About the Artist
Artist’s Statement
Arena Shawn was a science major and obtained a Ph.D. in Physics in 2008 from Purdue University. However, alongside science she has always had a passion for art. After coming to United States for graduate school, Arena took the opportunity to attend many art classes and painting workshops around the country with nationally-renowned instructors. Eventually, her calling to art has led her to leave her engineering job in Silicon Valley, and begin a study of classical drawing and painting methods following the 19th-century French academic lineage in the Golden Gate Atelier in Oakland, CA. It is there that she studied traditional life drawing, painting, and sculpture with great emphasis on in-depth study and classical techniques and the joy of working in a direct observational style in nature.
In her pursuit of art, Arena tries to use charcoal, pencil, brush and paints to reflect the quiet lights, subtle colors and playful shapes exhibited by seemingly mundane, everyday subjects. Striving for the emotional quality of every piece she creates, Arena hopes that her work would be able to reach out and connect with their viewers, evoking the sense of wonder and awe of our everyday life that are so often taken as granted. Her primary working method in drawing involves direct observation from life using traditional sight-size method and aims at achieving a strong impression of light and its cascading effect down the human figure or a particular still-life setup, while in the same time paying special attention to create strong and unified value patterns, specific organic half-tone shapes and incrementally softened edge quality from the center of focus outwards throughout the drawing.
Her still life arrangements are set up in her north light studio and painted directly from life. She paints directly so that her relationship to the subject is heightened in the moment in order to pass on that perception and experience to the viewer resulting in a painting that looks like a painting and not a photograph. Arena chooses objects and arrangements to create the most aesthetically beautiful design and a feeling of abundance and intimacy. These arrangements are influenced by centuries of traditional still life painting from the Dutch Masters of the 1600s to French Academics of the 1900s. From there, she strives to create paintings combining an old master feel with rich color and painterly brushstrokes.
Her portraiture work explores the psychology and emotions we live and move through every day, with a goal of creating a compelling, personal, and intimate experience, both visually and emotionally, with the human presence in her paintings.
General Education
Doctorate of Philosophy in Physics, August 2008, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Master of Science in Physics, December 2004, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Bachelor of Science in Physics; Minor in Computer Science, June 2000, Fudan University, Shanghai, PRC
Artistic Training
Classical Drawing and Painting Methods in the 19th Century French Academic Tradition, 2011 - 2016, in the Golden Gate Atelier in Oakland, CA
Workshop Experience with national-renowned artists including Susan Lyon, Sherrie McGraw, Louis Carr, Michael Klein, Adrien Gottlieb, Noah Buchanon and Kathleen Speranza
Awards
~ Women Artists of the West 2025 National Juried Exhibition, Fine Art Connoisseur Award
~ National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association 2023 “Best of America” 2023 National Juried Exhibition “Best Still Life” Award
~ American Impressionist Society 2023 National Juried Associate Member Show “Award of Excellence”
~ Oil Painters America 2021 Online Showcase Honorable Mention
~ National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association Fall 2021 Online International Juried Competition Honorable Mention
~ Ridgewood Art Institute 2026 National Juried Exhibition, Dana Dimuro Memorial Award
~ American Academic Artists 2025 National Juried Exhibition, Strathmore Award
~ Fine Line Art Gallery “In Bloom” National Juried Exhibition, Award of Merit
~ Louisiana Artists and Artisan Guild 55th Annual River Road Show National Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention
