DJ Stenson Art | Connecticut Artist
Artist Bio
DJ Stenson resides in Torrington, Connecticut. She is a contemporary expressionist painter and mixed media collage artist who works primarily in acrylics. Her inspiration comes from the natural environment, literature, and from being an educator. She has had the privilege of being an art instructor for The ARC, Autism Resource Center of Litchfield County, Inc. in Torrington, Connecticut, where she provided art instruction to teens with autism. She is currently an art instructor at the New Hartford Artisans Guild. As a middle school educational assistant for the past 27 years, and a professional artist, DJ has begun incorporating books into her most recent mixed media body of work, the Banned Books series.
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DJ is a member of the Connecticut Women Artists, and the New Hartford Artisans Guild. The Torrington Collective chose her as Artist of the Week in June 2020. In February 2020 "Break" received Second Place in Painting from Art Life Culture's juried exhibit in Harwinton, Connecticut. She was the recipient of the Milford Arts Council People's Choice Award for "Red Boat" in July 2020. In November 2023, she was awarded Best in Show for "Metropolis" at A Year in Review: 99th Annual Fall Show at Gallery 53, Meriden, Connecticut. In June of 2025 she received First Place in the Summer Reading juried exhibit at New Hartford Artisans Guild for her "Banned Books I: Frankenstein" mixed media piece. Gallery 53 in Meriden chose "Dawn of Time" for Third Place in the Transforming Reality abstract exhibition in April 2026. She is currently exhibiting artwork in local galleries, venues, and in online exhibits; and she has a permanent exhibition in Studio 9A Gallery at the New Harford Artisans Guild.
Artist Statement
I enjoy exploring the intuitive process of creating a painting. The vibrant color and texture of acrylics suits my contemporary expressionist style. I often work spontaneously, applying paint with a pallet knife, brush or other tool. I blend and soften edges with a brush or rag or remove paint with medium or water to create negative space, depth or interest. I fluctuate between bold, gestural, impasto mark-making, and soft, blended areas, always with an attention to color or value. I compose areas of contrast with movement and quiet. I use color symbolically, as a means to create a feeling. I usually paint with music playing which often inspires the mood of the painting. It is my intention to provide viewers with visceral spaces in which to get lost. Often there is a combination of rich textures with a limited palette in my work.
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I have always had a profound connection with the sublime feeling nature inspires, and the cathartic effect of a walk in the forest or a day by the sea. As a painter of abstract, my creativity is continually sparked by my deep respect for nature, and my travel experiences. As an avid reader, settings in literature that reflect a theme and current events inspire my work continually, as well.
Sharing my love of art with others, whether at an exhibit, on social media, or in an art class, is a central priority I have in my work. Creating and observing art enriches lives, heals, nurtures, makes people think, is inclusive of diversity, and fosters the spirit. Art has the power to unite us. It is my sincere hope that my artwork will bring people together in joy, that it will be reminiscent of a feeling, a time or a place; and observers will be touched and intrigued as they find a connection to their own lives.
