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Artist Bio

DJ Stenson resides in Torrington, Connecticut. She is 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 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. 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.

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.

StensonDJ_Biophoto.jpg

Artist's CV

Exhibitions:

Color of Passion

Inside Small

Group Juried Exhibit

Online Exhibit

https://www.insidesmall.com/

October 22, 2024 - January 22, 2025

100th Annual Fall Show

Group Juried Exhibit

Gallery 53

Meriden, CT

October 10 - October 31, 2024

Moved by Abstraction

Group Juried Exhibit

Arts Center East - Eureka Gallery

Vernon, CT

September 21–October 12, 2024

Artist's CV Continued

Exhibitions:

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

Annual Member's Juried Show

Connecticut Women Artists

Hartford Artspace

Hartford, CT

April 14 - 28, 2024

Abstract Art Exhibit

Gallery 53

Meriden, CT

April 12 - May 1, 2024

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

www.personaland.com

EcoScapes: What is Your Vision of Nature?

Online Exhibit Featuring 100 Artists

from 19 Countries

Personaland

April 2 - June 3, 2021

www.personaland.com

 

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

https://www.artsnwct.org/

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

https://www.courant.com/ctnow/arts-theater/hc-ctnow-art-art2unite2-hartford-0620-20190618-p6oct37rxfcltjhhbukm6mo3o4-story.html

 

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

https://milfordarts.org/

Northwest Arts Council Member

Torrington, CT

January 2020 - Present

https://www.artsnwct.org/

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

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