Artist Statement

Since I was a child I have thought in pictures. I was trained in the structured ‘Boston School Tradition,’ and also studied four summers with Master Painter Bruno Zupan whose style is filled with expression and passion. For these reasons, I paint what I see, but also what I feel. Whether a landscape, still life, or portrait, I strive to capture subtleties in color and form, as well as nuances of light and shadow and my emotional response to the subject. I work primarily in oil but also like to experiment with gold leaf. This is my ‘why’: To fearlessly live in the moment, be true to myself, and have enough courage to be vulnerable as I evolve as an artist, so that people viewing my work feel a sense of belonging, peace and love.

 

ARTIST BIO

Davina Perl's rich background brings a unique vision to her traditional painting. She was born in New York in 1968. As a young girl, she lived in Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and France. Her exposure to the immense amount of art and culture in these countries made a deep impression on her artistic sensibility. When she was four years old, her father brought her to the Sistine Chapel, where she spent several hours in awe of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. It was at this time her private lessons began.

 

This love of art continued to develop upon Davina Perl's return to the United States, where she received her Bachelor of fine arts from the College of Wooster. Davina spent her four college summers studying landscape painting privately with Bruno Zupan in Mallorca, Spain. Bruno taught her to strive for the beauty and poetry of nature on canvas. After college, Davina further studied at the Parson’s Institute and the Art Student’s League in New York.

 

In 1992, Davina moved to Boston, where she sought further instruction from Paul Ingbretson and David Curtis, Protégés of the late R.H Ives Gammell. In Ingbretson’s atelier, she began the arduous and time-honored training of the Boston School Painters. The Boston School Painters were trained to see and capture subtleties in color and form, as well as nuances of light and shadow and apply these truths to canvas.

 

EDUCATION

2011 -  Private Study in summer with Bruno Stern Zupan, Mallorca Spain

2005 - 2006 Private study workshops with Robert Douglas Hunter and David Curtis

1992 - 1997 Academic Training at Ingbretson Studios with Paul Ingbretson 

1988 - 1991 Private Study in summers with Bruno Stern Zupan, Mallorca Spain

1986 - 1990 Bachelor of Fine Art, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio

 

AWARDS

2019 Awarded The Denis Diderot (A-I-R) Grant to be applied toward an artists residency at Chateau Orquevaux in France from 10/02/19 - 10/30/19

​

MEMBERSHIPS

Oil Painters Of America

American Women Artists

California Art Club

American Artists Professional League

​

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Mr & Mrs David Morton

Mr & Mrs Jeff Serowick

Mr & Mrs Edward Twining

Mr & Mrs Peter Growstrowe

Mr & Mrs William Tierney

Mr & Mrs John McKey

Mr Roberto Memmo

Mr Bruce Hebel

Mr & Mrs Simon Motley

Mr & Mrs Richard Parker

Mr & Mrs Charles Hubbard

Mr & Mrs Robert Bender

Mrs Kitty Freydburg

Mr & Mrs Eamon Omarah

Ms Susan Renfrew

Ms Gregg Renfrew

Mr & Mrs Chad Krahmer

​

TEACHING, WORKSHOPS, and ART RELATED BUSINESS

2013 - 2016 - Demonstrations, workshops and private classes in studio.

1990 - 2005 - Ran a freelance mural and faux painting business working for high profile interior designers and clients, including William Hodgins Interiors and Diana Ross

​

EXHIBITIONS

2018    Solo Exhibition – Nest Gallery, Dedham, Massachusetts

2014    Group Show - Page Waterman Gallery, Wellesley, Massachusetts

           Group Show - Dayton Home, Wellesley, Massachusetts

 

2005    Painters of the Boston School - Powers Gallery, Acton, Massachusetts

 

2003    Group Show – The Crane Collection, Wellesley, Massachusetts

 

2002    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Painters of the Boston School - Powers Gallery, Acton, Massachusetts

 

2001    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Painters of the Boston School - Powers Gallery, Acton, Massachusetts

           Group Show – Ambassador Gallery, New York, New York

 

2000    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Group Show – Ambassador Gallery, New York, New York

           Group Show – The Crane Collection, Wellesley, Massachusetts

 

1999    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Group Show - Wilson Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

           Group Show – Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich, Connecticut

 

1998    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Group Show - Wilson Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

 

1997    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Group Show - Wilson Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

 

1996    Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, Brookline, Massachusetts

           Group Show - Jensen Fine Art, New York, New York

           Group Show – Gallery 3916, Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

1995    Group Show - Agora Gallery, SoHo, New York

 

1994    Group show - Agora Gallery, SoHo, New York

 

1993    Solo Exhibition – Kanji Aso Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

 

1992    Group Show – Gallery on the Green, Lexington, Massachusetts

           Group Show – Images Gallery, Briar Cliff Manor, New York

 

1991    Group Show – Somerstown Gallery, Somers, New York