Artist's CV
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​Permanent Exhibitions:​
New Hartford Artisans Guild
Studio 9A Gallery
New Hartford, CT
January 2026 - Present
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Exhibitions:
​Art for ACT Sun-kissed Art Showcase
Fundraising Event
Hartford Artspace
Hartford, CT
June 13, 2026, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
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Summer Sizzle
Connecticut Women Artists
Online Exhibit
June 1 - July 15, 2026
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Transforming Realty
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
April 9 - May 2, 2026
Third Prize for "Dawn of Time"
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Momentum
New Hartford Artisans Guild
New Hartford, CT
March 25 - April 25, 2026
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Connecticut Women Artists
Juried Member's Show
Art League of New Britain
New Britain, CT
April 11 - 30, 2026
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Cut and Paste
Clubhouse Gallery
West Hartford Art League
West Hartford, CT
February 15 - March 15, 2026
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Black, White and In Between
Fisher Gallery
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Avon, CT
January 10 - 31, 2026
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Deck the Walls
New Hartford Artisans Guild
Holiday Market
New Hartford, CT
November 28 - December 23, 2025
Twist & Turn
Drezner Gallery
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Avon, CT
November 1 - 29, 2025
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Regurgitated Art
Personaland Online Exhibit
November 7, 2025 - January 1, 2026
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NHAG Annual Members Exhibition
New Hartford Artisans Guild
New Hartford, CT
October 30 - November 22, 2025
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The Fall Show 2025
A Small Works Juried Exhibition
Kalaveshi Arts
Avon, CT
October 17 - November 17, 2025
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101st Annual Fall Art Exhibit
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
October 11 - October 30, 2025
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Featured Artist Exhibition: Banned Books Series
Gallery 25
New Milford, CT
October 2025
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Ascension
New Hartford Artisans Guild
New Hartford, CT
September 28 - October 30, 2025
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Solo Exhibition: Ten Years
New Hartford Artisans Guild
New Hartford, CT
July 18 - August 2, 2025
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Artist of the Month, Solo Exhibit
Jerram Winery
New Hartford, CT
July 2025
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Summer Reading
New Hartford Artisans Guild
New Hartford, CT
June 7 - July 15, 2025
First Place for Banned Books I: Frankenstein
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Transforming Reality
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
April 12 - May 1, 2025
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Echos
The Gallery at InterCommunity Health Care
East Hartford, CT
April 5 - June 30, 2025
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Vernal Equinox
New Hartford Artisans Guild
New Hartford, CT
April 1 - June 1, 2025
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Artist of the Month March 2025
Solo Exhibit
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Torrington, CT
March 2025
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Light Through Darkness
The Gallery at InterCommunity Health Care
East Hartford, CT
January 16 - March 16, 2025
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Small Works Juried Exhibition
End of Year Show
Kalaveshi Arts
Avon, CT
November 16 - December 15, 2024
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Open Studio Hartford
Group Show
Artspace
Hartford, CT
November 10 - 23, 2024
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​Common Threads
Farmington Valley Arts​
Drezner Gallery
Avon, CT
October 26 - November 30, 2024
Color of Passion
Inside Small
Group Juried Exhibit
Online Exhibit
October 22, 2024 - January 22, 2025
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100th Annual Fall Show
Group Juried Exhibit
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
October 10 - October 31, 2024
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Moved by Abstraction
Group Juried Exhibit
Arts Center East - Eureka Gallery
Vernon, CT
September 21–October 12, 2024
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Rivers, Lakes, Oceans
Personaland
https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/rivers-lakes-oceans-2-of-2
Online Exhibit
September 2024 - Present
​​Online Members' Gallery
Connecticut Women Artists
2024 - Present
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Annual Member's Juried Show
Connecticut Women Artists
Hartford Artspace
Hartford, CT
April 14 - 28, 2024
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Abstract Art Exhibit
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
April 12 - May 1, 2024
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Full Spectrum 2024
Group Juried Exhibition
Gallery 25
New Milford, CT
January 19 - February 4, 2024
Out of Body
Group Exhibition
Five Points Annex
