Celebration
Rainbow of color

Artist Shirley Wallitsch

Shirley Wallitsch, a Wyoming-born artist, has forged a remarkable career deeply intertwined with nature and avant-garde artistic expression. Her artistic journey commenced under the guidance of a mentor in Wyoming who introduced her to a rich tapestry of arts, music, poetry, and philosophical insights, laying the foundation for her early creative pursuits.

In her twenties, Wallitsch found herself at the Rochester Folk Art Guild in upstate New York, where she immersed herself in a vibrant artistic community and began her exploration into painting. This transformative period also provided her with an opportunity to apprentice under a painter from New York City and refine her skills further at the Art Students League.

Driven by a desire to sustain her artistic endeavors, Wallitsch ventured into sculpting large-scale artworks using vines and wood sourced from her natural surroundings. Her innovative sculptures quickly garnered attention, adorning prestigious storefronts such as Bonwit Teller in New York City during the culturally rich era of the 1980s.

Continuing her artistic evolution, Wallitsch relocated to Westchester, where she established “Vine Works,” creating sculpted furniture, baskets, and other artistic pieces. Her creations gained popularity among floral shops in Connecticut and beyond. She received diverse commissions, ranging from a 60-foot Sukkah in Greenwich, CT, to designing elaborate wine rooms and international window displays.

In 1997, Wallitsch moved to New Jersey and dedicated herself to painting. By 2020, she opened her own gallery, Wallitsch Art, showcasing her profound artistic journey and featuring her latest works.

Wallitsch’s artistic vision and mastery have earned her recognition among esteemed artists exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Her exhibitions have graced prestigious venues nationwide, including the Montserrat Gallery and Agora Gallery in New York City, where her emotionally resonant and visually compelling pieces captivate audiences.

Her contributions have been celebrated in prominent publications like The New York Times, New York Daily News, Hudson Valley Magazine, and Gallery & Studio, underscoring her reputation for blending natural inspirations with avant-garde techniques. Wallitsch has carved out a distinct niche as a visionary artist unafraid to push creative boundaries.

Beyond exhibitions, Wallitsch actively engages with art enthusiasts through Wallitsch Art Gallery in Westfield, NJ, offering personalized art experiences and bespoke commissions tailored to individual tastes and spaces.

Driven by an unwavering passion for innovation and a profound reverence for the natural world, Shirley Wallitsch continues to evolve her artistic journey, inviting viewers to explore and contemplate the enduring beauty imbued in her dynamic creations.

Solo Exhibits:

  • Wallitsch Art Gallery (Westfield, NJ)1997 to Present
  • LA Frame & Gallery (Green Brook, NJ)2014 - 2022
  • Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters Gallery (New Brunswick, NJ)2004
  • Lyman-Eyer Gallery (West Newton, MA)2000
  • Parness Gallery (Westfield, NJ)1999
  • Vine Works, retail exhibit (Westchester, NY)1986 - 1997
  • Neiman Marcus (Chicago, IL)1984
  • Saks Fifth Avenue (New York, NY)1983
  • Bonwit Teller (New York, NY)1983
  • Bijan (New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA)1983

Group Exhibitions:

  • Studio Montclair (Montclair, NJ)2024
  • Leach Gallery (Montclair, NJ)2024
  • Westfield Art Association Rialto Group Exhibit (Westfield, NJ)2020
  • Art Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)2004
  • Agora Gallery (New York, NY)2004
  • National Art Services (Houston, TX)2002-3
  • Boston Art (Boston, MA)2002
  • Montserrat Gallery (New York, NY)2000
  • Ambleside Gallery (Richmond, VA)1998
  • Nardin Gallery (Somers, NY)1996
  • Annual Faber Birren National Color Award Show (Stanford, CT )1995
  • Katonah Museum (Katonah, NY)1994
  • Adele Lewis Showroom (New York, NY)1988 - 1992
  • Whitney Museum of American Art, Flower Show (New York, NY)1983

Press:

  • “Real Painters and Image Makers Dominate Several Soho Shows,” Gallery & Studio, Spring/Summer2000
  • The Journal1999
  • “On The Towns; Going Out,” The New York Times1999
  • The Westfield Leader1999
  • The Record1999
  • Victoria Magazine1997
  • Hudson Valley Magazine1996
  • The Lewisboro Ledger1995
  • Merri Rosenberg, “Environmentalist Uses Vines as Art,” The New York Times1994
  • The Lewisboro Ledger1993
  • Nancy Arumbedford, “Basket Maker Looks To Yard,” The New York Times1983
  • New York Daily News1983

Collections:

  • Vonage, corporate collection (Holmdel, NJ)
  • Daughters of Miriam Center, corporate collection (Clifton, NJ)
  • Dynamic-Soft, corporate collection (East Hanover, NJ)
  • The Goryab Children’s Wing at Morristown Memorial Hospital (Morristown, NJ)
  • New Jersey State Museum (Trenton, NJ)
  • RJO Group, corporate collection (New York, NY)

Education:

  • Art Students League, New York, NY1980-1985
  • Rochester Art Guild, Rochester, NY1976-1979

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