Artist Statement
The Artist And Her Work
The rules of printmaking have been defined by the medium’s masters and the limitations of its tools. Helen Gotlib pushes the boundaries of printmaking in terms of scale, presentation and process, proving that there are no rules, only spaces within which to innovate. Gotlib uses a small press and raw commercial materials to render uncommonly large print based images. The creation of her work is followed through with a style of presentation that brings it out of the 1600s and into today’s white wall art spaces.
Gotlib’s unorthodox approach to a traditional medium is balanced by adhering closely to her subject. Mystified by the gradual changes in terrain and flora that occur across seasons and agricultural zones, she is inspired by interactions with nature that occur during her frequent travels and daily adventures in the Michigan woods. She patiently and unvaryingly transfers her impressions of these encounters on to the blocks and plates that add up to the contemporary print based work she produces.
CV
Education
University of Michigan, B.F.A. ‘03
Concentrations: Printmaking and Scientific Illustration
Kyoto Seika University, ’01-‘02
Classes in traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking
Artist in residence at the Kala Art Institute, Berkeley,CA., Oct '04-May'05
Exhibits
Stratum And Breadth: Large-Scale Contemporary Printmaking, Ann Arbor Art Center, group show, Ann Arbor, MI. July ‘24
Concerning Landscape, Detroit Artist Market, group show, Detroit, MI. ‘Jan ‘23
14+14, WSG Gallery, group show, Ann Arbor, MI. Jan’23
New Works by Helen Gotlib & Dylan Strzynski, J Petter Gallery, Douglas, MI Oct ‘22
14+14, WSG Gallery, group show, Ann Arbor, MI. Jan’22
Winds of Change, Gallery 1871, 4 person show,Chicago, IL.Sept’21
Recent Works by Helen Gotlib, Fuller Art House, Sylvania, OH. Jan’2020
Anatomy of Artists, Group Show, Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, Miller Beach, IN. Oct. ‘19
Recent Works by Helen Gotlib, Dylan Strzynski & Mary Lynn Portera, River Gallery, Chattanooga, TN. July ‘19
Secret Beaches: WSG Gallery, Featured show, Ann Arbor, MI. April ‘19
Natural Abstractions: University of Michigan School of Environment and Sustainability, Enviro Art Gallery, Solo show, Ann Arbor, MI. Feb’19
Intertwined: Leslie Curran Gallery, 2 person show, St. Pete, FL. Feb’19
New Botanicals: Missouri Western State University, Potter Art Gallery, 4 person show, 'St. Joseph, MO. August’18
ART NOW: Drawing 117 Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI., Feb '18
Additive/Subtractive Works by Helen Gotlib & Dylan Strzynski, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, MI, Jan '18
Group Shows at the WSG Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI., May 2017-
Present
Niceland, (Recent Works by Helen Gotlib, Lavinia Hanachiuc and Dylan Strzynski) Tiny Buddha, Ann Arbor, MI., Feb '17
ART NOW [printmaking], 117 Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI., Feb'17
Group Gallery Artists Show, Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago, IL,. March. '16
16+16, WSG Gallery. Ann Arbor, MI., Jan ‘15
Refractive, 117 Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI., May '15
Gallery Artist Show, Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago, IL., Jan. '13
No Plan B, Chelsea River Gallery, Chelsea, MI., Feb. '13
10 under 40, Chelsea River Gallery, Chelsea, MI., Nov. '12
The Body Eclectic 2012,Lawrence Street Gallery Ferndale, MI, Feb. '12
ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI., Sept-Oct 2011
The Body Eclectic 2010, Lawrence Street Gallery Ferndale, MI, Feb. '10
ArtPrize, DuVos Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI., Sept-Oct 2010
Petals & Prints, Center Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI, May '10
Winter Doldrums Part 3 & 4, Elevvated Press Studio & FFIH Gallery Ann Arbor, MI., March '10
The Body Eclectic 2009,Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, MI, Feb. '09
Probing the Matter of Substance (3 person show), at the Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI, Jan '09
Nude 2009 Exhibition at Lexington Art League Castle, Lexington, KY, Jan ‘09
Figure it out,Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI. Sept. '08
Between the lines (Recent Works by Helen Gotlib & Dylan Strzynski), Water Street Gallery, Douglas MI. July '07
Unclad 2007 at Gallery By The Bay, Stanwood WA, March '07
Recent Works By Helen Gotlib (solo show),ARC Gallery,Chicago IL. Feb.’06
Solo Show in the Women's Commission Gallery at Defiance College, Defiance, OH. Oct 2005
Group shows at Gallery109, Saugatuck, MI. July-Oct ‘05
Inhibition/Exhibition, Rocky Neck Art Colony Gallery,Gloucester, MA June '05
Laid Bare, Edgewise Arts Gallery, San Francisco, CA May’05
New Work (Solo show) Black and Blue Tattoo and gallery, San Francisco, CA May’05
Fresh Work, Kala Institute, Berkeley, CA Dec ’04
Janet Turner Print Museum, University of California, Chico, CA., Feb..‘04
17th Parkside National Small Print Exhibition at University of Wisconsin, Parkside, WI, Feb..‘04
The Body in Perspective Exhibition at Fredericksburg Center for the Visual Arts, Fredericksburg, VA., Feb..‘04
Nude 2004 Exhibition at Lexington Art League Castle, (Lexington, KY) Jan ‘04
Digital Photography Exhibition at Pierpont Commons, Ann Arbor, MI., June, ‘03
Bugs & Bodies, Solo Exhibition at Fifth Avenue Gallery, (Ann Arbor, MI) April ‘03
Grade A U. M. A. & D. Select at Work Gallery, January-February (Ann Arbor, MI) ‘03