~ Allied Arts Washington 2025 National Juried Exhibition, People’s Choice Award
~ Hilton Head Art League Biannual National Juried Exhibition 2025, Honorable Mention
~ Emerald Spring 2025 National Juried Exhibition, Award of Distinction
~ Cape Cod Art Center Spring National Juried Exhibition 2025, Second Place
~ Crossroads Art Center National All Media Juried Exhibition, First Place (January Exhibition) and Second Place (May & September Exhibitions)
~ Art Barn 2025 National Juried Exhibition, Blick Art Award
~ Firefly Artists Juried Exhibition “Delicious”, First Place
~ Rice Art Gallery 2025 Small Work Show, Honorable Mention
~ District Gallery 4th Annual “Big Tiny Show”, Honorable Mention
~ Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council's 35th Annual National Juried Exhibition, 3rd place
~ Scottsdale Artists' School 'THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST' 2024 Juried Fine Art Show and Sale, 2nd place in Small Works
~ Lake Granbury Art Association 2023 Fall Art Show National Juried Exhibition, Best of Show, Best of Painting
~ Hilton Head Art League 2023 Biannual National Juried Exhibition, Best of Show
~ Cincinnati Art Club ViewPoint 55 National Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention
~ Southwest Artists ‘Art of the Heartland’ 2023 National Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention
~ Idaho Falls Arts Council 2023 National Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention
~ Scottsdale Artists' School 'THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST' 2023 Juried Fine Art Show and Sale, Purchase Award, 2nd place in Small Works
~ Hoosier Salon 2022 Good Ole Summertime Juried Exhibition, Best of Show
~ Lake Granbury Art Association 2022 Fall Art Show National Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention
~ Alexandria Museum 2022 September National Juried Exhibition First Place, Best of Show
~ Scottsdale Artists' School 'THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST' 2022 Juried Fine Art Show and Sale, 1st placein Small Works
~ BoldBrush February 2023 Competition, Finalist
~ BoldBrush February 2022 Competition, Honorable Mention
~ BoldBrush September 2016 Competition, Outstanding Watercolor
Press
~ Fine Art Connoisseur, Full Page Ad Award in 2025 from Women Artists of the West
~ Fine Art Connoisseur, My painting ‘After the Summer Rain' was the used for announcement of '2024 Best and Brightest Fine Art Show and Sale', Scottsdale AZ
~ Fine Art Connoisseur, Half Page Ad Award in 2023 from National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association
~ American Art Collector, My painting 'King’s Blue' was the used for announcement of '2022 Best and Brightest Fine Art Show and Sale', Scottsdale AZ
~ Splash 19, 20 and 21 Books
~ Stroke of Genius 9, 10 Books
Recent Exhibitions
2025
~ National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association, Best of America National Juried Exhibition, James R. Ross Fine Art, Indianapolis, IN
~ Oil Painters of America 2025 National Juried Exhibition, Herrig Center for the Arts, Bradenton, FL
~ Oil Painters of America 2025 Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition, Beverley McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
~ American Impressionist Society 26th National Juried Exhibition, Cassens Gallery, Hamilton, MT
~ American Impressionist Society 9th Annual Small Works National Juried Showcase, Fallbrook Art Center, Fallbrook, CA
~ 5th Annual Big Tiny Show, The District Gallery & Framery, Knoxville, TN
~ Tiny, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Small Works Holiday Show, Studio 55 Gallery, Martinez, CA
~ American Academic Association 75th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism, Arts Center East, Vernon, CT
~ Allied Artists of America 112th National Juried Exhibition Online
~ Lake Granbury Art Association 2024 Fall Art Show Annual National Juried Exhibition, Granbury, TX
~ 2025 National Multi-Media Juried Art Show, Wilson Arts Center, Wilson, NC
~ Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council's 36th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Texarkana Regional Art Center, Texarkana, TX
~ Art Guild of Louisiana 55th Annual River Road ShowNational Juried Exhibition, Louisiana State Archive, Baton Rouge, LA
