BIOGRAPHY: Born March 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, Cantrell moved to New York City in 1968, and has lived along the Northeast coast for the past 40 years, currently in Old Lyme, CT. An early art inspiration was a Horizon magazine article on Richard Diebenkorn and the Bay Area Figurative painters. Elected an artist member of the Silvermine Guild of Artists in 1998, when Cantrell retired from work as a typesetter in NYC and moved to Connecticut, she has been painting and making prints fulltime for the past 16 years, most recently large-scale woodcuts.

EDUCATION:

 

2013, 2012:   Crown Point Press, San Francisco: Week-long intensive workshop in copperplate etching and aquatint techniques, June 2012, second week in June 2013.

 

2003-2004:    School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Diploma, Studio Arts, May 2004, focus on printmaking.

 

1998-2015:    Advanced printmaking courses include study with Vijay Kumar at Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC and Center for Contemporary Printmaking, CT; Barbara Harder at New Haven Creative Arts Workshop; and work/study with master printer James Reed as printer’s assistant at Norwalk Graphic Arts Center (now Center for Contemporary Printmaking), CT.

 

1969-1974:   Art Students League, New York, NY, took painting classes with Will Barnet, awarded tuition scholarship by Raphael Soyer.

 

1966-1968:    Washington University School of Fine Arts, St. Louis, MO, major in painting.

ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS: 

 

2014:        As co-partner with Judy Friday in gallery19, Essex, CT, had several one-person shows in the gallery.

 

2013:        “Expressionist Landscapes,” H. Pelham Curtis Gallery, New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT. May-June.

 

2012:        “Modernists of Old Lyme” (with Judy Friday), Sandra Morgan Home, Greenwich, CT, October-December.

                  “House Dreams: Prints & Paintings,” Exit Gallery, Essex Art Association, CT, July-August.

2011:        “New Paintings,” Nylen Gallery, Westport, CT, August-September. Curated by Wendy Nylen.

“Featured Artist of the Month,” August, website curated by Bridgeport Arts & Cultural Council, CT (bridgeportarts.org).

2009:        “Helen Cantrell: Paintings,” John W. Meagher Rotunda Gallery, Jersey City, NJ, July-August. Curated by Greg Brickey, Director, Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs.

 

2007:        “Jersey City and I-95,” Madame Claude Café, Jersey City, NJ, February.

 

2004:        “Hey Suburbia,” Southport Harbor Gallery, Southport, CT. July-August.

 

2002:        “The Spirit of Spring,” Southport Harbor Gallery, Southport, CT. April-May.

2001:        “Bordering on Abstraction,” (2-person show).Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT. October-December.

“Color Landscapes,” Silvermine Guild of Artists, New Canaan, CT. June-July.

Featured Artist, 39^th annual CCNS Art Show, Rowayton, CT, June.

“Recent Paintings and Prints,” Good News Café, Woodbury, CT. November-January.

 

2000:        “Expressionist Landscapes,” Paul Mellon Arts Center, Choate Rosemary Hall, CT. Nov. January. Curator: John Faulkner, Gallery Director.

                   “Dazzling Discoveries,” Southport Harbor Gallery, September-October.

“The Expressionist Landscape,” The Landmark at Eastview, Tarrytown, NY. July. Curator: Wendy Kelley.

 

1999:        “Shorelines.” Picture This of Westport, CT. Curator: Wendy Nylen.

1998:        “Northeast Corridor” paintings and prints, Art Cellar, Clinton, CT. August-September. Curator: Kathleen Fahey.

1997:        “Sound Views,” Picture This of Westport, Westport, CT. August. Curator: Wendy Nylen.

 

1996:        “Suburbia.” Long Island University, Paramount Gallery, NYC. Curator: Nancy Grove, Gallery Director. September-October.

 

1995:        “Shoreline Paintings,” Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, New London, CT. November-December.

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2015:        “Local Color,” Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, CT. September - November.

“Boston Printmakers 2015 Biennial,” Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. Juror: Willie Cole. November-December.

“Once: Monotype Guild of New England Juried Members’ Exhibition,” Brickbottom gallery, Cambridge, MA, Juror: Scott Schnepf. September-November.

“Connecticut Academyy of Fine Arts 104^th Exhibit,” Mystic, CT, June – August.

 “Nor'easter,” New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT. January.

“Kindred,” Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, CT. January-March.

2014:        “Uncommon Ground,” Printmakers of the New Haven Creative Arts Workshop, Willoughby Library, Stony Creek, CT. December. 7-31. Curated by Barbara Harder.
“70^th annual Connecticut Artists Exhibition, The Slater Museum, Norwich, CT, January-February.

                   “40 Degrees 42’N/37 Degrees 48’S”, New York Society of Etchers, join exhibition of intaglio prints by New York and Melbourne, Australia artists, the National Arts Club, October-November.

“Art of the Northeast,” Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT. Curated by Andrew Russeth, Art Critic: New York Observer. April-June.

 

2013:        “In the Layers,” works on paper, Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT. Curated by Suzanne Julig, NYC art advisor. November-December.

