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I am an artist located in Austin, TX (USA) but I can ship almost anywhere!! Please contact me for a quote if you live outside of the USA.
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MY BIOGRAPHY (written in 3rd person, this is how it's often requested by galleries):
Marlene Llanes is a surrealist artist who paints intriguing images that evoke a sense of peace. By creating unusual combinations of everyday objects with natural elements, Marlene’s works take the viewer to a grounded fantasy. Her images form meanings for the viewer without being forced upon them. Through the use of light and shadows Marlene creates a sense of depth that draws the viewer into a peaceful dreamlike scene. Her paintings can be very colorful but through the use of contrast Marlene brings simplicity and order.
Contrary to some art trends where artists focus on producing quick art that will lead to fast sales, Marlene's art clearly shows an amazing dedication and attention to detail. Due to the high-definition quality of Marlene's paintings, you can stand close or far and everything looks sharp and clean.
Marlene has shown her work in numerous exhibits in Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico.
Three of her works are part of public permanent collections. One at the UHCL Pearland Campus and another one at the Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2012 she was invited to Valloria, Italy to paint one of their doors for their Outdoor Museum of the Painted Doors.
Marlene has received multiple awards such as First Place at the Round Rock Chalk Walk, Round Rock, TX, 2014; First Place at the 2nd Visual Arts Alliance Invitational Juried Exhibition, Houston, TX, 2012; Third Place in the exhibit "Arte Caliente" at the Betz Art Gallery, Houston, TX, 2009; among many others. Due to the high success Marlene has had selling online in recent years, she has decided not to do in-person shows therefore she has not received any awards recently.
Marlene wrote and illustrated the children's book "Paty y los Payasos”, published in 2002 by Los Libros de El Nacional in Venezuela. This was back in the day when publishing a book was not very easy. You had to go through a publishing company that reviews lots of authors and rejects most. Nowadays anybody can self-publish any book thanks to all the resources available on the internet and how easy it is to print a book on demand (which is great!).
Besides working on her surreal paintings Marlene has also worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for newspapers, printing companies, advertising agencies, and publishing companies. Some of her illustration clients include: Hopkins Medicine, Kelonia Editorial, Pearson Education México, Grupo Olimpia Editores, Libros del Rincón SEP, Revista a! Diseño.
Marlene is also passionate about teaching. She has taught college at the Art Institute of Austin and children at Art Plus Academy as well as private lessons to adults.
In 1997 Marlene graduated as a graphic designer from Universidad Vasco de Quiroga in Morelia, Mexico. In 1998 Marlene was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study illustration in the USA. She finished her master's degree in Fine Arts (Illustration) at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2000.
Marlene was born in Morelia, Mexico. She currently lives in Austin, TX. She is a proud dual citizen.
LIST OF SELECTED GALLERIES WHERE I HAVE SHOWN MY WORK
Primal Gallery, Dripping Springs, TX
People's Gallery, Austin City Hall, Austin, TX
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Austin, TX
Texas State University, Round Rock, TX
Art Space, Round Rock, TX
Austin Visual Arts Association, Austin, TX
Total Plaza Gallery, Houston, TX
Hunting Art Prize, Houston, TX
The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake, Nassau Bay, TX
Betz Art Gallery, Houston, TX
Archway Gallery, Houston, TX
Museum of Printing History, Houston, TX
Winter Street Studios, Houston, TX
MSC Forsyth Center Galleries, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX
Center for Contemporary Art, Baton Rouge, LA
Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, TX
Northline Gallery, Houston Community College
Mighty Fine Arts, Dallas, TX
Casa de la Cultura, Morelia, Mexico
AWARDS
Due to the success I have had selling online, I have not done any in-person exhibits in the recent years therefore I have not received any awards recently.
First Place with “Strawberry-guava Tree,” Round Rock Chalk Walk, Round Rock, TX, October 3 & 4, 2014
Most Creative Award, Round Rock Chalk Walk, Round Rock, TX, October 4 & 5, 2013, piece: It’s not rain.
First place with “Still There”, 2nd Visual Arts Alliance Invitational Juried Exhibition, Lassaulx Gallery, Houston, TX, August 17, 2012
My painting “Interconnected Chairs” received the Honorable Mention Award at the National Society of Artists, National Juried Exhibition, The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake, October 6, 2011
My pencil work “Windows of Perception” received the Honorable Mention Award at the Third Annual Juried Exhibition, Archway Gallery, July 9, 2011, Houston TX
My painting “Interconnected Chairs” received the Honorable Mention Award at Visual Arts Alliance 28th Juried Open Exhibition, April 8, 2011, Houston, TX
My painting “Not the Cure” was selected to appear in the invitations for “Grassroots Art in Action, 2010 Open Exhibition” October 21-December3, 2010, Northline Gallery, Houston Community College Northeast.
Second place with “Windows of Perception” at the Visual Arts Alliance 28th Juried Membership Exhibition, October 15, 2010, One Allen Center, Houston, TX.
Juror’s Choice Award, Summer 2010 Juried Exhibition at the Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake, June 3-30, pieces: “This is not a Prelude,” “Not the Cure.”
Juror's Choice Award, Winter 2009 Juried Exhibition at the Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake, December 3 - January 7, pieces: "I knew it since the beginning" and "Chair Man.”
Third place in the exhibit "Arte Caliente," Betz Art Gallery, July 18, 2009, piece: "It's not rain, they are tears,"
First place in the "Far from Home" exhibit at the Savannah College of Art and Design, March 1999, piece: “Flower Pot”
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I am fascinated by nature and the calmness it brings. I am intrigued by both, nature and the meaning of our own existence. I usually combine nature with everyday objects in an unusual but meaningful way. I want the viewer to connect to nature as a way to connect with themselves, with their inner-self. I believe that past-present-future are all interconnected and I want to capture this connection as a single moment.
I rely heavily on light and shadows to create a sense of depth that draws the viewer into a peaceful dreamlike scene. My paintings can be very colorful but through the use of contrast I bring simplicity and order.
I mainly work with oil on canvas because it is a very flexible medium that allows to create depth of color as well as soft gradients. I work using several layers and glazing.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: ArtbyMarleneLlanes
Twitter: @marlenellanes
Instagram: marlenellanes
