ARTIST STATEMENT
Anything that I see is “grist for the mill” when I am creating a visual story in my paintings. I love to combine representational images in ways that create visual narratives. Each work is deliberative, conscious and responsive to a particular set of prevailing emotions. Though my storytelling is personal, the true fascination of creation for me is that the willing viewer makes each piece an unending journey of expression and reinterpretation.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t thinking about or doing something that involved artistic expression. Growing up poor forced me to turn to any available materials for creative projects including egg shells, string, toilet paper rolls, and TV dinner trays. Most of my earlier adult work included art furniture, jewelry and photography. My life took me in many directions as I moved from Philadelphia to New York to pursue a career in theater, and finally to Los Angeles where I began teaching computer applications and graphic design. Aside from my diploma in graphic design, I am a self-taught, fine art, digital painter/collage artist and photographer. I started painting at the age of 66, after a 43 year search for my biological father. Once I found out his identity, something happened to me. I felt like a giant part of my life puzzle had been put into its rightful place. It made me feel whole, and gave me a strong sense of self which enabled me to begin my next life chapter as a digital artist. I saw it as a miraculous and life-changing event.
I see my art as visual storytelling and any subject is grist for the mill. I love to juxtapose representational images to create personal narratives. Each work is purposeful, conscious and responsive to a particular set of prevailing emotions. I am not bound to any particular style of art. I always let the subject matter lead me to it. Whether the viewer sees the same story or invents a whole new scenario, it is the grand mystery and endless fascination of creation for me. I leave it to the critics and art aficionados to define it and do the labeling. As an “emerging artist” at age 71, I’m just thrilled to be out there (or anywhere for that matter), have my work seen and to be part of the art conversation. I am honored and humbled to be juried into membership in the CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE, LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION and the COLLAGE ARTISTS OF AMERICA. I also hold membership in both the MORRO BAY and the SANTA CLARITA ART ASSOCIATION.
AWARDS AND SELECTED JURIED EXHIBITIONS
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “COLORS OF THE RAINBOW” Gallery- March 3 – April 9, 2023 – “Under Underneath”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “COY” – Gallery 825 Exhibition -February 11 – March 3, 2023-“Potted”
ART FLUENT – “SHE” Online Gallery – February 2023 – “Far Away“
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “LITTLE GEMS” Gallery- November 22 – December 18, 2022 – “Iron” “Night Garden” “Sail Away“
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “HURLY-BURLY” – Gallery 825 Exhibition -November 2022-“Far Afield”
COLLAGE ARTISTS OF AMERICA–SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER/SCORE – “INTERNAL DIALOGUES” – Exhibition November 1-30 2022 – “Magical Thinking”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “INTERIORITY” – Gallery 825 Exhibition -October 16th 2022-“Watching”
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – GOLD MEDAL SHOW “MANKIND/NATURE” – Online Exhibition October 15 thru December 31, 2022 –“Emerald City” “Old Stone City“
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “INSIDE OUT” Gallery- October 14, 2022 – November 20, 2022 – “David” “Narciso al Revés“
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER/SCORE-1st PLACE AWARD – “HUMAN FORM AND FIGURE – Online Exhibition September 2022 – 1st PLACE AWARD “La Pirata” “Little Shadow Dancer” “Narciso al Revés“
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “THE GREAT OUTDOORS” Gallery- August 19, 2022 – September 25, 2022 – “House and Poppies”
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER/SCORE – “ARTOPIA 2022” – Online Exhibition August 2022 – “Me Mum” “The Stoned People”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “WOMEN IN ART 2022” Exhibition July 7-jULY 3030 2022 – “Dreaming of Paris”
