abstract – Circle Foundation for the Arts

Wendy Fee

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One of the strongest motivators that drives an artist to create, is the impulse to express and capture the emotional truth to an idea, a place or a time. Wendy Fee’s vibrant, dynamic paintings are her response to the ever-changing landscape of natural elements that inspire her both at home and when traveling.

Wendy has been expressing herself artistically for over thirty years, yet the path to pursue art on a professional level has been as unpredictable and flowing as the paint that washes over her canvases.

From Montreal, Wendy obtained an Executive MBA from Athabasca University in Alberta and a Postgraduate Diploma in Event Management from Fitzwilliam Institute in Dublin, Ireland. She enjoyed a successful career as a Senior Sales and Marketing Manager in the health care industry, afterward running her own event planning company.

Wendy’s debut solo show 'Natural Elements' took place at The Montreal Art Centre, and in September 2016, Wendy showcased 'Escape! Abstract Explorations of Land, Sea & Sky.' One of her mixed-media art pieces was selected for publication in September 2016 in Incite 4:Relax.Restore.Renew as well as a variety of her works having placed in various online gallery contests in 2017. In 2018, Wendy had her works featured in ArtTour International Magazine and a new body of work was presented in October 2018 at her exhibition in Montreal entitled SANCTUARY. One of the artworks in the exhibit “Dash & Dive” was selected for publication in Acrylic Works 6 Creative Energy published in April 2019. In addition, the signature piece for the show “SANCTUARY” was selected to be published in Acrylic Works 7, 2020.

Since 2015, living aboard a boat for months at a time, The Bahamas continues to inspire Wendy’s subject matter. By exploring the surrounding environment in an abstracted way, her goal is to deconstruct to the extent the meaning shifts and the viewer is invited to embrace the realms of their imagination.

Sylvia Galos

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“Born in 1956 in Eisenstadt, Austria I was painting during all my youth. After my study at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, I worked as a graphic designer. In 1986, I founded my own advertising agency. After 35 years in advertising, I turned back to being an artist in 2009 and now live and work most of the year in Mallorca. Beneath intensive working with famous art teachers and artists, I developed as an autodidact.

I start my paintings without an idea, without intention. Guided by impulses, images are created from spontaneous brushstrokes that often remain in this form. Others experience change - diffuses become concrete, concrete abstract. An accent in a complementary color or a meditative Zen line finalizes the image after usually long pauses in processing and critical considerations. Often I calm the picture with white so that only more fragments remain, but the layers underneath can be guessed. Many of my paintings are inspired by the colors of my favorite island Mallorca, the special light, the blue sea and the ferrous terra rossa.

For me, painting means dealing with my innermost self: with feelings, doubts, longings and the complexity of my personality. I fight for the courage to follow my innermost self, which is always looking for something new and does not want to remain faithful to any style, only to myself.

I would like to give the viewer the opportunity to search for traces and to find his individual associations and interpretations. Usually, without a title, my paintings, therefore, do not indicate any associations. I feel lucky when my pictures become mediators of the unspeakable in conversation with the viewer.

In the last years, I had solo exhibitions in Austria and Mallorca and had been part of group exhibitions in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Mallorca/Spain and China.”

Gunilla Daga

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Living in Stockholm, Sweden, Gunilla Daga produces art which, in John Austin’s words, is “drawn out of private experience, reaches out in universal terms to touch everyone on different levels." Her use of earth tones and primitive shapes reveal a sensitive delicacy. Daga mixes red iron oxide, bone black and titanium white to achieve a sophisticated pattern that produces an organic aesthetic. Daga’s paintings are connected to each other, each image being born from the previous and forming a series of works where the artist investigates not only the nature of the materials at hand but seems to push each shape to take different forms and each time, bring forward a new vocabulary.

Daga studied at Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Gerlesborgsskolan in Bohuslän (1990-93) and Gerlesborgsskolan in Stockholm (1988-90). She is a member of Swedish Artists’ National Organization, IAA International Association of Art. She has exhibited in Finland, Paris, Italy, Poland, New York, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden. She has been an Artist in Residence at NARS Foundation, Brooklyn, New York 2016 and where she has returned for studio work. Daga had a personal show at Artifact Gallery in Lower East Side, New York 2015 and has participated with Artifact at SCOPE Miami and Monaco Yacht Show 2019. Exhibited at Art Expo NY, LA ArtFair, and Spectrum Miami with ArtUpClose. Her art has been featured on Times Square Billboards 2014 with SeeMe and she has received the ArtSlant Showcase Prize in 2012.

