ARTIST STATEMENT
In my paintings light is captured and glows across the color spectrum as natural forms emerge from the paper fibers. Organic pigments reform to evoke pulsing emotions from cold fibers. I hunger to distill human emotions and experience and transport it across time and space onto paper through line, color and light.
POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
2016 Catherine Hearding, Andy Evansen, Dan Wiemer, MN Watercolor Society, Burnsville, MN
2015 Pat Weaver, Keiko Tanabe, MN Watercolor Society, Burnsville, MN
2014 Alvaro Castagnet, MN Watercolor Society, Burnsville, MN
2013 John Salminen, “Realism through Design,” Dillman's, Lac du Flambeau, WI
2013 Linda Baker, “Good Beginnings, Great Finishes,” MN Watercolor Society, Hopkins, MN
2013 Don Andrews, MN Watercolor Society, Burnsville, MN
2010 Meg Bussey, “The Portable Studio: Watercolor,” Split Rock Arts Program, University of MN
2004 James Boyd-Bryce, “Watercolor and the Structure of Nature,” Split Rock Arts Program, University of MN
2001 Sally Brown and Sally Nystrom, “Life Drawing,” Split Rock Arts Program, University of MN
2000 David Feinberg, “All I Want to Do is Paint,” Split Rock Arts Program, University of MN
1991 Cheng-Kee Chee, “Watercolor,” Split Rock Arts Program, University of MN
Masters, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Bachelor of Arts, Concordia, Moorhead, MN
AWARDS AND HONORS
2016-18 21st Annual Arts in Harmony International Show, Elk River, MN
2012 and 2016 Individual Artist Week, Mallard Island, International Falls, MN
2005-present Awarded display of two of my paintings at Minnesota Governor’s Mansion, East Porch, St. Paul, MN, by First Lady Mary Pawlenty as part of a program highlighting MN artists
2015 Corporate Art Force Artist of the Month, April 2015, https://artforceminneapolis.tumblr.com/post/115857647166/april-artist-of-the-month-mary-axelson/amp
2015-2017 MN State Fair 104th Fine Arts Exhibition, St. Paul, MN
2014 Honorable Mention, 38th Annual Member's Juried Show, Bloomington Theatre and Art Center, Bloomington, MN
2014 Signature Artwork, 22nd Annual Ginnie Adams Watercolor Show, St. Paul, MN
2014, 2020 Red River Watercolor Society 21st Annual Juried National Exhibition, Moorhead, MN
2013 4th Place, Watercolor, Gouache, Casein, Tempera Class MN State Fair 102nd Fine Arts Exhibition, St. Paul, MN
2013, 2014 International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) 22nd Annual Art Exhibit
2013 Awarded scholarship Dillman's Creative Arts Foundation
2013 Collaborator's Week, Mallard Island, International Falls, MN
2010 Awarded College of Continuing Education Gilford and Esther Remington Fund, Mucke/Roff Fund by University of MN
2010 Awarded Creative Capital Professional Development Weekend, Rochester, MN by Minnesota State Arts Board, Springboard for the Arts, and Metropolitan Regional Art Council
2001 Awarded Nolte-Miller Scholarship by University of MN
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2001-present Instructor, Artistry of Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN
2015 to present Instructor, Edina Art Center, Edina, MN
2015 to present Instructor, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
2006 Guest Instructor, Watercolor Painting, Convent of the Visitation School, Mendota Heights, MN
REPRESENTATION
Art Resources, Edina, MN
Corporate Art Force, Minneapolis, MN
Jean Stephens online Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Edina Art Center Gift Shop, Edina, MN
National Wildlife Refuge Gift Shop, Bloomington, MN
Hawaii Treasure Mill, Holoalua, HI, 2013-2015
SOLO JURIED EXHIBITIONS
2020 Plein Air Paintings, Edina Art Center Gift Shop
2014 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington, MN
2014 Phipps Center for the Arts, Healing Arts Program, Croixdale, Bayport, MN
2014 Corporate Art Force SmartArt Rotating Art Program, Minneapolis, MN
2012, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2004 Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis, MN
2010 Eden Prairie Art on the Walls, Eden Prairie City Hall, Eden Prairie, MN
2010, 2005 Parade of Homes, Country Joe Homes, Lakeville, MN
2010, 2009 Kincaid's, Bloomington, MN
1999-2005 Toro Headquarters (program discontinued 2005)
2002 Art in Public Places, Bloomington City Hall, Bloomington, MN
1998-2000 Andersen Corporation Headquarters, Hudson, WI (program discontinued 2000)
1999 Data Recognition Headquarters, Minneapolis, MN
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020, 2014 Red River Watercolor Society 21st Annual Juried National, Moorhead, MN
2019 Old Frontenac on Lake Pepin Juried show
2019-2018 Red Wing Plein Air Festival Juried show
2019 Plein Air Painters, Art Resources, Edina
2017 Duluth Plein Air Festival Juried Show
2016-18 21st Annual Arts in Harmony International Show, Elk River, MN
2015, 2013, 1996 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, St. Paul, MN
2015 Phipps Center for the Arts Healing Art Exhibit, Hudson Hospital, Hudson, WI
2016-2014 Aitkin Plein Air Festival, Jaques Art Center, Aitkin, MN
1995-present Bloomington Art Center Annual Members' Exhibition, Bloomington, MN
2004-present Bloomington Art Center Instructor/Student’s Show, Bloomington, MN
2014, 2013 International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) 22nd Annual Art Exhibit
2014 Corporate Art Force SmartArt Inaugural Show, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
2014 22nd Annual Ginnie Adams Watercolor Show, St. Paul, MN, signature artist for show
1995-present Minnesota Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition, Minneapolis, MN
2010, 2000 Foot in the Door, Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
2010 Burnsville Art Fete, Burnsville Art Center, Burnsville, MN
2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1999 Edina Art Fair, Edina, MN
2006, 2004, 1999 Art on the Lake, Excelsior, MN
2002-2005 Art-a-Whirl, Minneapolis, MN
2002-2005 St. Paul Art Crawl, St. Paul, MN
1995-2005 Edina Art Center Exhibition, Edina, MN
2004, 1998 Stone Arch Art Festival, Minneapolis, MN
2004 Powderhorn Art Fair, Minneapolis, MN
2004 Red Wing Fine Art Fair, Red Wing, MN
2004 Phipps Center for Art, Experience of Place, and One by the Hand, Hudson, WI
1997-1998 Methodist Hospital Auxiliary Two-artist show, St. Louis Park, MN
1998 Stillwater Rivertown Art Festival, Stillwater, MN
1997 Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, MN
1996-1997 Edina Library Exhibition, Edina, MN
1997 Hopkins Area Arts Association Grand Opening Exhibition, Hopkins, MN
COLLECTIONS
Private Residential Collections: 250
Corporate Collections: Data Recognition, LPS Financial, Cloquet Memorial Hospital, Fairview Hospital Pediatric Ward, Capitol Direct, State Senator Chris Gerlach
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
1996-present MN Watercolor, Western Colorado Watercolor, and National Watercolor Societies
2015 to present Workshop Co-chair MN Watercolor Society, Volunteer
2012 to present Examiner, Visual Arts, International Baccalaureate
2012 to present Judge, Annual Student Art Show, Convent of the Visitation School, Mendota Heights, MN
2010 National Art Education Association, Minnesota Art Education Association
1999-2004 Board of Directors, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN, Volunteer
2002-2004 Visual Artists Focus Group
