Amber Maida

September 17-November 16

Artist Bio

Amber Maida’s paintings are internationally collected and have been exhibited in galleries and Museums throughout the US, Canada, and in the UK.   Most recently Amber’s painting, “Lit From Within” was awarded First Place and a solo show at The Mattatuck Museum’s 2016 Mixmaster juried exhibit by Juror, Elizabeth Denny, Director of the Denny Gallery (NYC).  The solo exhibition, Entrances & Exits, was on exhibit August, 2016.  Since 2012, Amber’s paintings have been represented by Art Cube Gallery (Laguna Beach, CA) with solo exhibitions during September/October 2014. In September 2013 Maida was one of a three-person exhibition at LA Artcore Galleries (Los Angeles, CA, Brewery Annex location) and while living in Southern California, she had an artist film created about her process and artwork by photographer/videographer, Eric Minh Swenson titled, “Broken Eggshells.”  Since returning to Connecticut in 2015, Amber has also had two solo exhibitions featuring her mixed media paintings and assemblage sculptures titled, “Elemental” in May 2017, and“The Silver Lining” in April/May 2015 at Serendipity Gallery in Litchfield, CT.

Maida’s work has also been included in juried and group exhibitions at museums and galleries, including The New Britain Museum of American Art (New Britain, CT), The Housatonic Museum of Art (Bridgeport, CT), The Silvermine Guild of Art (New Canaan, CT), Station Gallery (NYC), AIRS (New Haven, CT); Bunny Gunner Gallery (Claremont, CA), StudioGallery (Irvine, CA), The Franklin Arts Center (Brainerd, MN), redFISH Gallery (East Aurora, NY), Theartbay Gallery (Staffordshire, UK) and others. A solo exhibition titled, “A Labyrinth-Line Existence” was held at The Gallery at Black Rock (Bridgeport, CT) in June 2010.  From 2007-2009, her paintings were represented at the White Space Gallery (New Haven, CT).  A suite of paintings by the artist were selected by Richard’s of Greenwich for the 2009 Art to the Avenue public art exhibition (Greenwich, CT).   

Throughout her career, Amber’s work has also been featured in several journals including Litchfield Magazine (May/June, 2015), Mode Moderne Journal (issue I, 2012, and issue XI, 2013), Artscope Magazine (July/August 2010), Ink Magazine (January 2008), and in several issues of Art World News Magazine (2009-2015), as well as others.  

Amber currently resides in Warren, CT.

Artist Statement

My work begins with a spiritual ritual of Chi-cultivation, grounding me deeply into the earth; embodying its energy and guiding my hands like a dance, while simultaneously building the story that connects with the practices of my Native American ancestors. This symbiotic connection with my heritage charges the canvas with positive energy, preserving a storied past. Extensive travel throughout America continues to provide deep inspiration; embedding elements of nature that enrich the layered textural quality and symbolic language of my work. Gathered found objects are fused with paint becoming a visual journal, that honor my materials and my message. 

In 2010 I sustained major lung surgery, which invited a greater awareness of time, life, love and gratitude. This experience led me to create new collections of mixed media paintings and sculptures based on the intense process of healing.  This led me to Southern California to rebuild my strength while exploring the west coast. My work, using found materials from both environments on opposite sides of the country became deep and unified. For example, 150-year-old skeleton keys found under the stairwell of my Connecticut home were combined with dentalium shells from a Native American trading company in California, and palm tree remains which metaphorically blended this bi-coastal existence: each work aiming to honor fragility while building/unlocking strength. 

Marie Louise Trichet Art Gallery

“What was any art but a mold in which to imprison for a moment the shining elusive element which is life itself – life hurrying past us and running away, too strong to stop, too sweet to lose.” –Willa Cather

About the Gallery

What a happy marriage the Marie Louise Trichet Gallery and Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center enjoy. Over 25 years a wide variety of artists working in various mediums have exhibited in the gallery, each capturing some element of life that reveals the Divine.

Visit the gallery Monday through Saturday* 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. *It is advisable to call to inquire about Saturday hours.

Come breathe in this quiet space and catch a glimpse of a moment of creation.