Patricia Aaron
Artist Statement
SALT WATER + LIGHT 2017
Patricia Aaron
I have always been drawn close to water. Whether it’s a summer rainstorm, a slow-moving creek, pounding waterfalls, waves crashing onto a beach or a quiet, crystal-clear cove, the sound, smell and color calm my mind and quiet my inner being.
This new series began over two years ago with a trip to the Bahamas, then a month’s artist residency in Iceland, and finally a summer road trip to Canada’s Prince Edward Island.
Each island generously shared its surrounding seas, meditative, light-filled mornings and moonlit expanses of the ocean at night. I soaked up the fresh salt air, and wriggled my toes in the warm muddy shores. In my studio, I worked best on gray, overcast days when the light was flat and the only sounds were raindrops tapping on the roof.
September 2017
Yes, as everyone knows, mediation and water are wedded forever.
—Herman Melville
The cure for anything is salt water – tears, sweat, or the sea.
—Isak Dinesen [Karen Blixen]
ON ICE 2016
My recent series of new paintings, On Ice, was inspired by the nearly five weeks I spent in the country of Iceland as an artist resident this past Spring. It was an electrifying experience. Traveling non-stop around the island, venturing into and around lava tablelands, volcano fields and boiling mud lakes, off-roading to the top of glaciers, traversing narrow one-lane bridges to see icebergs, and wading into the freezing icy-blue waters of the Northern Atlantic were just a few of the experiences that inspired my new body of work. Each day, my hiker’s backpack was overflowing with souvenirs, including black beach rocks, bird feathers, fish lines, and driftwood. Since my return home to Denver, I have been hunkered down in my studio painting my favorite places and memories through the Summer and into the early Fall.
Artist Bio
Patricia Aaron, an established Denver artist, has been featured in numerous museum, airport, university, and gallery exhibitions during the past 25 years. Her work is also in several permanent museum collections. Recently, Patricia’s work has been shown at the Nicolaysen Art Museum, Denver International Airport, Masur Museum of Art, Museum of Outdoor Art, Butler Institute of American Art, Metropolitan State University of Denver Center for Visual Arts, Regis University, Adams State University, and the LaGrange Art Museum, among others.
Aaron earned a MFA from University of Denver School of Art and Art History in Denver, Colorado, and a BS in Business Management from University of Maryland in Heidelberg, Germany.
Aaron’s artist residency fellowships include: Sambaed Islenskra Myndlistarmanna in Reykjavik, Iceland, Ucross Foundation in Ucross, Wyoming, Museum of Outdoor Arts in Englewood, Colorado, Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado, Santa Fe Art Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Virginia Center for Creative Arts in Sweet Briar, Virginia.
Space Gallery in Denver, Colorado, and Globe Fine Art Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, represent Patricia’s work.
Selected Exhibitions
Museum, University, and Airport Selected Exhibitions
2016 Adams State University, Cloyde Snook Gallery, Alamos, CO: Atypical Topographies
2016 Metropolitan State University of Denver, Center for Visual Arts, Denver, CO: Colorado Women in Abstraction curated by Michael Paglia
2016 Nicolaysen Art Museum, Casper, WY: Looking from the Outside In curated by Eric Wimmer
2016 Denver International Airport, Terminal Gallery, Denver, CO: Passport curated by Jennifer Garner
2015 Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA: 52nd National Juried Exhibition curated by Sandra Firmin
2013-2014 Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA), Englewood, CO, Urban Abstract-Rural Grid curator Cynthia Madden Leitner
2014 Colorado Women’s College, University of Denver, Denver, CO: Hiatus
2014 Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH: 78th Mid-Year Exhibition curated by Ben Schonzeit
2012 LaGrange Art Museum, LaGrange, GA: National XXVII Exhibition
2011 Madden Museum of Art, Greenwood Village, CO: This Is Colorado curated by Victoria Kwasinski
2010 Myhren Gallery School of Art and Art History, University of Denver, Denver, CO: Alumni Show
2009 O’Sullivan Art Gallery, Regis University, Denver, CO: Open House
2008 Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO: Character Sketches curated by Hilary DePolo
