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click images to enlarge
her website ...... astridFitzgerald.com
in the artist's words
The more universal, the more primal the thought, the form and the color, the more powerfully the work will speak to the harmony within each human being. It will stand aloof of current trends and transcend style, taste and method. Color, I have discovered, has a life of its own and its vibrations speak directly to the emotions, while form and line, based on number and measure, speak directly to the mind.
The "Golden Mean" - the perfect division or Phi - is a proportional and mathematical mystery that has intrigued philosophers and inspired architects and artists since ancient times. It has provided me with a harmonious structure - a way to begin the process of experimentation, creation and play...the compass and ruler are my tools to divide the space and break up the void...in this case the whiteness of the canvas or paper. The structure often yields to an image arising in the minds eye and the lines and arcs become obliterated in the intuitive outpouring of color and gesture.
Much of my work is about space and aims to express the subtle movements from depth to surface, from the insubstantial to the concrete, from emptiness to fullness, from inner to outer realities, but always questions the apparent solidity of matter, of surface and material.
The inspiration for my recent work - a view into primal forces - not only comes from ancient texts, but also from modern science, mainly the strange new findings in physics and the indescribably beautiful images coming to us from deep space...from the microcosm and macrocosm. What these images all have in common is their energy, seen in the shifting of chaos and order coming from a single source.
excerpts from essays and reviews"These quiet icons, produced from generation to generation (Mondrian 50 years ago, Rothko 30 years ago, Fitzgerald today), are signs of an underlying contemplativeness that will not settle for being rushed through a deformed world....[these works] are respectful of the world and its order, respectful of human consciousness, ready to explore them both with a sense of privilege....
The harmoniously related squares, rectangles, arcs, and circles generated by the Golden Section provide Fitzgerald with a stable composition which she then freely alters and activates, creating contrast of light and dark, deep space and surface...."- Roger Lipsey, Ph.D., An Art of our Own: The Spiritual in Twentieth-Century Art.
"Whether in the paintings, drawings, or wall-constructions of Astrid Fitzgerald, the work emanates a sense of logic and clarity that belies the artistic endeavor and challenge standing behind their creation... Fitzgerald's creations are timeless, and true to themselves... her oeuvre enables us to view and appreciate fresh expressions of some ancient thoughts."- Ziba de Weck, Ph.D.
"These works exude a rare quality of harmony and balance and create an atmosphere of peace..."
"Today, fifteen years after I first saw her work, it still exhibits this effect of balance and harmony. It is this strength we recognize in all of her works, which always aims to tie together the past with the future; order with chaos; stability with instability; concentration with diffusion; the visual arts with other forms of art and ultimately western with eastern culture. This is the essential in Astrid's work. Her goal remains unaltered, it is only the means which changes with every phase of her creative work...
Despite the complex content, the aesthetic of the work remains simple, that is, geometric and abstract. Often it seems as if the design in the shapes of rectangle and circle overlap in a completely spontaneous manner, but in fact, the overlaps are never by chance. How these designs overlay and where they cross is always subject to the ancient laws of the Golden Mean, which has influenced Astrid's work for more than two decades...
When contemplating Astrid's images, we should never forget that the content concerns itself with a universal vision having to do with humanity and its creative force. Through her work, Astrid brings us to the path, but we should wish to take this journey of discovery on our own."- Ziba de Weck, Ph.D.
"A keyword in Fitzgerald's pictorial voice is the concept "gold." Not only is she indebted to the "Golden Mean" and its resulting harmony, gold as a color hue appears in several works and gives these a festive as well as spiritual character...."- Annemarie Stuessi
Astrid Fitzgerald is an internationally acclaimed artist, born in Switzerland and now living and working in New York. Her work appears in major public, corporate and private collections in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Her most recent shows include the Murakami Gallery in New York, Kunstgallerie at Hyposwiss in Zurich, Galerie Neue Kunst, Wil, Switzerland, and Parsons School of Design, New York.
Major site-specific commissions include UBS, New York, IBM, Marcel Breuer Building, Boca Raton, Fla., IBM, Atlanta, Ga.
Fitzgeraldís installation, Amish Quilts, was chosen by the Jury of the Artcanal to represent the United States in the forthcoming expo 02 in Switzerland. She is also the author of An Artist's Book of Inspiration (Hudson, N.Y.: Lindisfarne Press, 1996).