Wei Yan

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Jill Dowell

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Having studied French, Italian and German as a singer sparked Jill's interest in other cultures. A love of fine art, painting, sculpture, music, architecture and poetry, as well as landscapes and cultural influences, continue to be an inspiration for her paintings.

Music, rhythmic movement and intuitive improvisation have always been guiding elements behind Dowell's works. Having an affinity for texture and a bold, yet sophisticated color palette allows her to create paintings that are palpable and accessible. Following her intuitive process, Dowell hopes to bring the viewer along on a journey of shared discovery through her abstract works and impressionistic influences.

Nogueira de Barros

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Nogueira de Barros is an award-winning artist, born in Almada, Portugal in 1964. He exhibits regularly having participated in prestigious collective exhibitions and several individual shows. In 2001, Nogueira de Barros began exhibiting internationally, highlighting the city of New York and London.

Select Solo Shows

2000: Galeria dos Cardaes – Principe Real – Lisbon, Portugal

2001: Agora Gallery – New York – USA

2002: Galeria Belo Belo – Braga, Portugal

2003: Museu da Água-Mãe D’Água – Lisbon, Portugal

2004: The Lennox Gallery – London- Inglaterra

2006: Fundação Dr. Cupertino de Miranda – Porto, Portugal

2006: Avagaleria –Helsinky– Finland

2007: Galeria TRIBECA – Madrid – Spain

2007: Galeria Jose Lorenzo –Santiago de Compostela-Spain

2012: Convento de S. José – Lagoa, portugal

2015: Galeria Jvalles – Restelo- Lisbon, portrugal

2017: Galeria Valle’s , Restelo- Lisbon, Portugal

2019: Galeria Zenite, Lisbon, Portugal

2020: Museu de Coimbra, Galeria Almedina, Coimbra, Portugal

2020: Galeria Óriq coletivo artistico , Lisbon, Portugal

Select Awards

Honour mention, Salão Internacional D’Arts Plastiques – Barcelona, Spain

Great Prize of Itália 2003 - Vada –Livorno- Italy

Prize Alfonso Arana - Salão ACEA´S BARCELONA 2003, Associacion International de Plástica Latina, France

1º award “alTreball de Textura” – 12º Internacional d’arts plásticas ACEA’S – Barcelona

Great Prize Terra d’Etruria 2003” – Grosseto –Italy

Great Prize Toscana –Óscar Della Cultura – 2004 –Italy

Prize Cosme’Tura 2004 – Merit Diploma - Italy

Public Collections:

Museu D’água -Museum , Lisbon

Câmara Municipal do Seixal, Portugal

Gerhard Rabe

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German artist, Gerhard Rabe received formal education as Organist, Choir Director and Composer the Musikhochschule Dortmund, Germany. He has worked as an organist for two renowned churches in Dortmund, Germany. Rabe also studied to become a retail salesman, holding several leading positions in design and furniture shops. He was the Purchase Manager at Rosenthal Studio House for graphic edition and art objects. He was also employed as the Head of Music Publishing company Rabe-Spiess-Hartkopf. Rabe had a guest performance contract with Theater Dortmund, Germany. Since 1970 he has been an independent music composer with more than 300 published compositions as well as numerous awards. Rabe is the founder and owner of Concertino music publishing company.

Gerhard Rabe's artwork is inspired by musician and painter Vincenz Frigger. He utilizes linoleum and screen printing techniques and his works are often accompanied by music compositions. After multiple participations in Akademie Eigenart, Rabe established his own artistic studio. He has followed various workshops including with Thomas Beecht, Carola Czempik, Christopher Eymann, Eva Großhennig, Andy Ilmberger, Gerhard Marquard, Anni Rieck and Martina Wald. He has done numerous study trips in Italy, Scandinavia and the USA. Rabe is a member of the board Kunstverein Tölzerland e.V.

Iris Schiebener

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German artist, Iris Schiebener was born in 1971. In 1991 she was a trainee digital media designer and since 2003 she is self-employed with SGS:grafic&fotoART in Hamm, Westfalia. Between 2007 - 2011, Iris did additional studies in Painting and Graphic Art at IBKK and in 2011-2013 she did a master class with Piotr Sonnewend. In May 2013, Iris received her diploma. She works as an indepedent artist and art teacher. She is a member of the Federation of international artists e.V. (Bik) and Sylter Kunstfreunde e.V.

