Valerie Hunt 
Seeking gallery representation and exhibition opportunities
E-Mail
ARTIST STATEMENT
MY CURRENT SERIES: TORN
Most of the ideas for the paintings in the TORN series are developed from black and white collages made from torn pieces of magazines, hence the name for the TORN series. These collage studies are no bigger than 11 inches x 17 inches. First, specific areas of each collage are identified as interesting compositions. Preliminary watercolor sketches help to further define the compositions and determine color and value relationships.
The process of painting with this plastic paint (acrylic) captivates me. I study and experiment with pattern, texture and color, and draw inspiration from the Pattern and Decoration movement of the mid 1970s to early 80s. Some canvases are filled with varied patterns and textures, while others have textures without patterns.
The textures extend up to 1/2 inches off of the surface of the canvas. Textures are created by the addition of glass beads, crumb rubber, black lava, sand, extra heavy gel mediums, modeling paste, pieces of vinyl, paper, shredded rubber tire, crushed polycarbonate and paint squirted directly from the tube onto the canvas. Some paintings in the show include millet, amaranth, red lentils, green split peas, and rice as texture.
As for color, the ground is usually a low value key (dark) with intense colors as the figures. I also play matte against glossy surfaces. The paintings in this series range in size from 16 inches high x 20 inches wide to 46 inches x 92 inches (two canvases side by side). They are all acrylic on canvas or masonite board and most are not framed, as the image wraps around the edges.
MY CURRENT SERIES: TORN
Most of the ideas for the paintings in the TORN series are developed from black and white collages made from torn pieces of magazines, hence the name for the TORN series. These collage studies are no bigger than 11 inches x 17 inches. First, specific areas of each collage are identified as interesting compositions. Preliminary watercolor sketches help to further define the compositions and determine color and value relationships.
The process of painting with this plastic paint (acrylic) captivates me. I study and experiment with pattern, texture and color, and draw inspiration from the Pattern and Decoration movement of the mid 1970s to early 80s. Some canvases are filled with varied patterns and textures, while others have textures without patterns.
The textures extend up to 1/2 inches off of the surface of the canvas. Textures are created by the addition of glass beads, crumb rubber, black lava, sand, extra heavy gel mediums, modeling paste, pieces of vinyl, paper, shredded rubber tire, crushed polycarbonate and paint squirted directly from the tube onto the canvas. Some paintings in the show include millet, amaranth, red lentils, green split peas, and rice as texture.
As for color, the ground is usually a low value key (dark) with intense colors as the figures. I also play matte against glossy surfaces. The paintings in this series range in size from 16 inches high x 20 inches wide to 46 inches x 92 inches (two canvases side by side). They are all acrylic on canvas or masonite board and most are not framed, as the image wraps around the edges.
Valerie Hunt's Galleries
Valerie Hunt's Images
ARTIST BIO
Valerie Hunt has uniquely combined Art and Interior Design to envision, design, make and install creations in the public realm. Her artwork has been placed in many juried shows and can be found in private collections across the United States. Her most recent one-person show was held at the ASU Mercado Galleria in downtown Phoenix. Practicing Interior Design since 1979, she has created site-specific commercial and corporate designs for clients such as Motorola, Kodak, Xerox, GE, American Airlines, Toyota, LAX, Bendix, Sheraton, Hilton and Hyatt.
Valerie has been teaching art and interior design since 1991 and has taught over 130 classes. She has enjoyed full-time faculty positions at The Art Institute of Phoenix, Mesa Community College and Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth, Florida. Since 1995, she has continued to hold part-time faculty positions at Phoenix College, Scottsdale Community College, Mesa Community College and Arizona State University. She resides in Tempe, Arizona.
Valerie earned a Bachelor of Interior Design from Louisiana State University in 1980 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Florida Atlantic University (a Florida State school) in 1991. She was awarded a Master of Science in Design from Arizona State University in 1997. Her thesis, Why Corporations in the Phoenix Area Collect Art, can be found in the ASU Architecture and Phoenix Art Museum libraries.
ARTIST RESUME
AWARDS
2000
One person show, Arizona State University's Mercado Galleria, downtown Phoenix
Honorable Mention and Peoples Choice Awards, Arizona State Fair
1999
3rd Place, Arizona State Fair
1994
Merchandise Award, 53rd Annual National Juried Art Competition, Lake Worth Art League
1993
Judges Recognition, Palm Beach Watercolor Society Fall Showcase
1992
Best in Show, Norton Artist Guild Juried Exhibition, Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach
Honorable Mention, Annual Harvest Days Juried Show, Artists Showplace Cooperative, Florida
1991
Merchandise Award, 50th Annual National Juried Art Competition, Lake Worth Art League
2nd Place, Norton Artists Guild Fall Preview
2nd Place, Suburban Bank Juried Art Exhibition, West Palm Beach
COLLECTIONS (* = commissioned)
*Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY
Jacquelyn and Frank Ball, Manalapan, Florida
Abby Chait, West Palm Beach, FL
*Donna Gardner, Lake Worth, FL
Moscowitz Dick Kee, Boynton Beach, FL
Maria Mandell, Lake Worth, FL
Judy and Tom Tribbey, West Palm Beach, FL
*Michael Weiner, Esquire, Delray Beach, FL
*Beverly and Dave Brazill, Fort Meyers, FL
James Anderson, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dr. Elizabeth Bond, Cary, North Carolina
*Adrienne Kelly, Mission Viejo, California
Maxine Soloman, Phoenix, Arizona
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Valerie has taught over 130 college-level art and design classes from 1991 to 2008.
