Helen P Shipman

My work may be a celebration, a revelation, or a complaint. I present a view of our human condition, expressing my interpretations of the range of human emotions on stage-like settings of apparently very real dream worlds. I often abandon the traditional rectangular format and instead shape my paintings according to the spaces in which the images occur. The paintings on cut-out particle board panels appear to pop out in the illusion of full three-dimensional view, presenting a compelling invitation to step into the world of the dream. My work presents a symbolism that looks inward, examining the self in all its mystical complexity. It studies the human relationship to self, to others, and to the divine eternal, stripped of all that is pretentious and artificial, exposed to all that is profound and vulnerable. The paintings show the inevitable suffering that must be endured by the human body. But they also celebrate the beauty and dignity of the human soul.

1978
Coursework in MFA degree program, on extended leave of absence
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
1975 – 76
Post-Baccalaureate work in printmaking
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
1973 – 75
BA degree, Studio Arts, Dean’s Honor List
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
1969 – 73
BA degree, French, Cum Laude
Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA

NEARLY 50 YEARS EXHIBITING EXPERIENCE INCLUDING:

Early 2021 to Present
Work in progress in compiling a complete photographic and written archive of 50 years’ work, including artwork, writings, studies preliminary to finished work, model photos, and notes of interest.
Helen P. Shipman has been professionally creating and exhibiting her artwork and its accompanying writings all her life. Exhibitions have often been devoted to themes of spirituality or healing. She has worked on commissioned consignments, public and private, including portraits, paintings for church sanctuaries, and theater costumes, among others. Her work is represented in public and private collections