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About the Artist

Lida Matheson Stifel

I have been on a creative journey for over 40 years. Every painting creates a different set of circumstances so I don’t have any formulas. I believe that working directly from life is necessary in order to create spontaneous and energetic work. Although I experiment with different techniques and subject matter, I maintain a strong respect for the traditions of art. 

 

Educated at Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in Art History and painting, I continued studying painting and drawing at The Corcoron School of Art under William Christenberry.

 

I have had over 18 solo exhibitions and been selected in over 30 juried exhibitions. I have participated in Paint Annapolis, Wayne Plein Air Festival and Ellicott City “Paint It” I have won 8 Jurors Choice Awards including “Strokes of Genius” at the Maryland Federation of Art and most recently, first place in the Ellicott City Juried Plein Air Competition in July of 2015.

 

I have been represented by The Byrn Gallery in Middleburg in Middleburg, VA, Foxhall Gallery (now Eisely Fine Arts) in Washington DC., Lin Roller Menard Gallery in Vero Beach, Florida, Carspecken Scott Gallery in Wilmington Delaware, Orchard Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland and Susan Calloway Gallery in Washington D.C.

Resume

Education:

  • The Corcoron School of Art, 1983-1985,1988-1990

  • The Washington Studio School, 1986

  • Ohio Wesleyan University, 1968-1971

  • Hollins College, 1966-1968

 

Solo Exhibitions:

  • Byrne Gallery, Middleburg,VA 2022

  • Byrne Gallery, Middleburg,VA,2021

  • Byrne Gallery Middleburg,VA 2020

  • M.Maison,Vero Beach Fl, 2020

  • M.Maison, Vero Beach ,Fl, 2017

  • A Mano, Naples Fl,2015

  • Byrne Gallery, 3 person  Still Life exhibition, Middleburg,VA 2016

  • Byrne Gallery, 3 person Seascape exhibition, Middleburg,VA, 2015

  • Byrne Gallery, 3 person Landscape Exhibition, Middleburg,VA, 2014 

  • M.Maison Gallery,Vero Beach ,FL  2014

  • Framers Choice Gallery, Gaithersburg, Md, 2012

  • Orchard Gallery, MD, 2011

  • Kentland’s Mansion, Gaithersburg, MD, Dec.2010-Jan. 2011

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC, Dec. 2010

  • The Art Gallery of Potomac, Bethesda, MD 2010, Local Color”

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC, June, 2009

  • Orchard Gallery, Bethesda, MD June 2009, Sequence”

  • Sumner Museum, Washington, DC Sept.2008-Jan.2009

  • Orchard Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 2006, “Carnival”             

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC,2005

  • American Horticultural Society, Alexandria, VA, 2005

  • Orchard Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 2004, “Momentum”

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC, 2003 

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC, 2001

  • Ambiance Gallery, Vero Beach, FL, 2000

  • Glen Echo Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 1999

  • Creative Partners Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 1998

  • The Artist’s Museum, Washington, DC, 1997

  • The American Institute of Architects, Washington, DC, 1995

  • The American Horticultural Society, Alexandria, VA, 1995

  • Palmer National Bank, Washington, DC, 1993

  • Kristin Johnson Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 1992

  • Landon School, Bethesda, MD, 1992

  • McCrillis Garden Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 1990

  • Rock Creek Gallery, Washington, DC, 1989

  • The “O” Street Gallery, Washington, DC, 1989

  • B.R. Kornblatt Gallery, Washington, DC, 1986

 

Group Exhibitions:

  • Maryland  Federation of Art, Spring member exhibition 2022

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Winter Exhibition, 2018

  • Strokes of Genius, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2017

  • Hightown Gallery, “Your Town”, Baltimore, MD, 2017

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Member Exhibition,2017

  • Crystal Moll Gallery, Still Life Exhibition, Baltimore, MD 2015

  • Crystal Moll Gallery, Summer Exhibition, Baltimore, MD 2015

  • Strokes of Genius, National Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art,  Annapolis, MD 2015

  • Maryland Federation of Art, member exhibition, 2016

  • Strokes of Genius, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2014

  • Strokes of Genius, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2013

  • Top of the World Trade Center, Mid Atlantic Plein Air Association, 2013

  • Maryland College of Art, Collage Park, MD, Fine art by Maryland Artists, 2013

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2011, National Landscape Exhibition

