Ethel Lebenkoff

I paint about my world: my thoughts, my feelings, books and magazines I read, people I meet, things I walk by and see. I am interested in perception and perspective, alteration and adjustment, shifts in context and size and their effects on reality. What I perceive is often subject to the limitations and distortions of my inherited and conditioned nature. But I am living in an amazing time in which I have opportunities to experience my own evolution. I can transcend my biases and expand my awareness. I have the choice to become: more conscious, more powerful, more understanding, more loving, and more grateful for this gift of life. This is what my work is about.I am inspired by humor. It is an integral part of my personality. E. E. Cummings must have understood this when he said, The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. I intend to not waste your days!My seemingly simplistic paintings are hybrids: conceptually complex, visually expressionistic and abstract. They are often playful. Paradoxically, I am serious about everything I do.

M.F.A. 1998, MILLS COLLEGE, Oakland, California
Post-graduate, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ART, 1994, Umbria, Italy
M.S. 1971 STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, Buffalo, New York
B.S. 1968 STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, Buffalo, New York

Solo Exhibitions
2008 - TWO WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER , New York City, N.Y.
2006 - WILLIAM LOWE GALLERY, Atlanta, Georgia
2001 - EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, New York City, N.Y. - “The Empire Series”
2000 - CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, 270 Park Ave. New York City, N.Y. - “Swan Lake in Starbucks Cups” and CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York City, N.Y. - “Monumental Inspiration”
1998 - MILLS COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT, Oakland, CA - Performance: “Five Minutes of Ethel,” By Eddie Shocker
1987 - .UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Music Department - Collaboration: “Jazzart”

Collaboration
2009 - RISING TIDE: ART AND ECOLOGICAL ETHICS CONFERENCE: Stanford University and California College of the Arts

Group Exhibitions
2007 - SNAP TO GRID , Los Angeles, California
2007 - PREMIER ONCOLOGY, Santa Monica, CA
2006 - CUE ART Foundation, New York City, N.Y.
2005 - STELLAR SOMERSET GALLERY Palo Alto, California
2005 - THE CREATIVE ART CENTER, New York City, N.Y.
2005 - REESE BULLEN GALLERY, Humboldt State University, Arcata , California - “Art Faculty Exhibition”
2005 - JEWISH COALITION FOR LITERACY, Palo Alto, California
2005 - SPIKE GALLERY, New York City, New York
2005 - NUTUREART GALLERY, Brooklyn, N.Y - “Paper, P...