Biography
Pamela Mooney was born in southern California in the suburbs of Orange County. After high school she attended University of California at Los Angeles where she earned a BA in philosophy. Subsequently, she moved to New York City where she studied painting and drawing at The Art Students League. Returning to California she continued her studies through extension courses at San Francisco Institute of Art and the California College of the Arts. Her work has appeared in numerous group shows in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York. She currently lives and works in San Francisco, California.
Artist Statement
Through my paintings I wish to explore imperfections intrinsic in the human condition which leave us vulnerable to the influences and predations of others. To that end, I combine, rework, and reimagine found images. These may be photo based or may reference well known paintings or graphic art. In the process of painting I simplify, exaggerate and distort both shape and scale. Color relationships are disrupted, sometimes to create harmony and sometimes to create discord.. Saturated colors and colors of the same hue often times overflow boundaries and defy both form and tradition. Chance plays a role as well, suggesting new ways forward that were not previously considered. The compositions that result challenge the viewer to decipher the layered meanings of the source material and the impact our cultural narratives have on the possibilities for the future.
Group Exhibitions
2024
Connected: Gallery Route One, Point Reyes CA. Juror: Ta See Lee. - Transmission Gallery and Gearbox
2023
Spanning The Gate: Sausalito Center for the Arts, Sausalito CA
The Figure and Points of Departure: 2121 Artspace, San Francisco CA
Reimagining History: Arts Benicia. Benicia, CA. Juror: Sandow Birk
Crocker Art Museum: Benefit Auction, Roseville, CA
Art And Cultures of the World: Marin Society of Artists
Bay Area Figurative: Emerging From Abstraction: Livermore Valley Arts
2022
Serenity: SF Women’s Health Center, San Francisco, CA
Art For AIDS 2022 Benefit Auction, San Francisco, CA
I Figure: Contemporary Figurative Art: Arts Benecia, Benicia, CA
Contemporary Botanicals: Art Works Downtown. Juror: Vanessa Indies, Director of Hashimoto Contemporary San Rafael, CA
Crocker Art Museum: Benefit Auction, Roseville, CA
Monochromatic: O’Hanlon Center for the Arts. Juror: Suzanne Gray, Partner Seager Gray Gallery
Lottery for the Arts Benefit Auction: Blue Line Arts
Fresh Perspective: San Francisco Women Artists Gallery. San Francisco, CA Juror: Cecilia Chia, Director Glass Rice Gallery
2021
Left Coast Annual: Sanchez Art Center. Pacifica, CA Juror: Christine Koppes, Curator and Director of Public Programs San Jose ICA
Crocker Kingsley Exhibition: Blue Line Arts; Roseville CA. Juror: Carrie Lederer
Crossing the Divide: Gallery Route One; Point Reyes, CA. Juror: Donna Seager, Partner Seager Gray Gallery
2020
Left Coast Annual: Sanchez Art Center, Pacific, CA. Juror: Carin Adams, Curator Oakland Museum of Art
2019
Winter Solstice: Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Marin CA Juror: Andrea Schwartz
Fresh Art: Marin Society of Artist, Marin, CA. Juror: Donna Seager First Place Award
14th Annual Juried Exhibition Axis Gallery, Sacramento CA. Juror: Amy Owen
2018
13th Annual Juried Exhibition, Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA Juror: Lucía Sanromán Juror’s Award
Notwithstanding: SF Art Institute; San Francisco, CA
Brushstrokes: San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
2016
Fresh Works: Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, CA
Figures and Faces: Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
Third Annual Juried Art Show: Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA. Juror: Carin Adams
2015
Fall Drawing Exhibition: Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Marin, CA
Questioning Beauty: John A. Cade Center for Fine Arts, Arnold, MD
Connect and Collect: San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose CA
Bowery Gallery 24th Annual : Bowery Gallery, NYC, NY
Bay Area Women Artists: O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley, CA Jurors: Donna Seager & Suzanne Gray
Left Coast Annual: Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA Juror: Jenny Gheith
2014
Landscapes, Seascapes & Urbanscapes: Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA
Fresh: Marin Society of Artists, Ross CA
9th National Juried Exhibition: Axis Gallery, Sacramento CA Juror: Jenny Gheith
2014
Left Coast Annual: Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica CA Juror: Lucinda Barnes
Curatorial Projects
Pencil and Paint: 6 Bay Area Artist Share How Drawing Impacts Their Creative Process. Arc Project Gallery May 13 - June 10, 2023
Education
University of California, Los Angeles: BA Philosophy
The Arts Students League, New York, New York
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
California College of the Arts, San Francisco, California