2002- 2005 Art Institute of Phoenix, Art and Interior Design classes. Full time Faculty
1997- present: Mesa Community College, Scottsdale Community College, and/or Phoenix College.
Art and/or Interior Design Depts. (Appointment varies each semester)
1996-1997 Arizona State University (ASU). Interior Design Instructor
1991-1993 Palm Beach Community College, West Palm Beach, FL. Art Department Full-time Faculty
1992-1993 Lantana Middle School, Lantana, Florida. Adult Education Watercolor Classes
1992 Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida. Summer Art Camp
EDUCATION
1997-1999 Graduate painting classes. Arizona State University (ASU).
1997 Master of Science in Design. ASU. Thesis: Why Corporations in the Phoenix Area Collect Art
1991 Bachelor of Fine Art in painting and sculpture. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
1980 Bachelor of Interior Design. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
1997-present
Dance performance and exhibitions
2009
Herberger Theater. "Singularity" Group show, Phoenix.
2008
Herberger Theater. "Abstract/Abstracted" Group show, Phoenix.
Art DETOUR, Phoenix. Three person show at Gallery 623/Studio 6
Two Person Show called:Two Paths at PhiX Gallery on Grand Ave, Phoenix. Show ran Jan. 4-Feb. 28, 2008
Green: Found Objects Transformed, Arizona Artist Guild (AAG) Juried show, Glendale, AZ
Everyday Things: Finding Beauty, AAG Fall Membership Exhibition, Fountain Hills, AZ
2003, 2004
Art Institute of Phoenix Faculty Art Show, Phoenix
Arizona Room 3, Mesa Arts Center
2000
Arizona State University Mercado Galleria, downtown Phoenix. One person show.
1999-2001
Arizona State Fair
1998
Mesa Community College Art Department Faculty Show, Mesa, AZ.
Arizona Watercolor Association Membership Exhibition, Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix
Mood Swings, Group Exhibition, Tempe, Arizona.
Staff and Member Art Show, Gentle Strength Cooperative, Tempe.
Student Art Show, The Phoenix Center for Community Arts.
1997
Arizona Watercolor Association Spring Exhibition, Grady Gammage Auditorium.
Arizona Watercolor Association Fall Exhibition, Sun Cities Museum of Art.
1994
Palm Beach Watercolor Society 11th Annual Juried Exhibition, Boca Raton, FL
Inspirations 94, Palm Beach Juried Show, Old School Sq., Delray Beach.
53rd Annual National Juried Art Competition, Lake Worth Art League.
1993
Palm Beach Watercolor Society (PBWS) Fall Showcase ATC Corporate Center, Boca Raton
Annual Harvest Days Juried Show, Artists Showplace Cooperative, Lake Worth.
Florida Atlantic University Alumni Invitational, Ritter Gallery, Boca Raton.
For the Love of Art, PBCC Museum of Art, Lake Worth.
Norton Artist Guild Juried Exhibition, Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach.
PBWS 10th Annual Exhibition, Old School Square, Delray Beach.
52nd Annual National Juried Art Competition, Lake Worth Art League.
1992
Norton Artist Guild Juried Exhibition, Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach.
For the Love of Art, PBCC Museum of Art, Lake Worth.
PBWS 9th Annual Exhibition, Ritter Gallery, Boca Raton.
Showcase 92, ATC Corporate Complex, Boca Raton.
WXEL 7th Annual Art Awards and Preview, Boynton Beach.
Deanna Harris Gallery, Lake Worth.
Annual Harvest Days Juried Show, Artists Showplace Cooperative.
1991
50th Annual National Juried Art Competition, Lake Worth Art League.
Student Art Exhibition, Ritter Gallery, Boca Raton.
Fine Art Exhibition, Ritter Gallery, Boca Raton.
Worrels Juried Exhibition, Manalpan, FL.
Annual Juried Show, PBWS, Old School Square, Delray Beach.
13th Annual Celebration of the Arts, Lighthouse Gallery of Art, Tequesta, FL.
D & D Center Invitational, Palm Beach Council of the Arts, West Palm Beach.
Norton Artists Guild Fall Preview, Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach.
Suburban Bank Juried Art Exhibition, West Palm Beach.
1990
Fourth Annual Art Contest, Loxahatchee Natural History Association
AFFILIATIONS
Arizona Artists Guild juried member, Arizona Watercolor Society juried member, Phoenix Artlink, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Phoenix Art Museum, ASU Art Museum, American Society of Interior Designers Allied Member (ASID), Interior Design Educators Council.
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