Tracy Ditolla

My strict Catholic upbringing and my background in art history define my work. My work is about my own experiences with the Catholic religion so I often put myself in my paintings either as an adult or child and include a personal iconography of objects. I am interested in the glorification of pain and suffering as a vehicle to reach the glory of God. When I was a child I remember being in church and looking at the beautifully rendered images of violent scenes, such as the Crucifixion, and being horrified by the portrayal of torture. I was terrified by the stories of the bible and the content of the imagery but fascinated by the beautiful colors, stained glass windows, sculptures and flickering light of the candles against all of this.

My work is asking questions such as, why there is such an emphasis on physical suffering in the Catholic religion? And, what affect this has on children brought up around these images and teachings? Children are exposed to violent imagery and stories in their religious studies yet shielded from violent images and stories in entertainment and the media. Why are sacred depictions of violent acceptable and secular ones not? What does this say about us as a society? Creating works that focu...

William Paterson University
BA Art History

Montclair University
MA Art History

Montclair University
MFA Painting

2022, Twenty20, M Galleries, Washington, NJ.

2022, International Juried Exhibition, Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ.

2021, Household, M Galleries, Washington, NJ.​

2020, JAM at MAM, Montclair Museum Virtual Exhibition, NJ.

2020, Daily Arts Dose, Virtual Exhibition, NJ.

2020, Dissonance, Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ

2020, Sacred Spaces, solo show, M Galleries, Washington, NJ​

2019, Fear, Volition Gallery, Orangeburg, NY.

2019, Monmouth Museum 40th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ.

2018, Little Wonders, LITM, Jersey City, NJ.​

2017, Surrender to Small, Volition Gallery, Orangeburg, NY.

2017, Filmideo, Index Art Center, Newark, NJ.

2017, Montclair, MFA exhibition, Index Art Center, Newark, NJ.

2016, Obstructions, Watchung Art Center, Watchung, NJ.2015, Obstructions, Watchung Art Center, Watchung, NJ.

2015, Fluidity, LITM, Jersey City, NJ.

2014, SPECIAL GUEST JUROR SALON SHOW, Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.

2014, Palette, Gallery U, Westfield, NJ.

2013, Primarily Red, Gallery U, Westfield, NJ.

2013, Featured Faculty, Gallery at Warren County Community College, Washington, NJ.

2013, Solo Exhibition, Amazing Grapes, Pompton Lakes, NJ.

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