artist statement - Zaria Forman
My inspiration for drawing began early in my life. Throughout my childhood my family traveled all over the world to remote landscapes which were the subject of my mother's fine art photography. I developed an appreciation for the beauty and vastness of the ever-changing sky and sea. I loved watching a far off storm on the western desert planes, the monsoon rains of southern India, and the cold arctic light illuminating Greenland's waters. In my work I explore moments of transition, turbulence and tranquility in the landscape and their impact on the viewer. In this process I am reminded of how small we are when confronted with the powerful forces of nature. The act of drawing can be a meditation for me, and my hope is that the viewer can share this experience of tranquil escape when engaging the work.
Past heroes include 19th century landscape painters such as John Constable, Thomas Cole, (including many others from the Hudson River School) and certainly Turner's luminous paintings. One current influence is my mom. She has taught me a great deal about light, and the ways it can be captured illuminating a landscape. Another contemporary inspiration is Robert Longo. I made the decision to begin my cloud study series when I first saw his wave drawings at the 2004 Whitney Biennial. The techniques with which they are drawn amaze me. His exhibition at Metro Pictures "The Outward and Visible Signs of an Inward and Invisible Grace" embodied similar themes to my work... certainly awe inspiring.
BIO:
I was born in South Natick, MASS, oct.29th, 1982. I grew up in Piermont NY, a small beautiful town 30 min north of Manhattan. I now live in brooklyn, ny, where i have my studio. Although I focus mainly on the art at the moment, I am also a yoga teacher and a jewelry designer.
EDUCATION:
I received my Bachelor of Science in Studio Arts in 2005, at Skidmore College; I graduated Cum Laude with departmental honors. During my time at Skidmore I spent a semester at Studio Art Centers International (SACI) in Florence, Italy, where I studied Studio Art and Art History. I am currently represented by the David Floria Gallery in Aspen, CO. and the Allen Sheppard Gallery in New York City, NY.
PAST EXHIBITIONS:
The Mikhail Zakin Gallery, Demarest, NJ. "Zaria Forman and Catherine Minnery", dual exhibition, Feb-March 2008
The David Floria Gallery, Aspen, CO. "Solstice" group exhibition, Dec-Feb 2008
DFN Gallery, NY, NY. Group Exhibition, Dec. 2007
RARE Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY. Fall/Winter 2007
Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD. Group exhibition, July, 2007
Allen Sheppard Gallery, New York, NY. Group exhibition, summer 2007
David Floria Gallery, Aspen, CO. Group exhibition, (ongoing) 2007
Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, Sarasota, FL. Group exhibition, june-july 2007
"Project A" Gallery, Nashville, TN. Group exhibition, may/june 2007
Allen Sheppard Gallery, New York, NY, Group Exhibition, 2007
Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD. "The Next Generation" group exhibition, 2007
Allen Sheppard Gallery, New York, NY. "Clearly Nebulous" solo exhibition, 2006.
David Floria Gallery, Aspen, Co. Group exhibition, 2006
Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR. "Collector's Show and Sale", group exhibition, 2006.
Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY. "7 Degrees of Seperation", group exhibition, 2006
Piermont Library, Piermont, NY. Group exhibition, 2005
Case Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY. Solo exhibition, 2005
Schick Art Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY. Juried group exhibition, 2004
Student Art Center's International, Florence, Italy. Juried group exhibition, 2004.
COLLECTIONS
Arkansas Art Center Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas
Gerard Depardieu, private collection