If there is a common thread to my work it is the desire to uncover the inner order in the world of appearances. I have always agreed with Emerson’s observation that "We must trust the perfection of the creation so far as to believe that whatever curiosity the order of things has awakened in our minds, the order of things can satisfy."
For me, that inner order has been manifest in the world through what is called philosophical geometry and in particular the Pythagorean principles, the Platonic Solids and most importantly the Golden Mean Proportion. This proportion, with its dynamic laws, is found not only in architectural designs from the ancient world to the present but also in nature itself. The squares, rectangles, arcs, and circles generated by this proportion have given me the means to explore the inner order of the creation.
In fact, I don’t recall ever starting a work without some geometric configuration – a simple division, a square, circle or grid. The dividing and ordering of the support – whether canvas, paper or wood – gives me a place to stand, a scaffolding, so to speak, from which to work, observing what it is that wants to express itself.
Rather than being limiting, the mysterious Golden Mean Ratio with its inherent harmonious and dynamic qualities, invites perpetual play and infinite possibilities. While some of my works hint at the underlying order and symmetry of the creation, as revealed in physics and cosmology, others explore by means of illusionism the insubstantiality of matter. The aim is always to convey the subtle movements from surface to depth, from the concrete to the insubstantial, from outer to inner realities, the effect bringing the apparent solidity of matter into question.
BIOGRAPHY
Astrid Fitzgerald was born and educated in Europe. She emigrated to the United States in 1961 and works and lives in New York City and the Hudson Valley.
Education: 1972 Pratt Graphics Center, New York, N.Y., 1968 Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, N.Y., 1962 Art Students League, New York, N.Y., 1958 Polytechnic School, London, England, 1955; College St. Agnes, Fribourg, Switzerland
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Gallery at R&F, Kingston, NY - Astrid Fitzgerald: Waxing Geometric, 2011
Unison Gallery, New Paltz, NY - Astrid Fitzgerald & Kim Alderman, 2010 (2-person)
Garrison Art Center, The Gillette Gallery - Assemblages & Paintings, 2010
Pearl Arts Gallery, Stone Ridge, NY - Eternal Egypt - Collage and Encaustic, 2008 (2-person)
Wuersch & Gering, New York - Constructions and Works on Paper, 2005-2006
LoRiver Arts Gallery, Beacon, NY - "Astrid Fitzgerald & Kotani" New Paintings - 2005 (2-person)
Galerie Raubach, St. Gallen, Switzerland, Constructions and Works on Paper, 2002
Galerie Raubach, St. Gallen, Switzerland, Works on Paper - 2001
Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery, SUNY at ULSTER, Stone Ridge, N.Y. - 2000
Murakami Gallery, New York - 1996 (3-person)
Kunstgalerie Hyposwiss, Zurich, Switzerland - 1996
Galerie Neue Kunst, Wil, Switzerland - 1993
Pietrasanta Fine Arts, New York - 1986
Atlantic Gallery, New York - 1981
Galerie Steinfels, Zurich, Switzerland - 1981
JURIED EXHIBITIONS AND COMPETITIONS
Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Abstraction, October 7 - 29, 2011
James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Physical Graffiti, September 10 - October 22, 2011
SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY, Marks that Matter, March 19 - April16, 2010
SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY, Beyond Self: Contemporary Explorations in Art & Spirit - 2007
Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, Encaustic Works ‘03 - 2003
1001 Reasons To Love The Earth - International Art Project - Europe and Asia - 2002
Artcanal Exhibition - Le Landeron, Switzerland - 2002
Artists Equity 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Broome Street Gallery, New York, N.Y. - 1997
The College of Santa Fe Arts Gallery, Santa Fe, N.M., Maximum Drawings - 1996
New York University, New York, 4th Annual Small Works Competition - 1980
Parsons Exhibition Center, New York, 57th S.A.G.A. National Print Exhibition - 1979
The National Arts Club, New York, 6th Graphic Exhibition - 1979
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 3rd National Print Exhibition - 1975
Metropolitan Museum, Miami, 2nd International Miami Graphics Biennial - 1975
Pratt Graphics Center, New York, Pratt Graphics Annual Competition - 1973
Miami Art Center, Miami, 1st Miami Graphics Biennial - 1973
The National Arts Club, New York, 19th Annual N.S.P.C.A. - 1973
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Visionary Tibet - Kuenstler erschaffen eine positive Vision für Tibet, Zurich, Switzerland, 2008
Pharos+Ten - Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct 15 - Nov 9, 2008
The Sharjah Arts Museum, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates - International Exhibition - 2000
Parsons School of Design, New York - "Harmony By Design" - 1995
Kendall College of Art & Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan - "Harmony By Design" - 1995
Washington Design Center, Wash., D.C. - "Harmony By Design" - 1994
Merchandise Mart, Chicago - "Harmony By Design" - 1993
Credit Suisse, New York - "Between Two Worlds" - 1990
The Swiss Institute, New York - Holiday Exhibition - 1987
The Swiss Institute, New York - "Structure & Shadow" - 1986
Nohra Haime Gallery, New York - "Pastels" - 1985
Heidi Jones Gallery, New York - 1984, 1985
Jayne Baum Gallery, New York - "Pastel Invitational" - 1983
Jayne Baum Gallery, New York - Premiere Exhibition - 1982
Atlantic Gallery, New York - "Small Works" - 198l
Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield - "Contemporary Reflections" - 1978
Long Island University, New York - "Printmakers l2" - 1977
The National Academy Galleries, New York - NAWA Annual -1977
Atlantic Gallery, Brooklyn, N.Y. - "Printmakers l2" - 1977
M. Knoedler Gallery, New York - "Young Collectors" - 1975
Union Carbide, New York - "Young Artist 75" - U.N. Exhibition - 1975
Cornell University, New York - Print Exhibiton - 1974
Albright-Knox Museum, Buffalo - Print Exhibition - 1973
AWARDS
Juror's Award - 4th Annual Small Works Competition, N.Y.University, New York - 1980
The Charles Levitt Award - National Academy Galleries, New York - N.A.W.A. Annual - 1978
The Michael M. Engel Memorial Award - National Arts Club - 19th Annual N.S.P.C.A. - 1973
Second Prize and Honorable Mention - The New Yorker Theater Mural Competition - New York - 1971
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Mathematics of Harmony: From Euclid to Contemporary Mathematics and Computer Science by Alexey Stakhov, assisted by Scott Olsen - World Scientific Publishing Co, 2009
Gallery Notes - LoRiver Arts, "Astrid Fitzgerald & Kotani - The Mountain Way and the River Way" by Roger Lipsey, Ph D - 2005
Pulse - April 2005 - Interview with John Nelson - LoRiver Arts Gallery, Beacon, NY
ArtCanal Exhibition Catalog - Le Landeron, Switzerland, 2002
1001 Reasons To Love the Earth - World Art Collection, Stichting 2000 Foundation, Diement, The Netherlands, 2000
Exhibition Review - Kunstgalerie Hyposwiss, Zurich, Switzerland by Ziba De Weck, Ph.D. January 24, 1996UBS
Information, February 2, 1996 - "Eine Kuenstlerin von Kraft und Harmonie" by Rolf Mueller, Exhibition review.
Exhibition Review - Kunstgalerie Hyposwiss, Zurich by Annemarie Stuessi, February l4, 1996
Wiler Zeitung, October 30, 1995 - Exhibition Review "Eine Wilerin macht Karriere in New York" by Marlene Tanner.
Exhibition Review - Galerie Neue Kunst, Wil, Switzerland by Ziba De Weck, Ph.D., October 1993.
Interiors, August 1993 - "Harmony by Design" by Beverly Russell
The Washington Times, November 3, 1993 - "Golden Mean can lead to new design" by Thomas D. Sullivan.
"Between Two Worlds" Exhibition Catalog presented by Credit Suisse, New York, N.Y., 1990
Art Diary International 1990, 1998, 2008, 2010 - Giancarlo Politi, Milano Italy
Kuenstlerverzeichnis der Schweiz 1980-1990 - Swiss Institute for Art Research, Zurich, Switzerland
Exhibition Review - "The Art of Astrid Fitzgerald - New Images, Old Faith" by Roger Lipsey - 1985
American Artists - An Illustrated Survey of Leading Contemporary Americans -The Krantz Co., Chicago, Ill. - 1985-1990
Swiss Artists in New York - Richard Pichler - 1985
Wiler Zeitung - Feb. 26, 1981: Exhibition review, Galerie Steinfels, Zurich, Switzerland, 198l
Texaco Westchester - "Art by Election", 1980
Art News - "How to Pick an Art Consultant" - Lee Rosenbaum - May 1979
New York Times - "Aldrich Museum Show: An Eye-Opener" - Millie Siegel - May 2l, 1978
Phoenix - "Printmakers l2 at Atlantic" - Eileen Blair - February 3, 1977
Sunday News - "Luxury and Art in Monaco Hotel" - June 29, 1975
The New York Art Review - Artist Profiles - The Krantz Co. 1988
Who's Who in American Art - since 1980
Printworld Directory of Contemporary Prints - 198l/82, 85/86, 91/92, 98/99, 01/02
Graphics by Contemporary Artists - Catalog - Martha Jackson Gallery - 1973
Competition Winner Catalog - National Community Arts Program, U.S. Department of H.U.D. - 1973
SELECTED COMMISSIONS
1990 Union Bank of Switzerland, New York, N.Y.
1990 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Albuquerque, N.M.
1988 I.B.M., Atlanta, Ga.
1985 Kindercare Corporation, Montgomery, Ala.
1985 I.B.M., Marcel Breuer Building, Boca Raton, Fla.
1985 Ashley Plaza Hotel, Tampa, Fla.
1984 Ridgeway Corporation, Atlanta, Ga.
PUBLICATIONS
Winter Break: A Luminous Journey into Wisdom and Love by Astrid Fitzgerald, A.R.K. Books, 2008.
Harmony By Design, article by Astrid Fitzgerald, New York: Parabola Magazine, 1991
An Artist's Book of Inspiration - A Collection of Thoughts on Art, Artists, and Creativity, Compiled and Edited by Astrid Fitzgerald, Hudson, N.Y.: Lindisfarne Press, 1996.
Being Consciousness Bliss - A Seekers Guide by Astrid Fitzgerald, Lindisfarne Books, Great Barrington, MA
Illustrations and Photographs for Traveler's Key to Ancient Greece, by Richard Geldard, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, l989.
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