2005 Newport Art Museum, Ilgenfritz Gallery, Newport, RI: Ourchitecture
2005 Regis University, Fine Arts Center, Denver, CO: Faculty Exhibition
2003 Museum of Outdoor Arts, City Center Englewood, Englewood, CO: Oblique Angle – Architecture of the Line
2002 Museum of Outdoor Arts, City Center Englewood, Englewood, CO: Earth’s Geometry, Video Billboard Projection, Sky Scapes
2002 Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado 2002 – A Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art curated by Scott Snyder
2001 Museum of Outdoor Arts, City Center Englewood, Englewood, CO: New Urbanism curated by Cynthia Madden Leitner
1999 Central Wyoming College, Riverton, WY: Robert A Peck Arts Center Annual Juried Exhibition
1999 Radcliffe College, Bunting Institute, Cambridge, MA: Points of View
1998 Miami Dade University, Miami, FL: Annual Juried Exhibition
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 Space Gallery, Denver, CO: On Ice
2015 William and Joseph Gallery, Santa Fe, NM: Metropolis
2015 Space Gallery, Denver, CO: Beyond the Plane
2015 Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI: Acoustic Abstractions
2014 Space Gallery, Denver, CO: Natural Surroundings
2014 Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI: High Five
2013 Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI: Food for Thought
2013 Space Gallery, Denver, CO: Mind Over Matter
2012 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Honest Work
2012 Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI: Raising Eyebrows
2012 Hanger 41, Denver, CO: Big City
2011 Translations Gallery, Denver, CO: New Perspectives
2010 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Youngstown: The Early Years
2010 Ice Cube Gallery, Denver, CO: The Great Marsh
2009 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Viewpoints
2007 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Grounded
2007 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Sky/Sea
2005 Sandra Phillips Gallery, Denver, CO: Allegories and Art
2005 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Returning Home Again
2004 Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: Hive and Home
2003 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Spares
2003 Studio Aiello, Denver, CO: First Anniversary Exhibition: Best of Show Showcase
2002 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Art Forms
2001 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: New Work
Selected Invitational Exhibitions
2016 Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO: Art of the State Biennial juried by Gwen Chant, Collin Parson, Michael Chavaz
2016 Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: Significant Women Artists curated by Jo Cole
2015 The Painting Center, New York, NY: The Writing on the Wall
2015 Museum of Outdoor Arts, Englewood, CO: Permanent Collection Acquisitions Exhibition
2014 Arts>Brookfield, Republic Plaza, Denver, CO: Interplay curated by Andra Archer
2014 Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: 100 Years
2014 Niza Knoll Gallery, Denver, CO: Not Everything is Black & White
2014 ArtHaus, Denver, CO: America Scores Denver
2014 Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI: Little Boxes
2013 Arts>Brookfield, Republic Plaza, Denver, CO: Total Abstraction
2013 Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM: Wax with Dimension
2013 Space Gallery, Denver, CO: 302 Summer Show
2013 Artwork Network, Denver, CO: America Scores Denver
2013 Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO: Art of the State Biennial
2012 Space Gallery, Denver, CO, Works on Paper
2012 Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM: National Invitational Encaustic Exhibit
2012 Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA: National Juried Exhibit
2012 Republic Plaza, Denver, CO: Sculptural Dimensions
2012 Space Gallery, Denver, CO: Space Retrospective
2012 Zip37, Denver, CO: WAX Invitational Encaustic Exhibition
2012 LaGrange Art Museum, LaGrange, GA, National XXVII Exhibition
2011 Artists Magazine, 2011 National Juried Competition, Finalist Award, Abstract Painting Category
2011 Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM: National Invitational Encaustic Exhibit
2011 Greenspaces, Denver, CO; Writing on the Wall
2011 Green Cube House, Denver, CO: Showcase Artist
2011 National Western Complex, Denver, CO: Denver Modernism Show
