My paintings and collages are about place, and they take inspiration from landscape, but are not a representation of any specific location. For some time now, many of my images have been purely abstract, expressing in unabashed, exuberant color my enthusiasm for the natural world. I have also begun to investigate collage much more fully, by creating works on paper and other surfaces. My paintings and collages result from a rather intuitive process, and they are built up layer upon layer, with varied colors, expressive strokes of paint, and textured materials. This procedure allows the gradual, but ultimately triumphant, emergence of my art. My artwork welcomes viewers to “enter” these “worlds” by imagination, memory, and reverie.
Artist Biography
Sandra Benhaim is a painter working in oil, mixed media, and collages on canvas, wood panels, and paper. She earned a BFA (on a full-paid four year scholarship) and later an M.Ed, from Temple’s Tyler School of Art. After working representationally for years, she now creates mainly abstract images, often expressing these in unabashed, exuberant color. She has exhibited nationally from Washington state to New York to Florida. Sandra’s paintings are in public collections such as PNC Headquarters Tower in Pittsburgh, PA; Mondrian Investments (Philadelphia office); Bryn Mawr Dermatology offices in Villanova, PA; RCCB LLC Law offices collection, Conshohocken, PA. Philadelphia’s Del Frisco’s Grille commissioned a 96”H x 78”W canvas painting, which was installed in November 2018.
Education
1997 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA Studio for Advanced Studies Program
1973 Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Elkins Park, PA M. Ed.
1968 Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Elkins Park, PA BFA
Awards & Honors
Honorable Mention, 146th Annual Small Oils Show, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
Third Prize, Small Worlds, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
Merit Award, Art Of The Flower, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
Bibliography
2014 Wong, Wilson, “A.I.R. At New Century Gallery,” Gallery & Studio, Vol 16 No. 5, p.15
