for Kevin Barry Fine Art Associates
72 foot Twombly-inspired mural for JAGR Projects
30 foot Krasner-inspired mural for JAGR Projects
Created the paintings of Lee Krasner in the film Pollock (PT Charge Scenic) (2000)
Produced original and reproduction artwork for many film productions, including Boardwalk Empire,Explicit Ills and others
Produced sculptural mural in the style of Anselm Kiefer for the film The Tempest - Additionally, work from production
 installed as permanent display at Steiner Studios in NY.
Restored 19th Century horse carriage in Buxy, France

 

OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Dear Fleisher, 4x6 Inches of Art, Fundraising Gala for Fleisher Art Memorial - 2016

Chestnut Hill Plein Air Competition, Planning Committee – 2015 - Present

Chestnut Hill Maker's Village, Planning Committee –2015 - Present

InLiquid Benefit Auction - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, Philadelphia, PA

Paint it Right Foundation in association with Wharton Business School Charity Auction - 2011, 2012, Philadelphia, PA

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Bacchanal Auction - 2011

Participant, Give Shelter Auction Benefitting Habitat for Humanity & Interim House - 2011

Assistant curator, Urban Jewels Show benefitting St. John’s Community Services - 2011, Nichols Berg Gallery

 

MEMBERSHIPS

VAWAA - Vacation with an Artist, Participating Artist.

Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art Board

InLiquid

Center for Emerging Visual Artists / Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2015 - present

Herman St Studios Community

Vasari 21

United Scenic Artists 829, Iatse

Contributing writer, The ArtBlog

 

LECTURES, PANELS AND INTERVIEWS

Judge, 2014 Arts Festival Chestnut Hill, PA

Lecturer, Film as Visual Narrative: A Resource for Painters, lecture series - 2017, The Barnes Foundation

Lecturer, Applied Art and Design in the Film Industry - 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Interview, Conversations with an Artist 2: Clarissa Shanahan - 2015, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Panelist and Interview - Panel on Artists with Interesting Jobs - 2011, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Lecturer, Symbolism of Color - 2012, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Participant, Pafa Career Day - 2009, 2011, 2013

 

PRESS / RADIO

Morning Feed on Germantown Radio - interview January 2016

Morning Feed on Germantown Radio - interview with Four Artists 10/9/15

The Future of the Past: Encaustic Art in the 21st Century - Publication, Boston Center for the Arts 8/20/13

Artist of the Month - Interview with Laura Moriarty at R&F Encaustics 2/1/12

Movie and TV veteran brings artistic talents to Hill - Feature, Chestnut Hill Local 10/5/11 

 

PUBLIC OR CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

The Logan Hotel, Philadelphia, PA

Sundance Channel Offices, New York, NY

The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

 

 

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

Through the lens of film and pop culture, my paintings are modern-day interpretations of historical figures. These works are a composite of some fact, some fiction, and all largely informed by the subjective nature of time and memory.

Visual storytelling, in all its forms, brought me to work in the film industry for many years. I rely heavily on filmic influences, both aesthetically, and for their powers of visual narrative. I cast these paintings, as if roles in a film, looking for people with a corresponding 'flavor' to play the part. Research also brings me to original archival photographs and daguerreotypes, in some cases, that become source material. These various references all get assimilated, to mesh eras, to create temporal layers. I'm interested in superimposing our pop cultural references and personal memory onto figures both championed by history and those forgotten.

To contextualize where my work is coming from, my earlier paintings depicted non-peopled, abandoned and forgotten places, seen through the haze of memory. These environments would show both what they are and what they were, superimposing the years of decay, upon the beauty of what once existed, simultaneously. I came to realize that it was less about the environments themselves than it was the idea of layering time that really propelled what I wanted to explore in portraiture.

Temporal layering is what my work is about. Wax, as a material, provides a visual shorthand for that filter of time and memory. It's atmospheric, organic, supple and tactile, providing a hazy ambiguity to the image. It blurs the gap between 'then' and now'. 

I teach at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, courses about color theory, color symbolism and the cross-pollination of art and film.