Artist  Statement

I love to do equine portraits and we had adopted this older Andalusian mare about 2 years ago.  She has a beautiful head and is so wise

that I had to paint her portrait.  I decided to show off her white head to best advantage with a dark background and her steamy breath on a cold Canadian

morning.

Biography

Laara Cassells is a contemporary Canadian painter best known for her representational paintings and portraits both human and equine.

Since 2010 her award-winning work has been shown in over 70 exhibitions worldwide.  Cassells spent a number of years as a professional

theatre designer and has designed sets and costumes for theatre, ballet, opera and film for numerous companies across Canada and Europe.

Focusing exclusively on fine art over the past 20 years, Laara has exhibited sculptures, drawings and paintings in Belgium, Germany,

Hungary, Italy, Monaco, South Korea, Poland, Switzerland and across the USA and Canada.

Painting in acrylics on canvas, Cassells considers herself a contemporary realist, or a conceptual realist stylistically.  “I try to represent my model

as accurately as possible.  Beyond depicting the observed subject, I am always looking for that invisible, ethereal quality that I perceive clearly but

that is so hard to articulate.”

Education

1985 MFA Set and Costume Design University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta

1982 MFA Sculpture Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan

1980 Diploma Sculpture (Honours) Emily Carr College of Art, Vancouver, BC

1978 Diploma Fine Art Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC

1971 Higher National Diploma Business Studies Central London Polytechnic, London, GB

Recent Awards

2019 2nd Place Painting, 3rd Place Winner overall, “9th Annual “Figurative” Online Competition, Light, Space, Time Gallery 2019 4th Place in Painting, “All Women’s Art Competition”, contemporaryartgalleryonline.com, Annapolis, MD. 2018 Artsy Shark Featured Artist Award, Carolyn Edlund, Founder, Artsy Shark, NY, NY. 2018 Top Featured Artist Award “Herstory” Exhibition”, Manhattan Arts International, NY, NY. 2018 Third Place Award, “International Society of Acrylic Painters 1st Annual Master and Signature Artist Show” 2018 Best Overall Acrylic, “7th Annual PleinAir Salon Dec/Jan Exhibition”, PleinAir Magazine. 2018 First Place Award, “Retro” Online Juried Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, B.C. 2018 Honourable Mention, “Women Artists”, International Quarterly Group Online Art Exhibition, Fusion Art. 2017 People’s Choice Award, “Miracle of the Portrait” Competition, Portrait Society of Canada 2016

