BIO
Dena Robertson is a painter and mixed media artist born and raised in rural Indiana. She has resided in Baltimore, New York and currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. She received her BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, where she was awarded the Evergreen House Foundation Scholarship. Robertson spent 20 years as a bookbinder before devoting all of her time to her art practice. She has exhibited in solo and group shows in Baltimore, Los Angeles and New York. Her work is in private collections throughout the US.
Artist Statement
My work includes paintings and mixed media pieces that focus on the mundane and overlooked outside. I gather grass from the park in LA and ash and debris from the wildfires in the Sierra Mountains and combine these elements with paint to create abstract organic forms that are both calm and chaotic.
Similar to my childhood in rural Indiana where I built small grass huts from the acres of grass that I mowed, I work on the floor. Being on the ground allows me to be completely absorbed by the work as though there is no separation between me and the painting. Using raw canvas, paint is mixed directly on the canvas creating an immediacy and an energy. This process requires a release of control and supports intuitive work from my subconscious.
CV
EDUCATION: Maryland Institute, College of Art Baltimore, MD
Bachelor of Fine Arts 1994
Indiana University, 1989-1990
SOLO
EXHIBITIONS: Smell The Smoke, Gallery 825, Nov 2020, Los Angeles, CA
Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 2019/2020, Fresno, CA
Keystone Gallery, 2019, Los Angeles, CA
Studio 302, 1997, Baltimore, MD
Sisson’s Gallery, 1997 Baltimore, MD
SELECTED GROUP
EXHIBITIONS: Fat City, Gallery 825, April 2021, Los Angeles, CA
Open Show, Gallery 825, Dec 2020, Los Angeles, CA
Why Are You Painting? Honolulu Museum of Art 2020, Honolulu, HI
Indistinct Chatter, Gallery 825, 2020, Los Angeles, CA
Superfine Art Fair Miami 2018, Miami, FL
Keystone Art Space, 2017, Los Angeles, CA
“Borders, Edges, Seams” Blackboard Gallery, 2017, Camarillo, CA
Keystone Art Space, 2017, Los Angeles, CA
Open Show, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, 2016, Los Angeles, CA
Juried Show Gallery 825 2015, Los Angeles, CA
“Aurora” Gallery 825, 2010, Los Angeles, CA
“Gem” Gallery 825, 2009, Los Angeles, CA
“Aurora” Gallery 825, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Venice Art Walk, 2008, Venice, CA
“Gem” Gallery 825, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
“Gem” Gallery 825, 2007, Los Angeles, CA
“Pure and Nimble” Gallery 825, 2006, Los Angeles, CA
“50/50 Show” Gallery 825, 2005, Los Angeles, CA
“In the Abstract” Gallery 825, 2005, Los Angeles, CA
“50/50 Show” Gallery 825, 2004, Los Angeles, CA
“Three Painters” 1001 Studio, 2003, Baltimore, MD
“Art Meets Politics” National Democratic Headquarters, 2001
Towson Center, 1996, Towson, MD
University of Michigan 1994
“Beyond Boundaries” Juried Maryland Institute Exhibition, 1993, Baltimore, MD
New York Studio Exhibition, AICAD New York, 1993, NY, NY
AWARDS/HONORS:
2023 Kipaipai Fellow
1994 Sidney Lake Memorial Award
1994 Member of Search Committee for VP/Dean of Academic Affairs at the Maryland Institute
1993-1994 Reba Stewart Memorial Scholarship
1990-1994 Evergreen House Foundation Scholarship
1990-1994 Maryland Institute Scholarship
1992-1994 Maryland Institute, College of Art admissions catalogue, drawing featured
Dena Robertson is a painter and mixed media artist born and raised in rural Indiana. She has resided in Baltimore, New York and currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. She received her BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, where she was awarded the Evergreen House Foundation Scholarship. Robertson spent 20 years as a bookbinder before devoting all of her time to her art practice. She has exhibited in solo and group shows in Baltimore, Los Angeles and New York. Her work is in private collections throughout the US.
Artist Statement
My work includes paintings and mixed media pieces that focus on the mundane and overlooked outside. I gather grass from the park in LA and ash and debris from the wildfires in the Sierra Mountains and combine these elements with paint to create abstract organic forms that are both calm and chaotic.
Similar to my childhood in rural Indiana where I built small grass huts from the acres of grass that I mowed, I work on the floor. Being on the ground allows me to be completely absorbed by the work as though there is no separation between me and the painting. Using raw canvas, paint is mixed directly on the canvas creating an immediacy and an energy. This process requires a release of control and supports intuitive work from my subconscious.
CV
EDUCATION: Maryland Institute, College of Art Baltimore, MD
Bachelor of Fine Arts 1994
Indiana University, 1989-1990
SOLO
EXHIBITIONS: Smell The Smoke, Gallery 825, Nov 2020, Los Angeles, CA
Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 2019/2020, Fresno, CA
Keystone Gallery, 2019, Los Angeles, CA
Studio 302, 1997, Baltimore, MD
Sisson’s Gallery, 1997 Baltimore, MD
SELECTED GROUP
EXHIBITIONS: Fat City, Gallery 825, April 2021, Los Angeles, CA
Open Show, Gallery 825, Dec 2020, Los Angeles, CA
Why Are You Painting? Honolulu Museum of Art 2020, Honolulu, HI
Indistinct Chatter, Gallery 825, 2020, Los Angeles, CA
Superfine Art Fair Miami 2018, Miami, FL
Keystone Art Space, 2017, Los Angeles, CA
“Borders, Edges, Seams” Blackboard Gallery, 2017, Camarillo, CA
Keystone Art Space, 2017, Los Angeles, CA
Open Show, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, 2016, Los Angeles, CA
Juried Show Gallery 825 2015, Los Angeles, CA
“Aurora” Gallery 825, 2010, Los Angeles, CA
“Gem” Gallery 825, 2009, Los Angeles, CA
“Aurora” Gallery 825, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Venice Art Walk, 2008, Venice, CA
“Gem” Gallery 825, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
“Gem” Gallery 825, 2007, Los Angeles, CA
“Pure and Nimble” Gallery 825, 2006, Los Angeles, CA
“50/50 Show” Gallery 825, 2005, Los Angeles, CA
“In the Abstract” Gallery 825, 2005, Los Angeles, CA
“50/50 Show” Gallery 825, 2004, Los Angeles, CA
“Three Painters” 1001 Studio, 2003, Baltimore, MD
“Art Meets Politics” National Democratic Headquarters, 2001
Towson Center, 1996, Towson, MD
University of Michigan 1994
“Beyond Boundaries” Juried Maryland Institute Exhibition, 1993, Baltimore, MD
New York Studio Exhibition, AICAD New York, 1993, NY, NY
AWARDS/HONORS:
2023 Kipaipai Fellow
1994 Sidney Lake Memorial Award
1994 Member of Search Committee for VP/Dean of Academic Affairs at the Maryland Institute
1993-1994 Reba Stewart Memorial Scholarship
1990-1994 Evergreen House Foundation Scholarship
1990-1994 Maryland Institute Scholarship
1992-1994 Maryland Institute, College of Art admissions catalogue, drawing featured