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “TIME AND SPACE” Gallery- June 24, 2022 – July 31, 2022 – “Steampunked at 4 am” “Me Mum”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “MANNERIST” – Gallery 825 Exhibition -June 2022-“La Pirata” (used as show poster)
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “GOLDEN 50 AND OVER 2022” Exhibition June 2–June 30 2022 – “Me Mum”
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – “REFLECTIONS” – online Exhibition June 2022 – “No Resistance”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “BEST OF THE BEST 2022” Exhibition May 5th-May 28th 2022 – “Jellies”
COLLAGE ARTISTS OF AMERICA–SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER/SCORE – “MIXED METAPHORS” – Exhibition April 1-April 30th 2022 – “Little Easy” “Crush Hour” “Body and Soul”
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “ZOOM IN” Gallery- March 4, 2022 – April 10, 2022 – “Rain Storm” “Spring”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “FACT FINDING” – Gallery 825 Exhibition -January 29 – February 18, 2022-“Vilna”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “PENUMBRA” – Gallery 825 Exhibition -January 2022-“Under Constructivism”
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA – “CREATIVE PORTRAITS” December – February 2022 – “Steampunked at 4 am” “Narciso Al Revés“
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – “CALIFORNIA DREAMS – Gallery Exhibition January 7th- January 27th 2022 – “Boats at Dock” “Jellies”
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA – “SCAA JURIED EXHIBITION” Old Town Newhall Library Gallery- November 15th-January 24th 2022 – “Night Jellies”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “THE LATE STYLE” – Gallery 825 Exhibition – October 23rd-November 9th 2021-“Man of Stone”
COLLAGE ARTISTS OF AMERICA–SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER/SCORE – “PICKING UP THE PIECES” – Exhibition November 2021 – “David” “The Stoned People”
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “ART CLASSIC” Gallery- November 6th 2021 – “The Nearness of You” “Two Lions”
GILLIA GALLERY-VERUM ULTIMUM ART GALLERY – 6th ANNUAL CHASING GHOSTS EXHIBITION- October 11th – November 5th 2021 – “Watching”
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA – “FOLLOW YOUR ART” City Hall Gallery- October 4th-December 3rd 2021 – “Streets of Vilna” “Vilna”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “VAGARIES” – Gallery 825 Exhibition – October 2021-“Royal Pain”
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “SOLITUDE” Gallery- October 15th-November 21st 2021 – “One Woman, Two Lions”
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – GOLD MEDAL SHOW “DELIGHTS AND SHADOWS” – Online Exhibition October 1 thru December 31, 2021 –“Body and Soul” “Jellies” “Little Shadow Dancer“
GREY CUBE GALLERY – “BLUE” – HONORABLE MENTION – Online Exhibition August 21-September 2021 – “Seascape”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “CHESTNUT” – Gallery 825 Exhibition – August 2021-“Sally Sells Seashells”
MORRO BAY ART ASSOCIATION – “VISIONARY HUMAN” – Gallery September 9th – November 1st 2021 – “Steampunked at 4 am” (Used as show promo)
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “WITHIN THESE WALLS” Gallery- August 20th-November 1st 2021 – “Sunflowers” “God Bless the Child That’s Got His Own”
CULTURAL CENTER OF CAPE COD – “EYE OF THE BEHOLDER” – Online International Exhibition – August 2021 – “The Stoned People”
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER/SCORE – “ARTOPIA” – Online Exhibition August 2021 – “The Nearness of You”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “TEXTURES AND PATTERNS” Exhibition July 2021 – “Rocks of Age”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “USER TO USER” – Gallery 825 Exhibition – July 2021-“Potted”
FUSION GALLERY – “CITYSCAPES” – Online Exhibition – July 2021 – “Fat Cat City” “Downtown”
SANTA CLARITA ARTIST ASSOCIATION – “URBAN VIEW” – June 25th – August 1st 2021 – “Crush Hour” “Fat Cat City”
MORRO BAY ART ASSOCIATION – “THE GREAT OUTDOORS” – Gallery July 15th – September 6th 2021 – “Central Coast Impressions” “Fog on the Central Coast” “Rocks and Water”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “THE SECOND HALF-(50 AND OLDER)” – Online Exhibition July – 2021 – “Women Working”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “OUT THERE” – Gallery 825 Exhibition – June 12-16-2021-“Women”
