Kathleen Vaccaro’s newest work mixes imagery from American film noir of the 1940s and 1950s, imagination, and memory. Film noir imagery is taken out of context in order to connect viewers specifically to the romance, and occasional heroism found in American film noir, and to let them reflect on contemporary ideas of romance and heroism. This work explores the femme fatale, one of the first strong character types for women in films. For Vaccaro, this body of work is a way to stay connected to her grandparents’ generation. Against the backdrop of WWII, romance and morality became individualistic and complicated. Today, many people can relate to film noir’s dangerous, disillusioned world punctuated by bright moments of selflessness and love.
Vaccaro is interested in capturing the flickering light and the disintegrating romantic images in old film noir. Modern printers and computer software allow her to combine photographs and film stills with painting in a way that is unique to the time in which we live. The process of painting - the searching, experimenting, and synthesizing, is how her ideas and emotions enter the work. By including photo transfers in the work, she lets go of some of the control. The imagery is often destroyed, simplified or covered as the painting develops. Vaccaro’s love for paint and the materials she uses is evident in her work. To be direct, she views painting and drawing as one.
Artist Biography
I am an artist who makes paintings, prints, and drawings in Philadelphia, PA and Brooklyn, NY. My MFA is from Pratt Institute and my BA in Art Education is from Saint Joseph’s University. I love discovering what materials can do and strive to be a painter’s painter. My work currently explores characters and relationships in film noir. The figure has always interested me. I teach art for Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA, and Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA. I have written for The Artblog, and have taught art for K-12 schools as well as the Abington Art Center. Teaching art is fulfilling and fun. It inspires me to keep pushing myself as an artist and is a way for me to keep learning. I actively make and exhibit my artwork. Making art lets me be adventurous.
Education
2010 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY MFA, Painting and Drawing
2007 Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA BFA, Art Education, Minor, Music
Certification Art Education K-12 Certification in Pennsylvania
Continuing Education
2015 Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham, PA Printmaking courses with Merle Spandorfer
2009 The Art Students League of New York, New York, NY Plein Air Landscape Painting Course with Ephraim Rubenstein, One-week intensive course
The New York Studio School, New York, NY Drawing Marathon with Graham Nickson, Two-week intensive course
Awards & Honors
2010 Pratt Circle Award, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
2008 - 2010 Pratt Institute Merit Scholarship, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
2009 The New York Studio School Mercedes Matter Scholarship
2007 Performing Arts Award, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
2006 Summer Scholar Grant, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA
Bibliography
Publications
Studio Visit Magazine, Spring Edition, Open Studio Press, Boston, MA Juror: Michael Lash
Collection
Permanent Collection, Saint Joseph’s University Admissions Building, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
Commission
2014 Album cover art, "Heart and Havoc," Caleb Joyce (Dubby), Philadelphia, PA
Professional Experience
2012 - present Adjunct Fine Arts Professor, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
2011 - present Adjunct Art Professor, Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA
Gallery Intern, The Painting Center, New York, NY
2011 Instructor, Abington Art Center, Abington, PA
2010 - 2011 Writer, The Artblog
2007 - 2011 Artist Assistant to Ron Klen, Melrose Park, PA
2010 Intern, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Teacher Assistant, Intermediate Painting Course, Hunter College, Brooklyn, NY
Teacher Assistant, Graduate Drawing into Sculpture Course, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Teacher Assistant, Graduate and Undergraduate Painting Processes Course, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Intern, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2007 - 2008 Art Teacher, Ancillae-Assumpta Academy, Wyncote, PA
2007 Substitute Teacher, Introduction to Studio Art, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
Teacher Assistant, Intermediate Drawing, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
2005 Substitute Teacher, The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA
Lectures and Talks
2012 Visiting Artist Lecture, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Visiting Artist Lecture, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
Exhibitions
Solo
2015 Trunk Show, Cheltenham Arts Shop, Elkins Park, PA
2013 Recent Work, Sound Music Studios, Willow Grove, PA
2010 Winter Show, Draw the Line Gallery, Doylestown, PA
Parade: MFA Thesis Show, Steuben South Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
New Work, The Abbaye, Philadelphia, PA
2008 New Work, The Abbaye, Philadelphia, PA
2007 Media Bureau Network Studios, Philadelphia, PA
Group
2015 74rd Annual Members Exhibition, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham, PA Juror: Matt Neff First Prize, Juror’s Prize
POST, Philadelphia, PA
RAW Artists Showcase, Trocadero Theater, Philadelphia, PA
Pope Up, Globe Dye Works, Philadelphia, PA Juried Exhibition
2014 21st Anniversary Exhibition, The Painting Center, New York, NY Invitational
2014 Annual Juried Exhibition, The Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA Juror: Gerard Brown
Dear Fleisher, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Philly Photo Day, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA
Works on Paper Benefit, Cuchifritos Gallery, New York, NY
Wish You Were Here 13, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Pratt Institute MFA Alumni Exhibition, Steuben South Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Juried Exhibition
73rd Annual Members Exhibition, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham, PA
2013 Generations IX: The Red/Pink Show!, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY Juried Exhibition
Wish You Were Here 12, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
RANSOM, Brooklyn Wayfarers Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Member Exhibition: Inliquid, PPAC, Second State Press, Ice Box Project Space and Grey Area, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA
A Letter-writing Bee/Art, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
2012 21st Annual Juried Competition, Bowery Gallery, New York, NY Juried Exhibition
Pratt MFA Alumni Exhibition, Pratt Studios Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Wish You Were Here 11, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Artist Registry, The Painting Center, New York, NY
Fancy Folks: Art and Mummery, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA Juried Exhibition
2011 Máscara (Mask), Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Juried Exhibition
Wish You Were Here 10, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
author-Less-ity, Art In City Hall, Philadelphia, PA
The 68th Annual Awards Painting Show, The Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltenham, PA
Pratt Harlem Project, 2280 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY Juried Exhibition
2010 Drill Baby Drill! (Response to the BP Oil Spill), Gowanus Edge Curatorial Exchange, Brooklyn, NY
FLUX Space, Philadelphia, PA
Pratt M.F.A. 2010 Exhibition, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, NY
Bokyung Jun MFA Thesis Show. Thank you!, Steuben South Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Steuben East Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Symposium Exhibition
Pratt Studios Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Steuben East Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Wish You Were Here 8, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
The Second Annual Small Works Exhibition, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Bedford Hills, NY Juried
Politics and Media, Schafler Gallery, Brooklyn, NY Juried Exhibition
MFA Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Lumenhouse Gallery, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY Juried Exhibition
2008 NY Showpaper Art Show, Secret Project Robot Gallery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Inflation/Deflation, Aswoon Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY Juried Exhibition
Steuben East Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
The 66th Annual Awards Painting Show, Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, PA Juried Exhibition
2007 Senior Art Thesis Exhibition, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
Boland Hall, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
2006 Boland Hall, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
