Claudia Kleefeld
Contact Information
Education
1987-91 The Bruchion School, student with Jan Saether, Los Angeles, CA.
1986-87 Post Graduate Diploma of Art, The Byam Shaw School of Art, London, England.
1983-85 University of California, Los Angeles, CA. B.A.; Summa Cum Laude.
1983 Pratt Institute of Art and Design, Manhattan, NY.
1982-83 Hampshire College, Amherst, MA.
Artist's Statement
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To formulate what I am doing in painting into words, I can say that I have a deep sensitivity to that which is around me. I have known there is this path for me yet I could not define it. In the beginning I did not know what it was that drew me so forcefully into this mysterious process of painting and imagery. As I go, I find out more about this relationship to living. Only now as it has revealed itself can I refer to this way of working in more specific terms, which of course, constantly change.
I am interacting with this unfolding process which expands through time. My aesthetic, my personal process, and the imagery, feels to have always been here. My own unfolding is parallel to my works development. It is an expansive process interweaving all of the aspects of my being and of the universe around me. Increasingly my images are shown to me in advance and then I feel propelled to fulfill them.
There is no time in this place and henceforth there is no time inherent in each image nor a time frame for its creation. This process unfolds organically as it should. It is thus mystical or magical, illusory, and can be referred to as "Summoning the Drala". It is the refinement of my craft combined with the clarity and openness of my vessel which allows this drala to come through in its purest and greatest form. The figure most often being the form I have chosen is commonly seen as one of the most restrictive formats to work in, yet for me, within this form, the freedom is achieved. I agree there is a given sensual element inherent in painting the nude. Though it can be too confining for me to define too closely the subject matter or symbolism in these paintings.
The world of imagery, in the finding and unfolding of it, is thus the alphabet of my existence. This for me is more concrete than the world of the physical in daily life. In the interweavings of the aesthetic memory (recall) and my attentiveness to it, there is a twin aspect, a symbology, daily life influences (magic), the great history of painting, and other parallel universes where all that has ever been and all that is exists; wherein lies the form of creation and the process of painting. In the collision of these aspects is the forming, the birth. This is the greatness of painting for me.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007 "Love, Loss and the Ring of Fire," Taos Art Museum, Taos, NM. (Catalog)
2006 "Love, Loss and the Ring of Fire," New Art Center, New York, NY. (Catalog)
2003 Taos Gallery, Taos, NM.
2001 "The Life of Butterflies", Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA. Traveling to Lynne White's-Shriver Gallery, Taos, NM. (Catalog)
1996 Victoria Maase Stoll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
1993 "Joining Duality of Male and Female", Paintings, Text, Movement, Video A.C.E. Gallery, Vancouver, Canada.
1992 "External/Internal", Van Gogh's Ear, Venice, CA.
1991 "Women's Souls", Market Street Gallery, Venice, CA.
Selected Group Exhibitions
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2010
“24th Annual International Juried Show”, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ. Juror, Susan Kismaric, Curator, Department of Photography, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.
2009
“Timeless”, Visual Arts Consulting, Gaithersburg, MD. Juror, Missy Loewe, Dean, Washington School of Photography and President, Visual Arts Consulting. Award.
“California Open Exhibition”, TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. Juror, Michael Zakian, Director Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. Award. (Catalog).
“Little Black Book”, Smithtown Township Arts Council, Mills Pond House Gallery, St. James, NY.
“In Your Dreams”, Pen and Brush, Inc., New York, NY. Juror, Edward J. Sullivan, Dean for Humanities, Professor of Fine Arts and Curator at New York University, NY. National Juried Exhibition.
2008-09
“The Art Exhibition Tour”, Erotic Signature, Miami, FL. Invitational International Exhibition Tour.
2008
“Small Wonders,” Maryland Federation of Art’s Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD. Juror, Diane DiSalvo, Director and Curator of Cultural Programs, Villa Julie College, Stevenson, MD.
“Ode to Joy,” Washington Gallery of Photography, Bethesda, MD. Juror, Missy Loewe, Dean, Washington School of Photography and President, Capital Arts Network. Award.
“2D 144 SU National Invitational Exhibition”, Kauffman Gallery, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA. National Juried Exhibition.
“51st Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art”, Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY. Juror, Rachel D. Vancelette, Director, Barbara Gladstone Gallery, New York, NY.
“29th Annual Juried Photography Exhibition”, Smithtown Township Arts Council, St. James, NY. Juror, Christopher James, Chair Photography program, The Art Institute of Boston, Lesley University, Boston, MA.
“Toledo Friends of Photography”, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH. Juror, Todd Hido, Artist.