2011 Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora, CO: Spark Gallery Exhibits
2011 Tointon Gallery, Greeley, CO: Spark On The Road
2010 910 Arts, Denver, CO: Best of 2010 curated by Michael Paglia Honorable Mention Juror’s Award
2010 Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: Greenwood Village Artists
2010 Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: All Colorado Juror’s Award curated by Quang Ho
2010 Teal Art Gallery, Breckenridge, CO: University of Denver Alumni Showcase
2009 Metropolitan Center for Visual Arts, Denver, CO: Colorado Abstract Painters and Sculptor
2008 Translations Gallery, Denver, CO: Assemblages curated by Judy Hagler
2008 Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: Past Lives
2006 Sandra Phillips Gallery, Denver, CO: Winter Group Show
2006 Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree, CO: curated by Maynard Tischler Second Place Award
2005 Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, CO: 8th Annual Contemporary Exhibit
2005 Sandra Phillips Gallery, Denver, CO: Dialogues in Paint
2004 Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO: A Beautiful World, Mathematics and Art
2004 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Members Show
2003 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Members Show
2003 Courtyard by Marriott, Denver, CO: Art Line UCD Honorarium Faculty Exhibition
2003 Art Students League of Denver, Denver, CO: Alternative Galleries of Denver
2003 Curtis Arts & Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: Spark
2002 Studio Aiello, Denver, CO: Grand Opening Exhibition Best of Show Award
2002 Curtis Arts & Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: All Colorado 2002 Jurors Award
2002 CHAC Gallery, Denver, CO: Neighborhood Cultures of Denver Benefit
2002 Courtyard by Marriott, Denver, CO: Honorarium Faculty Exhibition
2002 Spark Gallery, Denver, CO: Members Show
2001 Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO: Colorado Art Open Exhibition curated by Carol Dickenson
2001 Fresh Art Gallery, Denver, CO: Pulp curated by Jeannie King
2001 Fresh Art Gallery, Denver, CO: Group Show
2001 Tri-Lakes Arts Center, Palmer, CO: Colorado Art Educators Exhibition
2001 Curtis Arts & Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO: All Colorado Art Exhibition
2000 Hudson Gardens, Littleton, CO: Sculpture Gardens 2000
1999 Omaha Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE: Dementia ’99’
1999 Collector Restaurant, Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Frankly Female
Publications
Selected Publications
Paglia, Michael and Chandler, Mary Voelz. Colorado Abstract Painters and Sculptors, Fresco Fine Art Publications [Albuquerque, NM] 2009.
Studio Visit Magazine, Open Print Studios [Boston, MA] 2015; American Art Collector (2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012);
Southwest Art Magazine (2011); The Art Students League of Denver cover art and artist interview (summer 2014) ; Santa Fean (summer 2014); The Artist’s Magazine, Finalist Award, Abstract Category (2010).
Activities
Artist Residencies and Fellowships
2016 SIM Residency, Reykjavik, Iceland
2016 Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), Amherst, VA
2015 Hui No’eau, Maui, HI
2014 Ucross Foundation, Ucross, WY
2013 Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA), Englewood, CO
2007 Anderson Ranch Arts Center (ARAC), Snowmass, CO
2001 Santa Fe Art Institute (SFAI), Santa Fe, NM
1994 Virginia Center for Creative Arts (VCCA), Amherst, VA
reviews
Selected Reviews and Interviews
Schler, David. YouTube, Denver International Airport Patricia Aaron Passport, 24 February 2016. Video.
Schler, David. YouTube, Patricia Aaron Painter, 15 November 2015. Video.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “Encaustic Painter Keeps Busy Pace”, Englewood Herald, Highlands Ranch Herald, Centennial Citizen [Colorado], 16 April 2015. Print.
Roberts, Heather. “Featured Artist Q&A Interview”, RFPaints.com, 30 April 2015. Web.
“Pasatiempo”, The New Mexican’s Weekly Magazine of Arts, Entertainment & Culture, 1 May 2015. Print.
Van Cleve, Emily. “Art Openings and Reviews”, Santa Fean Now [Santa Fe, NM], 30 April 2015. Print.
“Art Previews”, Santa Fean Magazine [Santa Fe, NM], 30 April 2015. Print.
Kovack, Joe. “Artists of Note”, Southwest Art Magazine, April 2015. Print.
Belz, Carl. Studio Visit Magazine, Open Studios Press [Boston, MA], Winter 2015.
