Vanessa Montenegro
My philosophy as an artist is to always have fun and be playful while doing art. I want to spread my passion and enthusiasm of art to others. I don’t limit my art to one medium or style because I don’t like limitations to my imagination. I use the materials that best fit the subject or theme I am working on. I work with graphite, pastels, oils and acrylics for the most part. I love to draw and paint with bright colors and fast lines but when the subject asks for a smooth style, I just take my time and create a smooth style. I like to show the energy, the movement, the light and shadow, precious moments and why not the also the fun stuff. The titles of my artwork are as important as the piece itself since they tell the story of the art. My subjects are people, animals, nature, and sports.
My photography is about the appreciation of the environment and life. My drawings and ink work are an explosion of movement of color which reflects my playfulness and passion for drawing. My daily sketches and miniatures are the warmup of the daily journey. Created with background music and a free open mind, this work of art is considered the daily training exercise towards achieving a greater understanding of media, creativity and art appreciation.
Vanessa Montenegro Bio:
Vanessa studied at MDCC and New World School of the Arts. There she was awarded with the Frances Wolfson Art Award and the Women’ Causus for the Arts Award. She also worked in the MDCC North Art Gallery as a gallery assistant. Later on, Vanessa earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and Bachelor’s in Finance. Vanessa has also a background as a graphic designer creating illustrations, graphics, animations, and advertising. Currently, Vanessa works on her design company, her artwork and teaches group and private art lesson to teens and adults at her art studio in Westchase. She participates in several art shows a year. Vanessa Montenegro is one of the two founders of the “Westchase Artists Society“. She is a member of CHA and was a member of the Art Advisory Committee of Hillsborough County for 3 years.
Vanessa was feature artist of the month June 2011. Read the interview at http://westchaseartists.blogspot.com/2011/06/may-artist-of-month.html
Mail: info@vanessamontenegro.com
Follow Vanessa’s Artist progress and Art Studio at https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist
Follow her blog where you will find tips and ideas: http://vanessamontenegro.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-do-i-frame-my-own-artwork.html
https://www.vanessamontenegro.com/index.html
Awards
2017 Second Place, Tampa Hispanic Heritage Poster, Tampa FL
2015 Best In Show, Westchase Artists Holiday Market, Tampa FL
2015 Honorable Mention, Black & White Exhibit at the Hodges Gallery at the Art Center Manatee
2013 Honorable Mention, Tampa Bay Lighting Celebration of the Arts, Tampa, FL
2012 Honorable Mention, Tampa Bay Lighting Celebration of the Arts, Tampa, FL
1995 Mural, Art Department Miami Dade Community College, Miami, FL
2002 Spring Review Recognition, Department of Art and Art History, FIU, Miami, FL
1996 Women’s Caucus For the Arts Award, Miami, FL
1995 Outstanding Art Award MDCC, Miami, FL
1995 Frances Wolson Art Scholarship Award, Miami, FL
1995 First Place Week Without Violence Chalk Talk Contest, MDCC, Miami, FL
1993 1st place (Ages 14-17) Tampa Hispanic Heritage poster Contest, Tampa, FL
Current and Past Shows
Solo Shows
2017 John Brook Art Alcove, Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor, FL
2016 Carrollwood Cultural Center Corridor Gallery, Tampa, FL
2016 Upper Tampa Bay Library, Westchase Branch, Tampa, FL
2012 Fifth Third Bank, Westchase Branch, Tampa, FL
2009 Feature Artist, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
Group Shows
2016 41th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, FL
2015 The Exposure Award Nature Collection, Louvre Museum, Paris
2015 Black & White Exhibit at the Hodges Gallery at the Art Center Manatee
2015 FIVE BY FIVE Art Exhibition, Tampa Art Museum, Tampa, FL
2015 40th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs FL
2014 Expressions Upper Tampa Bay Library, Tampa, FL
2014 FIVE BY FIVE Art Exhibition, Tampa Art Museum, Tampa, FL
2014 Tampa Bay Lightning Celebration of the Arts, Amalie Arena,, Tampa, FL
2014 WHITE AND BRIGHT CARNIVAL NIGHT, at Creative Loafing in the Historic Ybor Square, Tampa FL
2014 “Sailing Free” Showing now Across from Zales at Westshore Countryside Mall with 100 plus Artists.
