About Shannon Richardson
"Sometimes they like to be messy,
Sometimes they like to be tight,
Sometimes they want to be in between,
But whatever they want it's just right!"
Biography
Shannon Richardson’s work exudes an honesty and immediacy that speaks to her sensitivity to expressing the human experience. Based on personal recollection, but with a slight twist, the painter presents us with impressions and illusions of events as they have developed in her mind over time. The scenes are ethereal, giving life to a story that feels familiar, yet foreign and unreal. Richardson’s sense of voice in these paintings engage her audience in an intimate way; the depictions of adoration, helplessness, and hope are instinctual as if tapping into a shared consciousness.
She writes, “The work transcends the boundaries between memory and fantasy with an added element of the fantastic; this infuses the works with a sense of romance and reverie. I am able to take some of the gravity of life and turn it into something tangible and beautiful, but not quite real. They are memories as I wish I could remember them. The truth becomes the fable and what I find is not myself, but more the shadow of self and the remnants of dreams. This is a way to be honest without being accurate. In the most private of settings painting allows me to commemorate the occasion of self-discovery, and to understand, with sensitivity, the severity of being honest with myself.” The painter, while seeking authenticity, also allows her perceptions of truth to naturally evolve with time. Her personal testimony is quietly disguised as a moment within layers of story depicted in paint.
She enjoys the act of painting as a therapeutic process. Within her technique, the artist allows her characters to transform and emerge from the canvas as she makes alterations, and contours according to her own whims, accidents, and where the physicality of the paint takes her. She finds her work to be a dialog between editing and spontaneity. Each piece results from finding balance between a refined technique and the unique narrative that has woven itself into the scene. While the paintings hold private undertones grounded in Richardson’s memories, they are presented to her viewers as avenues through which they can find their own introspective truth.
Richardson earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Her work has earned her many awards, including the William T. Colville Grant, a Finalist place in both the 2005 and 2010, Art Kudos International Exhibitions, and an award in the Blanche Ames National Art Competition. She has shown across the United States, including Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, and Washington. Her work is widely collected across the US, Germany, and Italy.
Resume
Education
2002 Bachelor of Fine Art in painting and drawing
The Pacific NW College of Art, Portland, OR
2001 PNCA Rome Program
Intensive year long study abroad program, Rome Italy
2018-2019 Artist Fellowship, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen CO
Exhibitions
2020 "The Flash Card Project" invitational group exhibition, R2 Gallery, Carbondale, CO
2020 "A Parade of Parables" Solo Exhibition, HQ Gallery, Telluride, CO
2019 “Celebrate” invitational group pop up exhibition, Azura Cellars, Paonia, CO
2019 “Women of the Valley” invitational group exhibition, Remedy, Paonia, CO
2019 “Artist of the North For Valley” invitational group exhibition, DJ’s on Main, Carbondale, Co
2018 “Cats” Juried group exhibition, City Folk Gallery, Lancaster PA
2018 “Paint Paonia” Juried group exhibition and plein air competition, Blue Sage Center for the Arts, Paonia, CO
2018 “The Love Show” Invitational group exhibition, The Ford Gallery, Portland, OR
2018 “A Generous Kingdom” Juried group exhibition, Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland, OR
2017 “Chasing Ghosts: Art that Pierces the Veil” Juried group exhibition, Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland Oregon
2017 “Stable Fables” Solo Exhibition, The Cirque, Paonia, CO
2017 “New Art, New Space” Group exhibition, Imprint Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR
2017 “Metamorphasis” Juried Group exhibition, hosted by the Women’s Caucus for the Arts, Core New Space for Art, Denver CO
2017 “Own and Original” Juried group exhibition, Littleton Historical Museum, Littleton, CO
2016 “Artists of the Blue Sage” Group exhibition, Blue Sage Center for the Arts, Paonia, CO
