Monroe Hodder
Artist Statement
Feelings show up in color for me.
I follow the hints and nudges I get.
This explains the start of a painting –
More follows and it’s not all good.
There is no plan.
I start pushing and scraping around for what’s next.
I am listening all the while to crazy music,
looking for an exit from my mind.
This is a lonely, slippery process,
Shadows from the void suggest no resolution.
All but hopeless, I find a bright swatch that glints
at the edge of my field,
and suggests a mental path, a coherence,
a soaring track moving skyward.
I am filled with joy and brilliance.
This painting is finding its finish and it will not be great
But it will be fine and good – the best I can do for now.
Others wait in the wings, links to the ephemeral –
That which I love but can never quite reach.
Artist Bio
Monroe Hodder is an abstract painter whose layered works juxtapose
geometric forms with expressionist fields of color. She began to paint
while living in California and received an MFA from the San Francisco
Art Institute. For ten years, she was on the art faculty of several colleges
and universities in the Bay Area, curated exhibitions, was an art critic
for West Coast publications, and was represented by several galleries in
San Francisco.
Since then, she has lived and worked overseas in Russia and England.
She was granted a UK Artist Resident Visa followed by British
citizenship in 2005. She has been a Visiting Artist at the American
Academy in Rome on five occasions. She also had two art residencies at
Hofsos Art Center in Iceland and the Nantucket Arts Center several
times. She has exhibited her paintings in the US and internationally,
including Rome, Paris, Korea and Kazakhstan.
She moved from London to New York in 2012 and since then had
solo exhibitions in Harlem, Chelsea and the Lower East Side, New York,
as well as Denver, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Portland, OR and London, UK.
Her work has been published in several art books and magazines and
she was interviewed on PBS TV.
Close to forty reviews have been written about her work and she is in
numerous museum, corporate and private collections. Her work is in
eight museums in the US.
Monroe is a dedicated abstract painter whose layered works juxtapose
geometric forms with expressionist fields of color. She has exhibited in many cities in
the US and around the world.
Received an MFA in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, 1983.
Works in various paint mediums including oil, acrylic, watercolor, printmaking and pastel.
Over 50 reviews have been written about her work.
Nine of her paintings are in museum collections, including the
Denver Museum of Art, the Kirkland Museum in Denver, the Portland Art
Museum and the San Jose Museum of Art
Her work has been included in various art books and magazines, such as
Colorado Abstract, curated and written by Michael Paglia and Mary Voelz Chandler.
Residencies: American Academy in Rome on five occasions,
Baer Art Center, Iceland; Nantucket Art Center; and other residencies.
Awarded UK Artist Resident Visa, followed by UK citizenship in 2005.
Numerous international exhibitions and Art Fairs, including Italy, Korea, France,
Kazakhstan, London, Miami Basel.
Was on the art faculty of several colleges and universities in the Bay Area
and was art critic for several West Coast publications.
More than 300 of her paintings are in corporate and private collections, including
Tom Cruise, Isabel Sawhill, Bank of America, Panzio Art Center, Denver, CO
Gulfco, Denver, CO, and Brown and Tedstrom, Denver, CO
Her current Gallery representation: David Richard Gallery in New York City
Belgravia Gallery in England, Space Galley in Denver, CO,
Butters Gallery in Portland, OR and the Oehme Print Center in Steamboat, CO.
