Colleen Hammond was born in the month of March, 1957 and raised in a small New Jersey town. After high school, between 1975 - 1979 she attended and graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where she began her artistic journey following the principles of classical style; centered on notions of elegance, harmony and proportion based on the human figure. She also went on to receive a BFA with a major in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania. In recent years her oil paintings have moved toward abstract realism where mood is the underlying key element. In addition to working in her studio, Colleen was welcomed into the collective art group, Artessa Alliance, an award-winning Philadelphia area association of women visual artists. Adding collage to her artistic practice has taken her on a journey of healing and experimentation and has forged new communities and connections. She joined Philadelphia CollageWorks (PCW) in 2019, a group of artists that practice and promote the art of collage through education, exhibition and community outreach. Her paintings and collages have been included in many exhibitions, and she has won awards for her work that include the Caroline Gibbons Granger Award and the Berthe M. Goldberg Award of Excellence. Colleen currently resides in South Philadelphia with her supportive husband and Max, the cat. Her son Noah lives nearby and carries on the family tradition of embracing the inherent creative spirit.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The dictionary defines 'ah' as “an expression used to describe many emotions - delight, relief, regret or contempt”. Our everyday world is filled to the brim with objects, people, and places that demand nothing more from us other than the acknowledgment of their existence. In my work, I am trying to show all the 'ah' that I see. While my affinity with art started with drawing and oil painting, I have added the medium of collage which has taken me on a meditative and playful path serving as a way to set free my anxiety and cope with the world’s current events. The thread that runs through all my work is a process based in my classical artistic training filtered through my own subconscious spirit and imagination.
My recent paintings concentrate on mood and atmosphere. To achieve this, I use a palette knife to manipulate the paint surface resulting in textural layering combined with thin and thick applications of paint that culminate in a dance of light and dark values. In my collage, creation of mood is still at the core, but with the added elements of structured composition. The collage process is more spontaneous and meditative compared to how I paint. Sometimes with collage I will make a social or political statement whereas my path with painting is an emphasis on atmosphere and emotion from a more personal, inner source.
This is why I make art - to cope, look inside myself and create a language that will make sense of living in this world.
EXHIBITIONS
2023
- Meeting Place, Whitemarsh Learning Center Gallery, Fort Washington, PA
- Partners in Art, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia PA
- Interconnected, Awbury Arboretum, Frances Cope House, Philadelphia PA
2022
- Summer Juried Show, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown PA
- Undeniable, Artists Equity Juried Exhibition, Montgomery Count College Fine Arts Center, Blue Bell PA
- 158th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia PA
- Through the Grid, Members Invitational Exhibition, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA
2021
- PAFA Fellowship 2021 Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
- Ebb & Flow, Artessa Alliance Show, Pii Gallery, Olde City Philadelphia, PA
- 78th Annual Painting Show, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham PA
- The Rainbow Show, Philadelphia CollageWorks, Cheltenham Center for the Arts
- Monitor & Adjust, Artessa Alliance, Clay on Main, Oley, PA
- Collage Exhibition: Neuroanatomy, Stone Valley Arts at Fox Hill, Poultney VT
- The Rainbow Show, Philadelphia CollageWorks, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA
- Two-Person Show, Parallels, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA
2020
- PAFA Fellowship 120th Annual Juried Exhibition/FAME, Philadelphia PA
- Hindsight, Da Vinci Art Alliance Members Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
2019
- PAFA Fellowship 119th Annual Juried Exhibition/FAME, Philadelphia PA
2018
- CCA 75th Annual Juried Painting Show, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham, PA
2017
- Solo Exhibit, Square One Coffee JFK Blvd. Philadelphia PA
- Intersection DVAA & International House, Juried group show, Philadelphia PA
- Connotations DVAA Gallery, Juried group show, Philadelphia PA
- 154th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia PA
- 74th Annual Juried Painting Show Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham PA
2016
- 115th Fellowship of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Juried Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
2015
- 72nd Annual Awards Painting Show, Cheltenham PA
- WCA Old Enough to Know Better Exhibition, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA
- Annual Benefit Juried Art Show, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia PA
- Cheltenham Center for the Arts 2015 Faculty Exhibition: Teacher & Mentor, Cheltenham PA
2013
- DownSized Exhibition, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham PA
- Resident Artists Exhibition, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham PA
- Featured Artist, Wedge & Fig, Philadelphia PA
2012
- Resident Artists Exhibition, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham PA
- Group Show, Rodger LaPelle Gallery, Philadelphia PA
- 113th Fellowship of PAFA Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
- 69th Annual Awards Painting Show, Cheltenham PA
- 71st Annual Member Show, Cheltenham PA
2010
- Solo Exhibit, Daffy’s, Philadelphia PA
- Ongoing Exhibitions with A Square Deal, Tri-State Area
2009
- Solo Exhibit, Mazag Café, Philadelphia PA
- Highwire Gallery, Lookin’ For Love Exhibit, Philadelphia PA
2006
- Fellowship of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA
2005
- 108th Annual Exhibition Fellowship of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA
- Tri State Artist Equity 56th Anniversary Exhibit, West Chester PA
2004
- Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey, Annual Members Exhibit, Marlton NJ
- 73rd Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Annual Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
- Annual Crafts & Fine Arts Festival, Haddonfield NJ
- Philadelphia Tri State Artists Equity Fall Exhibition, Lancaster PA
- 107th Fellowship of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA
- Cheltenham Art Center 64th Annual Exhibition, Cheltenham PA
- Main Line Art Center 67th Annual Exhibition, Haverford PA
2003
- Esther M. Klein Art Gallery Annual Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
- 106th Fellowship of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA
- Fairmount Park Waterworks Art Festival, Philadelphia PA
- Wayne Art Center Fall Members Juried Exhibition, Wayne PA
- Cosmopolitan Club Holiday Exhibit, Philadelphia PA
2002
- Esther M. Klein Art Gallery Annual Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
- 105th Fellowship of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA
2001
- Esther M. Klein Art Gallery Annual Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
- 7th Annual Merchantville Spring Arts Juried Art Show & Sale, Merchantville NJ
1978 & 1979
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Annual Student Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
1977
- Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Exhibition, Philadelphia PA
Certificates/Awards
- The Caroline Gibbons Granger Award 2020
- The Berthe M. Goldberg Award of Excellence 2019
- The Berthe M. Goldberg Award of Excellence 2018
- C.G. Granger Award 2004
- Merion Art & Repro Award 2004
- Cadwalider Award 1979
Education
- 1988 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Fine Arts
- 1979 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Certificate of Study
- 1971-1975 Sanski Art Center Haddonfield, New Jersey
Lessons in painting & drawing - Instructor, artist Maureen Drdak