Fiona Philips

Fiona Phillips is a contemporary artist living in Cedar City, UT. Much of what shapes her studio practice is derived from her experiences both as a girl in England and as part of an English immigrant family in America. Memory and relationships are a source of inspiration for much of the work she has done in the last several years. Most recently Fiona has become interested in exploring a possible connection between the 1950’s and contemporary women. The main focus of her studio work is figurative oil painting but she finds inspiration in other media such as photography, soft sculpture, drawing and encaustic. Fiona earned an MFA in Visual Art from Vermont College of Fine Art in 2008, and an MA in Painting from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2001. She was an adjunct professor of art at Southern Utah University until 2009. Before moving to Utah, Fiona worked and exhibited throughout California. She has participated in numerous national, state, and regional juried shows, including shows at the Springville Museum of Fine Art, the St. George Art Museum and the Museum of Art of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She recently enjoyed a one person exhibition at the Braithwaite Fine Art Gallery at Southern Utah University and a two-person show at the Sears Gallery, Dixie State College in May, 2009. She recently enjoyed a solo show, "Glamorous Work", at the Saint George Art Academy in October 30, 2010. Fiona is married to the love of her life and has a wonderful, energetic family.

Education

Master of Fine Arts, Painting,, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier VT, 2008.

Master of Humanities, Painting emphasis, Cal State Dominguez Hills, CA, 2001

Graduate studies, Drawing and Painting: University of Texas El Paso.

BA Art and Design, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah .

Portrait and Figure Painting Workshops, Gage Academy of Art, WA, 1998-2001.

Awards

Best of Show: The Regional, St. George Art Museum, 2003.

Juror's Special Selection Award (Second Place): The Regional, St George Art Museum, 2002.

Honorable Mention: Fifth Annual Exhibition of the American Impressionists National Show, Vero Beach, Florida, 2003.

Honorable Mention: The Regional, St. George Art Museum 2002, 2000 and 1999.

Award of Merit: Celebrating Diversity, The Utah Women Artist's Exhibition 1993.

Award of Merit: Transcending Confines, Matrix Gallery, Sacramento, 1989.

Best of Show: Student Art Show, Brigham Young University Provo, UT.

I am most interested in the pictorial expression of concept through painting and photography. Various aspects of discourse connected with human relationships often play a role in my work. I am interested in the hows and whys of human behavior, especially in regards to culture and families. My recent work is an exploration into the place of memory in regards to identity within the family, and the "snapshot" photograph as a mediator, linking past and present.

Preconceptions of what we believe to be good pictures raise standards that can be simultaneously artificial and unrealistic. It is this concept that intrigues me in looking at our family pictures. I especially like it when I find an un-posed picture that gives me a glimpse of what I conjecture is the real you or the real me. But my question is often, what is real? And can we really know that from a single split-second image? Even in the family pictures where everyone is smiling for the camera there are subtle psychological spaces and differences that are compelling to me. The memory that is recollected from the photograph is colored and dimmed with time, but without that image, would I lose the memory completely? These are all questions that I have been considering in my recent paintings. I believe they are questions that will continue to occupy my work for some time.

My recent work is an exploration into the place of memory in regards to identity within the family. In particular, I have been examining my relationship with the photographs and the handmade objects my mother left behind. For me, these objects...embroidered tablecloths and doilies, crewel embroidered pillows, little dresses, doll clothes, knitted sweaters and assorted handmade dolls...which I can physically hold, still contain a remnant of my mother's presence. I have also been attempting to learn about my mother's life, before any personal recollection, by reading her journals and letters. By mentally comparing myself to her at different life stages and inserting imagery that suggests shared experiences I have been on a self-revelatory journey.

SUPER MOM DRESSES