Selected Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITONS
2022
Small Paintings, Flat File Gallery, New York, NY
Painting Out Loud, Ray Lagstein Gallery, Nyack, NY
2021
Rising Tides and Fragile Hope, David Richard Gallery, New York, NY
2020
Solo online Show of Paintings at Butters Gallery, Portland, OR
Desire in a Gypsy Cloak, David Richard Gallery, New York, NY
2019
Women in Abstraction, William Havu Gallery, Denver Co
2018
“The Future is Liquid,” Space Gallery, Denver, CO
“Wilderness Paintings,” Belgravia Gallery, Marylands, Euhurst, Surrey, UK
2017
“Future Sky,” Butters Gallery, Portland, OR
2016
“Roadside Mystics,” Video-Painting Event, Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
Video-Painting-Photograhy Exhibition, Chinatown Soup, LES, New York, NY
2015
Opera, Belgravia Gallery, Mayfair London, UK
Smoke and Mirrors, William Havu Gallery, Denver, CO
New Paintings, Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
2014
Asteroid Enigmas, Butters Gallery, Portland, OR
Paintings, Duane Reed Gallery, St. Louis, MO,
New Paintings, Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
2013
Polyphonia, GeorgeBillisLA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Head Banging on the Moon, Andre Zarre Gallery, Chelsea, New York, NY
Romancing Color, William Havu Galley, Denver, CO
2012
The Incidence of the Black Swan, Belgravia Gallery, Mayfair, London, UK
Recent Paintings. Arvada Arts Center, Denver, CO
2011
Gangstas and Cupcakes, Andre Zarre Gallery, Chelsea, New York, NY
Hybrid Fictions, Butters Gallery, Portland OR
New Paintings, Belgravia Gallery, Mayfair, London, UK
Paint Up, K Saari Gallery, Steamboat Springs, CO
The Incidental and the Infinite, William Havu Gallery, Denver, CO
2010
Recent Paintings, Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Paintings, Darnell Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Art Exhibition, Edward Hopper House, Museum and Study Center
2022
Objects of Curiosity, Katonah Museum at Bethany Art Center, Westchester, NY
I Dreamed a Garden, NY Artists Circle, New York, NY
2021
What is a City, NY Artists Circle, New York, NY
Full Tilt Boogie Woogie, NY Artists Circle, New York, NY
Lost and Found, NY Artists Circle, New York, NY
Underwater, Belgravia Gallery, Surrey, England
2020
Women Painters, Edward Hopper House, Museum and Study Center, Nyack, NY
October Exhibition, Hammond Museum, North Salem, NY
Photo exhibition, Michael Warren Gallery, Denver, CO
Exhibition of Collectors, LSU Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
2019
Colorado Abstract, Arvada Center, Denver Colorado
San Jose Art Institute, San Jose, CA
Boulder Art Museum, Boulder, CO
2018
Informed, Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Kirkland Museum, Opening Exhibition, Denver, CO
Paintings, Belgravia Gallery, 2018
2017
Color: From Primary to Tertiary, curated by Lily Wei,
Site Gallery : Brooklyn, NY
SJICA, Exhibition and Auction, San Jose, CA, 2017
Paintings at Chinthurst Hill, Surrey, UK
Painting Images at Schwab Center, Stanford, Palo Alto, CA
2016
Paintings at Chinthurst Hill, Surrey, UK
CO Women in Abstraction, Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO
Architectural Digest Art Show, Pier 94, New York, NY
Monotypes from Oehme Graphics, Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Monotype Show, Butters Gallery, Portland Oregon
Best of Colorado, Arvada Arts Center, Denver Colorado
About Color, Denver University Gallery, Denver CO
2015
Miami Basel, Red Dot Art Fair
Chester Arts Fair, Chester, UK
Art Show Busan, Busan, Korea
Cloud Trousers, Russian Consulate, NYC, and Russian Embassy, Washington
2014
Monotype Exhibition, Butters Gallery, Portland, OR
SJICA, San Jose, CA
E/AB Art Fair, Oehme Graphics, New York, NY
Red Dot Art Fair, Miami, FLA
2013
Red Dot Art Fair, Miami, FLA
Introducing New Artists, Duane Reed Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Abstraction, Belgravia Gallery, London, UK
Twenty Women Artists, William Havu Gallery, Denver, CO
Aqua, Butters Gallery, Portland, OR
E/AB Art Fair, Oehme Graphics, New York, NY
2011
Contemporary Paintings, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
Earth and Fire, Denver Art Museum, Denver CO
Hong Kong Fine Art Fair, Belgravia Gallery, Hong Kong
OTHER EVENTS
Visiting Artist, American Academy in Rome, 2018
-Paintings exhibited online at Artsy, ArtNet, Saatchi Gallery, ArtSlant .
