Christine Zmuda, Abstract Art
Artist Statement and Bio
Artist Statement
Christine is an award-winning abstract painter based in the Washington DC area. Her paintings explore the intersection of art and music. Specifically, Christine focuses on how music can be used as a true medium in creative expression. She starts her paintings by pairing her feelings with a music genre. From there, she selects a color palette which is a direct reaction to the musical inspiration. The paintings are created in her studio, where they evolve through intuitive abstraction. Her work is as varied in color, texture, and composition as the wide range of music that she explores and leverages for the creative process.
Artist Bio
I am an abstract painter who enjoys painting larger pieces on canvas. I use acrylic paints, pastels, charcoal, oil paint sticks and sometimes spray paint to bring my music inspired paintings to life. I will occasionally create artwork on paper largely for art studies. My creative process starts first and foremost with the music which informs my palette selection and sets the tone for the energy in the work ahead. After this foundation is established, my work is created through intuitive responses and reaction to music, a love of life, and all its experiences.
Why is music so important to the process? My love of music started at a young age. My parents played music often in our home. As a young child and teenager, we relocated often as a family often to follow my father's career. Music became my first friend in every new town. Even today, my soul deep connection to music drives how I am wired as a human being and an artist. The impact and variety of music utilized to inspire comes out on canvas. As I listen to jazz, you will see more blues and cool colors, hard rock shows up in reds, blacks, and darker blues while alternative music often presents itself with pinks and neutral palettes. As I get in the zone to create, music allows me to see color and my work is impacted by my reaction to what I am listening to.
What emerges on the canvas is highly emotional. My paintings are personal, energetic, and universally uplifting. I believe this is a direct and natural extension of my state of being as I am painting. My optimism and love of life is active and present on my completed work. Collectors connect with that feeling and regularly share that my paintings are joyful, upbeat and have a positive vibe.
Influences that you may see threaded through my work include abstract painters like Helen Frankenthaler. Richard Diebenkorn, and Joan Mitchell.
In addition to my artist life, I enjoy a fulltime career as a technology executive at Microsoft. I am a member of Women in Technology and Executive Sponsor of the Creative Conscious Community which is a joint initiative between Microsoft and LinkedIn to feed and nurture creativity in the arts for its over 180,000 employees. I have a BA in Economics and Social Science from Michigan State University and an MBA in Marketing from American University. I am also a founding board member on the Ted Rullo Foundation (tedrullofoundation.org) an organization dedicated to providing college scholarship to future leaders.
Exhibitions
Exhibition Listing
- SK Artspace, Brooklyn, NY - August 2018
- Fridge DC, Washington DC - September 2018
- Artcho , Charlottesville, VA, - October 2018
- Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, MD - January, 2019
- L2 @Cady's Alley, Georgetown, DC - January, 2019
- Hill Center Gallery, Washington DC - February 2019
- Delaplane Art Gallery, Frederick, MD. - May 2019
- MD Hall for Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD (solo) - Aug 2019
- Potomac French Market, Potomac, MD - September 2019
- Delaplane Art Gallery, Frederick, MD - May 2020
- Cerulean Art Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa - July, 2020
- Art Museum of SW Texas, Corpus Christi TX - July 2020
- Athenaeum Gallery, Alexandria, VA August 2020
- Sonia Monti Gallery, Paris, France December 2020
- Women's Caucus of Art, Washington, DC March 2021
- Stola Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL May 2021
- Corporate Connections, MD Federation of Art Sept 2021
- Falls Church Art Gallery, Falls Church, VA - December 2021
- Hill Center Gallery, Washington, DC - January, 2022
- Las Lagunas Art Gallery, Las Lagunas California June 2022
- Windridge Summer Exhibition, Poolesville, MD June, 2022
You can also follow my artwork at Instagram @artgallerybyz.
Artist Talks
This Artist Talk on IGTV describing the influences of my solo exhibit Sights and Sounds of Abstracti
This Artist Talk on IGTV describing the influences of my solo exhibit Sights and Sounds of Abstracti
This Artist Talk on IGTV describing the influences of my solo exhibit Sights and Sounds of Abstracti
Listen to an excerpt of the Artist Talk @Maryland Hall for Creative Arts.
A Moment Captured
This Artist Talk on IGTV describing the influences of my solo exhibit Sights and Sounds of Abstracti
This Artist Talk on IGTV describing the influences of my solo exhibit Sights and Sounds of Abstracti
For this exhibit, I had imagined people enjoying the music and learning more about the painting inspiration. This mother-daughter moment was a highlight for me as an artist.
Visit My Studio and Gallery Space
This Artist Talk on IGTV describing the influences of my solo exhibit Sights and Sounds of Abstracti
Visit My Studio and Gallery Space
I have an IGTV channel which shares painting process videos and an art studio tour. Check it out here.