~ Woodstock Arts “All the Fixins”: Artists from the South 2025, Reeves House Visual Arts Center, Woodstock, GA
~ North River Arts Society 47th Annual Festival of the ArtsNational Juried Exhibition, Marshfield Hills, MA
~ Delicious, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Scottsdale Artists' School THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Fine Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale, AZ
~ Women Artists of the West National Juried Exhibition, “Homeland”, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, Clarksville, TN
~ 38th Sears Art Museum Invitational Show and Sale, Sears Art Museum of Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah
~ Scottsdale Artists' School THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Fine Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale, AZ
~ Ridgewood Art Institute 45th Annual Open Juried Show, Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood, NJ
~ GALEX 58 National Juried Fine Art Exhibition, Galesburg Art Center, Galesburg, IL
~ Conroe Art League International 2025, Conroe Art League Art Center, Conroe, TX
~ Crossroads Art Center January Open Juried All Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, VA
~ Rice Gallery of Fine Art 2025 Small Works National Juried Show, The Rice Gallery of Fine Art, Overland Park, KS
~ Make Your Mark Show, Floyd Center for the Arts, Floyd, VA
~ 2025 Honeywell Annual Fine Art National Juried Exhibition, Honeywell Art Center Clark Gallery, Wabash, IN
~ To February, with Love Show, Kara K. Fine Art Gallery, Sturbridge, MA
~ A New Page Show, JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
~ Forma Natura, Arts Benicia Gallery National Juried Exhibition, Benicia, CA
~ ArtsThrive - 35th Annual Art Exhibition and Benefit, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
~ Arts Council Big Sky Annual Benefit Auction for the Arts, Arts Council of Big Sky, Big Sky, MT
~ AVA 23rd Art Matters National Juried Exhibition, AVA Community Art Center, Gillette, WY
2024
~ Oil Painters of America National Juried Salon Exhibition, James R. Ross Fine Art, Indianapolis, IN
~ National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association, Fall Online International Open Juried Competition
~ American Impressionist Society, All Member Online Exhibition
~ American Impressionist Society, Associate Member Online Exhibition
~ Small Works Holiday Show 2024, Mark Renges Gallery, Sewickley, PA
~ 4th Annual Big Tiny Show, The District Gallery & Framery, Knoxville, TN
~ Tiny, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Small Works Holiday Show, Sedona Art Center, Sedona, AZ
~ 9th Annual 5 x 5 x 5 National Juried Exhibition, River Oaks Arts Center, Alexandria, LA
~ 30x30 Show, Blue Line Arts Center, Roseville, CA
~ HCA Winter Show, Hopkinson Center for the Arts, Hopkinton, MA
~ Small Works Holiday Show, HeartSpot Gallery, East Providence, RI
~ 100x100 Show, Blue Cat Gallery, Wayne, NE
~ Fearlessly and Wonderfully Created Fine Art Show and Sale benefiting Saddle Up! (SU!) charitable organization of Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, TN
~ 2024 National Multi-Media Juried Art Show, Wilson Arts Center, Wilson, NC
~ Fine Art League of Cary 29th National Juried Exhibition, Page-Walker Arts and History Center, Cary, NC
~ Lake Granbury Art Association 2024 Fall Art Show Annual National Juried Exhibition, Granbury, TX
~ Louisville Art Association National Fine Art Show, Louisville, CO
~ Great Northern Art Explosion International Juried Fine Art Exhibition, AuSable Artisan Village, Grayling, MI
~ Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation Southworks National Juried Exhibition, Watkinsville, GA
~ SAGE Community Arts 14th Annual National Juried Show, Sheridan, WY
~ Cincinnati Art Club ViewPoint 56 National Juried Exhibition, Cincinnati, OH
~ Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council's 36th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Texarkana Regional Art Center, Texarkana, TX
~ Art Guild of Louisiana 54th Annual River Road ShowNational Juried Exhibition, Louisiana State Archive, Baton Rouge, LA
~ Craven Arts Council 2024 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition, New Bern, NC
~ Cudahy Art Coalition 2024 National Juried Exhibition,Chicago, IL
