Linda Christensen Biography
Paint that obscures, shapes that appear, then disappear, color that seems
to move to silent music, rhythmic brushstrokes that excite my senses…
Ah! The mysteries of the composition take me prisoner and I go willingly.
I begin this short essay with my artists’ statement from 1997 because it illustrates my focus on emotion instead of on subject matter starting early on. I approached the idea of writing about what I paint back then with dread and tried to bypass it by being as honest as possible about my process. I’d like to think that I paint anything I want because through paint I can express how I feel.
I started training to be an artist in early childhood. I studied texture. I learned about composition. I played with color and observed the beauty of line. My methods were unconventional and invented by me. Many different things inspired me: Cheerios in milk, clouds, hands in food, dry dusty dirt, wet mud puddles, coloring books, fashion photos in the newspaper and my keen need to observe my surroundings. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I had no answer. I just wanted to watch, and to observe the world around me.
I’ve worked for years on a response to that complicated question “what is the work about?” I’ve developed all kinds of stories that seem to make sense at the time, but I have to ask, “isn’t this the same question as ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?”’ I am drawn to the figure, and to capturing physical expression in all types of situations, but especially when we are on our own. The body carries emotion, and most people are unaware that they reveal something of themselves when observed in private moments. When I was young I realized that I could easily understand the unspoken just by watching. It felt like a strange and isolating gift – and sometimes a curse – and I often felt confused and acted out in anger when the words didn’t match what I saw. But I still recognize all kinds of emotion there, and whether what I see is true or not, I relish the vulnerability of the moment.
Color is another important tool for me. It’s a self-taught endeavor and one that I explore daily. Color mixing is similar to building flavors in a soup. A soup with just salt is watery and uninteresting. As in cooking, I pay close attention from the first layers what each color feels like in terms of its value, whether it’s warm or cool, and how it fits the composition. I am looking for something that feels harmonious with my nervous system. I begin with abstract shapes, then ask, “Is this shape interesting? Does this color work next to that one? Is it too strong? Is it helpful to the overall composition?” The more complex the mix, the more likely it is to hold my attention, and allow me to linger. Those puddles of paint sitting on my six foot glass palette are essential in setting the stage for what comes next. Ultimately, my work is a series of self-portraits. I know those poses; I’ve shaded my eyes, I’ve collected on the beach, I’ve weighted a foot. Therefore I don’t closely study how to draw the figure. I don’t necessarily want to get everything “right” or follow the rules, as in my childhood. I want the freedom to show you the flaws and imperfections. I want to feel the emotion that comes with being human, and I want you to feel that too. I know how it feels to be me. In truth, I am not an observer of others but an observer of myself.
Education
- 1986 University of California, Santa Cruz - Graduate Certificate, Fifth Year
- 1985 University of California, Santa Cruz - Bachelor of Arts
Solo Exhibitions
- 2026 “Arcadian”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
- 2025 “Rhythms of Summer”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
- 2024 “Under the Surface”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
“In this Moment” , Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA - 2023 “Quiet Moments”, Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV
“Retrospect”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA - 2022 Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
”Body of Truths, Unspoken Language”, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ
”Notice”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID - 2021 “Color + Figure”, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA
Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
”The Figure in Transition”, Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV - 2018 “Bring to Light”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
“Field Study”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
“Recent Paintings”, Stemmel Gallery, Reno, NV - 2017 “Light and Levity”, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle WN
- 2016 “Keeping Time”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Tew Gallery, Atlanta, GA
“Pantomine”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID - 2015 Winfield Gallery, Carmel, CA
Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WA
“Dialogues”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum. ID - 2014 “Disclosures”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA 2013
Revelations”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID - 2012 “Contrast and Grace”, J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
“Private Spaces,” Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID - 2011 “Women,” Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY - 2010 “Divine Dismay”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
- 2009 J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
- 2008 Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
- 2007 J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
- 2006 Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY 2005
Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX
Sue Greenwood Fine Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
Selected Group Shows
- 2024 “Girl on Girl”, RAM Gallery, Bakersfield, CA
- 2023 “Bold Vision”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
- 2020 “Disrupted Realism”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
- 2019 “Summer Figurative”, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
“New Additions 2019”, New Museum of Los Gatos, CA
2017 2-D Competition, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA
“Honoring the Legacy of David Park”, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
“Abstracts from Life”, NUMU New Museum of Los Gatos, CA - 2016 “The Figure in Place”, Firehouse Art Center, Pleasanton, CA
“More Than Your Selfie”, NUMU New Museum of Los Gatos, CA - 2015 “Approaching the Figure”, Three Person Show, The Studio Shop, Burlingame, CA
- 2014 “Preview 2014”, Gail Severn Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
Annual Group Show, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WN
“Face to Face: 30 years of Portraiture”, Bakersfield, CA
“Preview 2014”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID - 2013 “Preview 2013”, Gail Severn Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
- 2012 “Past as Prologue – Preview 2012,” Gail Severn Gallery, Sun Valley, ID 2011
“The Figure,” Gail Severn Gallery, Sun Valley, ID - 2009 Charles Hespe Gallery, San Francisco, CA Summer Group Show
- 2008 J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY Summer Group Show
- 2007 Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA Summer Group show
Collections
- Jens Peter Clausen, Dallas, TX
- UC Irvine Museum, Gerald Buck Collection, Irvine, CA
- NUMU Museum of Los Gatos Permanent Collection, Los Gatos
- Bakersfield Museum of Art, Permanent Collection, Bakersfield, CA
- Jacob Spori Gallery, Permanent Collection
- Brigham Young University, Rexburg, ID
- Crocker Art Museum, Permanent Collection, Sacramento, CA
- Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
- Pacific Art Foundation, Newport Beach, CA
- Standard Pacific, CA
- Energy Capitol Partners, New York, NY
- Nordstrom Collection
- Scios Corporation, San Jose, CA
- Condaleeza Rice Collection, CA
- George Blair Collection, CA
- Pam and Jim Muzzy Collection, CA
- Sheldon Harte Collection, CA
- TALKS AND LECTURING
- Yuma Art Symposium, Yuma, AZ
- Arizona Western College, Yuma, AZ
- Bakersfield Education Center, Bakersfield, CA
- Color + Figure Exhibition & Artist Discussion, Bakerfield Museum of Art, Bakerfield, CA
- Linda Christensen Recent Paintings; A Video Interview with Peter Stremmel with the
- Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV
- Grace & Contrast, J Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
- Hutchinson School, Memphis, TN
- Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood
- BYU Brigham Young University. Artists Lecture and Master Class
- Previous experience as Spectra Artist, offers Professional Development for Artists.
- Taught at Academy of Art SF, CA and UCSC, CA.
Publications
- 2020 Linda Christensen: Color + Figure
- 2013 Catamaran Literary Reader Magazine
- 2011 Santa Cruz Magazine. Stacey Vreeken
- 2010 ArtWorks Magazine. Sheryl Nonnenberg
- 2010 Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine. Hunter Drohojowska-Philip
- 2009 Neoteric Art, an online Art Magazine
- 2009 100 Artists of the West Coast II
- 2009 Santa Cruz Sentinel, Claudia Sternbach
- 2008 Art Waves, Laguna News-Post Roberta Carasso
- 2007 American Art Collector
- 2006 Art Waves, Laguna News-Post
- 2006 American Art Collector
- 2005 Art and Antiques
- 2004 Art Waves, Laguna News-Post
- 2003 Los Angeles Times
- 2003 Southwest Art
- 2003 Riviera Magazine Art Beat