Artist’s Statement
I returned to art after more than a decade working as a psychoanalyst. And though my work as an analyst involves words as the medium for communication rather than paint, color, and texture, the two fields as I practice them are quite compatible in that they share an intent to strip away outer, intellectual layers and surfaces to reach some deeper expression of feeling.
Early figurative work seemed to go in two directions: more sensual, fleshy nudes and the shadow shapes that have been a repeating image over the years. These figures are stripped down, distilled, and abstracted, either in motion or silhouetted shadow figures. This also included the “bare subjects” series, which attempted to crystallize states of being in more than fifty abstracted portraits, using acrylic, oil, gauze, wax, and marble dust. My aim in these paintings was that the inner, emotional world of my subjects-- their subjective world-- be revealed in the color, texture, and mark-making themselves. All my work is to some degree about this: all my painting is “bare subjects,” in the sense that my aim is always that the inner world of my subject be revealed in color, texture, and mark-making.
Recent work includes 'the new anatomy,' nudes inspired by the writings of John Updike, including work on canvas with text written into the paint and paintings done directly onto book pages; 'nature/nurture,' and 'bones, clocks, and ladders,' abstract figurative paintings addressing time and loss.
julia schwartz
april 2009
Solo Exhibitions
July 2008, "nest," Tracy Park Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
January 2008, “paintings,” TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
May 2005, “Dark Elements,” open studio
Group Exhibitions
October 2009, nature and nurture, Bleicher/Golightly, Santa Monica, CA
September 2009, Bleicher/Golightly, Santa Monica, CA
June 2009, 12 X 12 show, BECA gallery, New Orleans, LA
May 2009, Semi-Precious, Santa Montana, CA
October 2008, "10 x 10," TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
October 2008, 4th Anniversary Open House, HANGAR Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
August 2008, "National Juried Exhibition," Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura CA
April 2008, “paintings from the blue world,” HANGAR Gallery, Santa Monica Art Studios, CA
December 2007, “Small Wonders III,” Pharmaka Art, juried by Holly Myers, L.A., CA
October 2007, “Anima Rising: Exploring the Androgynous Self,” The Advocate and Gochis Galleries, L.A., CA curated by Allison Moon
July 2007, “Paramorphosis,” TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
June 2007, “The Dream ... the Subconscious,” Primo Piano LivingGallery, Lecce, Italy
June 2007, “OutAuction 2007,” benefiting the LAGLC, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA
January 2007, “Best of the Best,” TAG Gallery, curated by Michael C. McMillen, Santa Monica, CA
December 2006, “Small Wonders II,” Pharmaka Art, LA, juried by Tyler Stallings
November 2006, “Off the Wall,” Riverside Art Museum
August 2006, California Open Exhibition, TAG Gallery, juried by Laddie John Dill
2003-2006, annual group show at Brentwood Art Center, L.A. CA
Catalogues, Press, Etc.
April 2009 cover art for book "Explorations in Contemporary Self Psychology"
Winter 2009 artwork featured in International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology
artwork used for several brochures and catalogues
2008, addiccions.blogspot.com
December 26, 2007, “TAG Gallery hosts Group Show,” Palisadian-Post
December 6, 2007, “Anima Rising, L.A. Art Scene,” interview by Anna Romer, velvetparkmagazine.com
July 2007, “Extasy-On,” Dores Sacquena catalogue for PrimoPiano LivinGallery
2007, cover art for book "Trauma and Human Existence"
2004, drawings featured on “Miss Match” (television show)
Selected Public and Private Collections
Paul Benson, Santa Monica, CA
Douglas Brayfield, Santa Monica, CA
Sahara and Christopher Byrne, Ithaca, NY
Charlotte Coates-Wilkes, Baltimore, MA
William and Katalin Coburn, Westlake Village., CA
Peggy Dubois, Westlake Village, CA
Wendy and Michael Edlen, Pacific Palisades, CA
Gianni Nebbiosi and Susana Federici-Nebbiosi, Rome, Italy
Dennis Foster and Nina Schwartz, Dallas, TX
June Fujii, L.A., CA
Brooke Guelker, Dallas, TX
Leslie Halperin, L.A., CA
Karen Hassler, Santa Monica, CA
Sally Howard, Pasadena, CA
The Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, L.A. CA
Barbara Lampert, Palm Springs, CA
Karen and Dan Florek, L.A. CA
Milton Kaplan and Renee Leff, Tarzana, CA
Nichole May, L.A., CA
Lynn Neuburg, L.A., CA
Elizabeth Razzano and Kevin Lincoln, L.A., CA
Joan Rankin and Howard Ballon L.A., CA
Estelle Shane and Arthur Gelber, Pacific Palisades, CA
Martha Slagerman, L.A., CA
Virginia Terhaar, Portland, OR
I returned to art after more than a decade working as a psychoanalyst. And though my work as an analyst involves words as the medium for communication rather than paint, color, and texture, the two fields as I practice them are quite compatible in that they share an intent to strip away outer, intellectual layers and surfaces to reach some deeper expression of feeling.