Torrington, CT
November 10 - December 1, 2023
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The MAC Member's Exhibition
Group Juried Show
Milford, CT
November 9, 2023 - January 5, 2024
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Annual Fall Exhibition
Group Juried Show, Kate Henderson, Juror
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
Best in Show for Metropolis
October 7 - November 4, 2023
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Down to Earth
Group Exhibition
Fisher Gallery
Farmington Valley Arts
Avon, CT
October 7 - 28, 2023
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Performance of Color
Solo Exhibition
Jerram Winery
New Hartford, CT
July 1 - July 31, 2023
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Into the Woods
Solo Exhibition
Evening Sky Brewing
Burlington, CT
June 11, 2023 - Present
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Embracing the Elements
Juried Group Exhibit
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Avon, CT
February 4 - February 25, 2023
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Color: Blue
Juried Group Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Firehouse Gallery
Milford, CT
April 20 - 30, 2023
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Reflections
Personaland
https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/reflections
Online Exhibit
March 31, 2023
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Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Artist of the Month
Torrington, CT
February 2023
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MAC Member Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
January 26 - March 17, 2023
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Environments
Solo Exhibition
2nd Home Lounge
Winsted, CT
October 2022
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Five Points 2022 Juried Exhibition
Small Works
Torrington, CT
August 20 - September 24, 2022
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Artist of the Month Solo Exhibit
Jerram Winery
New Hartford, CT
July 2022
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UN+ART 5
Hartford Art Space
Hartford, CT
June 23 - July 3, 2022
Featured Artist
Junior League of Hartford
Designer Show House
West Hartford, CT
June 3 - June 26, 2022
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Artist of the Month Solo Exhibit
Lost Acres Vineyard
North Granby, CT
April 2022
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MAC Member Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
February 10 - March 11, 2022
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Global Garden
Online Exhibit
Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut
December 3, 2021 -
Lifting Restrictions
Juried Exhibition
The Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
October 7 - November 12, 2021
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ArtSpace Maynard
UFO Gallery
Maynard, MA
Arctic Moon Guitar
July 13, 2021 - September 25, 2021
Dreams
Online Exhibit Featuring 67 Artists
from 12 Countries
Personaland
July 2 - September 2, 2021
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EcoScapes: What is Your Vision of Nature?
Online Exhibit Featuring 100 Artists
from 19 Countries
Personaland
April 2 - June 3, 2021
Home
Members Virtual Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
January 21 - March 18, 2021
The Story of Women
Live and Virtual
Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
October 15 - November 19, 2020
Art in the Windows
Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Downtown Torrington, CT
July 2020 - Present
Color Exhibit: Red
Virtual Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Milford CT
June 11 - July 31, 2020
People's Choice Winner for "Red Boat"
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ART in PLACE (Self-isolation)
Virtual Exhibition
Standard Space Gallery
Sharon, CT
May - June, 2020
Resiliency
Virtual Multimedia Gallery
Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
May 22, 2020
Art Life Culture
Art Show and Contest
Harwinton, CT
Second Place in Painting for "Break"
January 25, 2020 - February 28, 2020
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Membership Drive Cover Art - 2020
Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Torrington, CT
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2D & 3D: Shape & Color
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Group Juried Show by Paul Baylock
Drezner Gallery
Avon, CT
December 7 2019 - January 18, 2020
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Solo Exhibition
Hawk Ridge Winery
Watertown, CT
December 1 - 29, 2019
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Group Juried Show
Gallery 25
New Milford, CT
October 7 - 27, 2019
Corralling Cats: Fascinating Felines
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Drezner Gallery
Avon, CT
June 22, 2019 - July 27, 2019
Art 2 Unite 2
Artspace
Hartford, CT
June 22, 2019
Solo Exhibition
New Perspectives on Main
Gallery on Main
Watertown, CT
April 13, 2019 - May 11, 2019
The Five Points Annex
Holiday Art Sale
Torrington, CT
November 29 - December 16, 2018
Annual Group Juried Show
The Underground Gallery
Collinsville, CT
August 17-Sept 2, 2018
Stillness
Kelly’s Crystals
Torrington, CT
Artisan
August 1 - October 1, 2018
Solo Exhibition
Jerram Winery
New Hartford, CT
