Biography

Sandra Place was born and raised in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and lives in Santa Fe, NM.  She received a B.A. in French from Northwestern University and, after a career in the travel industry in Chicago, she attended the American Academy of Art full time for two years.  “Painting has opened my eyes in endless ways to the immense beauty and wonder of the world, both the everyday and the exotic.  It has been the greatest imaginable gift to me, and I hope to share this in my paintings.  My studio and plein air paintings in pastel and acrylic are inspired by my emotional response to color, light and weather as they impact the natural world.  Travels in Asia and Latin America over many years have inspired an ongoing project of painting the beautiful and enduring indigenous peoples of ancient cultures as they interact with their fast-changing environments.  A long held and deepening concern for the survival of our world, and for our place in it, has led me over the years to use my work to benefit humanitarian and environmental organizations in the U.S. and world-wide. I am honored to be a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation, based in Vancouver, B.C., a world-wide organization of 500 artists working toward these ends.”  Place has had over 20 solo gallery and one solo museum exhibitions, her paintings have been included in many juried and invitational national exhibitions and in several juried art and photography books.  Her works are in many national and international collections.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

  • 2019                                  Collected Works, Santa Fe, NM, Journeys (two person)
  • 2016                                  Base Camp, Sister Bay, WI, Italy: Journeys and Inspirations
  • 2015                                  Collected Works, Santa Fe, NM,Uzbekistan,Paintings from the Silk Road
  • 2015                                  Base Camp, Sister Bay, WI, Uzbekistan: Paintings from the Silk Road
  • 2012                                  Base Camp, Sister Bay, WI, Seasons of Snow
  • 2008                                  Salon 322 Delgado, Santa Fe, NM
  • 2007                                  SanTaos Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, Water
  • 2006                                  Santa Fe Woman’s Club, Santa Fe, NM
  • 2004/02/00/1998/96       Laurel Seth Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
  • 2004/03/02                       Rosequist Galleries, Tucson, AZ (two-person)
  • 2004                                  The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI
  • 2003/02/01/00/1998       The Linden Gallery, Ellison Bay, Ellison Bay, WI
  • 1998                                  St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM, This Lane, (two person)
  • 1995/94/93                       New Masters Fine Art, Taos, NM
  • 1992                                  Twin Cranes Gallery, Seattle, WA
  • 1988                                  New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM, painting/slide presentation

Museum Invitational Group and Solo Exhibitions

  • 2022                                         Hilbert Museum, Orange, CA, “Voices in Pastel”, Sept.-Dec.
  • 2022                                         Coos Art Museum 28th Annual Maritime Art Exhibit, Coos Bay, OR
  • 2021/19/17/15/13/11/09       Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Wildlife Biennial Invitationals
  • 2019/15                                    Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA, Pastel Soc. of the West Coast Int’l. 
  • 2019                                         Pacific Grove, CA, Museum of Natural History, California Art Club
  • 2017                                         The LanWan Art Museum,Qingdao,China, Artists for Conservation    
  • 2017/14/12                             Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay, WI, additional Invitational Exh.
  • 2015                                         Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY                       
  • 2008/09                                   Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ
  • 1999                                         Rahr-West Art Museum, Manitowoc,WI, Solo Exhibition                
  • 1986/87                                   Cincinnati Mus. of Natural History/Ohio Foundation on the Arts
  • 1985                                         Kentucky Highlands Museum, Ashland, KY

Permanent Collections      

  • New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas,
  • Rahr-West Art Museum, Manitowoc, WI
  • The Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay, WI
  • Kentucky Highlands Museum, Ashland, KY
  • The Nature Conservancy of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM                                
  • Amerasian Acupuncture, Santa Fe, NM
  • Many Private Collections in Europe, Japan, Canada and the United States

