First Words Painting

Galen Cheney is a painter’s painter. Her education as a painter began at Mount Holyoke College and continued at The Maryland Institute, College of Art, where she was mentored and critiqued by Sal Scarpitta and Grace Hartigan (among others) and mostly left to teach herself how to paint. Twenty-five years later, she continues to push herself and her work with honesty, commitment, and fearlessness. Deep diving into her own creative process, Cheney is a physical artist whose richly layered paintings embody her curiosity about and exploration of materials and her own psyche. She was born in Los Angeles though has spent most of her life in New England where she feels a deep connection to the land and centuries-old architecture. A childhood trip to Europe was the start of her enduring love of travel and fascination with ancient civilizations. Cheney’s work has been exhibited in the U.S., Canada, Italy, and China, and recent recognition includes fellowships from the Millay Colony, Vermont Studio Center, Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Da Wang Culture Highland, and a nomination for a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Painting. Her home and studio are in North Adams, Massachusetts.