~ Buchanan Center for the Arts 64ARTS National Juried Exhibition, Monmouth, IL
~ Woodstock Arts “All the Fixins”: Artists from the South 2024, Reeves House Visual Arts Center, Woodstock, GA
~ Edmonds Arts Festival Small Paintings National Juried Exhibition, Edmonds, OR
~ Botanica, The Village Theatre and Art Gallery, Danville, CA
~ Delectable 2024: A Juried National Exhibition of Food Themed Art, d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
~ North River Arts Society 47th Annual Festival of the ArtsNational Juried Exhibition, Marshfield Hills, MA
~ Delicious, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Scottsdale Artists' School THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Fine Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale, AZ
2023
~ National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association Best of America National Juried Exhibition, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
~ NOAPS Best of America Small Works National Juried Exhibition, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO
~ American Impressionist Society, All Member Online Exhibition
~ American Impressionist Society, Associate Member Online Exhibition
~ Tiny, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Traditions, Pour-d Gallery, Rockford, MI
~ Lake Granbury Art Association 2023 Fall Art Show Annual National Juried Exhibition, Granbury, TX
~ SAGE Community Arts 13th Annual National Juried Show, Sheridan, WY
~ Cincinnati Art Club ViewPoint 55 National Juried Exhibition, Cincinnati, OH
~ ArtsThrive - 33rd Annual Art Exhibition and Benefit, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
~ Nicolaysen Art Museum Annual Art Exhibition and Benefit Gala, Casper, WY
~ Salmagundi Club 42nd Annual Painting, Sculpture & Graphics National Juried Exhibition, New York City, NY
~ Craven Arts Council 2023 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition, New Bern, NC
~ Noir, Pour-d Gallery, Rockford, MI
~ Shadow, Arts Benicia Gallery National Juried Exhibition, Benicia, CA
~ Southwest Artists ‘Art of the Heartland’ 2023 National Juried Exhibition, Mena Art Gallery, Mena, AK
~ Heartland Art Club Representational 2023 National Juried Exhibition, Kirkwood, MO
~ Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council's 35thAnnual National Juried Exhibition, Texarkana Regional Art Center, Texarkana, TX
~ Cape Fear Studios 2023 National 2D Competition, Fayetteville, NC
~ Alexandria Museum 36th September National Juried Exhibition, Alexandria, LA
~ Buchanan Center for the Arts 64ARTS National Juried Exhibition, Monmouth, IL
~ Delectable 2023: A Juried National Exhibition of Food Themed Art, d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
~ North River Arts Society 46th Annual Festival of the Arts National Juried Exhibition, Marshfield Hills, MA
~ Fearlessly and Wonderfully Created Fine Art Show and Salebenefiting Saddle Up! (SU!) charitable organization of Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, TN
~ Delicious, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Gilpin County Arts Association 76th Annual National Juried Art Show, Central City, CO
~ Flourish 2023: d'Art's Annual Nat'l Juried Floral & Botanical Exhibition During Historic Garden Tour VA, d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
~ Thompson Valley Art League 2023 National Juried Exhibition, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO
~ Idaho Falls Arts Council 2023 National Juried Exhibition, Willard Arts Center, Idaho Falls, ID
~ Art League of Hilton Head 2023 Biennale National Juried Exhibition, Hilton Head, SC
~ 17th Annual Emerald Spring National Juried Painting Exhibition, Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR
~ Show-Off!, Virginia Beach Art Center Annual National Juried Exhibition, Virginia Beach, VA
~ 5th Annual ART + STROLL presented by Business for the Arts of Broward, Broward, FL
~ Scottsdale Artists' School THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Fine Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale, AZ
~ Zephyr, Pour-d Gallery, Rockford, MI
2022
~ National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Association 32nd Best of America National Juried Exhibition, Wilcox Gallery, Jackson WY.
