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SHERRI BELASSEN uses shapes and colors in a contemporary manner to create her unique artwork. Her work often portrays animals and figures in earth tones resonant with her Arizona home.
She was born and raised in Indianapolis and attended the University of Missouri on a full track and field scholarship while majoring in fine arts. Her dreams of making the Olympics were derailed by a sports injury. She then channeled her energies fully into art, graduating form Indiana University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She credits her inspiration in design and composition to trips she took as a child with her father in his two-seater airplane. The patterns and colors of the landscape informed her later aesthetic, which is built around defined blocks of color. "Its not so much about what I paint, but the space in which the subject exists."As a result, her subject is connected to a space larger than itself. Like the artists she most admires, Frankenthaler, Diebenkorn, and Avery, she composes her paintings by manipulating shapes and colors.
Belassen, who often portrays both humans and animals in her semi-abstract works, is well known for her striking contemporary images of horses. These images capture the essence of their subjects with charm and energy, evoking the stances, movements, and personalities of the animals. They convey the artist's powers of observation as well as her sophisticated sense of design and original use of color.
Belassen admires the work of Helen Frankenthaler, Richard Diebenkorn, and Milton Avery, which should come as no surprise. These artists brought a gift for abstraction to their work, achieving artistic goals through the deft manipulation of shapes and colors. Belassen has melded her own contemporary vision with Western and Southwestern subject matter that is unique to her time and place. "In life and art, I try to stay true to myself and listen to my own voice."
EDUCATION
1985-1989
Bachelor of Fine Arts, painting emphasis, Indianda University - Bloomington, Indiana
1984- 1985
University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2011
"New Works", solo exhibition, Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
"Free Fall", Jules Place Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
"Introductions, Pryor Fine Art, Atlanta, Georgia
"Swimming in Colour", Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown, Massachusetts
"Live in Color", Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
2010
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Recent Paintings", solo exhibition, Phoenix Gallery, Park City, Utah
"Plunge", Jules Place Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
2009
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
2008
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Recent Paintings", solo exhibition, Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2007
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
2006
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Group Show, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
"Cowgirl Up", Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, Arizona
2005
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Ranchers, Cows, Horses", solo exhibition, Santa Barbara Art Co, Santa Barbara, California
"Surfing Exhibition", Epoxy Box Gallery, Venice Beach, California
2004
"Recent Work", solo exhibition, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Solo", solo exhibition, Santa Barbara Art Co, Santa Barbara, California
"Group Exhibition", Adieb Khadoure Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2003
"2-Person", Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
2002
"Group Show", Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
2001
"Group Exhibition", Madison Art Partners, New York, New York
"Group Show", Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Dallas international Art Expo", Dallas,Texas
2000
"Group Show", Artisimo Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
1999
"Group Show", Artisimo Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
1993
"Group Exhibition", Sun City Museum, Sun City, Arizona
1990
"2-Person Show", Faux Cafe Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
1989
"Group Exhibition", Hall Gallery, Dallas, Texas
"Group Exhibition", Golden West Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
"BFA Group Exhibition", Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana
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