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Maggie Siner is a contemporary American painter and teacher. She is known for her paintings of interiors, figures, still-life and landscape.

Early life, education and travels
Siner was born Margaret Siner in Providence, Rhode Island to a jewish family originally emigrated from Russia to the USA in the early 1900’s. Her family moved to Maplewood, New Jersey where she completed her high school education while taking painting classes at The Art Students League of New York (1968-69). She attended Boston University (1969-1973, BFA, 1973) and The American University (1974-1976, MFA, 1976) majoring in painting. While on scholarship to Boston University’s summer fine art program at the Tanglewood Institute, Lenox, MA (1971), Siner met Robert D’Arista  who was a major influence on her work. She later studied with him at American University. In 1971 she was on a full scholarship at the Tanglewood Institute, which had Fine Art Program for a few years. In 1974 Siner attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture to study fresco painting.

Siner lived in France from 1976 to 1980, settling in a 17th century windmill near Fuveau, at the foot of Mont Sainte Victoire, the mountain made iconic by Cezanne’s paintings. She taught at the L’Institut d'Universités Américaines in Aix-en-Provence and had her first solo show in Aix-en-Provence at Galerie ‘Les Amis des Arts’. Her involvement in a women's self help group led to auditing medical courses at the Faculté de Medicine in the University of Marseille. She continued medical studies after moving back to the USA in 1981 and studied human anatomy at Georgetown University Medical School in 1986. . Over subsequent decades she often returned to France for extended periods of time, for teaching and exhibitions.

Siner first went to China in 1991 and was invited to teach painting in the art department of Xiamen University in Xiamen, PRC in 1992 and again in 1999 and 2004.

Siner first painted in Venice in 2008, and now lives there for most of the year.

Painting
Siner was classically trained and works with traditional archival oil painting materials in a freshly contemporary handling. She is among a small number of contemporary painters working exclusively from life, exploring beauty and meaning in the fleeting visual world. This, along with her fine craftsmanship and modestly sized work, makes her something of an anomaly in the current art dialogue

Her perceptual painting focuses on “how we actually see, how we respond to color and shape in a physical and emotional way, how our eyes move and travel, stop on an edge or leap to a point of contrast, how we react to verticals and horizontals how one color alters another color, how shapes create weight, movement and lead our eyes along a path”

In a recent interview for the NashvilleArts magazine, Siner says "I work from direct visual perception, … painting the colors and shapes created by light falling on various things, but not painting the things themselves."

Her subject matter follows many different threads, ranging from the intimate to the monumental to the whimsical and strange. The landscape is crucial for it’s immediacy but she frequently paints figures, portraits and still life, with her current works dedicated to laden tables and unmade beds, chosen precisely for their narrative ambiguities and the possibilities offered by the color white.

She searches tirelessly - on the road or in the studio - for the subject, the light, or the position that delivers the right emotional experience, and then produces it with dazzling skill, through vigorous and brilliant brushwork, composition and architecture supported by strong solid drawing.

Her gestural brushwork owes much to her years spent in China, absorbing the language of Chinese ink painting, as well as the Abstract Expressionist influence of her mentor Robert D’Arista. .

"Among her many gifts is her ability as a painter to transform the ordinary – an unmade bed, a dress or coat on a hanger, a visitor to a museum – into the extraordinary. Siner’s painting is … a distillation that seems to have been born through the process of reduction. This characteristic economy of technique is evident in every painting."

She captures the dramatic play of light and shadow with bold lyricism.

Sculpture
Trained in anatomy and figurative sculpture at Boston University Siner has continued working in clay throughout her career. While teaching in Lacoste, France, she began stone carving in the nearby limestone quarries and produced several life sized stone sculptures. All of her sculpture is figurative and has been exhibited in the USA, France and Italy.