~ Oil Painters of America National Exhibition and Convention, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
~ American Impressionist Society, All Member Online Exhibition
~ Art Renewal Center 2022 International Salon Finalist
~ Tiny, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Randy Higbee Gallery 13th Annual 6” Squared Exhibition and Sale, Costa Mesa, CA
~ Salmagundi Club 2022 Drawings from Life National Juried Exhibition, New York City, NY
~ Cincinnati Art Club ViewPoint 54 National Juried Exhibition, Cincinnati, OH
~ Salmagundi Club 41st Annual Painting, Sculpture & Graphics National Juried Exhibition, New York City, NY
~ Alexandria Museum 35th September National Juried Exhibition, Alexandria, LA
~ VIVID: A Juried National Exhibition of Vibrant, Bold, Loud, and Brilliant Artworks!, d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
~ Hopkins Art Center 28th Arts North International, Hopkins, MN
~ Art Guild of Louisiana 52nd Annual River Road ShowNational Juried Exhibition, Louisiana State Archive, Baton Rouge, LA
~ Layer on Layer, An Open Juried National Exhibition of Painting, Drawing and Printmaking, Art League Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI
~ Delectable 2022: A Juried National Exhibition of Food Themed Art, d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
~ Wonder, Pour-d Gallery, Rockford, MI
~ Gems V, Exquisite, Intricate, Intimate Small Works of Art, Arts Benicia Gallery National Juried Exhibition, Benicia, CA
~ Teeny, Tiny, BOLD, Rountree Gallery, Platteville, WI
~ 2022 National Multi-Media Juried Art Show, Wilson Arts Center, Wilson, NC
~ Resplendent, Pour-d Gallery, Rockford, MI
~ Lake Granbury Art Association 2022 Fall Art Show Annual National Juried Exhibition, Granbury, TX
~ Small Worlds: National Juried Exhibition of Small Works, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, MI
~ Drawn, Indiana University Kokomo Gallery, Kokomo, IN
~ 6 by National Juried Exhibit, Cape Fear Studios, Fayetteville, NC
~ Main Street Gallery Lyons | Small Works Show, 3Cs Art Gallery, Lyons, CO
~ August Group Show, Jones Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO
~ Slice of Life: Landscapes and Still Lifes, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
~ Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council's 34thAnnual National Juried Exhibition, Texarkana Regional Art Center, Texarkana, TX
~ July Group Show, Jones Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO
~ Buchanan Center for the Arts 64ARTS National Juried Exhibition, Monmouth, IL
~ SAGE Community Arts 12th Annual National Juried Show, Sheridan, WY
~ Craven Arts Council 2022 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition, New Bern, NC
~ Fine Art League of Cary 27th National Juried Exhibition, Page-Walker Arts and History Center, Cary, NC
~ H2O National 2022, Virginia Beach Art Center, Virginia Beach, VA
~ Delicious, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Spring to Life – 2022, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
~ California Dreaming, California Art Club Juried Member’s Exhibition, Santa Cruz, CA
~ Flourish 2022: d'Art's Annual Nat'l Juried Floral & Botanical Exhibition During Historic Garden Tour VA, d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
~ 16th Annual Emerald Spring National Juried Painting Exhibition, Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR
~ Ridgewood Art Institute National Juried Exhibition, Ridgewood, NJ
~ Cape Fear Studios 2022 National 2D Competition, Fayetteville, NC
~ Hygge, Pour-d Gallery, Rockford, MI
~ Scottsdale Artists' School THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Fine Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale, AZ.
2021
~ Tiny, Studio Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
~ Randy Higbee Gallery 12th Annual 6” Squared Exhibition and Sale, Costa Mesa, CA
~ SAGE Community Arts 11th Annual National Juried Show, Sheridan, WY
~ Arts Council of Wayne County’s 42nd Annual National Juried Art Show, Goldsboro, NC
~ 26th Annual Gateway to the Rockies Art Show and Sale, Community College of Aurora, Aurora, CO
Professional Affiliations
American Women Artists
Oil Painters of America
National Oil and Acrylics Painter’s Society
American Impressionist Society
Portrait Society of America
California Art Club