Early figurative work seemed to go in two directions: more sensual, fleshy nudes and the shadow shapes that have been a repeating image over the years. These figures are stripped down, distilled, and abstracted, either in motion or silhouetted shadow figures. This also included the “bare subjects” series, which attempted to crystallize states of being in more than fifty abstracted portraits, using acrylic, oil, gauze, wax, and marble dust. My aim in these paintings was that the inner, emotional world of my subjects-- their subjective world-- be revealed in the color, texture, and mark-making themselves. All my work is to some degree about this: all my painting is “bare subjects,” in the sense that my aim is always that the inner world of my subject be revealed in color, texture, and mark-making.
Recent work includes 'the new anatomy,' nudes inspired by the writings of John Updike, including work on canvas with text written into the paint and paintings done directly onto book pages; 'nature/nurture,' and 'bones, clocks, and ladders,' abstract figurative paintings addressing time and loss.
julia schwartz
april 2009
Solo Exhibitions
July 2008, "nest," Tracy Park Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
January 2008, “paintings,” TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
May 2005, “Dark Elements,” open studio
Group Exhibitions
October 2009, nature and nurture, Bleicher/Golightly, Santa Monica, CA
September 2009, Bleicher/Golightly, Santa Monica, CA
June 2009, 12 X 12 show, BECA gallery, New Orleans, LA
May 2009, Semi-Precious, Santa Montana, CA
October 2008, "10 x 10," TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
October 2008, 4th Anniversary Open House, HANGAR Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
August 2008, "National Juried Exhibition," Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura CA
April 2008, “paintings from the blue world,” HANGAR Gallery, Santa Monica Art Studios, CA
December 2007, “Small Wonders III,” Pharmaka Art, juried by Holly Myers, L.A., CA
October 2007, “Anima Rising: Exploring the Androgynous Self,” The Advocate and Gochis Galleries, L.A., CA curated by Allison Moon
July 2007, “Paramorphosis,” TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
June 2007, “The Dream ... the Subconscious,” Primo Piano LivingGallery, Lecce, Italy
June 2007, “OutAuction 2007,” benefiting the LAGLC, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA
January 2007, “Best of the Best,” TAG Gallery, curated by Michael C. McMillen, Santa Monica, CA
December 2006, “Small Wonders II,” Pharmaka Art, LA, juried by Tyler Stallings
November 2006, “Off the Wall,” Riverside Art Museum
August 2006, California Open Exhibition, TAG Gallery, juried by Laddie John Dill
2003-2006, annual group show at Brentwood Art Center, L.A. CA
Catalogues, Press, Etc.
April 2009 cover art for book "Explorations in Contemporary Self Psychology"
Winter 2009 artwork featured in International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology
artwork used for several brochures and catalogues
2008, addiccions.blogspot.com
December 26, 2007, “TAG Gallery hosts Group Show,” Palisadian-Post
December 6, 2007, “Anima Rising, L.A. Art Scene,” interview by Anna Romer, velvetparkmagazine.com
July 2007, “Extasy-On,” Dores Sacquena catalogue for PrimoPiano LivinGallery
2007, cover art for book "Trauma and Human Existence"
2004, drawings featured on “Miss Match” (television show)
Selected Public and Private Collections
Paul Benson, Santa Monica, CA
Douglas Brayfield, Santa Monica, CA
Sahara and Christopher Byrne, Ithaca, NY
Charlotte Coates-Wilkes, Baltimore, MA
William and Katalin Coburn, Westlake Village., CA
Peggy Dubois, Westlake Village, CA
Wendy and Michael Edlen, Pacific Palisades, CA
Gianni Nebbiosi and Susana Federici-Nebbiosi, Rome, Italy
Dennis Foster and Nina Schwartz, Dallas, TX
June Fujii, L.A., CA
Brooke Guelker, Dallas, TX
Leslie Halperin, L.A., CA
Karen Hassler, Santa Monica, CA
Sally Howard, Pasadena, CA
The Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, L.A. CA
Barbara Lampert, Palm Springs, CA
Karen and Dan Florek, L.A. CA
Milton Kaplan and Renee Leff, Tarzana, CA
Nichole May, L.A., CA
Lynn Neuburg, L.A., CA
Elizabeth Razzano and Kevin Lincoln, L.A., CA
Joan Rankin and Howard Ballon L.A., CA
Estelle Shane and Arthur Gelber, Pacific Palisades, CA
Martha Slagerman, L.A., CA
Virginia Terhaar, Portland, OR
