About gretchen
SPECIAL NOTE: Currently Gretchen’s painting,“Disappearing Woman II” is being shown at the DE YOUNG MUSEUM OPEN 2023. September 30, 2023 to January 7, 2024
When working as an interior designer for 25 years, interiors became my canvases. So when I went back to painting with “real” canvases in my Montreal studio, not surprisingly, my first attempts were images of studio interiors and objects.
As a studio artist, I like to work in thematic series so these first paintings became the start of my “Montreal Studio Series”. Typically, I begin with more traditional representations and as the series progresses, the subject matter morphs into more imaginative and playful depictions, for instance, walking benches, levitating stools, etc. in the studios. The first of the “Pillar Series” were conventional impressions of Greek columns and manufactured ceiling supports, then, evolved into totems, circus & calligraphic pillars, ending with an ionic-eyed ET.
Both in Montreal and Sausalito, I have painted from live models typically positioned mysteriously with backs in the forefront. My latest Disappearing Women series relates to the secondary “roles” women have played throughout history. A new Foodscape series emerged from a Bird’s eye view Topography series.
My work is loose, free-flowing and con-conforming yet with recognizable imagery as well as abstracts. The mediums I use are acrylics, oil stick, & collage on paper and canvas.
Besides painting in the last several years, I have been making monoprints using Akua inks and “chine colle” on paper. I find the spontaneity of this medium exciting and fitting of my personality and skill set.
CAREER
Studio Artist, ICB, Sausalito, CA
2014 to present
Art Teacher, (Part time Volunteer) Northern Light School, Oakland, CA
2014 to present
Originator and Organizer of Zurich Gallery Tour Group
Studio Artist, Complexe du Canal Lachine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2007-2011
Certified Interior Designer, Gretchen Evans Interiors, 25+years, Various locations:
SF Bay area, Montreal, Zurich, Cleveland, West Virginia
Art Director, YWCA, Spokane, Washington
1971-1973
Art Teacher, Spokane, Washington Public Schools
1969-1970
EXHIBITIONS AND RECOGNITIONs
DeYoung Open 2023 - San Francisco September 30, 2023-January 7, 2024
“Universal Languages—Paint, Prints, and Photography”, The Little Gallery, OSU, Corvallis, Oregon/ November 1-December 20, 2021
The Bindery - Monoprints Solo show, San Francisco, December 2019 -February 2020
ICB Gallery - Monoprints Solo show, November 2019
ICB 50th Anniversary Showcase, Marin County Civic Center, October 2, 2018 - January 10, 2019
ICB Gallery 111, Group Show, February 2017
Gallery Complexe du Canal Lachine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Annual Group Shows, 2008-2011
American’s in Zurich, Group Show, Zurich, Switzerland, 2001
Acquisitions Committee for Non-Canadian Art-Post 1900, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 2008-2010
Joe Ruggiero’s Homes Across America, National Television appearance, HGTV, 1998
Northern Ohio Live Magazine, Article “Into the Light”, May 1999
Gallery 76, Two Women Show, “Old Spokane,” Ceramics,
Spokane, Washington 1972
Annual Student Art Show, Eastern Washington University, Cheney 1971
Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane,Washington, Student Show 1971
E.S.U. Traveling Student Exhibit 1971-1972
EDUCATION
Master’s Program w/concentration in the Arts, University of Ghana, Institute of African Studies,
1980-82
BA in Art Studies, Eastern Washington University, 1971
Gonzaga University, Undergraduate Art and Art history courses, 1970
BS in Education, Oregon State University, 1969 (Honors)
University of Hawaii, Summer Undergraduate Cultural Program, 1968