-Visiting Artist, American Academy in Rome, 1995-6, 1999-00, 2010, 2014-2015,
2018-2019
-Paintings published in book, Colorado Abstract, 2009
-Film of Paintings by Monroe Hodder, filmed by Jerry Chater
and music by Joby Talbot, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK, 2002 and 2005
-TV Interview Show, 15 Minute interview on Art News, PBS Maryland, 2003
-Artist Resident Visa granted by the British Government, 1996-2005,
followed by grant of UK Citizenship
EDUCATION
MFA, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA 1980-83
Instructors included Elizabeth Murray, Jay DeFeo, Manuel Neri, and Bob Colescott
Teaching Assistant for Manuel Neri
MBA, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
BA, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
On Denver Review, Jared Herzing, 6/19
An Impressive Show at Havu, Michael Paglia, Westword, Denver, CO, 6/19
“Mo’Print Makes Its Mark, Space Gallery, Michael Paglia, Westword Denver, CO, 3/18
“Monroe Hodder,” Richard Speer, The Portland Mercury, Portland, OR, 7/17
“About Color,” Michael Paglia, Westword, Denver, CO, 3/10/16
“Chromatic Variations,” Michael Paglia, Westword, Denver CO, 4/9/2015
“Astroid Enigmas,” Richard Speer, The Portland Mercury, Portland, OR, 11/11/2014
“Monroe Hodder,” Culver City Times, Scupine, Los Angeles, CA 11/20/13
“Monroe Hodder,” Guest of a Guest, 11/23/13
“Monroe Hodder: Polyphonia,” The Art Voice, Los Angeles, CA, 11/23/13
“Monroe Hodder: Polyphonia,” Orange County Register, Los Angeles, CA 11/13
“Monroe Hodder: Polyphonia,” Voice Places, Los Angeles, CA, 11/13
“Monroe Hodder,” MutualArt.com, Los Angeles, CA, 11/23/13
“Abstract Paintings,” Wall Street International, UK Arts, 5/27/13
“Monroe Hodder: Chromatic Sensations,” Vintage Magazine, London, UK, 12/17/13
Art Galore, Abstract Art Exhibition in Belgravia, London, UK 6/13
“Hodder Paintings are about Color,” Mooray Mair, Mutant Space, New York, NY,9/12
“Monroe Hodder, “The Lively Arts, Richmond Saunders, New York, NY, 11/11
“Rage for Color,” Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, 6/10
"Monroe Hodder," Caroline Compston in Art of England, 3/09
"Shows at Havu and MCA Bring the Abstract," Michael Paglia, 2009
"Now Showing," Michael Paglia, Westword, Denver, CO, 9/15/2009
"London Layers," Noel Isherwood, London, UK, 03/3/04
“Mystical Labyrinth,” The Weekly News, K. Evdokymenko, Almaty, Kaz., 9/25/02
“An Ancient Magic of Labyrinth,” Burda and Mahmetova, Almaty, Kaz., 9/27/02
"Almaty," Kazakstan Pravda, Almaty, Kazakstan, 1/30/97
"Almaty Welcomes Monroe Hodder," Almaty Herald, Almaty, Kazakstan, 1/23/97
"Monroe Hodder at Tengri Umai ," Steppin’ Out in Almaty, Almaty, Kaz., 1/23/97
"Art of Soul and Emotions," Almaty Herald, Almaty, Kaz., 1/16/97
“Remembering," San Jose Mercury News, Catherine Maclay, San Jose, CA, 7/20/97
"Art of Ages," Ann Elliott Sherman, San Jose Metro, 7/93
"You can be the judge," Jan Ayres, Peninsula Times Tribune, 3/27/91
"Mixing metaphors," Dorothy Burkhart, San Jose Mercury News, 12/1/89
"Artists swap the tools of their trades,” Kathleen Donnelly, San Jose Mercury, 1/89
"Recommended Viewing,” Barbara Cohen, San Jose Metro, 1/89
"Two artists balance each other,” Holly Johnson, Sacramento Union, 6/88
"Introduction Time at Galleries,” D. Burkhart, San Jose Mercury, 7/87
"Artscene,” Charles Shere, The Tribune, Oakland, CA, 3/87
SELECTED MUSEUM, CORPORATE AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Portland Museum of Art, Portland, OR
Denver Contemporary Art Museum, Denver, CO
Kirkland Museum, Denver, CO (two paintings)
San Jose Art Museum, San Jose, CA
Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
Museum of Contemporary Art, Walzenberg, near Pueblo, CO
Panzio Art Center of the Colorado Academy, Denver CO
Kasteev Museum, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Bank of America, San Francisco, CA
Linklater, London, UK
Swiss Re, San Francisco, CA
Gulfco, Denver, CO
Brown and Tedstrom, Denver, CO
Gevurts Menashe, Portland, OR
Broebeck, Phleger, Harrison, San Francisco, CA
Coudert Brothers, San Francisco, CA
Cathy Kimbal, San Jose, CA
Isabel Sawhill, Washington, DC
Jerry and Karen Ceppos, New Orleans, Louisanna
Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes
Richard and Sue ReesPulley, London, UK
Jim Kelly and Amy Knox, Denver, CO
Russell Coleman, Paris, France
Nani Warren, Portland Museum, OR
Scott Huebner, Texas
Greg Nettleton, Seattle, WA
David Brown, Portland, OR
