STUTZ
Artist Statement
I don't know how to separate what is considered "art" from everything else in my everyday life. A naturally curious person from the very beginning, I was fortunate to have grown up with parents that made their own rules. A mother that loved to draw, a father that did whatever he pleased. Our parents gifted my younger brother and I with a set of encyclopedias when I was about 5, so I was reading them before I started school. The illustrations were fascinating to me! Mom took us to an art supply store periodically and bought us "how-to" art books. You know the ones: HOW-TO DRAW ANIMALS, HOW-TO DRAW CARTOONS, HOW-TO DRAW PEOPLE, ect. Fortunately, Mom never helicoptered us into creating exactly by-the-book and we learned from her and also learned how to do things our own way. So, there I was, drawing cartoons, writing stories, and even creating my own pop-up books with pen, paper and scissors...all before kindergarten. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
As an adult I continued creating, exploring in so many ways. But, becoming a professional artist did not cross my mind until I was 32. And then, after selling my first business, I dove in head first. Immersed, as it were, in exploring my inner world more deeply, I went back to school, studied art and took computer classes. I was inspired by psychology, antiquities (especially ancient Egyptian art), design and surrealism. But, I never considered myself a surrealist, a psychologist, a designer or historian. I never wished to imitate anyone. I had a story to tell about my observations of society, of my feelings, experiences and finding my own way. Creating strictly representational work had very little appeal to me. For a long time I enjoyed hiding symbolic images in abstract expressionist pieces or creating digital work referencing fairy tales and myths. I painted large landscapes recreating images that I was vaguely aware of by using my peripheral vision during road trips and I explored ideas of orientation and gender in a variety of mediums.
My work has largely been symbolic, psychological, spiritual and, yes, extremely personal. With that said, for a couple of years I created nothing but stream-of-consciousness drawings. How I create is not as important to me as this journey that we share: myself as co-creator with the Divine and you, the Viewer and interpreter of these visions.
Who I am depends on how you know me. I am a lover of Life, a serial entrepreneur, a winner and a big fat loser. I am a playful child at heart, surrounding myself with pets and books. I am probably the most unlikely meditation teacher you will ever meet. I am a traveler, a nester, a night owl and a Sun worshipper. I am all of these things and absolutely nothing, as it is ART that encompasses all and yet transcends all. I am just the vessel that allows the story to come through to be shared with you.
So, what kind of art am I creating today? I don't know. You tell me.
I hope you enjoy my creations and find some meaning that resonates with your own Earth life experience.
~ STUTZ
Exhibition History: 1993-Present
(This is a partial list. Many older venues have been removed.)
November 1993 / Group Show / Houston Community College System / Houston, TX
November 1994 / Group Show / Houston Community College System / Houston, TX
April 1997 / Solo Show / Magnolia Ballroom / Houston, TX
March 1999 / Group Show / "Is This a Joke or What? Exploring Feminism, Humor and
Contemporary Art in Texas" / University of Houston - Downtown, O'Kane Gallery
December 1999 / Group Show / Source Design Studio / Houston, TX
April 2003 / Group Show / "Flights of Imagination" / Chicago Cultural Center / Chicago, IL
May 2003 / Group Show / "Animal Images" / Anti-Cruelty Society / Chicago, IL
July 2003 / Group Show / "Hot House Exhibit" / The Art House / Oak Park, IL
August 2003 / Group Show / The North American Bisexual Conference / San Diego, CA
September 2003 / Group Show / "The Queer Photography Exhibition" / Harvey Milk Institute /
San Francisco, CA
September 2004 / Group Show / "Animal Images" / Anti-Cruelty Society / Chicago, IL
March 2005 / Group Show / 8th International Open / Woman Made Gallery / Chicago, IL
March 2005 / Group Show / Northwest Area Art Council's Women Works, 2005 / Old Court
House Arts Center / Woodstock, IL
April 2005 / Group Show / Ashland Arts presents: "Adults Only" / Icon Studio / Phoenix, AZ
October 2005 / Group Show / CWCA Members' Exhibition-Metamorphosis / Peter Jones
Gallery / Chicago, IL
October 2005 / Group Show / Chicago Art Open-Zhou B. Art Center / Chicago, IL
October 2006 / Group Show / Chicago Art Open-Zhou B. Art Center / Chicago, IL
