ABOUT THE ARTIST
BRENDA M. SYLVIA
Artist's Statement:
The act of painting outside and experiencing nature first hand is an integral part of my work. I am energized by the dynamic beauty of nature and through painting en plein air, I strengthen my connection to a specific place. In 2017, I moved back to Virginia after living and painting in the US Virgin Islands for nine years. Living in the tropics influenced my artwork in many ways and now I am even more obsessed with color! Natural beauty has always been important to my artwork and my life. Here in the Northern Neck, I am once again surrounded by inspiring landscape which is my favorite subject. Whether painting outdoors or in my studio, I strive to create a sense of place in my art. I want the viewer to “see and feel" what I do in my subjects. My paintings here capture the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and rural lifestyle. My work featuring the USVI is closely linked to my experiences with the breath-taking scenery and the culture of the Islands.
I also create whimsical sculptures and installation pieces often incorporating recycled materials.
Education:
Master of Fine Arts, Painting, George Washington University, 2004
Bachelor of Fine Arts, James Madison University, Summa Cum Laude, 1983
The Art League School, Alexandria, VA, Figure Drawing, Anatomy, Landscape Oil Painting
Northern Virginia Community College, Illustration courses
Exhibitions:
Mango Tango Gallery: "Natural Beauty" Solo Show, St Thomas, USVI -January 2023
Norfolk Botanical Garden: "Natural Colors" Solo Show - October/November 2021
Reedville Fishermen's Museum: "Beauty by the Bay" Solo Show - Summer 2021
Crossroads Art Center: exhibiting artist, Richmond, VA - July 2022 to present
RAL Art Center Gallery, exhibiting co-op artist, Kilmarnock VA, 2017 - present
d’Art Gallery: "Scapes"-August 2023, "Flourish"-May 2023, “Unconventional” - October 2019, Norfolk, VA
Westminster-Canterbury, Retrospective Solo Show - March 2019
Bay School Community Arts Center: Artist of the Month - October 2022 and March 2021 and multiple group shows
Gloucester Arts on Main and Bay School Community Arts Center, “The Summer of Color: Flora and Fauna” group show - 2021
Cultural Arts Center of Glenn Allen: "Landscape Escapes" and " Standing with Ukraine" Group Shows, Richmond, VA - 2023
Artspace: "Radius250", Richmond, VA - March/April 2019
Art Speaks Juried Exhibition, Bay School Arts Center - 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023
Gloucester Arts Festival Juried Show, Arts on Main - June 1018
Tappahannock Artist Guild: Summer Show, Tappahannock, VA - 2022
Morning Glory Gallery: 3-person show, Gloucester, VA, - October 2018
Baho El Sol: "Island is a World" St John, USVI - January 2017
Stewart Gallery: Multiple Group Shows, Gloucester, VA
Caribbean Colour - Life in Yellow, St Thomas, USVI - May 2016
Caribbean Colour - Dream in Green, St Thomas, USVI - March 2015
Defend Paradise! - Pop Up Gallery, St Thomas, USVI - October 2014
Caribbean Colour - Seeing Red, St Thomas, USVI - May 2014
Caribbean Colour - 2 Blue 4 U, St Thomas, USVI - 2013
Caribbean Colour - A Celebration of Color, St Thomas, USVI - 2012
Caribbean Colour - The Feminine Mystique, St Thomas, USVI - June 2011
Caribbean Colour - A Smile is Beautiful in Every Color, USVI - March 2011
Rappahannock Art League: Annual Labor Day Exhibitions
Arts Alive: "Out of Time," 2011 and "Outside the Looking Glass," USVI - 2010
Colorful Corner, St John, USVI - 2010-2011
Pershing Park Gazebo Gallery: "Urban Streams" Solo Show, Washington, DC - 2007
George Mason University: "Urban Streams and Goat Skulls" Solo Show, Arlington, VA - April/May 2005
Views of Huntley Meadows, Solo Show, Huntley Meadows Park - 2005
Anonymous Returns , Washington Project for the Arts/Corcoran - 2004
Hand Picked , Museum of Modern Arf, Arlington, VA - 2004
Art-O-Matic: Solo Artwork Installations, Washington , DC - 2008, 2007, 2004 and 2002
Dimmock Gallery: "A Sense of Place" MFA Thesis Show, The George Washington University - April 2004
Rock Creek Gallery , Washington , DC, four person show - 2000
Dimmock Gallery, Juried Student Shows, spring and fall - 2001-03
Hang-Ups Gallery: Solo Shows, Kilmarnock , VA , - 1997-98
RAL: "Artists of the Chesapeake" Juried Exhibition - 1999
Northumberland Library: RAL Two Person Show - 1998
The Fairfax Art League: Juried Fall Show - 1999
Springfield Art Guild: Juried Shows - 1995-96, 1998
Adlers Art and Frame: SAG Artist of the Month, Springfield, VA - December 1997
The Art League: Juried Landscape Shows, Alexandria , VA - 1997-98
Central Branch Arlington Library: Solo Shows - 1986-87
Awards:
Scapes, August 2023, d’Art Gallery - Third place (614 entries)
Small Works, RAL Art Center, July 2023 - Third Place)
Flourish, May 2023, d’Art Gallery - Honorable Mention
All Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Sept 2023, -Third Place
Flora and Fauna, April 2022 Exhibition at RAL Art Center - First Place Summer Show, Tappahannock Artists Guild - Award of Merit
Art in Transit Show, 2021 - First Place & design on Bay Transit Bus
RAL Labor Day Show 2021 - Marge Alderson Memorial Award for
Best Interpretation of Landscape
RAL Labor Day Show 2019 - Viewers Choice Best in Show
Art Speaks Exhibition 2018, Bay School of the Arts -Student’s Choice
RAL Labor Day Show 2018 - Viewers Choice Best in Show & 2nd 2D
RAL Labor Day Show 2017 -Jane Stouffer Memorial Award
Caribbean Colour Shows: "Life in Yellow" 2016 - Second Place in 3D, _-"Dream in Green" in 2015 - Viewer's Choice Award Best in Show
"Too Blue 4 U" in 2013 - Viewer's Choice Award Best in Show
"A Celebration of Color" 2012 - Viewers Award Best in Show
39th Labor Day Exhibition, RAL, 2002 - Best in Show
The Art League, Student-Faculty Show - Equal Merit Award
Spotlight on the Arts - Poster design competition winner
Spotlight on the Arts, Fairfax Art League - Second Place
Excellence in Illustration Award from NVCC
Sigma Phi Lambda (Academic Honors Fraternity), JMU 1983
Mango Tango Gallery Shows:
Full time representation at Mango Tango 2010 to present
"Natural Beauty" Solo Show, St Thomas, USVI -January 2023
"Art by the Square Foot" - 2021 and 2022
Two-person Show - April 2019
"Beautiful on the Edges" Solo Show - March 2017
VI Art Divas - January 2016 and February 2015
Holiday Art and Gift Show - October 2014, November 2015
January Art Jamboree, group show, January 2014
Stellar Art, two person show, December 2013
St Thomas - St John Art Jamboree, group show, January 2012
Sleepytime, group show, Yacht Haven Grande, December 2010
Teaching:
Painting One - 2003/2004 at The George Washington University
Hosting Open Studio Night weekly at the RAL Art Center since 2017
Acrylic Painting Workshops - RAL, Kilmarnock, VA, 2016 to Present
Private Art Lessons 2017- Present
School of Visual Arts and Careers - Watercolor and Acrylic Painting, 2016/2017, St Thomas, USVI