Lucretia Torva
Automotive
Chrome
Realism Fantastic
Water
Lucretia Torva has lived in Phoenix, Arizona since 1997. Although born in Peoria, Illinois, she had the good fortune to grow up in Europe. Traveling was a great start for her art education. She received her MFA from the University of Illinois in the early 80’s, going on to teach art at Shepherd University in West Virginia. Taking a job after her divorce resulted in moving to Phoenix, AZ. In 2000 she decided to become a self-employed artist/painter and relies mostly on decorative painting projects as well as murals for her income.
For her, art is philosophical and a place to contemplate how thoughts create stories and how imagination creates reality. As a young artist, she created Surrealist images, dragging ideas out of murky dreams and combining them with observations of surrounding life. Ms Torva has never ceased to explore ideas with her paintings on canvas which, though realistic, may change style from Pop to Surrealism. She is known for her automotive art as well as depictions of shiny objects. Her fascination with reflections comes from her interest in seeing events and scenes from multiple view points. Everything and every experience is individually interpreted by each person. The distortion of reflections and refractions speaks to the idea that reality is open to interpretation.
EDUCATION
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL , USA.
Master of Fine Art, Art and Design, 1982.
Bachelor of Fine Art, Painting, High Honors, 1980.
Sara Lawrence College, Study Abroad Program in Paris, France.
Art History, Composition & Drawing, Ceramics, 1978.
EXPERIENCE
Torva Fine Art, Phoenix, AZ. 2000-Present. Artist.
-Art Director, Black History Mural Project
-Curator, “Street-Artist-a-Day” event at the Arizona State Fair
-Co-Curator, Dia De Los Muertos, Old Adobe Mission, Scottsdale, AZ.
University of Advancing Technology, Tempe, AZ. 1996-1997 and 1999-2000. Professor; Drawing, Color & Animation Theory, Cinematography, animation software.
Phoenix Art Group, Phoenix, AZ. 1997-1999. Manager of the Art Production Department and Quality Control.
Yavapai Community College, Prescott, AZ. 1990-1994. Instructor
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ. 1992. Adjunct Instructor
Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV. 1983-87. Instructor; Art History, Drawing, Painting, 2D Design
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. 1981-1982. Teaching Associate, Life Drawing
Exhibitions and Murals-Highlights
2022
-“In Celebration of Women”, Arizona Capital Museum, Phoenix, AZ
-“Action, Advocacy and Art”, ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions, Phoenix, AZ.
-“Winning”, showing Chase Elliot’s historic win at Phoenix Raceway in 2020, 8×11 feet. Commissioned by NASCAR, on permanent display at the new Avondale Visitor and Conference Center, Avondale, AZ
2021
-Recipient, 2021 Mayor’s Arts Award for Visual Arts, Phoenix, AZ
-Keynote speaker, 2021 Arizona Art Education State Conference
-Carmody Grant Recipient, Exhibition at Sisao Gallery, Phoenix, AZ.
-”Salon des Refusés”, Invitational Exhibit, Curator and Exhibitor, The Ice House Gallery, Phoenix, AZ.
-”Chef”, Mural honoring Chef Silvana,20×26 feet, Phoenix, AZ. Sponsored by Estrella Jalisco beer.
-“Lewis, Obama, Harris”, 10×30 feet, Mural for Black History Month Mural Project, Parson’s Center, Phoenix AZ.
2020
-“Heart of Goodyear”, one of 10 artists to paint a heart for the 75th Anniversary of City of Goodyear, on display in front of library in Goodyear, AZ.
-“Portraits and Icons”, the Compass Collection, FoundRe Hotel, Phoenix, AZ.
-Solo Show of “Compass Collection” Portraits, Walter Art Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ.
-“In Celebration of Women”, Juried show celebrating 100th Anniversary of Women’s voting rights. Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix, AZ
2019
-Oaxacan Traditions, Mural for Lila Downs Concert, historic Ford Theater, Los Angeles, CA, November.
– “Portraits of Inspiration: Obama, RBG and AOC”, ASU Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy, Westward Ho, Phoenix, AZ, August/October.
– “Paint it Chrome”, leading workshop, Sattya Media Arts Collective, Jawalakhel, Nepal, March.
– “Take Flight With Knowledge”, Mural at Orchid University, Kathmandu, Nepal, February.
– Jurors Choice Award, Exotic Art Show, Alwun House, February
2018
–“Town Square”, Mural in Grandstand at AZ State Fairgrounds, September
-Street Art Fest, mural painting, Grenoble, France, June.
-Carmody Foundation Grant recipient show, Sisao Gallery
-Arizona Artists Guild Annual Art Exhibit, Civic Center Plaza, Surprise, AZ, May-July.
-TLC Community Foundation Grant recipient, Sisao Art Gallery, Phoenix, AZ, March.
2017
-Sunniest Place on Earth Juried Show, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ, December,
Honorable Mention. R, Southwest Artists Still Life Award,
-Women Artists Coast to Coast, National Association of Women Artists, Prince Street Gallery, NY, NY, March.
-International Guild of Realism, Winter Salon, Marshall Gallery, Scottsdale AZ.
2016
-New Member Exhibition, National Association of Women Artists, New York, NY.
-Oil Painters of America Western Regional, Marshall Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ.
-Solo show and Lecture, City of Light Book Store, Zhengzhou, Henan, China, December.
-Solo show and Lecture, Benyuan Community Academy, Zhengzhou, Henan, China, December.
-Give Voice to Women Though the Arts, Cultural Grant for China, Sias University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province. November/December. Including presentations to Zhenzhou Mural Association, Foxconn Apple Factory, and elementary schools.
-Art of The Heartland National Exhibition, Mena Art Gallery, Mena, Acottsdale, AZ.
-Oil Painters of America 25th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2015
-Old Enough to Know Better, Exhibition sponsored by the Philadelphia chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art, Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA.
-Artlink 17th Annual Juried Exhibition, Phoenix, AZ. 2nd place overall for the oil painting “Pulling Strings.”
2014 and previous
-Invitational Automotive Art Show, Griot’s Garage Corporate Headquarters, Seattle, WA; November, 2011.
-Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum Invitational Art Show, Auburn, IN; Sept 2011.
-Artist-in-Residence for the Association for Visual Artists and the Chattanooga downtown Partnership, Chattanooga, TN, 1992.
-West Virginia Arts and Humanities Award ($1,000), West Virginia Watercolor Society Regional Exhibition, 1988.
-Associate Artist with Philip Pearlstein, Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, FL, 1986.
- November 6, 2022
