Elisabeth McBrien (b. 1988, Brattleboro, VT), received her BFA from the Hartford Art School, CT in 2010 and her MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art, NY in 2014.
McBrien’s oil paintings reflect her interest in depicting the personal relationships we share with nature, and the places that have had a part in shaping our identities. Wanting to achieve a cinematic quality in both content and composition, Elisabeth will often use film stills as inspiration for her paintings. Preserving a simplicity in her work allows her to focus on the captivating interplay of light and color in each piece, evoking a sense of presence and familiarity in the viewer.
EDUCATION
2014 MFA, The New York Academy of Art: New York, NY
2010 BFA, Hartford Art School, University of Hartford: West Hartford, CT
EXHIBITED WORK
2019 Gallery Selections, MM Fine Art, Southampton, NY
2018 Art Miami, Art Miami Fairs Booth Partner 1 with the New York Academy of Art, Miami, FL
2017 Art New York (Pier 94), Presented by the New York Academy of Art and Art Miami, New York, NY
2016 Water Bodies, Southampton Arts Center, Southampton, NY
2016 Face Forward, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
2015 Solo Exhibition, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
2015 CT+6 Juried Art Show, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
2015 Young Talent Exhibition, Washington Art Association, Washington Depot, CT
2014 CT Women Artists 85th Annual Juried Exhibition, Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT
2014 MFA Thesis Exhibition, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2013 Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2012 Heads, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2011 Hartford Art School Alumni Juried Exhibition, West Hartford, CT
2011 Interpretations and Inspirations Juried Art Show, Farmington Valley Art Center, Farmington, CT
2011 CT+6 Juried Art Show, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
2010 Featured on cover of iTowns in The Hartford Courant
2010 CT Watercolor Society Juried Art Show, Clubhouse Gallery, West Hartford, CT
2010 Forgeries Gallery Exhibition, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT
2010 Our Scenic Valley: Celebrating Its Beautiful Places, Granby Land Trust, Granby, CT
2010 Senior Thesis Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, and Art Space, Hartford, CT
2006 First Year Student Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, CT
2005 Open Juried Show, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
2004 Hartford Arts Council Exhibition, Hartford ArtWorks Gallery, Hartford, CT
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2015 Adjunct professor of Figure Drawing, Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
RESIDENCIES
2018 Recipient of the Dumfries House Artist Residency, Scotland
2014 Recipient of The NYAA Terra Foundation Residency, Giverny, France
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2015 Best in Show for work in CT+6 Juried Art Show, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT
2014 Honorable Mention for work in CT Women Artists 85th Annual Juried Exhibition, Norwich, CT
2011 People’s Choice Award for work in “Interpretations and Inspirations” Juried Art Show, Farmington Valley Art Center
2011 Honorable Mention for work in “Interpretations and Inspirations” Juried Art Show, FVAC
2010 Hartford Art School Scholarship for artistic merit