MARIN SOCIETY OF ARTISTS – “EXPOSED” – Online Exhibition – May 2 – July 2 2021 – “Luminescence“
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “FAT CITY” – Online Exhibition – April 24- May 14th 2021 –“Old Stone City”
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – “SUBLIME” – Online Exhibition May 2021-October 2021 –“Dreaming of Paris”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “READY GO! – Online Exhibition – April 2021 –“Narciso Al Revés”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “THE SKY’S THE LIMIT” – Online Exhibition April. – 2021 – “Purple Tulips”
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER – “MODELS IN MOTION” – Online Exhibition April 2021 – “RED About You” “2020 Hindsight”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “GILD” – Online Exhibition – March 2021 – “ Home Furnishings”
CULTURAL CENTER OF CAPE COD – “INTO THE WOODS” – Gallery Exhibition – March 31st-April 25th – “Forest Through the Trees.”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “WOMEN IN ART 2021” – Online Exhibition March 4th-27th. – 2021 – “Steampunked at 4am”
THOUSAND OAKS ART ASSOCIATION – “OPEN JURIED SHOW” – Online Exhibition – February 1st – March 31st – “Far Afield” and “Dying Irises”
COLLAGE ARTISTS OF AMERICA – “PARALLEL DIMENSIONS” – Online Exhibition February 1st – 28th 2021 – “Ghosts”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “LANDSCAPES” – Online Exhibition February 4th-27th. – 2021 – “Breaking Through”
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER – “NEW BEGINNINGS” – Online Exhibition January 2021 – “Narciso”
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – “HOLIDAY ART EXHIBIT” – Online Exhibition December 2020 – Honorable Mention Award – “Sunflowers”
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA – “LANDSCAPES OF THE MIND” – City Hall Lobby – December 4 through March 19 2021 – “House and Fog on the Central Coast,” “Windmill and Poppies“
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – “HOLIDAY ART EXHIBIT” – Online Exhibition December 2020 – “Orchid,” “House and Poppies,” Pájaro del Paraíso,” “Bamboo,” and “Sunflowers”
ART ROOM GALLERY – “TREES AND FIELDS” – Online Exhibition – Finalist – November 2020 “House and Poppies,” “House and Fog on the Central Coast,” and “The Promise”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “AURORA” – Online Exhibition – November 2020 – “ The Promise”
LIGHTSPACETIME – “OPEN EXHIBITION” – Special Merit Award – Online Exhibition November 2020 – “Sunflowers”
GREY CUBE GALLERY – “FACES” – Online Exhibition November 2020 – “Facing Shadows”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “PORTRAITS” – Online Exhibition November 5th – November 20th 2020 – “Narciso“
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “FESTOON” – Online Exhibition – October 2020 – “ Warrior Mom”
ART ROOM GALLERY – “ARTIST’S CHOICE” – Online Exhibition – Finalist – October 2020 “Emerald City” and “Purple Tulips“
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “MAKE PLAIN” – Online Exhibition – October 2020 – “Childhood”
LAS LAGUNA GALLERY – “2020 POLITICAL DISCORD” – Online Exhibition October 1st – November 3rd – “red WHITE and blue“
FUSION GALLERY – “3rd Annual Women’s ‘Art Show” – Honorable Mention, Online Exhibition September 15th-December 14th 2020 – “Sunflowers”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “Non sequitur”” – Online Exhibition September 2020 – “Home Furnishings”
GREY CUBE GALLERY – “CITY ART SHOW” – Online Exhibition September 2020 – “Childhood”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “EXALTED ONE” – Online Exhibition August 2020-“Queen Rose A“
LIGHTSPACETIME – “ANIMALS” – Online Exhibition August 2020 – “Her Royal Heinie NOODLE of Marina del Rey“
GREY CUBE GALLERY – “SEASONS” – Online Exhibition August 2020 – “Bamboo” and “Poppy Jane“
ART ROOM GALLERY – “BOTANICALS” – Online Exhibition July 2020 “Multi-colored Flowers” and “Orchid“
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “FIELD OF VISION” – Online Exhibition July 11-24 2020 – “Red and Yellow Flowers”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “INDISTINCT CHATTER” – Online Exhibition July 1-10 2020 – “The Forgotten”