“69^th Annual Connecticut Artists Exhibition,” The Slater Museum, Norwich, CT. Jurors: Betsey and Jeff Cooley, The Cooley Gallery. February-March. Awarded “honorable mention – painting.”

“The Human Touch: Five Printmakers,” Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT, February -April.

“At Our Best: Connecticut Artists from 1850 – 2013,” The Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, CT. February-March.

 

2012:        “Collective Vision,” Silvermine Guild of Artists, New Canaan, CT. Juror: Cynthia Roznoy, Mattatuck Museum. August.

Manhattan Graphics Center, Juried Print Show. Juror: Stephen A. Fredericks, NY Society of Etchers, New York, NY. July.

“Hot off the Presses,” Lyme Art Association invitational & juried print show, Old Lyme, CT. Juror: Lori Warner, Warner Gallery. June-July.

Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art (4-person show), University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, July-September. Curated by Julia Pavone, gallery director.

“Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts 101st Exhibition,” Mystic Art Center, CT. Juror: Patricia Hickson, curator of Contemporary Art, Wadsworth Athenaeum. July.

 “90^th Anniversary Group Show,” Silvermine Guild of Artists, New Canaan, CT, April.

“Second National Intaglio Print Show,” NY Society of Etchers, New York, NY. Juror; David Kiehl, print curator, Whitney Museum of American Art, April.

Featured Artist: CCNS 50^th annual art auction, Rowayton, CT. June.

“Winter Group Show,” Behnke-Doherty Gallery, Washington Depot, CT, January-March.

 

2011:        “Water, Water Everywhere,” (4-person show) Bridgeport Arts & Cultural Council, Bridgeport, CT. Curated by Laura G. Einstein. July-August. Participated in “brown bag lunch” seminar/discussion.

“Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts 100th Exhibition,” Mystic Art Center, CT. Jurors: Joy M. Pepe, Anne von Stuelpnagel, Director of Exhibitions, Bruce Museum. May-July.

“Poser,” Guilford Art Center juried show, Mill Gallery, Guilford, CT, May-June.

“55^th Regional Juried Art Show,” Mystic Arts Center, CT, Honorable Mention. Juror: DonWoodford.

 “Bridgeport Prints,” Bridgeport Arts & Cultural Council. Curated by James Reed, master printer, Milestone Graphics, Bridgeport, CT. May-June.

“Art of the Northeast,” Silvermine Arts Center. Juror: Tom Eccles, Executive Director, Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College. April-June.

“Homegrown,” Akus Gallery, Eastern Connecticut State U., Willimantic, CT, April-May.

 

2010:        “A Contemporary View,” Lyme Art Association Invitational (4-person show), Old Lyme, CT. Curated by Susan Ballek, LAA Director. March-April.

2008:        “Local Color” (3-person show), Central Gallery, Old Saybrook, CT. Curated by Pam Gordinier and Hillary Seltzer. July-September.

“Sprawl: Urban Overbuilding,” New Jersey state-wide exhibition, Arts Guild of Rahway. Curated by Lawrence Capiello. February-March.

“Nylen Gallery Inaugural Exhibition,” Nylen Gallery, Westport, CT. Curated by Wendy Nylen. March.

2007:        “Fantastic Form: The Art of Comics and Graphic Novels,” Perth Amboy Gallery Center for the Arts, Perth Amboy, NJ. Curated by Raul Villareal. June-July.

2006:        “Identity,” Hudson County Arts Annual, Jersey City, NJ, curated by France Garrido & Kathryn Klanderman. September-November.

                   “Works on Paper National Juried Show” Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ, July.

“Echoes of China: Boston Printmakers in China,” Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA. Curated by Boston Printmakers. May-July.

“50th Annual National Juried Print Exhibition,” Hunterdon Museum of Art, Clinton, NJ. Juror: Judith K. Brodsky, Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper. July-August.

 

2005:        “Boston Printmakers in China,” Hangzhou Central Art Academy, Hangzhou, China. July.

 

2003:        “North American Print Biennial,” Boston Printmakers, Boston University, Juror: Clifford S. Ackley, Chair, Dept. of Prints, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. February-March.

                   “New Members Show,” Copley Society, Boston, MA, July-August.

                   “15th Annual Members Juried Show,” Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI. Juror: Judith Tannenbaum, curator, RISD Museum of Art. January-March.

 

2001:        “Temporal Reflections,” Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery, Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA. November-December (4-person show, review).

                   “Rhythms, Layers and Landscapes: Recent Prints,” Gallery on the Green, Canton, CT. Curated by Sarah Gustafson. March-April.

 

2000:        “Works on Paper,” National Juried Exhibition. South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, MA. November-December. Juror: Howardena Pindell.

“Paperworks,” CT GraphicArts Center, Norwalk, CT. Juror: Harry Philbrick, Director, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art. June-August.

“Art of the Northeast,” Silvermine Arts Center, CT. Juror: George King, Director, Georgia O’Keefe Museum. May-June.

National Small Works Open Juried Show, Canton, CT. Juror: Judy Kim, Wadsworth Athenaeum. April.

New Haven Paint & Clay Club, 99th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, New Haven, CT. February-March.

Full Circle Gallery, Providence, RI (3-person show, review). February-March.

1999:        Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art (4-person show), UConn, Groton, CT. Curated by Julia Pavone. December.

“Artists of the Second District,” Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, NYC, December-January.

“Closing House,” Cannondale Gallery, Wilton, CT. Curated by Debra Browne. November.

“Faber Birren National Color Award Show,” University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT. Juror: Susan Cross, Guggenheim Museum. October-November.

“Connecticut Landscapes,” The University Gallery, University of Bridgeport, CT. September-October.

“Women of Litchfield,” Glass Mountain Gallery, Bantam, CT. August-September.

“41st Annual Juried Art Exhibition,” The Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, CT. Juror: Laurene Buckley, Director, New Britain Museum of Art. June-August.

“Spectrum 1999,” Carriage Barn Arts Center, New Canaan, CT. Juror William Zimmer, New York Times. April-May.

New Art Annual ‘99, Stamford Museum. Juror: Cynthia Roznoy, Whitney Museum Stamford. March-April.

 

1998:        “Works in Oil” (3-person show), Cannondale Gallery, Wilton, CT. Curated by Debra Browne. September-October.

“Spectrum 1998,” Carriage Barn Arts Center, New Canaan, CT. Juror Peter Rathbone, Sotheby’s. April-May.

“Arts Connecticut 1998” The Mill Gallery, Guilford Art Center. Jurors Patricia Rosoff, Art New England, and Steven Sheehan. April-May.

“New Members Show,” Silvermine Guild of Artists, New Canaan, CT. January-February.

1997:        “Paperworks ‘97,” Ridgefield Guild of Artists, National Juried Exhibit of Works on Paper. Juror: Nancy Hall Duncan, Bruce Museum. May-June.

                  “New Haven Paint & Clay Club 96^th Juried Exhibition,” New Haven, CT. Juror David Lund. March-April.

 

1995:        Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Pier III show, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NYC.

SELECTED AWARDS:

Third Prize, Oil Painting, 104^th Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, for “Three Women Gold Beach,” juror Jacklyn Conley, 2015.

“City by the Sea” Bridgeport Summer Exhibition, Captain’s Cove, CT, First Prize, 2012, 2013.

“55^th Regional Juried Art Show,” Mystic Arts Center, CT, Honorable Mention. Juror: Don Woodford. 2011.

Essex Art Association, “Exit Gallery award” (one-person show), awarded at summer 2011 juried show.

Mystic Art Association, Members Show, “Overall Excellence” award, Spring 2011.

Bruce Museum Outdoor Art Festival, Greenwich, CT. Second Prize, Graphics. October 1999.

Westport Outdoor Arts Festival, Westport, CT. First Prize, Oil Painting. July 17-18, 1999.

“Art of the Northeast,” Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT. Juror: Allan Stone, Allan Stone Gallery, NYC. Art Supply Warehouse award for painting for “Pink Salt Marsh.” 1999.

Bruce Museum Outdoor Art Festival, Greenwich. Second Prize, Oils/acrylics. October 1998.

“Arts Connecticut 1998,” The Mill Gallery, Guilford Handcraft Center, CT. “E&F Shearer Memorial Award” for “Snow Clouds I-95.” Juror: Patricia Rosoff, Art New England.

Greenwich Art Society Members’ Juried Exhibition, Greenwich, CT. First Prize, Oil. Juror Robert Baxter. February 1997.

PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES:

“A Room of Their Own,” Amy Barry, New London Day, 26 November 2013.

“New York Society of Etchers National Show: Presented at the National Arts Club, New York, New York, April 22-27, 2012,” catalog.

“Beauty of Suburban Landscape: Exhibit at Southport Gallery showcases colorful world of artist Helen Cantrell,” Phyllis A.S. Boros, Connecticut Post, September 5, 2004.

         “Regional Reviews: Flinn Gallery/Greenwich, Helen Cantrell and Bill Scott, “Bordering on Abstraction,” Mark Daniel Cohen, Art New England, February/March 2002.

         “BCC brings together work of four female artists,” David B. Boyce, The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA, December 13, 2001.

         “Focus on Color at Silvermine Excavates Intellectual Treasure,” L.P. Streitfeld, Stamford Advocate, CT, July 8, 2001.

         “For bold, solid painting, find your way to Full Circle,” Channing Gray, Providence Journal, RI, February 24-27, 2000.

         “At Silvermine, a Single Judge’s Choices for Art of the Northeast,” William Zimmer, The New York Times, June 6, 1999.

         “Artist’s scenes seen from a moving car,” Judy Birke, New Haven Register, September 6, 1998.

 

SELECTED PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:

Pfizer, Inc., New London, CT.

New York Public Library (James Reed portfolio).

School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.

The Slater Museum, Norwich, CT.

 

updated: September 2015