Recent Exhibitions

l2019 2nd Place Painting, 3rd Place Winner overall, “9th Annual “Figurative” Online Competition, Light, Space, Time Gallery 2019 4th Place in Painting, “All Women’s Art Competition”, contemporaryartgalleryonline.com, Annapolis, MD. 2018 Artsy Shark Featured Artist Award, Carolyn Edlund, Founder, Artsy Shark, NY, NY. 2018 Top Featured Artist Award “Herstory” Exhibition”, Manhattan Arts International, NY, NY. 2018 Third Place Award, “International Society of Acrylic Painters 1st Annual Master and Signature Artist Show” 2018 Best Overall Acrylic, “7th Annual PleinAir Salon Dec/Jan Exhibition”, PleinAir Magazine. 2018 First Place Award, “Retro” Online Juried Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, B.C. 2018 Honourable Mention, “Women Artists”, International Quarterly Group Online Art Exhibition, Fusion Art. 2017 People’s Choice Award, “Miracle of the Portrait” Competition, Portrait Society of Canada 2016 1st Prize for Painting, “Con Corso Buenos Aires 8”, International Competition, Milan, Italy 2016 3rd Prize, First Annual All-Members Online Exhibition, International Society of Acrylic Painters 2013 Award of Exceptional Merit, Scottsdale Biennale, Scottsdale, AZ 2013 Holbein Award, 16th Annual Open International Exhibition, International Society of Acrylic Painters 2013 Medicine Hat Cultural Development Grant 2013 Award of Merit , 2013 National Juried Exhibition of National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society 2013 Editor’s Choice Award, “Portraits V”, Artist Portfolio Magazine 2013 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant 2012 Certificate of Merit, “Miracle of the Portrait” Competition, Portrait Society of Canada 2012 Honourable Mention, 4th Annual Open Show , International Society of Acrylic Painters 2011 Canada Council Grant – Alberta Creative Development Initiative 2010 Certificate of Excellence for outstanding achievement in Fine Art Portraiture – 2010 Canadian Portrait Competition 2008 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant 2003 Medicine Hat Cultural Development Grant 2003 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant 2002 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant 2001 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant 2000 Award of excellence – Manhattan Arts International, New York 1989 Alberta Historical Resources Foundation Research Grant 1989 Alberta Culture Visual Arts Travel Grant 1989 Canada Council Explorations Grant 1984 University of Calgary Graduate Scholarship 1983 University of Calgary Graduate Scholarship 1983 Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarship 1982 University of Calgary Graduate Scholarship 1982 Banff School of Fine Arts Scholarship 1981 Canada Council Travel Grant 1981 BC Cultural Fund Scholarship 1981 Cranbrook Academy of Art Scholarship 1981 Banff School of Fine Arts Scholarship 1981 Michigan Foundation for the Arts Award 1980 Cranbrook Academy of Art Scholarship 1980 Helen Pitt Award 1980 BC Cultural Fund Scholarship 1980 Helen Pitt Graduate Award 1st prize 1980 Emily Carr College of Art Merit Award laara cassells resume 2 juried art exhibitions (* catalogue) “All Women’s Art Competition” – 4th Place Painting Group 2019 Contemporary Art Gallery Online, Annapolis, MD “Open International Juried Online Exhibition” Group 2019 Society of Canadian Artists, Calgary, AB “Canvas Unbound”, Federation of Canadian Artists Group 2019 Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC “Retro” Online Juried Exhibition, FCA Group 2019 Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, BC “Limitless”, online exhibition, FCA Group 2018 Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, BC “Summer Showcase”, Federation of Canadian Artists Group 2018 Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, BC “2018 Art Competition” IALHA Group 2018 International Andalusian Horse Ass., Birmingham, AL “Herstory” Manhattan Arts International Group 2018 Manhattan Arts International, NY “50th International Open”, Soc. Of Canadian Artists Group 2018 Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills, Toronto, ON “Painting On The Edge”, online, FCA Group 2018 Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, BC “Contemporary Portrait 2018” Group 2018 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario “ISAP 1st Annual Master and signature Artist Show” Group 2018 Cathy Kline Art Gallery, Parkville, MO “Go Figure”, Federation of Canadian Artists Group 2018 Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC “90th Annual International Juried Exhibition” Group 2018 Art Assoc. of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA “Healing Power of Art and Artists” online exhibition Group 2018 Manhattan Arts International, NY, NY “Colours”, International Online Exhib. Group 2018 Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA “Canvas Unbound”, Federation of Canadian Artists Group 2018 Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC “Retro” Online Juried Exhibition, FCA – First Prize Group 2018 Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, BC “Artist’s Spotlight” Online Solo Exhibition Solo 2018 Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA “Artists’ Choice”, Federation of Canadian Artists Group 2018 Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC “Women Artists”, International Quarterly Online Group 2018 Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA “2018 Active Members Juried Exhibition” FCA Group 2018 Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC “Miracle of the Portrait, 2017” Group 2017 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario “2nd Annual All Members International Online Exh. Group 2017 Internat. Soc. of Acrylic Painters, Pasa Robles, CA “89th Grand National Exhibition”* Group 2017 American Artists Professional League, NY, NY “30th September Exhibition” Group 2017 Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA “7th Annual PleinAir Salon-April/May exhibition” Group 2017 PleinAir Magazine, online “Contemporary Portrait 2017” Group 2017 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario “2017 Spring International Open Exhibition” Group 2017 National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Soc., online “after” Solo 2017 Open Art Milano Associazione, Milan, Italy “Miracle of the Portrait, 2016” Group 2016 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario “Con Corso Buenos Aires 8”* Group 2016 Open Art Milano Associazione, Milan, Italy “1stAnnual All Members International Online Exh.” Group 2016 Internat. Soc. of Acrylic Painters, Pasa Robles, CA “_after”* Solo 2016 Thames Gallery, Chatham, Ontario “_after”* Solo 2015 Gallery Stratford, Stratford, Ontario “_after”* Solo 2015 gallery@501, Sherwood Park, Alberta “2015 Spring International Juried Exhibition” Group 2015 National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Soc., online “after”* Solo 2015 Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “2014 Fall International Juried Exhibition” Group 2014 National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Soc., online “Contemporary Portrait 2014” Group 2014 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, ON, online “As Human As..” Group 2014 Galerie Carré Doré, Monaco “2014 Spring International Juried Exhibition” Group 2014 National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Soc., online “relocation” Group 2014 Centennial Hall, Medicine Hat College, AB “Past, Present, Future” Group 2013 Linus Galleries, Los Angeles, CA “Strokes of Genius” Group 2013 Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD “2013 Fall International Juried Exhibition” Group 2013 National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Soc., online “85th Grand National Exhibition”* Group 2013 American Artists Professional League, NY, NY “Scottsdale Biennale 2013” Group 2013 Wee Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ “Journeys” Group 2013 California Art League, San Fernando, CA “16th Annual Open International Exhibition” Group 2013 Internat. Soc. of Acrylic Painters, Pasa Robles, CA “Portraits V – 2013” Group 2013 MyArtContest.com, Artist Portfolio Magazine “Annual Juried Exhibition 2013” Group 2013 National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Soc., online “Nordart 2013” Juried International Exhibition * Group 2013 Kunstwerk Carlshutte, Budelsdorf, Germany “Annual Open International Exhibition 2013” Group 2013 International Society of Acrylic Painters, online “Miracle of the Portrait, 2012” Group 2012 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario “America: Now and Here” Group 2012 America: Now and Here Project, Curator: Eric Fischl “84th Grand National Exhibition”* Group 2012 American Artists Professional League, NY, NY “4th Annual National Figurative Painting Group 2012 Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University, and Drawing Competition” Selinsgrove, PA “64 Arts 2012 National Juried Exhibition”* Group 2012 Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL “4th Annual International Online Show” Group 2012 International Society of Acrylic Painters, online “Part and Parcel: The Deconstruction of Group 2012 Arts Guild of New Jersey, Rahway, NJ The Female Form in Contemporary Art” “International 2010/2011 ARC Salon” Group 2011 Art Renewal Center, Port Reading, NJ laara cassells resume 3 art exhibitions (continued) “64 Arts 2011 National Juried Exhibition”* Group 2011 Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL “Library Thoughts” Group 2011 Raday Konyveshaz & Gallery, Budapest, Hungary “Viewpoints” Group 2011 Aljira Center for Contemporary Art, Newark, NJ “51st International Award Exhibition” Group 2011 San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA “The Art of Canadian Music” Group 2011 John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Ontario “Mask/Masque” Group 2011 Cultural Centre Gallery, Medicine Hat, AB “Ex Arte Equinus 4” – 3rd Place Group 2011 International comp. Art Horse Magazine, Mar. 2011 “Miracle of the Portrait” Group 2010 Portrait Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario “Art Takes Miami” International Juried Exhibition Group 2010 Online exhibit, Miami, Florida, “Artist Residency Exhibition” Group 2010 Duna Gallery, Budapest, Hungary “Bestiary”* National Juried Exhibition Group 2010 Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio “Exchange” National Juried Exhibition Group 2010 Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Boston, MA “64 Arts 2010 National Juried Exhibition”* Group 2010 Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL “42nd Open National Juried Competition” Group 2010 Todmorden Mills Gallery, Toronto, Ontario “e. strange” Solo 2010 Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Whole Being” Group 2009 Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Resonance” Prairie Collective VII Group 2008 Reeve Theatre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB “12/01” Group 2007 Medicine Hat Cultural Centre, Medicine Hat, AB “New Works” Group 2006 Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Signals from/about Central Europe” Group 2006 Central European Cultural Institute, Budapest “Momentum” Group 2005 Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “River Meditation” Prairie Collective VI Group 2005 Reeve Theatre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB “As I Am” Performance 2 person 2005 Big Secret Theatre. Epcor Centre, Calgary, AB “New Works” Group 2005 Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Present Participles” with Davida Monk 2 person 2004 Dancers’ Studio West, Calgary, Alberta “Identity Crisis” Group 2004 Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Morehead, KY “International Artists’ Residency Exhib” Group 2004 Vizivarosi Gallery, Budapest, Hungary “Connective Tissue” Solo 2004 Squared Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Heading to East” Group 2004 Sori Center for the Arts, Jeonju, S. Korea “International Artists’ Residency Exhib” Group 2004 Vizivarosi Gallery, Budapest, Hungary “Connective Tissue” Solo 2004 Squared Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Heading to East” * Group 2004 Sori Center for the Arts, Jeonju, S. Korea “Body Politic” Solo 2004 Talley Gallery, Bemidji, Minnesota “The Feminine Eye” * Group 2004 Heuser Art Center, Bradley University, Peoria, IL “Life and Death” Group 2004 Delta Center for the Arts, Stockton, California “Bodies” 3 person 2003 Robert A Peck Arts Center, Riverton Wyoming “Indelible Shadows” Solo 2003 Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Burned” Solo 2003 Medalta Historic Kilns, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Paper Road Group 2003 Centre d’Art-En-L’Ile, Geneva, Switzerland “her” 3 person 2003 Olin Hall Gallery, Roanoke College, Virginia “Body Politic” Solo 2003 Penn State University, Altoona, Pennsylvania “New Works” Group 2002 Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Material Witness” 3 person 2002 Main Gallery, Central Michigan University, MI “Figures” 3 Person 2002 Triangle Gallery, Dayton, Ohio “4th Triennale Internationale du Papier”* Group 2002 Musee du Pays et Val de Charmey, Switzerland “Search; Pause; Play ” Prairie Collective V Group 2002 University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta “Landscape” Group 2002 Atlantic Gallery, New York, NY “The Reddish Show” Group 2002 Globe Gallery, Roswell, New Mexico “Women’s History Month Juried Exhib.” Group 2002 Boise State University, Boise, Idaho “Women: Struggle, Survival, Triumph” Group 2002 Ayer Lofts Art Gallery, Lowell, Massachusetts “23rd National Paper In Particular” Group 2002 Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri “A Body of Work” 2 person 2002 Adams Gallery, Dunkirk, New York “The Mystery of the Body” 3 person 2001 Univ. of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana “Embodied” 2 person 2001 Profiles Gallery, St. Albert, Alberta “Honouring the Crone” Group 2001 Womanmade Gallery, Chicago, Illinois “Torsos” 3 person 2001 Pearl Conard Gallery, Mansfield, Ohio “Pulcheria Arte” * Group 2001 Palazzo S. Pietro, Piacenza, Italy “Ages and Stages” Solo 2001 Maison des Femmes, Brussels, Belgium “Unfolded, Unrolled, Unpacked ” Group 2001 International Chopin Hall, Duszniki, Poland “Art by Theatre Designers” Group 2001 Mezzanine Gallery, University of Calgary “Body Politic” Solo 2000 Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Chicago Postscrip Group 1999 Suomi College of Design, Michigan “When Butterflies Dance” Solo 1999 Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta “Freedom to Dance” Solo 1999 New Gallery, Calgary, Alberta “Silent Dance” Solo 1999 Generations Gallery, Stony Plain, Alberta laara cassells resume 4 collections 2015 Esplanade Museum and Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta 2010 Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, Alberta 2010 Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta 2009 School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 2005 Esplanade Museum and Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta 2004 Jeonju Historical Museum, Jeonju, South Korea 2003 City Hall, Balatonfured, Hungary 2001 Maison des Femmes, Brussels, Belgium 1998 Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta 1985 University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 1980 Broadway Medical Clinic, Vancouver, BC. visiting artist 2019 Invited speaker for “after” exhibition, Whyte Museum of the Rockies, Banff, AB. 2015 Invited speaker for “after” exhibition, Gallery Stratford, Stratford, ON and Art Gallery @ 501, Sherwood Park, AB 2015 Invited speaker for “after” exhibition, Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, AB 2005-2014 Invited artist for mask creation for Leadership workshops, Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta 2007 Invited juror for “CLOTH: mind and body” exhibition for Surface Design Assoc., ACAD, Calgary, Alberta 2005 Invited artist for Prairie Collective VI, an inter-disciplinary collaboration at University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 2004 Invited speaker “Export Marketing Workshop”, Cultural Human Resources Council, Calgary, Alberta 2003 Invited artist for International Artist’s Residency by Hungarian Multicultural Center, Balatonfured, Hungary 2002 Invited speaker for Panel discussion “Challenging images of the Body”, Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, AB 2002 Invited artist for Prairie Collective V, an inter-disciplinary collaboration at University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 2001 Invited speaker and set designer, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta 1994 Invited artist, Canadian Society for Aesthetics, Calgary, Alberta 1994 Invited artist for Prairie Collective V, an inter-disciplinary collaboration at University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 1994 Invited artist, Association for Canadian Theatre Research, Calgary, Alberta 1991 Invited artist, Dept. of Clothing and Textiles, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta 1990 Invited artist, Centre for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan 1990 Invited artist for Prairie Collective IV, an inter-disciplinary collaboration at University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 1989 Guest Graduate advisor, Teaterskole, Copenhagen, Denmark 1988 Invited artist for Prairie Collective III, an inter-disciplinary collaboration at University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 1986 Invited artist, Art Dept. Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC 1983 Invited artist, Art Dept. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta 1982 Invited artist, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC Publications Nov. 2018 Featured in Oct/Nov 2018 Issue of Spotlight Magazine, Publ. Circle Foundation for the Arts, Lyon, France. Sept. 2018 Featured in September 2018 issue of Artists Magazine, publ: F + W Media Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA May 2018 Featured in “AcrylicWorks 5: Bold Values”, publ: North Light Books, Blue Ash, OH, USA Apr. 2018 Featured in Winter 2018 Issue of Circle Quarterly Art Review Magazine, Lyon, France. Dec. 2017 Feature article on “_after” series in “Acrylic Artist Magazine”, Dec. 2017. Apr. 2017 Featured in “Equine Art Today” in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. Feb. 2015 “Laara Cassells : _after”, Catalogue by Esplanade Art Gallery, gallery @501 and Thames Art Gallery Oct. 2014 “Studio Visit Magazine, Vol. 28” publ: Open Studios Press, Boston, MA, USA Sept. 2014 Fetaured in Lorena Kloosterboer “Painting In Acrylics: the indispensable guide”. NY: Firefly Books, 2014. Aug, 2013 “Artist Portfolio Magazine” Issue 12, publ: Issuu, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA June 2013 “Nordart 2013 Catalogue” Oct. 2012 “International Painting Annual 2” publ: Manifest Press, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA March 2011 “Ex Arte Equinus 4” publ: Art Horse Magazine, Beaumont, Texas, USA April 2011 “International Contemporary Artists” publ: ICA Publishing, NY, USA Oct. 2011 “Art Renewal Center Salon Catalogue 2010/2011” publ. Art Renewal Center Port Reading, NJ, USA Nov. 2011 “Canadian Who’s Who 2011” publ: University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada professional affiliations Member, Portrait Society of Canada Member, Portrait Society of America Signature Member, International Society of Acrylic Painters Member, National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society Member, Alberta Society of Artists Member, Federation of Canadian Artists

*Complete resume by request.