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD, 2011,” Strokes of Genius” National Painting Exhibition

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, Maryland 2010

  • Paint Annapolis Juried Competition, Annapolis, MD 2010

  • National Landscape Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD, 2006

  • Apex Gallery All Media Juried Exhibition, Washington, DC, 2004

  • “Historic Places and Wide Open Spaces”, Historic Medley Juried Exhibition, Poolesville, MD, 2004

  • “Go Figure”, Maryland Federation of Art National Juried Exhibition, Annapolis, MD

  • “Black and White”, The Art League Juried Exhibition,  Alexandria, VA, 2002

  • All Media Juried Exhibition, The Art League, Alexandria, VA, 2002

  • Small Works Juried Exhibition, The Art League, Alexandria, VA, 2002

  • All Media Juried Exhibition, The Art League, Alexandria, VA, 2000                                                                               

  • Montgomery County Juried  Art Exhibition, Rockville, MD, 1999

  • “Art on Paper”, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD, 1999

  • “Innovations in Printmaking”, Annarundel College, Arnold, MD, 1999

  • “Figurative Small Works”, Armory Arts Center”, Palm Beach, FL, 1998

  • “A Paper Show”, The Atheneum, Alexandria, VA, 1995

  • “A Tribute to Rock Creek Park”, Rock Creek Gallery, Washington, DC 1994      

  • Corcoron Alumni Exhibition, Washington, DC, 1994

  • Montgomery County Juried Art Exhibition, Rockville, MD, 1994

  • Works on Paper by Women Artist, Memorial Study Collection, Bryn Mawr College, 1994             

  • 1st Annual Working Artists Exhibition, Rock Creek Gallery, Washington, DC, 1993

  • Artists Equity Annual Juried Exhibition, NOVA, Annandale, VA, 1993

  • Montgomery County Juried Art Exhibition, Rockville, MD, 1992

  • “Drawing on Excellence”, Rock Creek Gallery, Washington, DC, 1992

  •   Artists Equity Membership Exhibition, Washington, DC, 199 “ Marks of   Vision, Traveling Drawing Exhibition, MD National Capital Parks and      Planning, 1990

  • New Talent Competition and Exhibition, The Art Barn of Washington, DC, 1991 “In and Around Rock Creek Park”, The Art Barn of         Washington, DC, 1990

  • Artists Equity Membership Exhibition, Washington, DC, 1989                   

  • Artist’s Equity Membership Exhibition, Washington, DC,1989

  • Knickerbocker Artists 37th Annual National Exhibition, New York, NY, 1987

  • Artists Equity Membership Exhibition, Washington, DC, 1987

  • 1st Regional Show of the Maryland Pastel Society, Baltimore, MD, 1987

  • Area Wide Juried  Painting Exhibition, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA,1998 

  • Brandeis Juried Art Exhibition, Strathmore Hall, Rockville, MD, 1986

  • Annual Juried Exhibition, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA, 1986

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington DC, Holiday Showcase, Dec. 2010-Jan.2011

  • Foxhall Gallery,Washington ,DC  Summer Showcase, July –Aug.2010

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC 2008, Summer Showcase

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC   2006, Summer Showcase 2007

  • Glen Echo Partnership for the Arts, Glen Echo MD, 2006

  • Glenview Mansion, Rockville, MD, 2004

  • Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC, 1999, 1996, 1995

  • Ambiance Gallery, Vero Beach, FL, 1998,1999

  • Carspecken Scott Gallery, Wilmington, DE, 1995,1994, 1993

  • Rablen- West Gallery, Vero Beach, FL, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992

  • Susan Conway Gallery, Washington, DC, 1992

  • FDIC, Washington, DC, 1992

  • Universal North building, Washington, DC, 1991

  • R Street Gallery, Washington, DC, 1991, 1985

  • The Foundry Gallery, Washington, DC, 1985

 

Awards:

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2011, Jurors Award, Painting 

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2011, Honorable Mention, National Landscape Exhibition

  • Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD 2010 Jurors Award for painting