Snow White at Transient Gallery, Detroit, MI, January, ‘03
Two Person Art Exhibit at Orbit Designs, Ann Arbor, MI., January ‘03
Things Matter at Pierpont Commons, December, Ann Arbor, MI., ‘02
Japan – Korea Exchange Exhibition at Kyoto Seika University, (Kyoto, Japan) July ‘02
Kino Print Exhibition at Heian Gallery, December, Kyoto, Japan, ‘01
Ann Arbor Art Center Juried Exhibit, Ann Arbor, MI., Oct ‘01
Solo Art Exhibition of prints and drawings at Café Zola, Ann Arbor, MI., July ‘01
Art Exhibit at Leopold Brothers, (Ann Arbor, MI) ‘01
· New prints and drawings on display monthly over 12-month period
Annual End of the Year Student Art Exhibit at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI., April ‘01
Annual End of the Year Student Art Exhibit at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI., April ‘00
Awards
Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival, Best in Show for Printmaking ‘24
Lakefront Festival of Art, Award Winner ‘24
Old Town Art Fair, Best In Show ‘24
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Award of Merit in Printmaking March '24
Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Gold Award for Printmaking ‘24
Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival, Best in Show for Printmaking ‘23
Lake Front Festival of Art, Best in Show for Printmaking ‘23
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Award of Distinction in Mixed Media, March ‘23
Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival, Best in Show ‘22
Ann Arbor Art Fair, The Original, Award of Excellence ‘22
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Award of Distinction in Printmaking March ‘22
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Board of Directors Award in Printmaking March '22
Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival, Best in Show for Printmaking ‘21
Kimball Arts Festival, Best in Show for Printmaking ‘21
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Best in Show ‘19 & ‘21
Armonk Outdoor Art Show, 3rd Place in Drawing '17
Armonk Outdoor Art Show, Honorable Mention in Drawing '16
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 2nd Place in Drawing Sept '16
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fair, Award of Distinction for Drawing March '16
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 2nd Place in Drawing Sept '15
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 2nd Place in Drawing Sept '14
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Award in Drawing March '14
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 1st Place in Drawing Sept '13
10 under 40 Exhibition @ the River Gallery, Chelsea, MI. 1st Place. Nov. '12
Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL.2nd Place in Drawing June '12
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fair, Award of Merit for Drawing March '12
Boardwalk Art Fair, Virginia Beach, VA. Award of Excellence for Drawing June '11
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fair, Award of Excellence for Drawing March '11
Vero Beach Under The Oaks Art Fair, 2nd Place in Drawing March '10
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 1st Place in Watercolor Sept '09
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fair, Award of Merit for Drawing March '09
The Artist’s Magazine’s All-Media Online Competition,Honorable Mention for "Sarah"(w/pillow and chair) ,Feb. '09 Article to be posted in March of '09
The Body Eclectic @ the Lawrence Street Gallery, First Place in 2D for "Sarah w/ Blanket" , Feb.. '09
Kansas City Plaza Art Fair, Invitational Award Sept '08
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 2nd Place in Watercolor Sept '08
57th Street Art Fair , Vi Fogle Uretz Award June '08
Austin Art City, Best in Medium for Drawing April '08
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fair, Award of Merit for Drawing March '08
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 2nd Place in Watercolor Sept '07
The Artist's Magazine, Finalist for "October Sun" in the 24th Annual Art Competition July '07
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fair, Award of Excellence for Drawing March '07
The Artist's Magazine, Honorable Mention for "Jenny" in quarterly water color contest .January '07
Bruce Museum Arts Festival, 1st Place in Drawing and Graphics Oct '06
Des Moines Arts Festival, Best of Graphics/Printmaking, June '06
Old Island Days Art Fair Merit Award Feb.‘06
Arti Gras Judges Choice Award Feb..’06
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, 2nd Place in Drawing Sept '05
Minneapolis Uptown Art Fair, Minnesota Monthly finalist Ribbons in Printmaking and Drawing, Aug '05
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, 3rd Place May ‘05
The Body in Perspective Exhibition 3rd place’04
Greektown Juried Arts Festival, Honorable Mention ’03
Flint Institute of Arts Annual Juried Art Fair, Notable Mention ‘03
Two University of Michigan School of Art Palazzola Awards, ‘01
Ann Arbor Artisans Market Poster Contest, ‘00
Collections
City of Winter Park, Winter Park, FL. “West Lake Preserve II” & “Sea Ranch Flowers III”
Lincoln Financial Group, Fort Wayne, IN. “Kitch-iti-kipi III" & “Kitch-iti-kipi"
University of Michigan Hospital, Pathology Department, Ann Arbor, MI. “Kitchi-iti-kipi II”
Bank of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI. “Kitch-iti-kipi II"
Amity Art Foundation, Woodbridge, CT. “Dressing Screen”