2007
Austin Galleries, Austin, TX.
“Passions,” The Washington School of Photography, Bethesda, MD. Juror, Missy Loewe, Dean, Washington School of Photograpy and President, Capital Arts Network.
“Central Coast National Fine Art Competition,” Morro Bay Art Association, Morro Bay, CA. Juror, Susan Hillhouse, Curator Exhibitions and Collections, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and Art History. (Catalog)
2006-08
“A Russian Night In Taos,” Taos Art Museum, Taos, NM. Invitational Juried Exhibition and Auction.
2005-07
Midtown West Art Associates, New Art Center, New York, NY. Group Exhibition.
2005
"Nude International 2005". Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Steven Assael, The School of Visual Arts, New York, NY.
2004
"Artists Talk On Art". SOHO20 Chelsea Gallery artist's panel talk and The Lab exhibition, NY. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Molly Barnes, Curator of the Molly Barnes Gallery, NYC. Award.
"Great Plains National, Tenth Annual", Fort Hayes State University, Hays, Kansas. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Susan Hapgood, Director of Exhibitions, Independent Curators International, NY.
"47th Annual International Exhibition", The San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Peter Gordon, Manager: Cultural Arts Office/City of Carlsbad, CA.
2003
"Annual Miniatures Show and Sale", The Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM. 2003 & 2004
"46th Annual International Exhibition" - The San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Hugh M. Davis, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA.
2002
"Showcase 2002: Recent Work" - The Limner Gallery, Manhattan, NY. National Juried Exhibition.
The Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Gerald Peters, Gallery owner.
"113th Annual Exhibition" - National Association of Women Artists. Awards Judge, Ricardo Viera, Director & Curator, Lehigh University Galleries, PA. Award. (Catalog)
"74th Annual Juried Exhibition 2002", Art Association of Harrisburg, PA. Juror, Tracey Bashkoff, Assistant Curator, Guggenheim Museum, NY.
"CAA National Prize Show", The Cambridge Art Assoc. Cambridge, MA. "National Juried Exhibition" Juror, Lisa Dennison, Deputy Dir. and Chief Curator, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museums, NY. Award. (Catalog)
Los Angeles Co. Museum of Art, Rental & Sales Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Gallery Representation - 1991 - 2002.
2001
The Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Peter Schjedahl, Educator/Author/Columnist (catalog).
"small things considered" The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts.
Juried Exhibition sponsored by the National Association of Women Artists.
"Prejudice" Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Ursula Kammer-Fox, Artist/Curator.
2000
The Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT. National Juried Exhibition. Juror, Lucy Lippard, Author/Columnist. (Catalog)
"Revealing The Nude: A Timeless Passion", Chase Gallery, Boston, MA. Invitational Show.
1999
"International Contemporary Painting Exhibition", Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, CT. Juror Andrew Forge, Painter, Critic, Author and Professor of Painting at the Yale School of Fine Art. Award.
"Northern National Juried Art Competition", Nicolet College Gallery, Rhinelander, WI. Juror, Christopher Brown, Artist / Professor. Award.
"Realism, Photo Realism, and Super Realism", The Harwood Museum, Taos, NM. Curator Robert Ellis, Director of The Harwood Museum.
"Women Artists from the Land of Enchantment", sponsored by National Museum of Women in the Arts at LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM. Jurors, Susan Fisher Sterling, Curator, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC., Lucy R. Lippard, Writer/Curator, MaLin Wilson, Art Critic/Educator, writes for Art Forum, Art Issues, and The Albuquerque Journal North. (Catalog)
"Fourteenth Annual International Exhibition", Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO. Juror, Jan Schall, Curator. (Catalog)
1998
"Appetite for Art", Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Invitational Show and Auction to Benefit the Acquisition and Scholarship Program.
"Woman: In the Broader Sense", St. Louis Artists' Guild in co-operation with Woman's Caucus for Art, St Louis, MO. Juror, Britta Konau, Exhibition Coordinator, The National Museum of Women in the Arts. Award.
"Texas National 98", SFA Gallery, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX. Juror, Martha Mayer Erlebacher, Artist. Award. (Catalog).
Awards & Distinctions
For further information, please see Selected Group Exhibitions.
2009
3rd place. “Timeless”, Visual Arts Consulting, Gaithersburg, MD.
Honorable Mention. “California Open Exhibition”, TAG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
2008
3rd place. “Ode to Joy”. Washington Gallery of Photography, Bethesda, MD.
2007
Book Winner List. “Erotic Signature Art Competition.” Miami, FL.
