Shop Available Works by Kimberly Stemler

• Artsy

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Artist Statement

My art is an investigative diary, exploring my world and environment while relishing in the paint and my process: pattern by pattern, color by color, dot by dot. I address three main themes: landscape, object, and mythology. Combined, they present a rich tapestry of work interwoven with a thread of nostalgia.

I explore deconstructing, redefining, and rebuilding the earth into terms conveying a personal history. The horizon line intrigues me. The moment of place where sky touches earth and what happens in those remaining spaces that eventually arrive at our feet.

My approach is similar when examining objects of personal, ancestral, or domestic history. I've discovered that the recurring topics I explore from childhood are connected to my grandmothers. This relationship is inconspicuous like a spider’s silk but equally strong. Painting them becomes a celebration of their existence, a commemoration of remembrance. Wound within these themes exist questions of identity, ethnicity, and ancestry.

Recently, I’ve been exploring Greek mythology. What has been thought-provoking is that below the surface of the myths lie ideas and assumptions about human and deity behavior, male and female dynamics, and oppression. The hidden meanings, imagery, and inspiration derived from these stories withstand the test of time. Man’s search for something greater than himself.

My love of dots began early in my career, alluding to organic and micro-organization. What originated with breaking the plane and imitating cells has become much more than solely disruptive space and detail. A depth is achieved, color shifts, a veil worn, and an obscured change of form. Though laborious, the process of brush painting the dots is meditative, and the result gives me a joy similar to witnessing a murmuration. Printing in oil began more recently. I’ve always been drawn towards patterns and tactile surfaces, wanting to achieve that feeling and density in my work. These processes beg a closer approach, encouraging an intimate relationship between painting and viewer.

There is a steady contrast of control and looseness at play in each painting; breath and movement. The result is a collection of lush, complex, and layered paintings. The approach to each subject is the same, whether it be myth, landscape, or object, and each of my paintings holds the same textural and emotional weight.

My work echoes the beauty that can be found in this world, the delight I find in the earth, in story, and in ordinary objects of my past. I want to spark conversations of relationship, nature, and memory by accentuating and elevating these subjects to a moment in time that resonates and feels familiar.

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Artist Biography

Kimberly Stemler was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa, and received a BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art. 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, give the viewer a sense of connection to place, time, moment. They can feel nostalgic and almost recognizable, like a fuzzy memory. Another concentration focuses on domestic objects that are evocative, wistful, and full of remembrance. Most recently, she has been captivated by Greek Mythology and the powerful imagery it evokes.

Recent juried shows were exhibited at the InLiquid gallery, Mainline Art Center, and New Hope Arts. Solo shows include the Abington Art Center and Cairn University with one approaching in August 2025 at the Art Work Gallery in Phoenixville.

She and her husband Jon manage his machine shop using the left side of their brains and collaborate artistically to nourish the right side. Their public work includes "little red string”, "alpha and omega", and "Windows of History".

In 2024 they worked on a two person show displaying the concept “of earth & myth” in their chosen mediums at Montco’s Pottstown campus. The result was conversation and contemplation. Not only between the work itself, but also the ancient and present reflection of life, death and deity.

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Education

1992
Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Elkins Park, PA
Bachelor of Fine Art

1990 - 1991
Temple University Abroad, Rome, Italy

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Bibliography

Devlin, Eric “Sculpture exhibitions kick off season of fine art at MCCC” MCCC article, August 26, 2024

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

Art Place America, Chinatown North Social Practice Lab  

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Public Collections

• Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel LLP, Philadelphia, PA
• Cairn University, Langhorne, PA
• Univest National Bank, Souderton, PA
• NHUMC, Gilbertsville, PA
• York Square Condominium, Philadelphia, PA
• Solar Manufacturing, FMFCU, Souderton, PA

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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

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Awards and Honors

2015
Award for Best Abstract, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

2014
Honorable Mention Award, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

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Affiliations

InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

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Lectures and Talks

2017
Coffee Break, Artist Talk, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA

2011
Artist Talk, Cairn University, Langhorne, PA

Exhibitions

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Solo

2025
the moment & the memory, Art Work Gallery, Phoenixville, PA

2018
These Things I Carry, Cairn University, Langhorne, PA

2017
Winter Solo Series, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA

2001
Between Earth & Sky, Myrtle Gallery, North Wales, PA

1998
Rude Awakenings, Borders, Montgomeryville, PA

1992
A Tree In All It’s Hollow Glory: BFA Exhibition, Penrose Gallery, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA

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Two and Three Person

2024
Of Earth & Myth, with Jonathan Stemler, North Hall Gallery, Montco, Pottstown, PA

2018
Everything Is There: Landscape, Water, And Still Life Paintings, Helen Halstuch, Brooke Lanier, and Kimberly Stemler, River’s Edge Gallery, Upper Black Eddy, PA
Curated by InLiquid

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Selected Group Exhibitions

2025
Juried Fine Art Show, PAAG, Schwenkfelder Putera Gallery, Pennsburg, PA
Juror: Craig Stover

The Unusual Suspects, Powell Lane Arts, Collingswood, NJ
Juror: Dr. Fred B. Adelson

Around, Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA
Juror: Steve Oliver

The View, Chester County Art Association (CCAA) West Chester, PA

2024
The View, Chester County Art Association (CCAA) West Chester, PA

2023
Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition, Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA

Legacy: Remembrance Matters, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Juror: Ellen Martignetti

Ethnicity Through the Eyes of the Artist, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA
Jurors: Nina Guzman, Erika Land, Cheryl Harper

Salon Of Small Works, Nap Annual Invitational, Kutztown, PA
Curator: James Carrollalso 2005-2018

Juried Art Exhibition, Goggleworks, Reading, PA
Juror: Mark Mahosky

Crafting Nature, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Curated by InLiquid

Passages, Media Arts Council, Media, PA
Juror: Maryanne Buschini

2022
Ancestral Intersection, Invitational, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
Curator: Dalissa McEwen Reeder

Reflections, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

In My Mind’s Eye Invitational, Up Arts Incubator, Lansdale, PA
Curator: Dalissa Reeder

Locally Grown, Up Arts Incubator Gallery, Lansdale, PA
Juror: Erik Sacony

Birds, John James Audubon Center, Audubon, PA

Birds, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

2020
All things Bright & Beautiful, Up Arts Incubator Gallery, Lansdale, PA

2019
Rust to Rise, Community Arts of 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 St Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Luella Tripp

Glow, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

Veritas Annual Arts Invitational, Lancaster, PA
Curator: Ned Bustard

Dear Fleisher, Biennial Invitational, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
also 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018

On The Road, Goggleworks, Reading, PA

The Farm, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

Vessel, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

2017
Muse, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

Agri-Culture, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

2016
Immersed, Gray Gallery, Germantown, PA
Juror: Jill Pederson

Spring Gala Exhibition, Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
Juror: Sharon Ewing

Drawn From Nature, John James Audubon Center, Audubon, PA

153rd Small Oil Show, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

Til Death Do Us Art, Invitational, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Curator: Susan Biebuyck

Shine, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

Under The Spreading Boughs: Artists' View of Trees, Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, Pennsburg, PA

Local By Local, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

Cul-Ti-Vate, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

Radius, Franklin Commons, Phoenixville, PA

2015
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

Local Artist Show, Dog House Art Gallery, Boyertown, PA

Absolutely Abstract, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

Annual Juried Show, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Jurors: Dufala Brothers

2014
Small Works Show, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

2013
Drawn From Nature, John James Audubon, Audubon, PA

Summer Art Show, Studio B, Boyertown, PA

2009
Drawn From Nature, John James Audubon Center, Audubon, PA

2007
Group Abstract Invitational, JMS Gallery, Chestnut Hill, PA

2006
Landscape Revisited, Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition, Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
Juror: Elizabeth Osborne

Winter Group Exhibition, Invitational, JMS Gallery, Chestnut Hill, PA

2005
Multimedia Art Exhibit to Benefit Hurricane Victims, Broad Street Gallery, Quakertown, PA

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Other

2025
Chester County Studio Tour, Visiting Artist at Julia Pook’s Studio, Downingtown, PA

2024
Chester County Studio Tour, Visiting Artist at Helen DiCaprio’s Studio, West Chester, PA

2021
Montgomery County Studio Tour, Visiting Artist at Dale Robert's Studio, Norristown, PA

2019
Montgomery County Studio Tour, Visiting Artist at Dale Robert's Studio, Norristown, PA