Jen Sterling

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"Color has always had a profound effect on my mood and on my state of mind. I can feel an entire shift in my thinking and my emotions when viewing a strikingly bold and colorful piece of art. The goal of my work is to inspire energy and excitement from within – to empower the viewer to do something bold and take risks to achieve their dreams. My paintings are not meant to “be vanilla” or just match someone’s couch. These images are meant to make you feel strong and powerful — to help you feel the excitement I had in creating them. My art is meant to burst into your morning with a zing, to prod you into action when you reach your mid-day lull, and/or to invigorate your senses after a long day. Ideally, my art evokes a reaction and reminds you that life is for feeling and stretching and living.”

American artist, Jen Sterling graduated from George Washington University earning a BA in Visual Communications with a minor in Psychology. She lives with her husband, daughter, and “furry children” in Annapolis, MD.

Claudia Junge

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1986 - 1988 Study of Painting and Sculpture at the Waldorf Institute for Education in Witten

1988 – 1992 Study of Free Painting with Prof. Schubert, University of Dortmund.

Study of pedagogy, Gender Studies in Cultural, Social and Humanity Sciences at the University of Dortmund

1988 - 2008 Lecturer in Painting at the Senior Academy of the University of Dortmund and the VHS Witten an der Ruhr

Artistic design, Breast Center of the University Witten / Herdecke with my pictures

1988 – 2018 Various solo and group exhibitions in Bochum, Dortmund, Essen, Witten, Academy Loccum / Hannover, Lindenberg / Bavaria Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm, Rain (Bav.), Landshut (Bav.), Cannes (France), Florence (Italy), Zürich, New York, Art Innsbruck, Paris, Versilia, Como

Since 2016 Atelier in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm

2020 Atelier in Brandenburg a.d. Havel

“My work includes both figurative and abstract painting. The pictures exhibited here display both styles. I am fascinated by nature and allowing and experiencing inner concentration and tranquility when looking at nature, for example in the face of water and landscapes in Scotland or on Lake Constance. The concentrated memory and its deepening lead to an intensive processing on paper or canvas. In the quiet and seclusion of the studio, my feelings, thoughts and imaginations condense into new interpretations and color spaces.

“Sometimes I imagine colors as living thoughts, beings of pure reason with which I can grapple. Nature does not exist on the surface, it goes deep. "

I agree with this quote from Paul Cezanne and can only confirm it - again and again and again and again.”

Wendy Fee

"My motivation to create is driven by an impulse to express and capture the emotional truth of an idea, a place, or a time. The concept of having an internet compass and the need to balance all that technology offers with the qualities of the lives that we live offline, resonates deeply with me."

Sylvia Galos

"A picture is not thought out and settled beforehand. While it is being done it changes as one's thoughts change. And when it is finished, it still goes on changing, according to the state of mind of whoever is looking at it." – Pablo Picasso

Gunilla Daga

The compelling drama of energized suspension pervades all of Gunilla Daga’s art.

Wei Yan

"My art expression mainly circles around the philosophy of grasping and describing the wonders of the universe. I like to think its transcendent state of consciousness is magnificent. Philosophy conveys the intangible aspect of beauties with ideas and words. Abstract art expresses perfection."

Jill Dowell

"I am an artist, living and working in Paris. Primarily abstract, my paintings are heavily influenced by my love for music. This bridging of fine art modalities serves to help me create inspiring and uplifting artwork, deeply saturated with color, expression, and meaning."

Nogueira de Barros

"The body of my work is instinctive and organic, seeking layer by layer for the perfect composition, in the chaos of the imperfection. The target of my searches is always nature, we can find abstraction in all of nature, transforming it into plastic and aesthetic reasons."

Gerhard Rabe

"My picture compositions unite aspects of the naturalistic area with abstract elements. Visual art gives me the opportunity to bring my innermost to the outside. My art always oscillates on the border area between objectivity and abstraction."

Iris Schiebener

"My painted landscapes are inspired by the rough north coast of Germany with its unique light, the dramatic changing sky and the rough sea. So my paintings are quite expressive and semi-abstract because I prefer to indicate the natural parts instead of detailed painted elements."

Jen Sterling

Claudia Junge

“My work includes both figurative and abstract painting. The pictures exhibited here display both styles."