Bio

With paint and brush, I have been chasing beauty for over 50 years. Mostly I have chosen something beautiful to paint—flowers in the garden, an evening sunset, the New Mexico landscape—rendered in a realistic style, working from observation, photographs, memory, and imagination.

Several years ago, while visiting the de Young Museum in San Francisco, I was awed and overwhelmed by beauty of traditional Japanese kimonos in their collection. The word kimono means “something to wear”. Yet, the extraordinary variety of ornate patterning based on themes from Nature developed into a well of inspiration for me.

This influence has become apparent in my recent paintings of flowers, gar-dens, and kimonos in my ongoing series, In a Japanese Garden. Often I rely on the simple shape of the Japanese kimono to structure an image, which is then enhanced with line, shape, color, and multiple materials.

My pursuit of beauty continues.

Carol Adamec: Education and Honors

BFA (Painting), 1976, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Coursework: Alaskan Native Arts, 1982, University of Alaska, Anchorage

Carol Adamec: Selected Exhibitions

In a Japanese Garden, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN 2022
In a Japanese Garden, Revisited, Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019
Layered Art, Holistic Perspective (Juried), South Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2019
The Show Must Go On, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2018
Nocturne (Juried), New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM, 2018
Movers & Shakers—Work by Artists Who Teach, Lead, & Inspire (Invitational), Gallery with a Cause, New Mexico Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2018
Biologique (Juried), New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM, 2018, 2017
In a Japanese Garden (Solo), Spiva Center for the Arts Regional Gallery, Joplin, MO, 2017
Elvis Has Left the Building (Invitational), L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2017
Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66 (3-person, with Lee Marmon, Sondra Diepen), The Historic KiMo Theatre Art Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2017
In a Japanese Garden (Solo), Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2016
Merge I (2013), III (2016), IV (2017), (Juried), sponsored by Society of Layerist in Multi-Media, African-American Performing Arts Center, Expo NM, Albuquerque, NM
Wild + Life (Invitational), Page Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2015
Art of the Flower (Juried), New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM, 2015
Center/Gallery: Feminist Legacy/Feminist Future (Invitational), The Carrack Modern, Durham, NC, 2015
The New Mexico Connection: Recent Acquisitions to the Bernalillo County Public Art Collection, African-American Performing Arts Center, Expo NM, Albuquerque, NM, 2014
The Rainbow Artists 25th Reunion Show (Invitational), African-American Performing Arts Center, Expo NM, Albuquerque, NM, 2013
Universal Expression: Change (Invitational), Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2012
What Remains, (4-person), Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2012
In Natural Light (Solo), Members Gallery, artCentral, Carthage, MO, 2010
Plein Air Show, Mt. Dora Center for the Arts, Mt. Dora, FL. Award: Third Place, 2010
Catching the Light (Solo), Spiva Center for the Arts Regional Gallery, Joplin, MO, 2009
MasterWorks 2009 (Juried), Expo NM, Albuquerque, NM, 2009
Be Leaf It or Not (5-person), Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2008
Illumination (Juried), sponsored by Society of Layerists in Multi-Media. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers, FL, 2007
For the Love of Light (2-person), Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2006
Thomas Hart Benton Competition & Exhibit, 2005, 2006 (Juried). Neosho, MO. Awards: Merit Award 2006; Best of Show 2005
Grand Opening (Invitational), L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2005
Designs of Autumn Festival (Juried), Miami, OK. Award: First Place Painting, 2005
Persistent Beauty (2-person), Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2005
Transformation (Invitational), Art Forms at Grace Place, Memphis, TN, 2004
Out on a Limb (Solo), Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2003
Beauty & Meaning (3-person), Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2003
Originals 2003: Traces of the Journey (Juried), Albuquerque Museum of Art, 2003. Sponsored by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC. Award: $1,000 Merit
Little Jewels (Juried), Art Center at Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos, NM, 2003
Whispers of Truth, Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2002
Windy City Different: Alumni of SAIC, (Invitational) , St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM, 2002
¡Magnifico! The Art of Albuquerque (Juried), Albuquerque Museum of Art, Albuquerque, NM, 2002
Faces of Woman (Juried), NM Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM, 2002. Award: Honorable Mention
¡Magnifico! Roots & Routes (Juried), Albuquerque Museum of Art, Albuquerque, NM, 2001
Art Sante Fe Trunk Show, ArtForms Memphis, Sweeney Center, Santa Fe, NM, 2001
MidWest Winter (Juried), Center for Visual Arts, Wausau, WI, 2001
Affirming Wholeness (3-person), Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2000
Connecting with the Soul of New Mexico, Art Forms, Memphis, TN, 2000
Heart Within the Beast, Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 1999
Graced by Light (Solo), Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, 1998

Carol Adamec: Publications

“Abstract Attraction” by Wesley Pulkka, Arts section, p.17, Albuquerque Journal, June 12, 2016, Review of solo exhibit “In a Japanese Garden” at Weyrich Gallery.
“Art Show at Durham’s Carrack Celebrates Feminist Gallery’s Legacy” by Deborah R. Meyers, Durham News, The News & Observer, March 18, 2015. Interview for Center Gallery exhibit at Carrack Modern.
“4 Artists Reach Beyond Expectations,” by Wesley Pulkka, ARTS section, F5, Albuquerque Journal, Aug 31,2003. Review of “Beauty & Meaning” exhibit at Weyrich Gallery.
“Exhibit Offers Alternate Visions of Shared Human Experience,” by Wesley Pulkka, ARTS section, F6, Albuquerque Journal, Oct 1, 2000. Review of “Affirming Wholeness” exhibit at Weyrich Gallery.
“Unique Insights:The Society of Layerists in Multi Media” (2016), edited by Carleen Hearn, Mary Carroll Nelson, and J. Etemad.