2014 39th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin Art Center, Dunedin, FL
2013 38th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs FL
2013 Tampa Bay Lightning Celebration of the Arts, Tampa Bay Forum, Tampa, FL
2013 FIVE BY FIVE Art Exhibition, Tampa Art Museum, Tampa, FL
2013 Carter Gallery, Tampa, FL
2012 1st Tampa Bay Lightning Celebration of the Arts, Tampa Bay Forum, Tampa, FL
2012 Illusion Through Colors, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Tampa, FL
2012 FIVE BY FIVE Art Exhibition, Tampa Art Museum, Tampa, FL
2012 Clearwater’s Dolphins, the Pod at Pier 60 Public Art exhibition, Clearwater, FL
2011 Get Wired, Cuban Sandwich Show, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
2010 Westchase Artists at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Tampa, FL
2010 Westchase Artists Show at Jewish Community Center, Tampa, FL
2010 “Tile Unveiling” at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, Tampa, FL
2009 Christmas Morning in the Artist’s Studio, Clearwater, FL
2009 Quiet Conversations, Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, Tampa FL
2009 Hillsborough County Visual Arts Alliance, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
2009 The Great Art Escape” at the Oldsmar City Hall Art Gallery, Tampa, FL
2008 Art at the Speed of Life, Jacey Gallery, Tampa, FL
2008 Art After Dark, Tampa Museum, Tampa, FL
2008 “Color of Art” Exhibition, UTB Library, Tampa, FL
2008 Expressions of Westchase, Great Frame & Art, Tampa, FL
2007 Car And Art Show, The Auto Legend, Oldsmar, FL
2006 “Altars” at Latino Cultural Center, Dallas, TX
2005 Member Exhibition, The Art Center, St Petersburg, FL
2003 Fragments of a Bigger Picture, Two Women Show, Tessie Franzblau Gallery, Miami, FL
2003 La Réalité Délicate, Parlor de Suvito, Plantation, FL
2003 BFA, The Art Museum at Florida International University, Miami, FL
2003 Southern Shift, ASL Gallery University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
2002 The Art Show, W-10 Temporary Gallery, FIU, Miami FL
2002 Annual FASA, Graham Center Gallery, Miami FL
2002 Annual Student Show, The Art Museum, FIU, Miami FL
2001 Printing Exhibit, Green Library and Graham Center, Miami FL
1998 Just Works, Española Way Art Center, Miami Beach, FL
1996 Annual Student Show, MDCC Gallery North, FL
1995 Metals, Commission of 36 x 7 feet mural, Art and Philosophy Department Miami Dade Community College, North Campus, Miami, FL
Public Art
2017 Renaissance Octopus Pedestrian Walk at Safety Harbor Marina, FL sponsored by the North Pinellas Cultural Alliance.
2017 Harrison, raising funds for Southeastern Guide Dogs. sponsored by Hercules Fence and Winston family.
2015 – 2016 Streetcar Sculptures 1 artLOUD! Streetcar Sculptures Installed in Downtown Tampa! This one theme is sailing. It was sponsored by Fairlead Commercial Real Estate, LLC
2015 – 2016 Streetcar Sculptures 2 artLOUD! Streetcar Sculptures. Thank you to CREW Tampa Bay for organizing this. Also, a big thank you to the sponsor Smolker, Bartlett, Loeb, Hinds & Sheppard, P.A. Thank you for selecting me to paint your artLOUD! streetcar.
2012 – current Triathlete Dolphin, City of Clearwater, Clearwater, FL