About the Artist
 Throughout her life Andrea Raft has found herself drawn to art and the expressiveness it offers. She first studied painting at the Brentwood Art Center in Los Angeles. Where under it’s auspices she traveled to Giglio, Italy, to study and paint. It was in Giglio that Andrea developed her interest in layered colors and texture. The walls, doors, and streets of the 11th century old walled city inspired her to paint in overlapping layers, revealing a certain patina and history. Subsequently, Raft spent six years in the Bahamas, where she was tutored by her proximity of the sea and by the unhurried pace of life around her, more recently in the countryside of California’s central coast, and now residing in the Coachella Valley. Each shift from ancient to modern, from urban to rural, from land to sea and desert, from east to west as well as her travels to Asia have enriched Andrea’s artistic perceptions, enabling her to study, paint and show her work professionally in a host of disparate environments. Andrea is currently a member of the National Association of Women Artists, Women Painters West, , Collage Artists of America, and Artist Council of Palm Springs Art Museum.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
In my work I am most responsive to the natural world. Finding in it complex textures and earthen hues, the mood for my own canvasses. I prefer abstract color fields choosing to evoke an impression or feeling from the viewer. Found objects, collage papers, rocks, metal and most recent the use of photographs, are revealed within my mixed media pieces. My love of texture along with simplicity are founded on the principles of Asian style and eastern philosophy, blended with the influence of Mark Rothko and Anselm Keifer, two of my favorite artists. I have begun to collaborate and exhibit with my son Aaron Sedway, a world-class sports/nature photographer, bringing two very disparate sensibilities juxtaposed to create a new art form. Infusing original photographic images with fine art. His attention to detail and bold expression paired with my fondness for Chinese culture, spirituality and abstract design have become a metaphor for our mother and son relationship. Through our love of color, texture and the making of art we have to come to find spirit in nature and in our own connection to one another. Art Heals.
ANDREA RAFT
andrearaftstudio@gmail.com
706 610-5178
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
BRAND LIBRARY January 2009 Glendale, CA
FORTINI HOME AND GARDEN San Luis Obispo, CA October 2006
THE NATURAL WORLD, North Tahoe Art Center, Lake Tahoe, CA. September 2006
ASIAN STYLE 2005 Excellent Experiences Gallery at the Morgan Stanley Building, San Luis Obispo, CA.
ASIAN STYLE 2004 McConnell Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA.
THE CALMING EFFECT Big Sky Café, San Luis Obispo, CA 2002
SELECTED JURIED EXHIBITIONS PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM Artist Council Show Palm Springs, CA 2011 THE HAPPENING GALLERY, Marina Del Rey, CA. 2011 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Public Arts Commission 13th Annual "Beg Borrow and Steal" Palm Springs, CA Honorable Mention 2011 PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM Annual Artist Council Juried Exhibition, Palm Springs , CA 2010 CREATIVE ARTS CENTER "JUXTAPOSED" Burbank, CA 2009 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ACRYLIC PAINTERS Juried Show, Santa Cruz, CA 2009 VIVA GALLERY "L.A. EXPERIMENTAL ARTISTS" SHOW Sherman Oaks, CA 2009 PICTURE THIS GALLERY, "FRIDA KAHLO" Long Beach, CA 2009 CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR "AWARD OF EXCELLENCE" Sacramento, CA 2009 GALLERIA GITANA Sacred Art/All Things Sacred San Fernando, CA 2009
DAC Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2008 Goggle Works, National Association Women Artist’s Reading, PA 2008
Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA 2008
California State Fair Fine Art Competition Sacramento, CA 2008 Award of Exellence
Viva Gallery, Experimental Artists Guild Sherman Oaks, CA 2008
Orlando Gallery, Tarzana, CA 2008 Small Works Show/ Women Painters West
ArtCore Brewery Annex, Los Angeles, CA. 2008 Women Painters West
Burbank Creative Arts Center, Burbank, CA. 2008 Collage Artist of America
Lauryn Taylor Fine Arts, Carmel CA. “Holiday Lites” 2007
Picture This Gallery, Long Beach, CA “Frida Kahlo 100th Birthday” Art Show 2007
Lekae Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona “American Women Artists National Competition 2007
Longview Museum Longview Texas “Personal Landscapes” N.A.W.A. 2007
Monroe Center for the Arts Hoboken, New Jersey N.A.W.A 118th Annual Exhibition 2007
San Luis Obispo Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. Annual International Society of Acrylic Painters, San Luis Obispo, CA. 2007
Art House Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. “Women as Witness” Women Painters West 2007
Peter Stynberg Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA. “Indomitable Spirits: Giving Face/Voice To Courage” 2007
Lauryn Taylor Fine Arts, Carmel, CA. “Strata-Various” 2006
Goggle Works Center for the Arts, Reading, PA. N.A.W.A 117th Annual Juried Show 2006
Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento CA. 2005
San Luis Obispo Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. Brushstrokes 2003
Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, CA. Group Show 2007
San Luis Obispo Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. “Curators Choice” 2001
Rand Nature Center, Bahamas National Trust Art Show, Freeport Bahamas “Art Noel” 1998
Central Bank of The Bahamas, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas All Women Show “Hear Me Roar” 1996
Rand Theatre, Freeport Bahamas “Moods of Freeport” 1994
Beverly Hills Art Festival Beverly Hills, CA “Affaire in the Garden” 1989
AWARDS
Award of Excellence California State Fair Fine Art Competition 2008
Image-ination Award Honorable Mention Collage Artists Juried Show Burbank Creative Arts Center 2008
Blessing Semler Award given for Creativity Women Painters West Juried Show Art House Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2007
1st Prize Award for Mixed Media Division Brushstrokes 2003 San Luis Obispo Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA
EDUCATION
Cuesta College Fine Arts Program, San Luis Obispo, CA
Allan Hancock College, Fine Arts Program, Santa Maria, CA
Brentwood Art Center, School of Fine Art, Brentwood, CA
B. A. University of California at Northridge, Northridge, CA 1975
ORGANIZATIONS
Collage Artists of America
ISAP International Society of Acrylic Painters Signature Member
N.A.W.A. National Association of Women Artist’s Juried Member
Women Painters West Juried Active Member
Southern California Women’s Caucus for Art Palm Springs Art Museum Artist Council Board Member |
