Memory forms an arc over my work under which representation and abstraction interact with each other. For two decades I have investigated the art and science of memory and the effects of sensory input. Designing my book A Place for Memory: Where Art and Science Meet, has influenced me to be more fluid in my creative process, and to continue to work digitally in creating my archival pigment prints. My compositions are banded and intertwined with representational imagery and abstraction, as I am interested in the interaction and associative experience that these evoke. I draw upon my poetry and photography as source material for my drawings, paintings, mixed media, and pigment prints, and as a medium of spatial and temporal memory, anchoring each as a unique sensory experience.
Our role in the environment, social relationships and gender roles are important to my sense of artistic purpose, as I explore ideas about our connectedness with each other and to nature. I look at personal history and historical records. I consider how history records and constructs narratives and identities, and how perception and memory can challenge and re-invent story. I have developed a visual language coming from images and text that present multiple perspectives, social fields and positions. What I imagine and observe are woven together.
Quality of rendering in all media is very important to me. I switch my techniques in relationship to content. I like capturing the feeling of something, not just the way it appears, as our emotions and experiences provide the shape and dimension to how we remember.
I have a reverence for place and its connection to memory. I am inspired by nature for beauty, continuity and change. I use a range of images to arrive at metaphoric compositions that have meaning on many layers; some are inspired by interior networks and patterns of neurological activity, landscapes where our human interactions are visible, still lifes and abstractions as distillations of place, time and memory.
Artist Biography
Patricia Moss-Vreeland explores memory as a meditation on who we are. Her paintings, drawings, prints, mixed media collages, and artist books evoke an awakening of feelings, experiences, and imagery embedded in our everyday memories, probing the unexplored territory where art and science meet.
Incorporating close to two decades of research into the functioning of the human brain and the construction of memory, Moss-Vreeland’s work was hailed by the Baltimore Sun as “an invitation to think differently” about memory and the creative process. She works in a range of diverse media and genres, incorporating poetry at times to suggest the ways that language and memory are intertwined. Her visual compositions are metaphoric narratives, designed to slow us down, inviting close observation and reflection. Representing both the natural world and the rhythms and patterns of our brains at work, they create a sensory universe pulsing with connections.
Moss-Vreeland has always approached her art with a multi-disciplinary perspective, and believes in the promise of sharing different forms of knowledge about our place in this world. She recently expanded her artistic practice to include workshops, presentations, residencies, collaborative public participatory events, and wrote and designed the artist’s book, A Place for Memory: Where Art and Science Meet.
Patricia Moss-Vreeland’s paintings, drawings and mixed-media works have been exhibited nationally at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Her art resides in many permanent collections, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and The Norton Museum. She exhibited her work at the Locks Gallery in Philadelphia for two decades. Moss-Vreeland was selected through a national competition to design the Memorial Room for the Holocaust Museum Houston. In 1997, this permanent installation earned four awards, including the American Institute of Architects Honor award in Design, and the Spectrum International Award in Design. Moss-Vreeland went on to receive the Art-in-Science XIV Millennial commission for a traveling exhibition, Memory-Connections Matter, at the Esther Klein Gallery, University City Science Center, Philadelphia. At the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, the exhibition was the central focus for the Fields of Mind Conference, featuring Moss-Vreeland as a keynote speaker.
Moss-Vreeland's work was included in The New York Hall of Science, Walter.O.Lecroy Gallery, Science Inspires Art: The Brain, 2015, and was invited to have the Solo Exhibition and talk, A Parallel Universe, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, April 2016, for their 25th Anniversary of Neuroscience. She was interviewed for the Interalia Magazine's Memory Networks Issue, September-October 2016. In 2017, was invited to have a Solo Exhibition: Revelations and Transformation, Layers of Memory, at the Penn Memory Center, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. April 18 - October 28, 2017. She is a TEDx speaker, May 2015.
Awards & Honors
1997 American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Art and Design, Memorial Room, Holocaust Museum Houston, TX
Spectrum International Award in Design for Ceramic Tile, “The Wall of Tears”, Memorial Room, Holocaust Museum Houston, TX
1996 American Society of Interior Design Gulf States Award, Memorial Room, Holocaust Museum Houston
Foundation Grants Rome, Italy
1989 Winner of National Competition for Exhibition, Pindar Gallery, New York, NY
1986 Arcadia University Purchase Prize
1985 Winner of Philadelphia Museum of Art Purchase Prize, Mark Rosenthal, Juror
NBC TV 10 “The Healing Power Of Art” Tracy Davidson 6 PM News June 19, 2001
Morning Edition WHYY, Interview with Elizabeth Perez-Luna, Producer, January 2000
PBS Special "The Art of the Memorial Room" about the artists, the process of creation and completed Memorial Room, Holocaust Museum Houston, broadcast on WHYY several times 1997.
