
| Valerie Beller's abstract paintings encourage visual exploration. Organic forms are both revealed and concealed amidst layers of paint. The streaked and stained surfaces of the canvas are accented by textural applications of oil paint. Her paintings reveal reflections upon nature and memory. Beller's intriguing titles, a "poetic tie" to the paintings, invite the viewer to bring in his/her own associations. |
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Absent |
![]() Terra |
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Meditation |
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Hibiscus |
![]() Attic |
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Clockwork |
![]() Mentor |
![]() Night Vision |
![]() Density |
![]() Peacock |
![]() Axis |
![]() Buckthorn |
![]() Oyster |
Egyptian |
Orbit |
![]() Artery |
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BORN RESIDES |
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EDUCATION |
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| 1991 | MFA, Painting, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1987 | BA, Liberal Arts, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY |
| 1986 |
Summer program, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA |
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SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS |
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| 2010 | Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park, IL |
| 2009 |
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas CIty, MO |
| 2008 |
Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA |
| 2007 | Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2005 | Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL Addison Arts Gallery, Santa Fe, NM |
| 2003 | Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2001 | Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2000 | University Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1999 | Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 1998 | Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 1995 | Kay Garvey Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 1994 | Rena Sternberg Fine Arts, Glencoe, IL |
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS |
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| 2009 |
From Soup to Nuts, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2008 | Group Exhibition, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX |
| 2007 |
Relationships, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2006 |
Coming of Age, Viveza Gallery, Seattle, WA |
| 2005 | Scapes, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago IL |
| 2005 | Group Show of Ten Gallery Artists, Addison Arts, Santa Fe, NM |
| 2005 | Preview 2005, Addison Arts Gallery, Santa Fe, NM |
| 2004-05 | Painting the Town Red, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2004 | Out of the Blues, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL National Museum of Women in the Arts Atrium Exhibition, Olympia Center, Chicago, IL Momus Gallery 3rd Anniversary Show, Atlanta, GA Holiday Show, Addison Parks Gallery, Sante Fe, NM Los Angeles Art Show, Sante Monica, CA Group Show, Addison Parks Gallery, Sante Fe, NM |
| 2003 | Remembrance, curated by Mila Wray, Oak Park Arts League, Oak Park, IL Group Show, LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM Art Chicago 2003, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2002 | Contemporary Visions of Nature, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2002, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL |
| 2001 | Reflections: 15th Anniversary Show, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2001, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL Painting Without a Mouse, LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM |
| 2000 | Art Chicago 2000, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL Chicago Collectors Select: Absolut Vision V, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 1999 | Spring Art Auction, Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL Mail-Art Invitational, Old Shop Studio & Gallery, Kendall, England Primary Colors, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 1998 | A Slice of Chicago: Eight Chicago Artists, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL Those Who Do, Teach, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL |
| 1997 | Pink, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL Faculty Exhibition, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL |
| 1996 | Cellular Levels: Johanna Yerby, Valerie Beller, M.J. Loftus, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL |
| 1995 | Painting: Processes and Strategies, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL Wanderlust...Abstraction in Chicago, A.R.C. Gallery, Chicago, IL Venus Blue Benefit, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL Much Ado About Art, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL Faculty Exhibition, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL 14th Annual St. Valentine's Exhibition and Benefit Auction, N.A.M.E. Gallery, Chicago, Chicago Abstract Painters, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL |
| 1994 | Group Exhibition, Kay Garvey Gallery, Chicago, IL Faculty Exhibition, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL Group Exhibition, Sazama Gallery, Chicago, IL 10,000 Plus, Alumni Board Room, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1993 | Summer Salon, Sazama Gallery, Chicago, IL Emerging Chicago Abstraction, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL Faculty Exhibition, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL |
| 1992 | Bi-State Regional Art Showcase, Davenport Museum of Art, Davenport, IA Migration, The Dome Room, Chicago, IL Through the Looking Glass, Contemporary Art Center of Arlington, Arlington Heights, IL |
| 1991 | Self Storage, Prairie Avenue Gallery, Chicago, IL Masters of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL New Talent II, Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago, IL Clean/Messy, Gallery MWMWM, Chicago, IL |
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COLLECTIONS |
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Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO |
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE |
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| 1999-present | Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1999-2001 |
Adjunct Assistant Professor (actively teaching), School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1998 | Visiting Artist, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY |
| 1995-99 | Visiting Faculty, Drawing, First Year Program, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1994-99 | Instructor, Figure Drawing, Studio Drawing, Early College Program, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1993-98 | Instructor, Painting, Drawing, Art History, Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL |
| 1993-99 | Instructor, Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Lill Street Studios, Chicago, IL |
| 1994 | Visiting Instructor, Drawing, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL Instructor, Mural Painting, Gallery 37, Chicago, IL |
| 1993 | Instructor, Painting, Non-Degree ProgramILinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL |
| 1991-92 | Educational Program Assistant, ArtiFact Center, Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL |
| 1990-91 | Teaching Assistant, Multi-Level Painting, Landscape Painting, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 1991 | Parents' Association, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL Visiting Artist, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY |
| 1988 | Coordinator of Art Workshops, Burt Center, San Francisco, CA |
| 1986-7 | Teaching Assistant, Multi Level Studio Drawing, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY |
| 1985 | Intern, Artists Space, New York, NY |
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PUBLICATIONS |
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| 2009 |
Briar Cliff Review, 2009 Spring Issue, Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA |
| 2008 | Valerie Beller: Sioux City Arts Center, Exhibition Catalog, 2008 "Natural Dynamic: Memory and Form Meet on Canvas," Luxe Magazine, Fall 2008, pp. 144-145 |
| 2007 |
Reproduction of Temptation, “Chicago Life,” New York Times, Spring 2007 Reproduction of Temptation, Chicago Reader, March 8, 2007 Featured Artist, ArtWorldChicago.com Paintings presented in Lisa Wainwright’s lecture: “Femme Fatales, Then and Now,” Conference on Decadent Art from the Fin de Siecle to Today,” Prague Academy of Art. Paintings presented in Lisa Wainwright’s lecture: “Femme Fatales, Then and Now,” Conference on Decadent Art from the Fin de Siecle to Today,” Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles. |
| 2005 |
Jon Carver, review, THE Magazine Santa Fe, NM Reproduction of Karma, “Pasatiempo,” The New Mexican, July 22-28, 2005 Reproduction of Time, featured “Why Art?” by Paul Klein, “Chicago Life,” New York Times Lonnie Pierson Dunbier, ed. The Artists Bluebook: 34,000 North American Artists (March 2005) 479 pages |
| 2003 | Reproduction of lo, Chicago Life, New York Times, Spring 2003 |
| 2002 | Kevin Williams, "Approachable Art in Chicago is no Illusion", Chicago Tribune, (August 2, 2002), pg. 14 Reproduction of Slate, Art Chicago 2002 Catalogue, p.55 |
| 1999 | John Brunetti, review, New Art Examiner |
| 1998 | Barbara B. Buchholz. "Valerie Bellers Paintings Build on an Abstract Expressionist Base," Chicago Tribune (March 27, 1998) section 7, p. 60. Ann Weins. "Layered Looks," Chicago Magazine (April 1998). Ann Weins. New City vol. 13, no. 513 (April 9, 1998). Kevin Williams. "Vacation on Canvas: Visiting a Beller State of Mind," Chicago Sun-Times (February 13, 1998) p. 26. |
| 1995 | Mark Swartz. "Beauty of the Double Helix," Chicago Reader (September 22,1995) p. 28. |
| 1993 | Steven Luecking. "Emerging Chicago Abstraction," Dialogue: Arts in the Midwest (May-June 1993) p. 22. |
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Jean Albano Art Gallery 215 W. Superior Chicago, IL 60610 |
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