2016 “Paint Paonia” 19th annual plein air painting competition and show, Blue Sage Center for Arts, Paonia, CO
2016 “Summer Artists Show” Group invitational exhibition, Chemers Gallery, Tustin, CA
2016 “Ribba 500 II” Juried group exhibition, Coastline Community College Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
2016 ”Heart of Orange County” Group invitational, Chemers Gallery, Tustin, CA
2016 “Fictive of the Farm Girl” Solo exhibition, Gallery 211, Santa Ana, CA
2016 “All the Remains” Solo exhibition, Vino Nostra, Fullerton, CA
2015 “For this Love” Solo exhibition, The Barrel Room, Santa Ana, CA
2015 “”Blue” Juried group exhibition, Orange County Creatives, Laguna Beach, CA
2015 “Flora and Fauna” Juried group exhibition, F+ Gallery, Santa Ana, CA
2014 “Ribba 500” Juried group exhibition, Coastline Community College Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
2014 “The Reunion of Night and Day” Solo exhibition, The Brumfield Gallery, Boise ID
2014 “”Little Art in the Trailer” Solo exhibition of small works in a 1967 Airstream pop up gallery, Portland, OR
2013 “Myths and Makers” Juried group exhibition, Las Laguna’s Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2013 “Memoirs and the Muse” Solo exhibition, Studio Seven Fine Arts, Pleasanton, CA
2013 “Summer’s Heart” Invitational group exhibition, River Sea Gallery, Astoria, OR
2012 “Fairy Tales and Monsters” 2 Person exhibition, JoAnne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2012 “New Artists” Invitational group exhibition, Chemers Gallery, Tustin, CA
2012 “Art on the Vine” Invitational group exhibition, Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Portland, OR
2012 “Art for Life” Invitational group exhibition and auction, a benefit for The Cascade Aids Project, Portland, OR
2012 “Paintings Alone” Solo Exhibition, 230 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 ”The Artful Violin” Invitational exhibition of selected artists hand painted violins, auctioned off the benefit the Laguna Beach Music and Arts Festival, S. Cubed Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 “Art on the Vine” Invitational group exhibition, Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Portland, OR
2011 “Unrecognizable” 2 person exhibition with Matrios Adalian, JoAnne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 “River Art” Juried exhibition, River Art Gallery, Pittsburg PA
2010 “Obsessions” 2 Person Exhibition with sculpture Jacquine Hurlbert, The River Sea Gallery, Astoria OR
2010 “Harbingers of Spring” Solo exhibition, Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, Salem, OR
2010 “Art for the Heart” Juried exhibition, The Cannon Beach Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR
2010 “Nourish and Sustain” Group invitational exhibition, Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, Salem, OR
2010 “Moving Memories” Solo exhibition, The Churchill Gallery, Newburyport, MA
2009 “Forward Four” Invitational exhibition, Arts Fund Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2009 “Law Enforcement for Youth” Invitational group exhibition, Salem OR
2009 “Small Pleasures on Sunday” Solo exhibition and artist talk, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland, OR
2009 “Spring Arrives” Group exhibition, The Churchill Gallery, Newburyport, MA
2009 “Art on the Vine” Invitational group exhibition, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland OR
2009 “Art for Your Sweetheart” Invitational group exhibition, William T. Colville Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2009 “What’s Inside” Invitational group exhibition, Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, Salem OR
2008 “The Infinite Parade” Solo exhibition, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland OR
2007 “4th Annual Painted Pumpkin Benefit” Invitational group exhibition and auction, Madison Square Garden, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 “The Natural Myth” Solo Exhibition, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland OR
2007 “Underwater FantaSEA” Invitational group exhibition, Arizona Museum for You, Tucson, AZ
2007 “Shelter SOS” Invitational group show and benefit auction, Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, Salem OR
2007 “Geology, the Erosion of Culture” Invitational group exhibition, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland OR
2006 “Animals in Art” Group exhibition, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME
2006 “Sitka Invitational Exhibition” Invitational group show, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR
2006 “Locally Grown” Invitational group exhibition, Sam Adams City Commissioner Show, City Hall, Portland, OR
2006 “5th Anniversary Show” Invitational Group Exhibition, Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2006 “Fables and Memories” Solo exhibition, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2006 “The Figure” Invitational group exhibition, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME
2005 “La Petite” Juried small works exhibition, The Alder Gallery, Coburg OR
2005 “My Time Away an I Land” Solo exhibition, The Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland OR
2005 “Blanch Ames National Art Exhibition” Juried group exhibition, Ames Museum, North Easton, MA
2005 “Art Kudos” International juried exhibition, Pittsburg PA
2005 “Introductions” Group exhibition, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland, OR
2005 “Art for Life” Juried group exhibition and auction, benefiting the Cascade Aids Project, Portland, OR
2005 ”Center Stage” Juried group exhibition, Centerstage Gallery, Boston, MA
2005 “Assembly in Aquinna, Population 2” Solo exhibition, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
2005 “Simply Red” Invitational group exhibition, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
2005 “”Faces 2005” Juried International Show, Upstream People Gallery, Omaha, NE
2004 “Boston International Fine Art Showcase” Invitational exhibition, Cyclorama, Boston MA
2004 “”Go Figure” Juried group exhibition, the Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2004 “The Estrogen Show” Invitational exhibition, Backspace, Portland, OR
2004 “Alone These Remain” Solo exhibition, Acatsu, Portland, OR
2004 “I Know It’s Small” Solo show of miniature work, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2004 “Past and Present” Group invitational exhibition, L&B Gallery, Portland, OR
2004 “Naive Perceptions” Invitational group exhibition, The Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2003 “One Foot After Another” Invitational group exhibition, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
2003 “Old and New” Invitational group exhibition, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2003 “Solo and Still” Solo exhibition, Acatsu, Portland, OR
2003 “The Company I Keep” Solo exhibition, Center Street Studios, Portland, OR
2003 “Beyond Line” Juried exhibition, Festival of Fine Art, Lake Oswego, OR
2003 “New Members Show” Invitational exhibition, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2003 “Oregon Artists” Juried exhibition, Beaverton Arts Commission, Beaverton, OR
2003 “A Study in Symbolic Sensuality” Invitational group exhibition, Global Art Venue, Seattle, WA
2003 “Over the Couch” Juried group exhibition, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2002 “Small Things” Juried group exhibition, Disjecta Gallery, Portland, OR
2002 “The Companionship of Memories” Thesis exhibition, Steven’s Annex, Portland, OR
2002 “Students Abroad Show” Group exhibition, Rome, Italy
2002 “Women’s Coalition for the Arts” Juried group exhibition, The Henry Gallery, Seattle, WA
2000 “PSU/PNCA Exchange Show” Group exhibition, The Feldman Gallery, Portland, OR
2000 “Feldman Gallery BFA Show” Group exhibition, The Feldman Gallery, Portland, OR
Awards and Honors
2018-2019 Apen Art Museum Fellowship, a nine month intensive, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, CO
2014 “Mystery Build Competition” 5th place and honorable mention, Boston, MA
2014 “Art Kudos International Fine Art Competition” Finalist, Art Kudos, Online
2010 “Art Kudos International Fine Art Competition” Finalist, Art Kudos, Online
2007 William T. Colville Grant, funding used to build a backyard studio, Santa Barbara, CA
2005 “Blanch Ames National Art Competition” Blanch Ames Award recipient, Boston, MA
2004 “Faces 2005” Special Recognition, Upstream People Gallery, Omaha, NE
2003 “Beaverton Arts Commission” Honorable Mention, Beaverton, OR
2000 “BFA Competition” First Place, The Feldman Gallery, Portland, OR
1999 Shanna Wheeler Memorial Scholarship
1998 Norman C. Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship
Publications
2019 “The New Narrative” self published 26 page full color book featuring narratives written to pair with paintings. Blurb book, Paonia, CO
2019 “Lost at Sea” invitational online publication pairing artist with writers, “Beast” a literary journal, Florida
