Shop Available Works by Kathleen Vaccaro

• Artsy

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Artist Statement

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Bibliography

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Publications

Studio Visit Magazine, Spring Edition, Open Studio Press, Boston, MA
Juror: Michael Lash

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Collection

Permanent Collection, Saint Joseph’s University Admissions Building, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

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Commissions

2014
Album cover art, "Heart and Havoc," Caleb Joyce (Dubby), Philadelphia, PA

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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

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Lectures and Talks

2012
Visiting Artist Lecture, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

2011
Visiting Artist Lecture, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Exhibitions

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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

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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