May 4 - 28, 2018
Solo Exhibition
The Underground Gallery
Collinsville, CT
April 6-22, 2018
Place | Memory
Juried Group Show
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Avon, CT
"Cosmic Dreamscape"
November 17, 2017 - December 30, 2017
Opening November 17, 2017 5-9 pm
Remembering Mother Nature
Solo Exhibition
Miranda Vineyard
Goshen, CT
Artist of the Month
November 2017
Opening November 11, 2017 2-4 pm
Open Studios Hartford Group Show
Artspace
Hartford, CT
"Stone Stairs"
Open Through November
Open Studios Weekend November 11-12, 2017
http://openstudiohartford.com/group-show
Everywhere in Between
A Group Juried Show by William Kluba
The Underground Gallery
Collinsville, CT
August 11, 2017 - September 17, 2017
"Storm"
"Stone Stairs"
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Social Media:
Instagram: https: //www.instagram.com/djstensonart/
Facebook: https: //www.facebook.com/djstensonart/
Donations:
Echos, Mixed media collage
To benefit Project Graduation 2024 at Northwestern Regional High School
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Trivet and coaster set
To benefit The Warner Theater
Wine Tasting, October 2023
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"Seaswept"
To benefit The Arc of Litchfield County's annual fundraising event
October, 2022
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"Arctic Moon" cigar box guitar
Collaboration with Mad Dog Guitars
Donated to Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation Fighting for Kaiden
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"Wandering"
To benefit NWCT Arts Council at their Creative Awards
November 2021
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"Shallow Blue"
To benefit The Arc of Litchfield County for their Nature Event
September 2021
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"Distant Valley"
Art 2 Unite 2 a benefit for Hartford charities
June 22, 2019
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Art Fairs:
Evening Sky Brewing Pre-Mother's Day Market
Burlington, CT
May 7, 2023
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Northwestern Regional FFA Holiday Fair
Winsted, CT
November 19, 2022
Litchfield Hills Creative Festival
The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Franklin Plaza, Torrington, CT
August 20, 2022
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Brewery Legitimus Spring Market
New Hartford, CT
May 7, 2022
Spring Fling
Franklin Street, Torrington
April 29, 2022
Brewery Legitimus Sip and Shop
New Hartford, CT
December 5, 2021
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LOLA Artisan Fair
Goshen, CT
November 27-28, 2021
Northwestern Regional FFA Holiday Fair
Winsted, CT
November 20, 2021
Jack-o-lantern Jubilee
Franklin Street
Torrington, CT
October 29, 2021
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Litchfield Hills Creative Festival
The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Franklin Plaza, Torrington, CT
August 14, 2021
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Instructor:
New Hartford Artisans Guild
Art Instructor
July 2025 - Present
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The ARC
Autism Resource Center of Litchfield County, Inc.
Creative Art Instructor
July 2022 - August 2023
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Memberships and Grants:
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New Hartford Artisans Guild Member
May 2025 - Present
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Connecticut Women Artists Member
September 2023 - Present
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Kindness in Motion Grant Recipient
May 2023
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Milford Arts Council Member
Milford, CT
January 19, 2021 - Present
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Northwest Arts Council Member
Torrington, CT
January 2020 - Present
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Education:
Art 2 Life Workshop
Online course by Nicholas Wilton
February 14 - February 18, 2022
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Louise Fletcher's Find Your Joy
Taster Course 2021
June 3 - June 10, 2021
Louise Fletcher's Find Your Joy
Taster Course 2020
June 15 - June 23, 2020
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Northwestern Connecticut Community College
Associates of Science, 1988
Certificate of Graphic Design, 1988
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Wamogo Regional High School
Class of 1985
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Wesleyan University Center for Creative Youth
Visual Arts
Class of 1983
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Awards:
November 2023
Best in Show for "Metropolis"
A Year in Review: 99th Annual Fall Show
Gallery 53, Meriden, CT
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June 2020
Torrington Collective Artist of the Week
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July 2020
Milford Arts Council People's Choice Winner for "Red Boat"
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January 2020
Art Life Culture Second Place in Painting for "Break"
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1985
Wamogo Regional High School
Rhode Island School of Design Art Award
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1983
Wesleyan University
Center for Creative Youth Scholarship Recipient