CALIFORNIA ART LEAGUE – “CHANGE” – Online Exhibition July 2020 – “Royal Pain”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “GLEAMING APOLLO” – Online Exhibition June 2-11 – “Dreaming of Paris”
GREY CUBE GALLERY – “PORTRAIT” – Finalist, Online Exhibition June 2020 – “Steampunked at 4 am”
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER – “ART IN CRISIS” – Online Exhibition April 2020 – “Sheltered”
LOS ANGELES ART ASSOCIATION – “SECLUSION” Online Exhibition April 9-17 2020 – “Multi-Colored Flowers”
REFLECTIONS ELEGANTE FINE ART GALLERY-Solo show March 2020 – 14 pieces – AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
REFLECTIONS ELEGANTE FINE ART GALLERY-Gallery Opening-December 2019
ART ROOM CONTEMPORARY GALLERY – “PORTRAIT” – Online Exhibition February – March 26 2020 – “Steampunked at 4 am”
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER-Exhibition February 2020 – “Multi-colored Flowers” “Purple Tulips”
ROUND HOLE SQUARE PEG 4 – PHOTO LA – Exhibition January-March 4th 2020 – “Don’t Look”
FUSION GALLERY – “LEAVES AND PETALS” – Finalist, Online Exhibition December 2019 – “Multi-colored Flowers”
LIGHTSPACETIME GALLERY – Special Recognition, 9th Annual All Women Art Online Exhibition December 2019 – “Steampunked at 4 am”
EDUCATION
M.A. – University of Illinois;
B.S. – Temple University;
Teaching credentials – UCLA;
Diploma – Platt College of Art & Design.
WHY I CREATE
My early years were filled with sadness, violence and insecurities, a clichéd set of circumstances that could fuel the romantic notion of any 19th century artist to be sure. But that’s not why I paint. When I was twenty-three years old, my mother, in a fit of rageful retribution for being told that I was gay, decided to call me long distance and tell me that I was adopted. She was my biological parent but my father wasn’t. Over the years she told me that my biological father could have been a host of characters including a gangster, an actor, a musician and a random stranger. To me, the phrase “could have been” told me much more than I ever wanted to know about my mother who was 15 years old when she got pregnant with me. A massive emotional hole opened up which prompted me to begin a 43 year search for my father and his family. I felt like my life was in some kind of terminal nightmarish limbo. Over the years, I found cousins and other distant relatives on Ancestry.com, message boards and other websites. I even hired a private detective at one point when I was feeling particularly desperate for results. Finally, at the age of 66, after 43 years of searching, I found a first cousin on Ancestry. After numerous lengthy e mails and phone conversations we determined who my father was. Then I saw his high school photo. David Lewis Persky. He had already been dead for many years. I learned that I also had a brother who died as a child in a horrible accident. They were both buried in a cemetery which was just 20 minutes from my house. I had moved from Philadephia/New York area to Los Angeles years ago as had my father. Unbeknownst to me, we had been living in the same city for years, just a few miles apart. I was so overcome with emotion that I cried for 24 hours without stopping. I was overcome with sadness and joy. I was brought to my knees. I saw my face in his. I saw my past. For the first time in my life, at age 66, I was able to create a family tree (which by-the way, includes Lauren Bacall and Simon Peres). And then something miraculous happened. I looked at my family tree and that hole in my heart, that emptiness dissolved. I physically felt it happen. I sat down at my laptop the next day and began to create and I haven’t stopped since. I create to rejoice in my discovery. I create to uncover what could not be revealed before. I create to stay alive. I create because I am compelled to communicate with a confidence that had previously been unattainable for me. I create to leave something behind, a legacy of discovery. I create to give gifts as “thank yous” for kindnesses rendered. I create because I can. I create because this was who I was always meant to be and can now unmask.
A friend once visited the house and saw my art for the first time. She said, “Rene, you spoke of your art and I knew it was in you but now I can see it. There you are, Rene. There you are.” Here I am, indeed.
R. A. Smoller 