SELECTED ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
Raubach Galerie, St. Gallen, Switzerland, New Work on Paper by Astrid Fitzgerald, Spring 2001
Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery, SUNY at UCCC, Stone Ridge, N.Y, Cosmic Measures, Fall 2000
Murakami Gallery, New York City, 1996
Kunstgalerie Hyposwiss, Zurich, Switzerland, 1996
Galerie Neue Kunst, Wil, SG, Switzerland, 1993
Pietrasanta Fine Arts, New York, 1986
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Parsons School of Design, New York, Harmony By Design, 1995
Washington Design Center, Washington, D.C., Harmony By Design, 1994
Credit Suisse, New York City, Between Two Worlds, 1990
The Swiss Institute, New York City, Holiday Exhibition, 1987
The Swiss Institute, New York City, Structure & Shadow, 1986
Nohra Haime Gallery, New York City, Pastels, 1985
Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield, Conn., Contemporary Reflections, 1978
Long Island University, New York, Printmakers 12, 1977
M. Knoedler Gallery, New York City, Young Collectors, 1975
Cornell University, New York City, Print Exhibition, 1974
Albright Knox Museum, Buffalo, N.Y., Print Exhibition, 1973
JURIED EXHIBITIONS AND COMPETITIONS
Artcanal Exhibition at expo 02, Le Landeron, Switzerland, 2002
Artistís Equity 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Broome Street Gallery, New York City, 1997
The College of Santa Fe Arts Gallery, Santa Fe, N.M., Maximum Drawings, 1996
New York University, New York City, 4th Annual Small Works Competition, 1980
Parsons Exhibition Center, New York City, 57th SAGA National Print Exhibition, 1979
The National Arts Club, New York City, 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 City, Pratt Graphics Annual Competition, 1973
The National Arts Club, New York City, 19th Annual N.S.P.C.A., 1973
JURIED TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS
Arts Fiera, Bologna, Italy, Basel Art Fair, Switzerland, Biennale, Venice, Italy, Post-Card Size Art, 1978-79
Memphis State University, University of Wisconsin, etc., Traveling Watermedia Exhibition, 1976-78
Rockhurst College, Watkins Institute, Cayuga Museum of Art, Traveling Graphics Exhibition USA, 1975-77
National Tour of Museums and Universities, Traveling Works on Paper, 1974-75
AWARDS
New York University, New York, Jurorís Award, 4th Annual Small Works Competition, 1980
National Association of Women Artists, National Academy Galleries, New York City, The Charles Levitt Award, 1978
19th Annual N.S.P.C.A., National Arts Club, N.Y., The Michael M. Engel Memorial Award, 1973
The New Yorker Theater Mural Competition, New York City, 2nd Prize & Honorable Mention, 1971
SELECTED COMMISSIONS
Union Bank of Switzerland, New York City, 1990; Hyatt Regency Hotel, Albuquerque, N.M., 1990;
I.B.M., Atlanta, Ga. 1988; Kindercare Corporation, Montgomery, Ala. 1985; I.B.M., Marcel Breuer Building, Boca Raton, Fla., 1985; Ashly Plaza Hotel, Tampa, Fla., 1985; Ridgeway Corporation, Atlanta, Ga., 1984; Coin Corporation, Atlanta, Ga., 1984.
SELECTED PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, Conn.; Marymount College, Tarrytown, N.Y.; Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., Town Hall Collection, Wil, Switzerland; Courthouse Collection, Wattwil, Switzerland; World Financial Center, American Express, New York City; N.Y. Stock Exchange, Inc., New York City; Rockefeller Center Collection, New York, N.Y.; Amerada Hess Corporation, New York City; Bank of America, New York City; Chase Manhattan Collection; Chemical Bank, New York City; City Bank, New York; Cooper Carry Architects, Atlanta; Credit Suisse, New York; DiGiacomo Architects, New York City; G. Tsai & Co., New York City; Hyposwiss, Zurich, Switzerland; I.M.Pei & Partners, New York City; I.B.M. Collections, New York, Atlanta, Boca Raton, Valhalla, Charlotte; Loews Hotel, Monaco; Nikko Hotel, Beverly Hills, Ca.; PES Architects & Engineers, Nagoya, Japan; Siegel & Gale, Inc., New York City; UBS Securities, New York City; Union Bank of Switzerland, New York City; Texaco Collection; Washington Hotel, Osaka, Japan; Yamaha Marine Building, Japan; Zale Corporation, Dallas, Texas; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Maegher & Flom, New York City; Union Carbide, New York City.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
ArtCanal Catalogue, 2000, Winners of 1998 Competition.
UBS Information, 2/2/1996, Exhibition review Eine Kuenstlerin von Kraft und Harmonie, by Rolf Mueller.
Laudatio by Ziba De Weck, Ph.D., January 1996, Kunstgalerie Hyposwiss, Zurich, Switzerland.
Exhibition Review, 2/14/1996, by Annemarie Stuessi.
Wiler Zeitung, Article Eine Wilerin macht Karriere in New York , by Marlene Tanner.
Exhibition Catalog, presented by Credit Suisse, 1990, Between Two Worlds.
Kuenstlerverzeichnis der Schweiz, 1980-1990, Swiss Institute for Art Research, Zurich, Switzerland.
Exhibition Review, 1985, The Art of Astrid Fitzgerald - New Images, Old Faith by Roger Lipsey, Ph.D.
Swiss Artists in New York, 1985 by Richard Pichler.
Wiler Zeitung, 2/26/1981, Exhibition review, Galerie Steinfels, Zurich, Switzerland
New York times, 5/21/78, Aldrich Museum Show: An Eye-Opener by Millie Siegel.
Who is Who in America, since 1980
Printworld Directory of Contemporary Prints, since 1981
Competition Winner Catalog, 1973 National Community Arts Program, U.S. Department of H.U.D.
Catalogue, 1978, Contemporary Reflections, Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield, Conn.
PUBLICATIONS
Illustrations and Photographs by Astrid Fitzgerald for the Travelerís Key to Ancient Greece, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989.
Article by Astrid Fitzgerald, Harmony by Design, N.Y.: Parabola Magazine, 1991.
An Artistís Book of Inspiration - A Collection of Thoughts on Art, Artists, and Creativity Compiled and Edited by Astrid Fitzgerald, Hudson, N.Y.: Lindisfarme Press, 1996.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Wil, St. Gallen, Switzerland, 1938
Pratt Graphics Arts Center, New York, 1972-73
Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, 1968
Art Students League, New York, 1962-63
Polytechnic School, London, England, 1958-59
College St. Agnes, Fribourg, Switzerland, 1953-1955
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
N.Y. Artists Equity, New York; Women's Studio Workshop, Rosendale, N.Y.; Ulster Arts Alliance, Kingston,N.Y.
Requests for documentation and visuals, as well as purchase of works may be made:
phone: 212 787-5456 or 845 626-3436
mail: 650 West End Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10025
e-mail: ...... astrid@bestweb.dot net