  • “Historic Places and Wide Open Spaces”, Historic Medley Juried Exhibition,

  • Poolesville, MD, 2004, 1st place and Best in Show

  • “Black and White”, The Art League, Alexandria, VA, 2002 2nd place for drawing

  • Montgomery County Juried Art Exhibition, Rockville MD, 1999 Honorable Mention

  • “Tribute to Rock Creek Park”, Washington, DC, 1994 Best in Show

  • 1st Annual Working Artists Exhibition, Washington, DC, 1993 Merit of Excellence in Painting

  • Artists Equity Annual Juried Exhibition, Annandale, VA, 1993 1st Merit Award

  • “Drawing on Excellence”, Washington , DC, 1992 Honorable Mention

  • “In and Around Rock Creek Park”, Washington, DC, 1990 1st Prize

 

Presentations and Reviews:

  • The Gaithersburg, Patch, Jan,  2011 Lida Stifel” Directions at Kentlands        Mansion, Gaithersburg, MD

  • The Gazette Newspaper, Jan.5. 2011, Lida Stifel “ Directions” at Kentlands Mansion, Gaithersburg, MD   

  • The Gazette Newspaper,  “ Local Color” Lida Stifel at Potomac Art Gallery,   Potomac, MD , May 2010, by Colleen Healy

  • ELAN Magazine, October 2008

  • The Gazette Newspaper, “Carnival” Lida Stifel at Orchard Gallery, Bethesda, MD 2008

  • The Gazette Newspaper, MD, “In the Moment” Lida Stifel at Orchard Gallery, Bethesda, MD, October 2006, by Karen Shafer

  • The Gazette Newpaper, Gaithersburg , MD, Dec1 2004

  • Rockville Arts Place, Rockville, MD, 1996

  • Panel Discussion, “Collage from the Czech Republic”

  • Where Magazine, February, 1996
    “Out of Architecture”, by Jean Cohen

  • Koan Art News, February, 1996
    “Mixed Media Paintings by Lida Matheson Stifel at the American Institute of Architects”, by Diane Beale

  • The Alexandria Gazette, October 12, 1995 “River Farm Paintings hold artists memories”, by Megan Ianson

  • Art Strokes, Montgomery County Community Television, 1995

  • Interview with Allan Evry

  • The Washington Post, December 26, 1992 “Transitions” at Kristin Johnson Gallery, By Mary McCoy

  • McCrillis Garden, “Quiet Places, Interpreting the Landscape”, presented

  • Eyewash“, Two plus One”, by Bruce Yenawine

 

Pubilcations:

  • “Divinely by the Dozen”, Poems by E.Sinclair, illustrated by Lida Stifel Belvedere Books, printed by Mennonite press, 2010

 

Residencies and Fellowships:

  • Virginia Center for Creative Arts,2008, Auvillar, FR

  • Contemporary Arts Center, North Adams MA, 1999

  • Armory Arts Center, Palm Beach, FL, 1998, working with Wayne   Theibauld

  • Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA, 1993

  • The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT, 1990

  • La Fondation de La NaPoule, La Napoule, France, 1989

 

Public Collections:

  • Critical Care Association, Bryn Mawr, PA

  • Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA

  • Columbia Hospital for Women, Washington, DC

  • Desert Palms Resort, Palm Springs, CA

  • The Westin Corporation, Washington, DC

  • Pepco Corporate Headquarters, Washington, DC

  • The Law Offices of Howry  & Simon, Washington, DC

  • The Law Offices of Covington & Burling, Washington, DC

 

Professional Experience:

  • Instructor, Yellow Barn Studio, Glen Echo, Maryland

Artist Statement

I grew up surrounded by nature and have painted en plein air for most of my professional life. With my landscapes, I like to create a sense of calm atmosphere. Simultaneously, still-life painting has always interested me because I can manipulate objects to make interesting compositions. Likewise, some of my work leans towards abstraction because I enjoy exaggerating the formal elements through color and shape. My goal is to create a subtle shift of perception for the viewer without losing the understanding of subject. Creating work with a sense of discovery without straying far from tradition is what interests me most.

Contact

If you have any questions or are interested in purchasing any of the pieces shown in these collections, contact directly at

lidart@comcast.net

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