Meisol, Patricia "Feature on Patricia Moss-Vreeland’s 'Memory Connections-Matter'," The Baltimore Sun, Today Section, 1999
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Solo Exhibition Reviews: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1989,1992, 1993
Flam, Faye, “Memory-Connections Matter,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Science Section, January 2000
"New Museums, Holocaust Museum Houston," Architecture, Houston, TX, November 1996
Television Documentary broadcast on PBS April 1996-97, “The Art of the Memorial Room”, Holocaust Museum Houston, TX
“Texas Architecture” Magazine, Feature on Memorial Room, 1996
Johnson, Patricia "'Art Confronts Evil' Feature on the art of the 'Memorial Room', Holocaust Museum Houston, TX" Houston Chronicle Sunday Magazine, 1996
“Artworld" Art in America, May 1997
Cover Story, "Spectrum Award Honors 'Wall of Tears' Holocaust Museum Houston," Tile Industry News, September-October 1997
"Philadelphia Artists complete Houston 'Memorial Room'" The Jewish Exponent
The Bulletin, English edition of International Magazine
Burton Wasserman, Burton Feature on "Memory-Connections Matter", Art Matters, November 1999
Feature on “Memory-Connections Matter”, International Arts and Medicine, January 2000
Moss-Vreeland, Patricia, "Why Invest in Creativity" Teaching Artist review, Volume 2 , Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publisher, November 2004
Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who in the East, and Who’s Who in America. Represented in 17th edition-present
Trinity College, Hartford, CN The Holocaust Museum Houston, Houston, TX The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL The Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL The Milwaukee Museum of Art, Milwaukee, WI The Stephens Collection, Little Rock, AR The Atlantic Richfield Collection, Los Angeles, CA Bell Atlantic Collection, NJ Arcadia University, Glenside, PA Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA Library of Congress, Washington, DC Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Commission
National Winner of the Commission for the "Memorial Room" Holocaust Museum Houston, TX, 1993-1996 A permanent installation, the "Memorial Room" welcomes all visitors to the museum to reflect upon the events of the Holocaust and the universality of loss and hope, and to find contemplation and solace through art. The subject of PBS Special, "The Art of the Memorial Room".
Memory-Connections Matter, Art-in-Science XIV, Artist and Designer: University City Science Center, Esther Klein Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1999-2000 Memory-Connections Matter is an interactive art and science installation enabling visitors to wander through a metaphoric brain. It presents an investigation into the relationship between learning, memory, creativity and brain function; integrating multiple learning tools, technologies and media throughout the site. Memory-Connections Matter was designed to demonstrate there are multiple paths to take through art; one of these is education, learning with and through the arts.
The Philadelphia Craft Show, entrance ceramic mural honoring the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA, 1989-1990
Portrait Commissions: 1980-present
Professional Experience
Presentations, Residencies, Workshops
Art-Science-Creativity-Learning TEDx Speaker, A Place in Memory, May 2015
Artist Talk; Hamilton Auditorium, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, March 18, 2015
Artist Talk; Hamilton Auditorium, University of the Arts, March 1, 2015
Created and Organized Public Participatory Events dealing with memory and the senses and memory and societal issues; related to content and design of my book, A Place for Memory: Where Art and Science Meet
DesignPhiladelphia Cook-Eat-Remember: A Memory Potluck Supper, Philadelphia Center for Architecture- October 12, 2014
The Painted Bride Art Center Community Table, Cook-Eat-Remember: A Memory Potluck Supper, Philadelphia, May 8, 2014
Lecture and Interactive Workshop, The Watermark, Logan Square, January 7, 2014
Book Signing, A Place for Memory: Where Art and Science Meet, Chestnut Hill Gallery, Philadelphia, October 26, 2014
DesignPhiladelphia "Experiencing Mind and Memory Through Design: Book Talk and Visual Presentation" Pine Street Salon, Philadelphia, October 16, 2013
Presenter, Art and Social Justice, “Are We Enlightened Yet, Creating Broadsides” National Art and Education Association’s Annual Conference 2010
Fields of Mind: Keynote to educational conference centered with the exhibition Memory-Connections Matter, The Frey Library, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, June 28-29, 2004
Fringing the Page: Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, a conference and workshop on beyond – the- page poetry, October 2002
Holistic Learning Conference: Breaking New Ground, “Exploring Soul and Partnership in Education; Presenter, “Arts Nurture Partnership and Collaboration”, October 19-21, 2001
AERA Arts and Learning Conference, Presenter on “Interdisciplinary Connections Through the Arts”, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, February 20-22, 2001
American Education Research Association, Presenter (SIG, Arts Based Education) Annual Conference, Austin, TX. November 10-13, 2000,“Memory-Connections Matter” as cross-boundary exhibition, workshop/dialogue.