Teaching
Siner is a devoted and inspirational teacher who has influenced a generation of painters, and is noted for her energetic and structured teaching style. She has taught for over three decades in art academies, universities and private art schools such as; the Institut d’Universités Américaines and the Lacoste School of the Arts in France, Xiamen University in China , Savannah College of Art and Design , American University, and the Washington Studio School in The United States. Classes taught include painting, drawing, sculpture, design, painting analysis, art history, landscape and anatomy. Her innovative and challenging Anatomy Drawing class is legendary. She was Dean of Faculty at the Washington Studio School in 1996-1997. She is a frequent guest artist and public speaker appreciated for her revealing lectures on the internal workings of painting, among which her original research on “Rembrandt and the Painter’s Secret Geometry” is very thought-provoking. She is working on a related book.

“As a teacher Siner impresses with her generosity, her determination to share the forceful approach she brings to her own work.”.

Medical Illustration and Facial Reconstruction
During the 1980’s Siner freelanced as a medical illustrator. Her knowledge of anatomy, as well as her artistic skill of portraiture and sculpture were put to practical use in 1988 when she created facial reconstructions for police in Leesburg, Virginia, leading in one instance to the identification of a murder victim

Solo Exhibitions (selected)

 * Leiper's Creek Gallery, Nashville, TN, 2016
 * 795 Gallery @ Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice, Italy, 2016
 * Galleria Arte Arkè, Venice, Italy, 2015
 * Ca' Pisani, Venice, Italy, 2015
 * Brazier Fine Art, Richmond, VA, 2015
 * Cooley Gallery, Leesburg, VA, 2015
 * Alliance Française de Venise, Venice, Italy, 2014
 * Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2014
 * Bodzin Gallery, Fairfax, VA, 2014
 * Galleria Arte Arkè, Venice, Italy, 2013
 * Washington Studio School Gallery, Washington, DC, 2013
 * Galleria San Eufemia, Venice, Italy, 2012
 * ArtSquare, Leesburg, VA Venetian Painting & Figurative Sculpture, 2012
 * Glave Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2010
 * Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2010
 * Galleria San Eufemia, Venice, Italy, 2010
 * Alliance Francaise of Washington, DC, 2010
 * Rose Gallery, Hudson, NY, 2008
 * Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2007, 2004
 * Gallery 222, Leesburg, VA, 2006, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998
 * Marin-Price Galleries, Bethesda, MD, 2006
 * The Studio, Middleburg, VA, 2005
 * Brazier Fine Art, Richmond, VA, 2002, 2000
 * Twentieth Century Gallery, Williamsburg, VA, 2000
 * Courtyard Gallery, Washington, DC, 2000, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1991
 * The Artist's Museum, Washington, DC, 1996
 * Rose Gallery, Leesburg, VA, 1998
 * Durham Arts Council Gallery, Durham, NC, 1994
 * Greater Washington Collection Gallery, Leesburg, VA, 1993, 1992
 * Mas d'Artigny, Saint Paul de Vence, France, 1992
 * Nall Foundation, Vence, France, 1992
 * City Gallery, Washington, DC, 1989, 1987
 * Stoneman Gallery, Washington, DC, 1986
 * Mount Vernon College, Washington, DC, 1982
 * Tour Philippe-le-Bel, Avignon, France, 1978
 * Galerie Les Amis des Arts, Aix-en-Provence, France, 1977

Group Exhibitions (selected)

