My paintings are densely patterned, focused on color, filled with yearning. I am captivated by the earth’s linear quality, the moment of place where sky touches earth and what happens in those remaining spaces that eventually arrive at our feet. I chisel away at the natural world, patching together bits and pieces, composing and rebuilding the landscape.
Repeated fragments, dissected skies, slabs of earth.
Separating the land with paint, my intent is to look beyond and through.
Capturing moments, glimpses of creation, landscapes, the order of atmosphere and the outside world. Its central formations and ecosystems, fields stumbled upon or driven by - caught in a glance; newly trampled ground on previously unchartered territory. Giving the viewer recollection- a sense of having been there.
This reminiscence also gravitates towards objects that inhabit a past. I attempt to capture their wistfulness, the nostalgic quality that they hold so dear. A celebration of their existence; a commemoration of remembrance.
My work is about the recognition of the subtleties of life and environment. These are the moments and pieces I attempt to capture and recreate: accumulation and repetition, intricacies found in the structure of organic objects, the concept of time and space through light and layers.
Artist Biography
Kimberly Stemler was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa, and received a BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Living with her husband Jon and their three boys in a rural area of Montgomery County she is inspired by the land. Her work primarily revolves around landscapes that are densely patterned, layered and focused on color. These landscapes, while abstracted, have the ability to give the viewer a sense of connection to place, time, moment. They can feel nostalgic and almost recognizable, like a fuzzy memory. Another focus of her work tends to revolve around objects that are evocative, wistful, and full of remembrance.
Kimberly is the recipient of Best Abstract Award from the Philadelphia Sketch Club's "Absolutely Abstract" group show and the Member Award from the "Small Works" show located at Studio B in Boyertown. Recent juried shows include New Hope Arts “Ancestral Intersection”, the Montgomery County Studio Tour and solo shows at the Abington Art Center and Cairn University.
Collaborative public work with Jonathan Stemler includes "little red string" temporarily installed in Northern Chinatown through the Asian Arts Initiative in 2009, "alpha and omega", a permanent installation commissioned by New Hanover United Methodist Church, and "Windows of History", located in Souderton, PA.
Education
Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Elkins Park, PA Bachelor of Fine Art - May 1992
Temple University Abroad, Rome, Italy September 1990 - June 1991
Bibliography
Schira, Ron, “Art Review: ‘Art Attack’ Proves A Thrilling Display At Studio B,” Reading Eagle, Sunday July 12, 2015
Schira, Ron, “Art Review: Stuido B Revamps Its ‘Farm’ Exhibition,” Reading Eagle, January 29, 2015
Schira, Ron, “Art Review: An Unpretentious ‘December Members’ Show In Boyertown,” Reading Eagle, December 25, 2014
"Chinatown North Social Project Lab", Art Place America, December 29, 2012
Ptah, Gabrie, “Flux Capacity,” Philadelphia City Paper, June 18, 2009
Collections
Corporate
Cairn University, Langhorne, PA York Square Condominium, Philadelphia, PA Solar Manufacturing, FMFCU, Souderton, PA
Private
Todd and Kristin Curry Janet Belford John and Sarah Harm
Public Work
2018 Windows of History, Souderton, PA Collaborative piece with Jonathan Stemler
Alpha and Omega, Commission for NHUMC, Gilbertsville, PA Collaborative piece with Jonathan Stemler
2016 The Cross, Commission For NHUMC Collaborative installation with Jonathan Stemler
2009 Little Red String, Asian Arts Initiative , In/Flux Project, Philadelphia, PA Collaborative installation with Jonathan Stemler
Exhibitions
Solo
2018 These Things I Carry, Cairn University, Langhorne, PA (September - October)
2017 Winter Solo Series, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA (March - May)
2001 Between Earth & Sky, Myrtle Gallery, North Wales, PA (October - November)
1998 Rude Awakenings, Borders, Montgomeryville, PA (February - August)
1992 A Tree In All It’s Hollow Glory: BFA Exhibition, Penrose Gallery, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA (April)
Juried Shows
2022
“Ancestral Intersection”, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, Pa, Curator Dalissa McEwen Reeder
2021
"Montgomery County Studio Tour", Visiting Artist at Dale Robert's Studio, Norristown, Pa
"Locally Grown", Up Arts Incubator Gallery, Lansdale, pa, Juror - Erik Sacony
"Birds", John James Audubon Center, Pa
2020
"All things Bright & Beautiful", Up Arts Incubator Gallery, Lansdale, pa
2019
"Rust to Rise", Community Arts Phoenixville Gallery, Phoenixville, Pa, Juror - Teresa Haag
2018 Drawn from Nature, John James Audubon Center, Audubon, PA Jurors - Cheryl Agulwick Hochberg & Bruce Hoffman
January 2018 Juried Show, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Juror - Luella Tripp
2016 Immersed, Gray Gallery, Germantown, PA Juror - Jill Pederson
Spring Gala Exhibition, Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
Drawn From Nature, John James Audubon Center, PA
153rd Small Oil Show, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
2015 Local Artist Show, Dog House Art Gallery, Boyertown, PA
Absolutely Abstract, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
Annual Juried Show, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA Jurors - Dufala Brothers
Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA Award for Best Abstract
2013 Drawn From Nature, John James Audubon Center, Audubon, PA
2009 Drawn From Nature, John James Audubon Center, Audubon, PA
2006 Landscape Revisited, Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
Group
2022
“Reflections”, Studio B, Boyertown, Pa
2021
"Birds", Studio B, Boyertown, Pa
2018
"Glow", Studio B, Boyertown, Pa
"Veritas Annual Arts Invitational", Lancaster, Pa., Curator - Ned Bustard
“Dear Fleisher” Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Glow, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Veritas Annual Arts Invitational, Lancaster, PA Curator: Ned Bustard
"Dear Fleisher" Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Everything is There: Landscape, Water, and Still Life Paintings, Bridgeton House, Upper Black Eddy, PA 3 Person Show Curated by InLiquid
On the Road, Goggleworks, Reading, PA
The Farm, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
2017 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Vessel, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Muse, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Agri-Culture, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
2016 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Dear Fleisher, Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Shine, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
‘Til Death Do Us Art, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Under The Spreading Boughs: Artists’ View of Trees, Schwenkfelder Library And Heritage Museum, Pennsburg, PA
Local By Local, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Cul-Ti-Vate, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Radius, Franklin Commons, Phoenixville, PA
2015 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Watch Us Sparkle, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Art Attack, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Get Down To Earth Show, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
The Modern Farm, Studio B, Boyertown, PA Juried Exhibition
2014 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Small Works Show, Studio B, Boyertown, PA Honorable Mention Award
Dear Fleisher, Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Summer Art Show, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
2010 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Dear Fleisher, Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
2008 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Dear Fleisher, Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
2007 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Group Abstract, 3 Person Exhibition, Jms Gallery, Chestnut Hill, PA
2006 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Winter Group Exhibition, JMS Gallery, Chestnut Hill, PA
2005 Salon of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Multimedia Art Exhibit To Benefit Hurricane Victims, Broad Street Gallery, Quakertown, PA
2001 Autumn Gala Benefit, Camphill Soltane, Glenmoore, PA
1992 Creative People’s Art Show, Woodmere Art Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA
Landscape, Schuylkill Valley Art Center, Schuylkill, PA
1991 Festa Di Roma, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA
1990 – 1991 Juried Group Exhibition, Villa Caproni Galleria, Rome, Italy
1989 – 1990 Juried Show, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA
