STATEMENT
I frequently paint cityscapes and landscapes, viewed from above. This perspective evolved from a childhood fascination with viewing the city from the vantage point of the roof of my Brooklyn apartment. There, noting the changes in the seasons and weather, I began to observe my relationship to nature and nature's relationship to architecture, bridges, roads, and what we have built—a theme I’ve explored for a decade.
I work in the space between realism and abstraction. I respond spontaneously to what I see, and then go through a process that gives form to my impressions.
My urban views and landscapes are faithful to a specific time, place and condition of light. At the same time, they reflect my concern with geometry, the relationship between shapes, formality and the accidents of paint.
A more recent series of 39 panels of paintings which capture Canaletto’s views of Venice, are contrasted with paintings of modern Venice. La Serenissima, once a great civic achievement is now subject to pollution, floods, and debris from tourism. I find what was once my formal exploration of light upon architecture, has evolved into a political statement of our despoiling the planet.
In my paintings of animals, I capture their majesty through color, texture and the crowding of forms. Since the 1980’s I have been involved with the plight of endangered elephants and other species.
BIOGRAPHY
Painter, Printmaker and Arts Educator, Diana Freedman-Shea, grew up in Brooklyn, NY. She earned a BFA degree from Pratt Institute and began teaching in the New York City High Schools. She later received an MFA degree from Brooklyn College and pursued a career in painting and printmaking, while teaching full time. Her teacher’s schedule allowed her the opportunity to take advantage of artists’ residencies at the Millay Colony, The Virginia Center for the Creative arts, The Cummington Center for the Arts, The Woodstock Art School, Wassard Elea in Cilento, Italy.
Her ‘dual career’ allowed her insights into New York City politics during the 1970’s recession as well as a glimpse into the art world before social media and the presentation of the artist as a solo entrepreneur.
Diana was an art reviewer for 10 years, thoroughly enjoying her engagement with other artists and their work .She retired from teaching at Stuyvesant High School in 2002 and has devoted herself to making art full time.
Throughout her career, Diana explored representation with an eye to abstraction. Her subjects have included endangered animals, figures, cityscapes and landscapes, and her concentration was on the formal as well as the descriptive aspects of the work.
Freedman-Shea exhibited her work at Kennedy Gallery, NYC, Hammond Museum, Flinn Gallery, Interchurch Center, Katonah Gallery, Albright Knox Museum, Minnesota Museum, Saint Peter’s Church, Mesa Art Center, Wisconsin Primate Center, National Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, George Billis Gallery, Carriage Barn Art Center and has had numerous solo shows at the Noho Gallery and the Prince Street Gallery in Chelsea, where she has been a member.