Selected Awards

  • NM Highlands U. Invitational Las Vegas, NM, Highlands U. Purchase Prize
  • Artists for Conservation, Conservation Artist Award                           
  • Rahr-West Art Museum Exhibition, Manitowoc, WI, Artists Choice Award
  • Karin Newby Gallery, Tubac, AZ, Tucson Plein Air Painters Society, Best of Show
  • Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, AZ, 3rd Place
  • Barnsite Art Gallery, Kewaunee, WI, Nat’l. Exh. Ramon Kelley Unison Pastel Award
  • Kentucky Highlands Museum, Ashland, KY - Honorable Mention & Purchase Award
  •  Cheyenne, WY, Audubon Society-2nd Place
  •  Foothills Art Ctr., Golden, CO - Best of Show
  •  Laramie, WY, National Miniature Show - 2nd Place & Honorable Mention

Selected (of over 200) Juried & Invitational Group Exhibitions

  • 2022/21/17                 Laguna Plein Air Painers Society Exh. LPAPA Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
  • 2022                            Pastel Society of the West Coast 36th Pastels USA Int’l., Morro Bay, CA
  • 2022/21                      Pastel Society of America four online shows: Wildlife, Cityscape, Figurative
  • 2022/21                      Pastel Society of the West Coast Online Show
  • 2022/21/20/19/18     NM Painters Invitational, NM Highlands U., Las Vegas, NM, Purchase Prize
  • 2020/16                      California Art Club, Welcome to California, Altadena, CA, Country Club
  • 2020/19/17                 Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA (2020 online)
  • 2017/15/14                 Plein Air Southwest Salon, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
  • 2015-16                       Artists for Conservation, Int’l. Exhibit of Nature in Art, Virtual Exh. and book
  • 2014                            Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
  • 2012                            Mountain Oyster Club, 43rd Invitational Exhibition, Tucson, AZ
  • 2011                            Bosque Art Classic, Clifton, TX
  • 2008                            Mongerson Galleries, Chicago, IL
  • 2008                            New Concept Gallery Invitational, Santa Fe, NM
  • 2004-07                       El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
  • 2003/04/06                 Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Gallery Exhibitions, Laguna Beach, CA
  • 2005                             Selby Fleetwood Gallery Invitational, Santa Fe, NM
  • 2000                             Munson Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, Invitational Benefit
  • 1998                             St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM
  • 1996                             Jo Anne Chappel Gallery, San Francisco, CA
  • 1992/94                       Pastel Society of America Annual National Exhibitions, New York, NY
  • 1991/90                       Claggett Rey Gallery, Denver, CO, Kessel-Long Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

Associations                     

  • Artists for Conservation Signature Member
  • Pastel Society of the West Coast, Signature Member
  • Pastel Society of America Associate Member; California Art Club; ASMA
  • Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn., Cassatt Pastel Society,President 1991-94

Current Gallery Representation

  • The Gallery Collection, La Posada Hotel, Santa Fe, NM
  • Hand Artes Gallery, Truchas, NM 
  • The Paint Box Gallery, Ephraim, WI;  Clay Bay Pottery & Gallery, Ellison Bay, WI
  • Many prior gallery representations in the Midwest and West, 1982-2011

Books & Publications

  • Artists for Conservation 2015, International Exhibit of Nature in Art (juried book)      
  • Celebrating Door County’s Wild Places (juried book)
  • Visions of Santa Fe, Photographers See the City Different’ (juried book)
  • Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine (magazine cover)                          
  • A Calendar of Northern NM Art (1993/94/95) Santa Fe, NM
  • Showcase of American Pastel Artists CD-ROM (VAMP. Inc.)  
  • The Nature Conservancy, NM Chapter, publications & documents-illustrations

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support for Conservation: 

For over 25 years, I have used my artwork to benefit various organizations.

Some examples include: 

  • The Nature Conservancy of New Mexico: donated artwork for newsletters; conducted plein air painting workshops for members for 8 years; donated a portion of proceeds from painting sales at solo gallery and museum shows in NM and WI, including a solo gallery exhibition in Santa Fe, NM, in 2007.
  • Wild Earth Guardians, Santa Fe, NM: donated a portion of proceeds from painting sales at a solo gallery exhibition in Santa Fe, NM, in 2007; donated art lessons at several annual fundraiser silent auctions; donated an afternoon paintout package at 2009 annual fundraiser.
  • Door County (WI) Land Trust: donated an afternoon paintout package for 16 people at 2008 annual fundraiser live auction; cover art for magazine; and donation of paintings for raffles-2010 & 2015.