 * J. Cacciola Gallery, Bernardsville, NJ, 2016
 * Claremont Fine Art Gallery, Sevenoaks, UK, 2014-2016
 * After Rodin Figurative Sculpture, Flux Gallery, Ashland, VA, 2016
 * Sloane Merrill Gallery, Boston MA, 2014-present.
 * Affordable Art Fair, Gallery Be and Art, New York, NY, 2014
 * XXXVme "Le colonete", Venice, Italy, 2013
 * Galerie Envie d'Art, Paris, France, 2012-13
 * San Eufemia Gallery, Venice, Italy, 2010-12
 * Page Bond Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2010
 * South Street Gallery, Easton, MD, 2010
 * L. Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2010
 * Loretta Goodwin Gallery, Birmingham, AL, 2008-09
 * Katzen Center Art Museum, American University Washington, DC, 2007
 * Rose Gallery, Hudson, NY, 2007, 06
 * Paradigm Fine Arts, Taos, NM, 2005
 * Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2001-present
 * New Directions, Hoorn-Ashby Gallery, New York, NY, 2000
 * Brazier Fine Art, Richmond, VA, 1999-2016
 * Kendall Gallery, Wellfleet, MA, 1999-2004
 * Courtyard Gallery, Washington, DC, 1986-2000
 * The Artist's Museum, Washington, DC, 1997
 * Washington Figurative Sculpture, MD College of Art and Design, MD, 1995
 * Watkins Gallery, American University, Washington, DC, 1992
 * Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, 1991
 * Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC, 1989
 * Boston University Gallery, Boston, MA, 1986
 * Centre Culturel d'Allauch, Marseille, France, 1979
 * Galerie Les Amis des Art, Aix-en-Provence, France, 1981
 * Kreeger Award Nominees, American University, Washington, DC, 1976
 * Drawings Corcoran Musuem, Washington, DC, 1975

Academic Appointments

 * 2004 Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, Visiting Professor of Painting
 * 2003 Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA, Artist in Residence, Professor: Advanced Painting, Formal Aspects of Painting
 * 1993 - 2006 Washington Studio School, Senior Instructor: Painting, Drawing, Anatomy, Sculpture, 1996 - 1997  Dean of Faculty
 * 1992 - 1993 Xiamen University, Xiamen, China: Painting Professor
 * 1989 - 1991 Cleveland Art Institute, Lacoste School of Art, Lacoste, France: Professor of Painting
 * 1987 - 1988 Georgetown University Medical School: Anatomy Instructor and Prosector
 * 1985 - 1987 American University, Washington, DC: Drawing Instructor
 * 1981 - 1991 Artist's Studio School, Leesburg, VA, Founder, Director, Instructor
 * 1976 - 1978 Institut d'Universités Américaines, Aix-en-Provence, France, Instructor: Painting and Drawing, Survey of Art History, Modern French Painting

Lectures

 * 2014 Color and Form: Two Painters of Provence, Circolo Italo-Britannico, Venice, Italy
 * 2014 The Painter's Hidden Geometry, Washington Studio School, Washington, DC
 * 2012 Chardin & the Secret Life of Objects, Circolo Italo-Britannico, Venice Italy
 * 2011 Rembrandt & The Painters Secret Geometry, Circolo Italo-Britannico, Venice Italy
 * 2011 Rembrandt & The Painters Secret Geometry, William Woodward School, Warrenton, VA
 * 2011 Maggie Siner: Life and Work, William Woodward School, Warrenton, VA
 * 2011 The Hidden Order, six-part lecture series, Rust Library, Leesburg, VA; The Portrait and the Painter; What Happens Next? The Narrative of Color and Shape"; The Medium and the Message; Texture, Brushwork, and Handwriting in Painting; The Illusion of Space; Let There Be Light; Still Life: The Observer Effect
 * 2010 The Painter's Secret Geometry,Loudoun Academy of Art, Leesburg, VA
 * 2009 The Painter's Secret Geometry, Washington Studio School, Washington, DC
 * 2004, 03 Meaning and Method in Painting (four part series), George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA
 * 2003 The Experience of Seeing, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
 * 2002 Dialogue Between East and West, Lacoste School of Art, Lacoste, France
 * 2000 The Life of Objects: Chardin et. al., Washington Studio School, DC
 * 1999 A Visual Legacy (panelist) American University, Washington, DC, Cultural Journey to China, Rust Library, Leesburg,VA,  What is a Masterpiece? Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, What is Realism? Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
 * 1998 Van Gogh & Cezanne:  Two Approaches to Form, Georgetown U. Washington, DC
 * 1998 Van Gogh & Cezanne:  Two Painters of Provence, Rust Library, Leesburg, VA
 * 1998 Why Paint From Life? (panelist) Washington Studio School, Washington, DC
 * 1998 Analysis of Paintings (three-part series) WSS at National Gallery of Art
 * 1997 The Brushstroke as Building Block to Unity, Washington Studio School,DC
 * 1997 Looking at Paintings:  The Hidden Order, Four Lectures, Rust Library, Leesburg, VA; Shape as Meaning and Expression, Light as Illumination and as Subject; The Illusion of Three Dimensional Space, What is Realism?
 * 1996 Cezanne and Visual Perception, Association of University Women, Richmond, VA
 * 1996 Painters and Cezanne, The Arts Club of Washington, DC
 * 1996 Origins and Interpretations of Space in Painting, Washington Studio School, DC
 * 1995 Teaching Painting in China, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
 * 1995 Contemporary Chinese Art Education (panelist),Asian Studies Conference, Durham, NC
 * 1993 Meaning in Western Painting, Beijing Central Fine Art Academy, China
 * 1993 The Visual Language in Western Painting, Sichuan Fine Art Academy, China
 * 1993 The Visual Language in Western Painting, Zhejiang Fine Art Academy, China
 * 1992 On Western Painting,Five Lectures, Xiamen University, China; Shape as Meaning and Structure,The Development of Spatial Illusion, Light in Painting,; Order, Unity and The Grid, Brush Work and Use of Materials
 * 1991 Contemporary Western Figure Painting, Guangzhou Art Academy, China
 * 1991 Contemporary Figure Painters, Xiamen University, China
 * 1991, 90, 89 Maggie Siner:  Her Life and Work, Lacoste School of Art, France

