Artist Statement

“Life is always uncertain. Out of a riot of lines, spaces and colors comes a titillating surface that beckons the viewer to relax and enjoy the journey. Simplicity and density are woven together in grafiti-esque drawings and paintings saturated with luminous and rich harmonies.”
Julie Courtney, Independent Curator

The quote above was written over 15 years ago and still holds true. After 30 years of continuously creating art I often wonder what new insights I bring to my work. I tell my students that we each have our own ”circle” in life. As we grow and have many experiences we venture out of our personal circle, but always return to make our circle deeper and more varied; there are additions, ruts, grooves, colors and marks that enhance one’s space.

My art is a chaotic blend of chance and careful planning which is an apt metaphor for life. Each painting or pastel drawing is a map leading to an adventure of color, mark, and space. The making of the mark whether expressive, aggressive, lyrical or exuberant is crucial. There are references to nature but my primary interest is in capturing the feeling. I embrace the unpredictable interferences as interruptions to the luscious color and controlled lines. Taking risks as part of my creative process energizes my work and keeps it fresh and exciting.

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Artist Biography

Val Rossman has been working as a professional artist for over 30 years. During her career she has had more than 21 one-person shows and been in numerous group shows in Philadelphia, Delaware, Vermont, New Jersey, Florida and New York. She has won several prizes, including the Award for Excellence at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, and at the Cheltenhan Art Center Annual Painting Show. In addition, she has been on the faculty of Main Line Art Center for the past 20 years as a teacher of abstract art. She has lectured at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and done a workshop at the River Arts Center in Vermont. Her work has also been seen on Bravo Cable Television.

Rossman’s work has been collected by both individual and corporate clients in the
U.S. and abroad. Some of these include Blue Cross of Greater Philadelphia, AT&T, United Pacific Life Insurance, MasterCard International, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank, Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and Hebrew University.

Val Rossman has been creating drawings and paintings in her studio in Philadelphia for the last 25 years. Her work has gone through various stages, however, her wonderful sense of color combined with a lyrical and often whimsical mentality have always infused her drawings with a lush and personal aura. The combination of rich and unexpected hues and gestures with sometimes questioning formats give the work an unforgettable presence.

In addition to her career, Val is married to Louis Rossman, a renowned Endodontist. They have two children, Lexy, age 32, and Benjamin, age 26, and son-in–law, Patrick, age 33. The family enjoys many outdoor activities together such as skiing, rock climbing and traveling.

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Education

1976
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
MCAT

1974
Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA
BFA

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Awards & Honors

2015
Art in the Wilderness, Aspen, CO

2012
Vermont Studio Center Residency

2009
Vermont Studio Center Residency

1994
Award for Excellence in Drawing, Artists Equity Triennial, Philadelphia, PA

1992
Bravo Television Competiton, National Arts Club, New York, NY

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Residencies

2012
Vermont Studio Center Residency, Johnson, VT

2009
Vermont Studio Center Residency, Johnson, VT

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Bibliography

2017
Lear, Len, Chestnut Hill Local, March 2017

City Suburban News, February 2017

2016
Jenkins, Mark, "Holiday Group Show," The Washington Post, Longview Gallery, January 2016

2011
Donohoe, Victoria, "Project Shows How Art is Made," Philadelphia Inquirer, October 2011

Guthrie, Margaret, "Main Line Art Center Connects," Flying Kite, January 2011

Awodey, Marc, "Hue for Two," Seven Days, February 2011

2010
Donohoe, Victoria, "Color at Rosenfeld," The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 2010

2007
Dormont, Linda, "Steel Gardens," Art Matters, April 2007

2005
Sozanski, Edward J., "Memorable Encores," The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 2005

Rovner, Ruth, "Exercising Her Artistic Imagination," Main Line Times, January 2005

Walls, Wanda, "Inside the Spectrum of Color," Art Matters, January 2005

2002
Sozanski, Edward J., "Pastels at Rosenfeld," The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 2002

1995
Sadler, Robert H., "The Artist As Athlete," The Jewish Exponent, October 1995

1992
A Women's Personal Journal, Running Press, 1992

"Artsbreak," Bravo National Television Network

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Collections

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Blue Cross of Greater Philadelphia, PA
American Telephone and Telegraph
United Pacific Life Insurance
Schnader, Harrison, Segal and Lewis, Philadelphia, PA
Yasuda Corporation, New York, NY
Arco Chemical Corporation
Community College of Philadelphia, PA
Barrack, Rodos, and Bacine, Philadelphia, PA
MasterCard International Headquarters, Purchase, NY
The Vanguard Group World Headquarters, Valley Forge, PA
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank; Rockefeller Center, NY
Zuckerman Honickman Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, PA

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Professional Experience

2016 - present
Instructor, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA

2016 - present
Instructor, Woodmere Art Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA

1994 – 2016
Instructor, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA

2003
Visiting Instructor, River Arts, Morrisville, VT

1992
Visiting Lecturer, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

1976 - 1982
Art Therapist, Einstein Medical Center and Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Exhibitions

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Solo

2017
Making A Mark, Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2015
Hues and Gestures, West Branch Gallery, Stowe, VT

Earth Air Color, Paintings and Drawings, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2013
Paintings on Aluminum and Pastel Drawings, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2011
Recent Paintings and Drawings, Windsor Whip Works, Binghampton, NY

Extravagant Color, West Branch Gallery, Stowe, VT

2010
Acrylic on Metal and Pastel Drawings, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2007
Recent Work, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2005
Recent Work, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2002
New Pastel Abstractions, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2000
Recent Drawings, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1998
Mixed Media Monoprints, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE

Recent Work, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

1997
Mixed Media Monoprints, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1995
Pastel Drawings, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1994
Pavilion Gallery, Mount Holly, NJ

Kirkbride Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1992
New Paintings, Gross-McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1989
New Work, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1988
Pastel Abstractions, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1987
New Work, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1986
Glassboro State College, Glassboro, NJ

1982
Woodmere Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Temple University, Sugarloaf Conference Center, Philadelphia, PA

1981
New Paintings, Scherer Gallery, Marlboro, NJ

1980
Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

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Group

2024
InLiquid Toasts 25, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks, Philadelphia, PA

2016
On Paper, Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2015
Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY

2014
Outer Limits, Art in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA

Jewels and Treasures, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA

Small Works Show, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2013
Abstact Invitational Show, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA

Louisa Gould Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Art of the State: Pennsylvania ’13, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

2011
C3: Create. Connect. Collect, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA

2010
Small Works Show, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2009
Landscape Revisited, West Branch Gallery, Stowe, VT

Small Works Show, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2008
Red Dot Art Fair, New York, NY

2005
Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, NJ

Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

2004
West Branch Gallery, Stow, VT

The Philadelphia Foundation

1998
Pastel Invitational, The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA

1996
Art of the State: Pennsylvania ’96, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

1994
Artists Equity Triennial, Philadelphia, PA
Award for Excellence in Drawing

Annual Awards Exhibition, Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, PA

1992
Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, New York, NY

Bravo Television Competition, National Arts Club, New York, NY

Members Gallery, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

1988
Philadelphia Drawing Competition

Works on Paper, Beaver College, Philadelphia, PA