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 in acrylics, and occasionally in oil and cold wax, and alcohol ink. Her inspiration comes from the natural environment, literature, and from being an educator. She has the privilege of being an art instructor for The ARC, Autism Resource Center of Litchfield County, Inc. in Torrington, Connecticut, where she provides art instruction to teens with autism. The art club program focuses on social and emotional well-being through creating visual arts. As a middle school educational assistant for the past 25 years, and a professional artist, DJ treasures combining these two cherished occupations as an art instructor for The ARC.
DJ is a member of the Connecticut Women Artists, Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, and the Milford Arts Council. The Torrington Collective chose her as artist of the week in June 2020. In February 2020 she received Second Place in Painting from Art Life Culture's exhibit in Harwinton, Connecticut. She was the recipient of the Milford Arts Council People's Choice Award in July 2020. She is currently exhibiting artwork in local venues, art fairs and in online exhibits.
Artist Statement
I enjoy exploring the process of creating a painting. The vibrant color and texture of acrylics on paper suits my contemporary expressionist style. I often work intuitively 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. 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 meditative quality of texture combined with a limited palette in my work.
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 landscapes and seascapes, 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 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
Exhibitions:
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
The MAC Member's Exhibition
Group Juried Show
Milford, CT
November 9, 2023 - January 5, 2024
Annual Fall Exhibition
Group Juried Show, Kate Henderson, Juror
Gallery 53
Meriden, CT
Best in Show for Metropolis
October 7 - November 4, 2023
Down to Earth
Group Exhibition
Fisher Gallery
Farmington Valley Arts
Avon, CT
October 7 - 28, 2023
Performance of Color
Solo Exhibition
Jerram Winery
New Hartford, CT
July 1 - July 31, 2023
Into the Woods
Solo Exhibition
Evening Sky Brewing
Burlington, CT
June 11, 2023 - Present
Embracing the Elements
Juried Group Exhibit
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Avon, CT
February 4 - February 25, 2023
Color: Blue
Juried Group Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Firehouse Gallery
Milford, CT
April 20 - 30, 2023
Reflections
Personaland
https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/reflections
Online Exhibit
March 31, 2023
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Artist of the Month
Torrington, CT
February 2023
MAC Member Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
January 26 - March 17, 2023
Environments
Solo Exhibition
2nd Home Lounge
Winsted, CT
October 2022
Five Points 2022 Juried Exhibition
Small Works
Torrington, CT
August 20 - September 24, 2022
Artist of the Month Solo Exhibit
Jerram Winery
New Hartford, CT
July 2022
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
Artist of the Month Solo Exhibit
Lost Acres Vineyard
North Granby, CT
April 2022
MAC Member Exhibit
Milford Arts Council
Milford, CT
February 10 - March 11, 2022
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
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
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"
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
Membership Drive Cover Art - 2020
Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Torrington, CT
2D & 3D: Shape & Color
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Group Juried Show by Paul Baylock
Drezner Gallery
Avon, CT
December 7 2019 - January 18, 2020
Solo Exhibition
Hawk Ridge Winery
Watertown, CT
December 1 - 29, 2019
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"
Social Media:
Instagram: https: //www.instagram.com/djstensonart/
Facebook: https: //www.facebook.com/djstensonart/
Donations:
Trivet and coaster set
To benefit The Warner Theater
Wine Tasting, October 2023
"Seaswept"
To benefit The Arc of Litchfield County's annual fundraising event
October, 2022
"Arctic Moon" cigar box guitar
Collaboration with Mad Dog Guitars
Donated to Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation Fighting for Kaiden
"Wandering"
To benefit NWCT Arts Council at their Creative Awards
November 2021
"Shallow Blue"
To benefit The Arc of Litchfield County for their Nature Event
September 2021
"Distant Valley"
Art 2 Unite 2 a benefit for Hartford charities
June 22, 2019
Art Fairs:
Evening Sky Brewing Pre-Mother's Day Market
Burlington, CT
May 7, 2023
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
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
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
Litchfield Hills Creative Festival
The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Franklin Plaza, Torrington, CT
August 14, 2021
Instructor:
The ARC
Autism Resource Center of Litchfield County, Inc.
Creative Art Instructor
July 2022 - Present
Memberships and Grants:
Connecticut Women Artists Member
September 2023 - Present
Kindness in Motion Grant Recipient
May 2023
Milford Arts Council Member
Milford, CT
January 19, 2021 - Present
Northwest Arts Council Member
Torrington, CT
January 2020 - Present
Education:
Art 2 Life Workshop
Online course by Nicholas Wilton
February 14 - February 18, 2022
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
Northwestern Connecticut Community College
Associates of Science, 1988
Certificate of Graphic Design, 1988
Wamogo Regional High School
Class of 1985
Wesleyan University Center for Creative Youth
Visual Arts
Class of 1983
Awards:
June 2020
Torrington Collective Artist of the Week
July 2020
Milford Arts Council People's Choice Winner for "Red Boat"
January 2020
Art Life Culture Second Place in Painting for "Break"
1985
Wamogo Regional High School
Rhode Island School of Design Art Award
1983
Wesleyan University
Center for Creative Youth Scholarship Recipient