2019 “Taking Art to the Next Level” featured article on Second Story Studios, Delta County Independent, Delta, CO
2019 “Outside the Box” feature on the thriving contemporary arts culture at the Aspen Art
Museum, Modern Luxury, Aspen Edition, Aspen Co
2018 “Jolly Good Fellows” feature on the inaugural fellowship program at the Aspen Art
Museum, Apsen Daily News
2018 “An Art Lovers Guide to Collecting in Colorado” American Art Collector
2015 “Leap Into the Deep” A feature on the sculpture garden/art installation, partially funded by Target, LEAL Elementary School, Gateway Guardian New, Cerritos, CA
2014 “Get Inspired” Feature by Amy Stuart, Stuart NG Books, Long Beach, CA
2013 “Where Are They Now?” Full page editorial, Southwest Art Magazine
2010 “In Dreams I Can Fly” Cover art, Claudia Anderson, Strobe Studios, NY
2010 “River Art” Formal Catalog, Pittsburg, PA
2008 “Close Companions” Cover Art, D.C. Anderson, Strobe Studios, NY
2007 “In My Room” Cover Art, LML Records, New York, NY
2007 “The Brave Little Tailor” Illustration, Kathy Kinney, You Tube
2007 “Thomas Mosier Catalog” Modern hand crafted fine furniture catalog, New York, NY
2006 “Recto Verso” Literary journal, Portland Community College, Pseudo Press, Portland, OR
2005 “Painter, She Is” Feature by Alieen McAteer, Prose Magazine, Portland, OR
2004 “Fine Young Things” Feature, PDX Magazine, Portland, OR
2003 “21 Artists to Collect Now” Feature, Southwest Art Magazine
2005 “Go Figure” Feature, Martha’s Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2004 “Backspace: the Art of Pacman” Feature, Portland Mercury, Portland, OR
2003 “Kismet” Cover Art, John Larsen, Rainy Day Productions, Portland, OR
2002 Pasek Cellars, Cover art/wine lables, Mt. Vernon, WA
2000 “New Art International” Feature, Book Art Press, Woodstock, NY
1997 “Through Youths Eyes” Feature, Skagit Valley Herald, Mt. Vernon, WA
Additional Experience
2018-2019 “6x6 Benefit for the Blue Sage” head coordinator and curator of an art benefit for
The Blue Sage Center for the Arts, their largest benefit of the year, Paonia, CO
2019 Art talk, presentation and book release, Second Story Studios, Paonia, Co
2019 Art talk and video presentation, the conclusion of the Fellowship at the Aspen Art
Museum, Aspen CO
2018-2019 Apen Art Museum Fellowship, a nine month intensive working closely with the
Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, CO
2018 Head Chair of the Gallery Committee, Blue Sage Center for the Arts, Paonia, CO
2017 “Writing Her Own Story” Commission, 16x20, San Antonio, TX
2017 “The Play Within the Play” Commission, 18x24, the Celebration Barn Vermont
2017 “Hands on Art Day” Artist Demonstration, Blue Sage Center for the Arts, Paonia, CO
2014 “L.E.A.P. Into the Deep” a nine month program, partially funded by Target, at Leal Elementary School in Cerritos CA. During this time I taught free art lessons, Bimonthly for students from kindergarten to 6th grade, whose finished projects were incorporated into a 150 foot outdoor sculpture garden and mural.
2015 “Creations and Libations” 2 hour instructional painting workshop for adults, Robbin’s Nest Wine Bar and Bistro, Santa Ana CA
2015 “Blast Off” One day workshop for children to create space themed work which was included in the Osiris Rex Shuttle permanent Collection.
2015 “Adventure Grandma” Commission, 14x14, Santa Ana, CA
2014 “The Green Couch” Commission, 5x8 ft, Chicago, IL
2013 “The Wilson Family” Commission, 4x6 ft, Salem, OR
2013 Artist Lecture and Demonstration, in conjunction with the solo show “Memories and the Muse” Studio Seven Fine Arts, Pleasanton, CA
2012 “Billy’s Room” Commissioned mural, Costa Mesa, CA
2012 Artist Lecture and Demonstration, PNCA Design in Contemporary Culture, Pacific NW College of Art, Portland, OR
2011 Artist Lecture and Slide Presentation, “Ekphrasis” Portland State University, Portland, OR
2008 Artist Lecture and Slide Presentation, in conjunction with solo show, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland, OR
2007 Enrichment Class, drawing instruction, Cedar Mills School, Beaverton, OR
2006 Juror, Art Kudos International Competition, Omaha, NE
2006 Artist Lecture and Slide Presentation, Portland State University, MFA program, Portland, OR
2004 Art Director, The Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2004 Owner, Operator, Artist, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2003 Art Director, Backspace Gallery, Portland, OR
2002 Fine Art Instructor, L&B Studios, Portland, OR