Visiting Artist and Workshops

 * 2016, 15, 14, 13, 12 Washington Studio School, Washington, DC, What is Color and How Does it Work?, The Touch of the Brush: Mark-Making,Calligraphy and Gestural Unity in Painting, Painter's Secret Geometry, Essentials of Anatomy
 * 2016, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, Art School at Sandy Springs Atlanta, GA, Oil Painting, Color and Shape, The Drama of Still Life, Calligraphy and Gestural Unity, Simplifying the Figure
 * 2016, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 08, 07, 06, 03, 01, 99 Arts en Provence, Les Bassacs, France,Landscape Painting
 * 2016, 15, 14, 13 Studio 571, Nashville TN
 * 2014, 13  Corse Gallery & Atelier, Jacksonville, FLA
 * 2014, 13, 12, 11, 10, 09, 08, 07, 06, 05, 04, 01, 00 Loudoun Academy of Art, Leesburg, VA, Painting Master Class, New Approaches to Composition, Anatomy for Artists,          Landscape Painting,, Color and Shape, The Drama of Still Life, etc.
 * 2016, 15, 14, 13 Waverly Arts Group, Cary, NC, Painting Workshop
 * 2013 Arlington Artist's Alliance, Arlington, VA, Painting Workshop: Color and Shape
 * 2011, 09, 07  Brazier Studios, Richmond, VA
 * 2010 Strengthening Visual Sensitivity, Easton Studio & School, Easton, MD
 * 2010 Oil Painting with Maggie Siner, Art League of the Sandhills, Aberdeen, NC
 * 2009 The Painter's Secret Geometry, Washington Studio School, Washington DC
 * 2006, 98, 96, 95 Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Lynchburg, VA, Painting, Figure Painting, Anatomy Drawing and Sculpture
 * 2005 The Studio, Middleburg, VA, Painting Master Class
 * 2001 Washington Studio School, Studio Survival Tactics
 * 2000 Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, Visiting Professor of Painting, Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FLA, Painting Master Workshop, Washington Studio School, Calligraphy & Gestural Unity in Painting
 * 1996 Cincinnati Art Academy, Portrait Painting
 * 1995 Association of Medical Illustrators, Phoenix, AZ, Figure Painting
 * 1981 Institute for American Universities, Avignon, France, Landscape Painting