October 2006 / Group Show / "Through Their Eyes" / Koehnline Museum of Art / Des
Plaines, IL
October 2008 / Group Show / Dia de los Muertos / Lawndale Art Center / Houston, TX
October 2009 / Group Show / Dia de los Muertos / Lawndale Art Center / Houston, TX
April 2010 / Group Show / The 2nd Biennial Texas Oklahoma Art Prize / Wichita Falls
Museum of Art / Wichita Falls, TX
June 2012 / Group Show / Transcendence / The Jung Center of Houston / Houston, TX
October 2012 / Group Show / First We Feed Them / Rescue Bank / Houston, TX
October 2013 / Group Show / First We Feed Them / Rescue Bank / Houston, TX
August 2013 / Group Show / Salon des Refusés / BLUEorange Contemporary Art Gallery /
Houston, TX
April 2014 / Group Show / Festival of Flowers / Allegro House / Rockport, TX
June 2014 / Group Show / 6x6x2014 / Rochester Contemporary Art Center / Rochester, NY
October 2015 / Group Show / First We Feed Them / Rescue Bank / Houston, TX
December 2015 / Group Show / Woodlands Art League / The Woodlands, TX
June 2016 / Group Show / 6x6x2016 / Rochester Contemporary Art Center / Rochester, NY
March 2016 / Group Show / Galerie Spectra / Houston, TX
October 2017 / Group Show / Dia de los Muertos / Lawndale Art Center / Houston, TX
May 2018 / Group Show / Moss Rocks Studio / The Woodlands, TX
May 2018 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
May 2022 / Virtual Group Show / Flowers 4 Peace / Red Bluff Art Gallery / Red Bluff, CA
July 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
August 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
September 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
September - November 2022 / Group Show / First Financial Bank / Conroe, TX
October 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
November 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
November 2022 - January 2023 / Group Show / First Financial Bank / Conroe, TX
December 2022 / Group Show / Art is for Giving / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
December 2022 / Group Show / 2022 Holiday Art and Craft Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
January 2023 / Group Show / 12x12 / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
January - May 2023 / Group Show / Hyatt House / Shenandoah, TX
February 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
February 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
February 2023 / Group Show / South County Community Center / The Woodlands, TX
March 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
April 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
April 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
May 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
June 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
June 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
July 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
August 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
August 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
September 2023 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
October 2023 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
November 2023 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
November 2023 / Fine Arts & Crafts Market / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
December 2023 / Christmas is for Giving / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
December 2023 / Holiday Market / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
January 2024 / 12x12 / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
February 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
March 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
April 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
May 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
June 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
September - November 2024 / Group Show / Brazosport Art League Members Gallery / Clute, TX
September - November 2024 / Member Collection / Brazosport Art League Art Shop / Clute, TX
November 2024 - January 2025 / Group Show / Brazosport Art League Members Gallery / Clute, TX
November 2024 - January 2025 / Member Collection / Brazosport Art League Art Shop / Clute, TX
November 2024 / Holiday Show / Brazosport Art League Main Gallery / Clute, TX
Awards / Publications:
December 2009 / Runner-up / 002 Magazine Cover Contest / "...and the Three Bears"
October 2011 / Honorable Mention / Art Buzz Collection / "(You Won't) Turn to Stone"
April 2022 / Artistonish Magazine / "The Mission"
May 2022 / Diversia United Nations Calendar / "What is Life?"