Lead Panelist, Education and Creativity, Multiculturism for a New Millennium Tenth Anniversary National Conference, Temple University, PA, February 2000
Artist in Residence: Genetics, Bioethics and Religion Advanced Workshop, Haverford College, sponsored by the Templeton Foundation, organized by the Philadelphia Center for Religion and Science and the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, June 3-8, 2000.
Center for Partnership Studies: Arts Consultant for Riane Eisler, Founding Director of CPS and author of The Chalice and the Blade among other books.
Director: Art-in-Science Forum on"Education and Creativity”, programming during my exhibition “Memory-Connections Matter” at The University City Science Center, Philadelphia.
Developed forum theme and panel of five specialists: •Moderator, Dr. Karen Mittelman, writer and social historian, and Director of Programs, the National Endowment of the Humanities. •Dr. Barbara Malamut, Clinical Neuropsychologist, memory specialist and neuroscience advisor to Memory-Connections Matter. •Ann Beirs, Director of the International Baccalaureate School, Rosa International Middle School, Cherry Hill, NJ Dr. Abby Goodrum, Vice-President of Research, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, CA •Patricia Moss-Vreeland, Creator of “Memory-Connections Matter”, artist, writer Each panelist provided specific examples of alternative methods to teaching and learning related to the multiple intelligences and visual literacy, with responding commentary and connections to the exhibition, Memory-Connections Matter.
Organized Symposium, Workshops, Presentation and Art Exhibition: Eight Philadelphia Area Public and Private High Schools Participated
Gender and Identity: Featuring talk and visual presentation to the public, parents and students with Frida Kahlo, founding member of the Guerilla Girls with student’s hands-on studio projects and discussions.
Who’s in the Picture? Exploring Gender in The Picturing Women Project, presented by Dr. Susan Shifin. Assistant Professor of Art History, Ursinus College and Dr. Chtristine Wooysher, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Social Studies Education, Temple University.
Health and Body Image Workshop facilitated by Dr. Alice Lesnick, Senior lecturer and Director, Bryn Mawr/ Haverford Colleges Education Program, and Dr. Susan Villari, M.P.H. Director of Health Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Exhibitions
Solo
2017 Revelations and Transformation, Layers of Memory, Penn Memory Center, Philadelphia, PA
2016 A Parallel Universe, Trinity College, Hartford, CN
2006 - present Salon, Rome, Prague, New York, NY
2004 Frey Library, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
1999 - 2000 Memory-Connections Matter, Art-in-Science XIV, University City Science Center, Esther Klein Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1993 The Aaronson Gallery, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1992 The Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1991 Partners Gallery, Washington, DC
1990 The Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1986 The Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1983 The Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1979 The Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Group
2016 The In-Formed Artist - All Fruit, Atelier Aperto Venezia Viva Gallery, Venice, Italy Traveling Exhibition, and Associazione Internazionale Incisori, Rome, Italy
2015 CAMAC, Centre d’art Marnay Art Centre, Marnay-Sur-Seine, France
Works on Paper: Survey of Purchase Prizes 1978-2009, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA
The Nature of Time and Place, PII Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014 - 2015 Science Inspires Art: The Brain, Walter. O. Lecroy Gallery, The New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows, NY
2013 Libro Curio, National Archives, Philadelphia, PA
2001 Reactions, Exit Art, New York, NY
The Julius Bloch Collection, Pertaining to Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
2000 Points of Departure: Art on the Line, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
1974 - 1992 The Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Previous to 2000 Jalane and Richard Davidson Collection, The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, IL
Animal Magic, Nexus Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, PA
Made in Philadelphia III, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA
Contemporary Women Artists, American Cultural Center, Brussels, Belgium
American Drawings: Black and White, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
Houston-Philadelphia Exchange, Institute for Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA
National Invitational, Pindar Gallery, New York, NY
Contemporary Drawings, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Alumni Invitational, Rosenwald Wolf Gallery, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
The Arts and the Holocaust, A Living Legacy, Symposium and Exposition sponsored by the Interfaith Council on the Holocaust, Mandell Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Barbara Crawford Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
A Look at Drawings, Goldie Paley Design Center, Philadelphia, PA
New Acquisitions, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