2004
Artists Talk On Art Award. SOHO20 Chelsea Gallery artist's panel talk and The Lab exhibition. New York, NY.
2002
Audrey Hope Shirk Memorial Award. "113th Annual Exhibition". National Association of Women Artists. New York, NY.
Susan Kahn Award. "113th Annual Exhibition". National Association of Women Artists. New York, NY.
Outstanding Painting Prize, "CAA National Prize Show", The Cambridge Art Association. Cambridge, MA.
Juror's Award, Book Art Press, "New Art International 2002", Juried International Fine Art Publication. Woodstock, NY.
1999
Juror's Award, "International Contemporary Painting", Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, CT.
Best of Show, "Silverhawk Fine Arts Internet Exhibition," Taos, NM.
Donor Award, "Northern National Juried Art Competition", Nicolet College Gallery, Rhinelander, WI.
1998
Studio Prize, "Woman: In the Broader Sense", St. Louis Artists' Guild and the Woman's Caucus for Art, St. Louis, MO.
Juror's Award, National Juried Exhibition Celebrating Israel's 50th Anniversary, Jewish Community Center, New Haven, CT.
2nd Place, "Texas National 98", SFA Gallery, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX.
1997
2nd place, "Inland Exhibition XXXIII", San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, CA.
Juror's Award, "W & J National Painting Show", Washington, PA.
Honorable Mention, "National Juried Art Exhibition", Highland Cultural Center Art Gallery, NY.
1996
2nd Prize, Painting, "Hearts and Other Body Parts", Ashwell Gallery, Beverly, MA.
1994
Best of Show, Painting, "4th Annual Juried Exhibition" Havre De Grace Museum, MD.
Selected Bibliography and Publications
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Art Journey: New Mexico, F+W Media, Inc. October 2009.
The World’s Greatest Erotic Art of Today, Volume II. Erotic Signature Publishing. May 2008.
Phoenix, Casa Editrice Palomar, Italy. Book cover image. 2007.
The High Road to Taos – Michael Hearne, Compact Disc, michaelhearne.com. Cover and full image inside booklet. 2007.
THE Magazine, “Claudia Kleefeld: Love. Loss and The Ring of Fire.” April 2007, p. 50.
The Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo “Tentative pleasure.” February 23-March 1, 2007, p. 14, 15.
K-TAOS, 101.9 FM, “Brad’s PM” radio interview. February 1, 2007.
KVOT, Air America, 1340 AM, “Cultural Energy” radio interview with Maye Torres. January 28, 2007.
KRZA, 88.7 FM, “Untitled” radio interview with Maye Torres. January 28, 2007.
The Taos News, Tempo Magazine, “Transformation.” January 25-31, 2007. Tempo Magazine, p. 28, 29, 30 cover story.
Albuquerque Journal, “ROOTED IN PAIN, Exhibit revolves around death of artist’s husband” January 19, 2007. Cover story Venue, p. S2, S3.
KRZA, 88.7 FM, radio interview “Claudia Kleefeld.” January 11, 2007.
The Taos News, Tempo Magazine, “Kleefeld’s crucible.” November 30-December 6, 2006, p. 22, 24.
The Taos News, Tempo Magazine, “Love and loss.” November 2-8, 2006, p. 18.
Reflections Artists Journal Vol 1, Margaret L. Holmes publisher and editor, May 2005, p.9.
Phoenix, Casa Editrice Palomar, Italy, Book cover image. 2004
The Taos News Tempo Magazine, "Kleefeld's Cut of the Cards", March 13-19, 2003, p. 4.
"Michael Hearne, Sight & Sound, Songs Inspired by the fine Art of Northern Mexico". Valley Entertainment, Sept. 2001.
THE Magazine, "Claudia Eve Kleefeld: The Life of Butterflies", May 2001, p. 49.
The Boston Globe Weekend Arts & Performance, "Focus on the figurative in CAA prize exhibit". May 31, 2002. p E17, E20.
Her Mark 2002 Calendar, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL. National Juried Competition.
Book Art Press, "New Art International 2002", Juried International Fine Art Publication, Woodstock NY, p. 12, 13, 14, 15.
Erie Times-News SHOWCASE "Enter Claudia's World: The Life of Butterflies". February 22, 2001. Cover, p.17-S, 32-S.
Museum and Private Collections
The Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, NM. Permanent collection.
Nicole and Brian Cox, London, England.
Victoria and Dennis Hopper, Venice, CA.
Norman Brokaw, Beverly Hills, CA.
Mike and Laura Kaplan, Aspen, CO.
Amon Carter, Fort Worth, TX.
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