Permanent Exhibitions:
The Kinsey Institute
Morrison 313
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
Currently on View:
Brazosport Art League Gallery / 400 College Blvd. / Clute, TX 77531
Founder:
STUTZ Studiowerks / 5303 Clark Street / Chicago, IL 60640 / 2004 - 2008
Current:
STUTZ Studiowerks / 3143 Shady Creek Lane #67 / Oyster Creek, TX 77541 /
832-549-1730 / stutzstudiowerks.com / stutzstudiowerks@gmail.com
Artist Statement
I don't know how to separate what is considered "art" from everything else in my everyday life. A naturally curious person from the very beginning, I was fortunate to have grown up with parents that made their own rules. A mother that loved to draw, a father that did whatever he pleased. Our parents gifted my younger brother and I with a set of encyclopedias when I was about 5, so I was reading them before I started school. The illustrations were fascinating to me! Mom took us to an art supply store periodically and bought us "how-to" art books. You know the ones: HOW-TO DRAW ANIMALS, HOW-TO DRAW CARTOONS, HOW-TO DRAW PEOPLE, ect. Fortunately, Mom never helicoptered us into creating exactly by-the-book and we learned from her and also learned how to do things our own way. So, there I was, drawing cartoons, writing stories, and even creating my own pop-up books with pen, paper and scissors...all before kindergarten. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
As an adult I continued creating, exploring in so many ways. But, becoming a professional artist did not cross my mind until I was 32. And then, after selling my first business, I dove in head first. Immersed, as it were, in exploring my inner world more deeply, I went back to school, studied art and took computer classes. I was inspired by psychology, antiquities (especially ancient Egyptian art), design and surrealism. But, I never considered myself a surrealist, a psychologist, a designer or historian. I never wished to imitate anyone. I had a story to tell about my observations of society, of my feelings, experiences and finding my own way. Creating strictly representational work had very little appeal to me. For a long time I enjoyed hiding symbolic images in abstract expressionist pieces or creating digital work referencing fairy tales and myths. I painted large landscapes recreating images that I was vaguely aware of by using my peripheral vision during road trips and I explored ideas of orientation and gender in a variety of mediums.
My work has largely been symbolic, psychological, spiritual and, yes, extremely personal. With that said, for a couple of years I created nothing but stream-of-consciousness drawings. How I create is not as important to me as this journey that we share: myself as co-creator with the Divine and you, the Viewer and interpreter of these visions.
Who I am depends on how you know me. I am a lover of Life, a serial entrepreneur, a winner and a big fat loser. I am a playful child at heart, surrounding myself with pets and books. I am probably the most unlikely meditation teacher you will ever meet. I am a traveler, a nester, a night owl and a Sun worshipper. I am all of these things and absolutely nothing, as it is ART that encompasses all and yet transcends all. I am just the vessel that allows the story to come through to be shared with you.
So, what kind of art am I creating today? I don't know. You tell me.
I hope you enjoy my creations and find some meaning that resonates with your own Earth life experience.
~ STUTZ
Exhibition History: 1993-Present
(This is a partial list. Many older venues have been removed.)
November 1993 / Group Show / Houston Community College System / Houston, TX
November 1994 / Group Show / Houston Community College System / Houston, TX
April 1997 / Solo Show / Magnolia Ballroom / Houston, TX
March 1999 / Group Show / "Is This a Joke or What? Exploring Feminism, Humor and
Contemporary Art in Texas" / University of Houston - Downtown, O'Kane Gallery
December 1999 / Group Show / Source Design Studio / Houston, TX
April 2003 / Group Show / "Flights of Imagination" / Chicago Cultural Center / Chicago, IL
May 2003 / Group Show / "Animal Images" / Anti-Cruelty Society / Chicago, IL
July 2003 / Group Show / "Hot House Exhibit" / The Art House / Oak Park, IL
August 2003 / Group Show / The North American Bisexual Conference / San Diego, CA
September 2003 / Group Show / "The Queer Photography Exhibition" / Harvey Milk Institute /
San Francisco, CA
September 2004 / Group Show / "Animal Images" / Anti-Cruelty Society / Chicago, IL
March 2005 / Group Show / 8th International Open / Woman Made Gallery / Chicago, IL
March 2005 / Group Show / Northwest Area Art Council's Women Works, 2005 / Old Court
House Arts Center / Woodstock, IL
April 2005 / Group Show / Ashland Arts presents: "Adults Only" / Icon Studio / Phoenix, AZ
October 2005 / Group Show / CWCA Members' Exhibition-Metamorphosis / Peter Jones
Gallery / Chicago, IL
October 2005 / Group Show / Chicago Art Open-Zhou B. Art Center / Chicago, IL
October 2006 / Group Show / Chicago Art Open-Zhou B. Art Center / Chicago, IL
