SHELLEY FEINERMAN

ARTIST STATEMENT:

In January 2021, I underwent back surgery, and I knew, even before the operation, that remaining creative would be essential to the healing process. So, from my bed, I filled page after page of chapbooks with watercolor sketches of women. My work had previously been a mix of genres, specifically still life, and landscapes, but this intense experience and my focus on my body’s new form led to a significant departure from my earlier work. 

Months later, back at the easel, as I continued my exploration of women, I came to realize the power inherent in a woman artist entering the historically male-dominated realm of the nude. My paintings are erotic and sensual, characterized by bold colors, simplified shapes, and a shallow depth of field. I paint in acrylic on linen, board, and paper, sometimes incorporating charcoal, pastels, and fabric. My career has sustained me as a mother and as a special needs teacher for 22 years through illness and loss. I hope that those who view my paintings will see work that is true and believable — beautiful, yet also intelligent. 

I have been painting for many years, and my work is the sum of all that I am.

Born and raised in NYC, I raised a son, and taught special needs children for the NYC Department of Education for 22 years, all the while pursuing my career as a visual artist. I have been a practicing visual artist for 50 years, earning an MFA from Brooklyn College in 1978.