My life is like a library. I source images from observation and years of travel but most of all from nature. Its forms, shapes and colors provide my vocabulary for my visual poetry. My latest work shares an accumulation of printmaking techniques that I have worked with for several years. I have long had an interest in painted layered collage-like works. As a printmaker and painter I have worked on techniques that paint and transfer images I create or photograph to make this affect. Photo transfer, lithography, relief printing, silkscreen and monotype are all used to create my works.
My winters are spent in the tropics, so color plays a large part in my creative process. I have a special attraction to the landscape painting of Japan. These artists are ardent lovers of nature and they closely observe its changing moods. I too spend long periods in my garden in Barbados observing the changing flora and the other inhabitants as the days pass. By definition, because most of my works are multi-medium with a monotype or silkscreen base, they can be called monoprints. I keep trying to push the envelope as I work, ever trying to tease the observer to wonder, “how did she do that?”
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
1954-58 B.S. Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
1958-60 M.F.A. University of Pennsylvania, Phila., PA
1975-78 M.A. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City
Additional study in printmaking with: Clare Romano,
William Maxwell, Janice Loeb & Luther Davis, Master printer
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 “Botanicals”, Viridian Artists, NYC
2013: “F” IS FOR FLOWERS, FISH AND FRAGMENTS , Viridian Artists, NYC
2007: “In Bloom”, Viridian Artists, NYC
2003:- ”“SNAPSHOTS : A JOURNEY FROM 9/11 TO 11/9”, Viridian Artists, NYC.
2001 Kindred People, Places & Things, Viridian Artists
1999 Diasporo Journey, Mehu Gallery, NYC
1998 Connections, Viridian Artists Inc, NYC
1997 Sun Spaces Barbados Museum and Historical Society, Barbados WI
1996 Ten Years of Inspiration, James E. Lewis Museum of Art, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
1995 Recent Works, Viridian Gallery, New York City
1991 Sun People, Places and Things, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1988 Recent Works, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1985 New Prints and Paintings, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1984 The Wall Gallery, John Jay College, NYC
1980 Earth Works, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1978 Drawings and Prints, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1976 Macy Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, NYC
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 “EXPRESSIONS 2”, Viridian Artists NYC
2014 “Three Uptown”, Mehu Gallery NYC
2013 “Endings and Beginnings”, Viridian Artists NYC
2012“Yin & Yang: Fusing Complementary Opposites, Viridian Artists NYC
2001 Onward Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2000 5 Women Artists of the New Century, Manhattanville Collge, NY
The Pocket Project, South Broadway Cultural Canter, Albuqerque, NM
New York 2000, Albright Knox Museum, Buffalo,
Working Women, Mehu Gallery, NYC
Kindred Spirits, Virginia Smit & Ann Tanksley, Grace Baptist Church Art Center, Mt Vernon, NY
1999 Huit Artists NY, MAPRA Maison des Arts Plastiques Rhone-Alpes, Lyon, France
Women Artists in Celebration of Lois MailauJones, The Nztional Arts Clib
The Heweitt collection of African American Art,
Bank of America – traveling exhibit 1999-2001
Saving the Planet, John Jay College, NYC
Community Gallery, Albright Knox, Buffalo
1998 The National Black Fine Art Show, Puck Blg, NYC
Small World Viridian Artists Inc. NYC
Under the Sun Viridian Artists Inc. NYC
1997 An Artistic Journey selections from the Hewitt Collection of African-American Art,
The Milton Rhodes Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
Artists Choose Artists Viridian Artists Inc.NYC
Invitational Cinque Gallery NYC
Up From Manhattan College of Mt. St. Vincent, Riverdale NY
1996 Printmaking: The Process Curated by Virginia Evans Smit, Cinque Gallery NYC
Inspiration’s Source James Lewis, Artist-Teacher with Jack White and Virginia Evans Smit, Lubin House Gallery, New York City
Diverse Influences CCI Gallery, Boston MA
1995 AAMARP Galleries, Boston, MA
Aldridge Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT
1994 Nexus Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1993 Cinque Gallery, NYC
Women, Bratton Gallery, NYC
25th Anniversary, Viridian Artists Inc. NYC
1992 Viridian Gallery, NYC
Viridian Gallery Selections, Lever House, NYC
Columbus Quincentennial, Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ
First Annual Alumni Exhibition,University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
1991 Sketches, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1990 Viridian Gallery, NYC
Small Works, Virginal Evans Smit curator, Wall Gallery, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC
1989 Viridian Gallery, NYC
The Limited Edition, The Office of Manhattan Borough, President, David Dinkins, NYC
Dedication Exhibition, James E. Lewis Museum,Balt., MD Progressions, Cultural Legacy, The Clocktower, NYC
1988 Viridian Gallery, NYC
Jerry Mitchell Memorial, Exit Art, NYC
1987 Suggestions, Viridian Gallery, NYC
1986 Viridian Gallery, NYC
Art in Print: A Tribute to Robert Blackburn, New York Public Library, NYC
1984 Viridian Gallery, NYC
Viridian Gallery at Concordia, Concordia University, Bronxville, NY
Printmaking Workshop, traveled to Hamilton College, NY
SUNY at Buffalo, NY
Community Folk Gallery, Syracuse, NY
AWARDS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Artist-in-Residence Barbados Community College, Barbados WI 1998
Thornton Oakley Creative Achievement Award, U of Pennsylvania
African American Women Artist 1993 calendar published by Colgate-Palmolive
Maxwell, William C., Printmaking: A Beginning Handbook Prentice Hall, Featured in “Relief Printing”
Essay “What is a Print” catalogue, Art in Print, A Tribute to Robert Blackburn The New York Public Library
COLLECTIONS
Colgate-Palmolive, NY
General Foods, Rye NY
Bank of America, the Hewitt Collection of African American Art, (Traveling Exhibit 1999-2001),
American Express Publications, NY
Equitable Life Assurance, NY
James E. Lewis Museum, Baltimore MD
University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas VI
New York Public Library, NY
The Federation of United Black Artists Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa
Hewitt Collection of African-American Art, NY
Wine and Food Magazine, NY