October 2006 / Group Show / "Through Their Eyes" / Koehnline Museum of Art / Des
Plaines, IL
October 2008 / Group Show / Dia de los Muertos / Lawndale Art Center / Houston, TX
October 2009 / Group Show / Dia de los Muertos / Lawndale Art Center / Houston, TX
April 2010 / Group Show / The 2nd Biennial Texas Oklahoma Art Prize / Wichita Falls
Museum of Art / Wichita Falls, TX
June 2012 / Group Show / Transcendence / The Jung Center of Houston / Houston, TX
October 2012 / Group Show / First We Feed Them / Rescue Bank / Houston, TX
October 2013 / Group Show / First We Feed Them / Rescue Bank / Houston, TX
August 2013 / Group Show / Salon des Refusés / BLUEorange Contemporary Art Gallery /
Houston, TX
April 2014 / Group Show / Festival of Flowers / Allegro House / Rockport, TX
June 2014 / Group Show / 6x6x2014 / Rochester Contemporary Art Center / Rochester, NY
October 2015 / Group Show / First We Feed Them / Rescue Bank / Houston, TX
December 2015 / Group Show / Woodlands Art League / The Woodlands, TX
June 2016 / Group Show / 6x6x2016 / Rochester Contemporary Art Center / Rochester, NY
March 2016 / Group Show / Galerie Spectra / Houston, TX
October 2017 / Group Show / Dia de los Muertos / Lawndale Art Center / Houston, TX
May 2018 / Group Show / Moss Rocks Studio / The Woodlands, TX
May 2018 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
May 2022 / Virtual Group Show / Flowers 4 Peace / Red Bluff Art Gallery / Red Bluff, CA
July 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
August 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
September 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
September - November 2022 / Group Show / First Financial Bank / Conroe, TX
October 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
November 2022 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
November 2022 - January 2023 / Group Show / First Financial Bank / Conroe, TX
December 2022 / Group Show / Art is for Giving / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
December 2022 / Group Show / 2022 Holiday Art and Craft Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
January 2023 / Group Show / 12x12 / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
January - May 2023 / Group Show / Hyatt House / Shenandoah, TX
February 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
February 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
February 2023 / Group Show / South County Community Center / The Woodlands, TX
March 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
April 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
April 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
May 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
June 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
June 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
July 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
August 2023 / Group Show / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
August 2023 / Group Show / Conroe Art League / Conroe, TX
September 2023 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
October 2023 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
November 2023 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
November 2023 / Fine Arts & Crafts Market / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
December 2023 / Christmas is for Giving / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
December 2023 / Holiday Market / Northwoods Unitarian Universalism Church / The Woodlands, TX
January 2024 / 12x12 / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
February 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
March 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
April 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
May 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
June 2024 / Group Show / Madeley Fine Art Gallery / Conroe, TX
September - November 2024 / Group Show / Brazosport Art League Members Gallery / Clute, TX
September - November 2024 / Member Collection / Brazosport Art League Art Shop / Clute, TX
November 2024 - January 2025 / Group Show / Brazosport Art League Members Gallery / Clute, TX
November 2024 - January 2025 / Member Collection / Brazosport Art League Art Shop / Clute, TX
November 2024 / Holiday Show / Brazosport Art League Main Gallery / Clute, TX
Awards / Publications:
December 2009 / Runner-up / 002 Magazine Cover Contest / "...and the Three Bears"
October 2011 / Honorable Mention / Art Buzz Collection / "(You Won't) Turn to Stone"
April 2022 / Artistonish Magazine / "The Mission"
May 2022 / Diversia United Nations Calendar / "What is Life?"
Permanent Exhibitions:
The Kinsey Institute
Morrison 313
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
Currently on View:
Brazosport Art League Gallery / 400 College Blvd. / Clute, TX 77531
Founder:
STUTZ Studiowerks / 5303 Clark Street / Chicago, IL 60640 / 2004 - 2008
Current:
STUTZ Studiowerks / 3143 Shady Creek Lane #67 / Oyster Creek, TX 77541 /
832-549-1730 / stutzstudiowerks.com / stutzstudiowerks@gmail.com