ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My portraits are about everyday people. I've been told that the people in these portraits look familiar, a face in a crowd, the person across from you in the subway, the woman on line in the supermarket.

Although, every individual is unique, there's a common thread that runs through all of us. Perhaps it is our humanity, soul, spirit? Maybe that familiar feeling we experience is because of this.

Initially, because I'm a visual person, my interest is in the exterior presence of my sitter. Beyond that, there is much more to translate. I'd like to think that I reveal the soul beneath the surface. That is, to establish an emotional connection with my sitter and ultimately, with the viewer..

BIO

Carol Benisatto has a degree in Advertising Art & Design, and has also conducted her studies at several well known art institutes, including; The Stevenson Academy of Art in Seacliff, The Long Island Art League, formerly The Huntington Township Art League, and The Nassau County Museum of Art.  She is studying the figure with Tracy Burtz at The Katonah Art Center.

She is a former member of Viridian Artists @ Chelsea, where she was Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors.  She is also a member of the Katonah Museum Artists Association, and the Blue Door Artist Association.

Her most recent work is a collection of unusual character portraits and landscapes.  In the past, her media was primarily charcoal, pastel and ink, but has also been showing work done in acrylic, watercolor and collage.  She is presently focusing on oil painting.   Her work is in private collections in San Francisco, Virginia, Florida, Montana, New Jersey and New York.

RECENT JURIED EXHIBITIONS

January 2012
“Art to the Point” Tri-State Juried Exhibition
Juror – Donald Sultan
Katonah Museum of Art
Katonah, NY

March 2009
“Blue Door Gallery Inaugural Exhibition”
13 Riverdale Ave.
Yonkers, NY

October 2008
“The KMMA at the Sculpture Barn”
New Fairfield, CT

September 2008
“Timeless The Art of Drawing”
Morris Museum
Morristown, NJ

October 2006
“34th Annual ART SHOW: Bedford”
Bedford, NY

October 2005
“33rd Annual ART SHOW: Bedford”
Bedford, NY

May 2005
“artistic fragments art 2005”  Tri-State Juried Exhibition
Juror – Benny Andrews
Katonah Museum of Art
Katonah, NY

November 2004
“40th Annual Invitational Exhibit”
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Croton-on-Hudson
Croton-on-Hudson, NY

October 2004
“32nd Annual ART SHOW: Bedford”
Bedford, NY

October 2002
“Viewpoints”
Juror – Sarah Bancroft, Associate Curator, The Guggenheim Museum
Northern Westchester Center for the Arts
Mt. Kisco, NY

June 2000
“Gone Fishin”
Juror – Harry Phillbrick, Director, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art
Northern Westchester Center for the Arts
Mt. Kisco, NY

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RECENT SOLO SHOWS

May 2011
“Vixens and Valentines”
New Art Center
New York, New York

September 2010
“Edward & Bernice Wenger Center for the Arts Gallery”
East Hills, NY

May 2010
“Harlots & Hometown Girls”
Viridian Artists Gallery
New York, NY

December 2007
“Drawings and Paintings”
Scarsdale Jewish Community Center
Scarsdale, NY

February 2006
“Configurations”
Viridian Artists Gallery
New York, NY

June 2004
“Models and Muses”
Cirque d’Art Gallery
Bedford, NY

SPECIAL PROJECTS

2008
Artwork featured in independent film:
“Failing Better Now”