“Alumni Update”, University of Denver Magazine [Denver, CO], Fall 2014. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “Now Showing: Space Gallery Grand Opening”, Westword [Denver, CO], 26 June-2 July, 2014. Print.
McCarty, Kim. “Interview with Patricia Aaron”, Art Students League Summer 2014 Catalog [Denver, CO]. Print.
Eversly, Richard. YouTube, Pat Aaron Video Exploration of Urban Abstract: Rural Grid Museum of Outdoor Arts, 30 March 2014. Video.
Singer, Dahlia. “Art in Process: Patricia Aaron and Chandler Romeo”, 5280 The Denver Magazine [Denver, CO], 11 December 2013. Web.
Keen, Mike and Issac, Erik. “Pat Aaron Interview”, Untitled Art Show, 7 November 2013 (Episode 242). Web.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “Graffiti Gives Birth to Art Concept”, The Independent [Littleton, CO], 7 November 2013. Print.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “Graffiti Gives Birth to Art Concept”, Highlands Ranch Herald [Highlands Ranch, CO], 7 November 2013. Print.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “Street Art Inspires Abstract Works.” Englewood Herald, 12 April 2013. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “Art beat”, Westword [Denver, CO] 23-29 May 2013. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “The Impressive Art of the State Showcases the Work of 160 Colorado Artists”, Westword [Denver, CO], 28 February 2013. Print.
“Alumni Update”, University of Denver Magazine [Denver, CO], Spring 2013. Print.
“Meet the Art District”, Denver Art District on Santa Fe blog YouTube interview, 1 March 2012. Web.
Fox, Christopher. “Patricia Aaron: Honest Work”, Denver Dart [Denver, CO] 9 March 2012. Web.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “Rust Belt Colored Artist’s View.” Littleton Independent [Littleton, CO], 1 March 2012. Print.
“Water Street Gallery Showcases Ten New Artists”, The Commercial Record/Resorter [Douglas, MI] 3 May 2012. Print.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “A Handsome Show”, Littleton Independent [Littleton, CO], 20 January 2011. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “Scapes and Sky/Sea”, Westword [Denver, CO], 13 November 2007. Print.
Chandler, Mary Voelz. “Critics Choice”, Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO] 22 January 2005, Print.
Paglia, Michael. “North American Sculpture Exhibition.” Westword [Denver, CO] 20 May 2004. Print.
Chandler, Mary Voelz. “Critics Choice”, Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO] 24 January 2004. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “Artbeat”, Westword [Denver, CO] 22 January 2004. Print.
MacMillan, Kyle. “Oblique Angle”, The Denver Post [Denver, CO], 14 November 2003. Print.
Stanfield, Alyson B. “Dive in”, Boulder Weekly [Boulder, CO] 13 November 2003. Print.
Chandler, Mary Voelz. “Studios Show Seasonal Glow.” Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO] 13 October 2003. Print.
Ellingboe, Sonya. “Oblique Angle – Eight Responses to Line, Mass and Space.” Englewood Herald [Englewood, CO], 4 July 2003. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “Art beat”, Westword [Denver, CO] 19 June 2003. Print
Chandler, Mary Voelz. “Western Art Space More Open”, Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO] 10 January 2003. Print.
Chandler, Mary Voelz. “Critics Choice”, Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO] 28 September 2002. Print.
Chandler, Mary Voelz. “CU Show Radiates with Grace”, Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO], 20 September 2002. Print.
Paglia, Michael. “Up, Up and Away”, Westword [Denver, CO] 19 September 2002. Print.
MacMillan, Kyle. “An Art Show Sans Boundaries”, The Denver Post [Denver, CO], 28 January 2001. Print.
Bradley, Jeff. “The Gallery Scene”, The Denver Post [Denver, CO] 27 September 1997. Print.
Brace, Eric. “Hanging up the Wash”, The Washington Post [Washington, D.C.] 6 June 1994. Print.
Day, Meredith-Fife. “Using Nature and Cast-offs to Create New Forms”, Belmont Citizen, [Belmont, MA] 24 June 1993. Print.
