Sandra Russell
Isaac & Emma
was born in London, England. From a very early age, she was passionate about art and dreamed about being a painter. She received a full scholarship from London's prestigious Slade School of Fine Art, but her parents, however, prohibited her from attending. They steered her instead toward the fashion industry, which, in the 1960s, seemed a promising career. Sandra went on to explore a range of creative pursuits that included photography, photographic styling, weaving, and clothing design. Upon relocating to the U.S. she began studying painting at San Francisco State University, eventually accumulating far in excess of the basic art requirements for a BFA. But still needs a few units in logistics and statistics – which seemed too overwhelming!
These days, Sandra spends as much time as possible in the studio adjacent to her San Francisco home. She surrounds herself with books, music of all kinds, a vibrant aviary, a flourishing overcrowded English garden, loyal studio mates named Emma and Isaac (hounds!) Sandra's paintings are very much about her environment; broad expanses of color, writhing lines and tranquil patches suggesting a mix of harmony and chaos that invite the viewer to imagine her world. She describes her paintings as a search for the spontaneous and uninhibited. Sandra is inspired by many artists, but turns first to Matisse, to the Bay Area Figuratives and other expressive painters such as de Kooning, Guston, Per Kirkeby, Susan Rothenberg and Cy Twombly, and to the writings of Carl Jung.
Sandra Russell has exhibited in a variety of galleries and salons throughout the Bay Area. Her paintings hang in collections in Canada, Colorado, Los Angeles, Oregon, Chicago, London, and San Francisco and they may be seen at SFMOMA Artists Gallery in San Francisco, Anne Loucks in Chicago, and Salon Margraff in Santa Fe & Philadelphia.
exhibitions
2016 Exhibition Gray Loft Gallery, Oakland
2014 Exhibition SFMoMa Artists Gallery, San Francisco
2013 Exhibition, Lobby Gallery, 450 Market St, San Francisco
2010 Exhibition Anne Loucks Gallery, Chicago
2009 Exhibition Live Worms Gallery, San Francisco
2009 Exhibition Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco
2009 Exhibition Anne Loucks Gallery, Chicago
2009 Exhibition Salon Margraff, Santa Fe
2009 Exhibition Anne Loucks Gallery, Glencoe, Ill
2007 Exhibition Anne Loucks Gallery
2006 Exhibition SFMOMA Artists Gallery
2005 Exhibition Hang Gallery
2002 collection of paintings, Hang Gallery
1999 collection of paintings, SFMOMA Artists Gallery
2001 Juried Show Mad River Post
2000 "As Above So Below" Two person exhibition, Artists at Work Gallery
2000 Artists at Work Gallery
2000 Bay Area Figurative, Somarts Cultural Center
2000 Juried Student Annual Art Show, CCSF
1999 Exposition, L Abbeye de Caunes-Minervois, France
1999 Private Salon Show
1999 Private Salon Show
1999 Student Annual Art Show, CCSF
1998 Student Annual Art Show, CCSF