Merle Rosen

Biography

(American, 1949-2017)

Merle Rosen was a practicing artist in Cincinnati for more than 40 years, and showed extensively in museums and galleries including the Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati), J.B. Speed Museum (Louisville, KY), Kharkiv Museum in the Ukraine, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Carnegie Arts Center (Covington, KY), Chaucer Galleries (Scottsdale, AZ), and C.A.G.E. She received a fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center in 1993 and has received six individual artists grants from the City of Cincinnati.

Her work has been widely collected. Corporate collections include Bethesda Hospitals, Scripps Howard, Cardinal Aluminum, Cincinnati Bell; Ulmer & Berne and The Christ Hospital. Her work is in private collections throughout the country. She has undertaken several commissions in recent years. Her largest were two murals created for Petersen's Restaurant in downtown Cincinnati (4' x 16' and 4' x 12'). She also completed several commissions of hand-painted furniture.

In addition to being a studio artist, Rosen taught in the arts for more than 40 years. Her emphasis was threefold: creating artwork; exploring the spiritual, metaphysical, and natural world; sharing these explorations through teaching. Rosen began teaching art professionally at age of 15, and taught throughout her career from the pre-school to college level. In 1969/70 she directed and taught the preschool children's art classes at the Cincinnati Art Museum. In the

1970's and early 1980's, she directed ceramics programs at The Arts Consortium and Thomas Moore College, and taught ceramics at the University of Cincinnati.

From 1981- 1999, she taught drawing, collage and archival materials at University of Cincinnati and The Art Academy of Cincinnati, as well as privately.

Largely self-taught, Rosen produced black and white drawings for the first 15 years of her career. In 1983, she began a color series of abstract pastel and pencil works derived from years of sketchbook studies.

Since 1988, she depicted the figure in her work. Using a vivid palette in an array of media (ink, pastels, acrylic, and textiles), Rosen portrays stylized figures, often solitary, set in dreamlike surroundings. These pieces explore archetypal emotions, and are whimsical, painterly, and densely layered.

She began painting with Golden acrylics in 1991, long before having a professional association with the company as a Working Artist. She has continued to use Golden products from that time through the present in paintings, drawings, sculpture, and furniture.

In 1995, she began to investigate image-making on a Power Macintosh computer. Through 1996, more than 150 digital images were completed, many of which retain stylistic content from earlier work. Rosen collaged digitally, using scans of handmade paper, drawings, natural materials and textiles.

Past works (1997/1998) include a series of 25 cast glass sculptures, and an ongoing series of small pencil drawings, large paintings and mixed media collage. Other creative endeavors (2001-2003) include large pastel works and an extensive series of bronze sculpture. Some of Rosen's more recent work is an ongoing series (2003-2005) of oil pastels derived from images generated by the bronze sculpture.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (*Solo Shows)

2005 DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE*, IVOS, Lexington, Kentucky

2004 ARTISANS@45213, Kennedy Heights Arts Center

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER ART AUCTION GALA, The Carnegie, Covington, Kentucky

2003 PROCLIVITIES, Bronze & Pencil*, Enjoy the Arts Gallery

LIGHT & SHADOW, Bronze and cast glass, UC Medical College Library

TASTE OF CINCINNATI ART, Art 4Sale@ Media Bridges

MASTER CRAFTWORKS, Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery, College of Mt. St. Joesph

2002 DREAMWORK*, Enjoy the Arts Gallery

AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS, Closson's Art Gallery

SIGNS OF SUMMER, Closson's Art Gallery

STORYTELLERS, Northern Kentucky University; Main Gallery, Highland Heights, Kentucky

2001 STARSHINE BENEFIT, Art Auction for The Hospice of Children's Hospital Medical Center, Music Hall

BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE OF GREATER CINCINNATI, Breast Cancer Brick Auction

L.A.M. FOUNDATION BENEFIT

MILLENIUM", Health Sciences Libraries, University of Cincinnati

PAINTINGS*, Cafe Tazza

2000 BIG PIG GIG, Fountain Square, downtown Cincinnati

SCULPTURE, DRAWING, PAINTING*, Enjoy the Arts Gallery

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Aioli

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Friends & Co.

PRIMARY COLORS, Art Auction & Exhibition, The Carnegie, Covington, Kentucky

1999 NEW WORKS*, Ensemble Theatre

UNIVERSITY CLUB ART SHOW; MID-CAREER WOMEN, University Club

1998 RECENT WORK*, Petersen's

CINERGY REGIONAL ART EXHIBIT, Juried; Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio

PRIMARY COLORS, Art Auction & Exhibition, The Carnegie, Covington, Kentucky

RECENT WORK, Dionysus

RECONSTRUCTED MEMORIES, Health Sciences Libraries, University of Cincinnati

1997 A DECADE OF PATHWAYS*, Cincinnati Art Galleries

NUMINOUS DREAMS*, Mullane’s Parkside Cafe

INVITATIONAL*, The Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, Kentucky

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Enjoy the Arts Gallery

CINERGY Regional Art Exhibit, Juried; Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio

1996 BENEFIT ART EXHIBITION FOR THE REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS,

The Metropolitan Club, Covington, Kentucky

CRAFTERNOONS, A Benefit for Children’s Services

DAYDREAMS*, The Gallery at Wellage & Buxton

DAYDREAMS*, The Cincinnati Commerce Center

A BENEFIT FOR PROJECT SUCCEED, 1996, Cincinnati Art Galleries

CINERGY REGIONAL ART EXHIBIT, Juried; Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio

ELEVEN, Cincinnati Art Galleries

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Webster's Internet Coffeehouse

ART ON THE SQUARE, Juried Exhibition, The Aronoff Center for the Arts

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Dionysus

1995 A BENEFIT FOR PROJECT SUCCEED, 1995, Cincinnati Art Galleries

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Dionysus

PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, di John's Restaurant

CHRISTMAS SHOW, YWCA

NEW PAINTINGS*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

THE WAY WE WERE, A REGIONAL RETROSPECTIVE, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, Kentucky

ART ON THE SQUARE, CURATORS' SELECT

AWARENESS 95; ARTISTS FOR AIDS AWARENESS, Contemporary Arts Center

1994 ART GALLERY, Laguna Niguel, California

PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER*, Cincinnati Commerce Center

PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER*, Dionysus

PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

HOMEARAMA, Featured Artist for Lazarus Display

1993 CELEBRATING CINCINNATI WOMAN ARTISTS - 125th YEAR ANNIVERSARY - YWCA

NEW PAINTINGS & WORKS ON PAPER*, Gallery 99

VERMONT STUDIO CENTER, Johnson, Vermont

AVOC BENEFIT, Adam's Landing

CINCINNATI ARTISTS - WORKS ON PAPER, Kharkiv Museum, Kharkiv, Ukraine

NEW WORK*, Dionysus

NEW WORK*, Incahoots

1992 THE BIRCH SOCIETY, Chidlaw Gallery, Art Academy of Cincinnati

R.O.A.R.R. OPEN STUDIO

NEW PAINTINGS*, Dionysus

NEW PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

RECENT WORK, Chauser's Galleries, Scottsdale Arizona

1991 MONOPRINTS & MIXED MEDIA, Chauser's Galleries, Scottsdale Arizona

RECENT WORK*, in conjunction with Linton Music Series, First Unitarian Church

NEW PAINTINGS*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

GROUP SHOW, Cincinnati Art Galleries

RECENT WORK*, The Diner

NEW WORKS*, Petersen’s

1990 U.C. LAW LIBRARY SHOW, University of Cincinnati

ARTS CONSORTIUM 15th ANNUAL COMPETITIVE

DOLLS BY ARTISTS, C.A.G.E. Gallery

1989 SCULPTURE & DRAWINGS*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

J.B. SPEED ART MUSEUM RENTAL AND PURCHASE GALLERY, Louisville, Kentucky

1988 NEW WORKS, NEW ARTISTS III, J.B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

NEW WORK*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

HOMEARAMA, Featured Artist for Lazarus Display

OPERA BENEFIT, Designer’s Showcase

COLLECTOR'S GALLERY, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio

1987 CHRISTMAS SHOW, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

RECENT WORK, Illuminations Unlimited

WATERCOLOR COMPETITION, Cincinnati Commerce Center

ARTS CONSORTIUM 12th ANNUAL COMPETITIVE, Juried

COLLECTOR'S GALLERY, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio

1986 RECENT WORK*, Haehnle Gallery

RECENT WORK*, Mullane's Parkside Cafe

CONFERENCE OF CINCINNATI WOMEN, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, Kentucky, Juried.

BRIDGES, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington Kentucky

NEW WORKS, NEW ARTISTS, J.B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

GROUP SHOW, Phoenix Gallery, Covington, Kentucky

COLLECTOR'S GALLERY, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio

1985 ARTS CONSORTIUM 10th ANNUAL COMPETITIVE, Juried

CONFERENCE OF CINCINNATI WOMEN, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, Kentucky, Juried.

RECENT WORK*, Haehnle Gallery

1984 SCHOOL OF ART GALLERY*, University of Cincinnati

FOCUS ON ART: FIGURATIVE ART, Central Trust Bank

ARTS CONSORTIUM 9th ANNUAL COMPETITIVE, Juried

GROUP SHOW, Toni Birckhead Gallery

LANDSCAPE '84, Contemporary Arts Center

1981 SECRETS/GAMES OF CHANCE*, Commission on the Arts Gallery

1980 DRAWING INVITATIONAL, Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio

RECENT DRAWINGS, Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio

1977 A CHANGE OF FACE, Junior Art Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky

8-STATE ANNUAL GRAPHICS SHOW, J.B. Speed Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

1976 CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM GIFT SHOP

McCHARRIS GALLERY, Albuquerque, New Mexico

8-STATE ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, J.B. Speed Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

580 SHOW, Southern Ohio Bank

1975 IMPLEMENTS AND ARTEFACTS*, Jewish Community Center

1974 MAGICK REGALIA*, Arts Consortium Gallery

1972 MASKS AND MIRRORS*, Vine Street Coffee House

1971 118 GALLERY, University of Cincinnati

Shows without a city reference were in Cincinnati, Ohio

COMMISSIONS

2006 Meyer-Lisak custom kitchen counters

2005 Logo design for "A Forkable Feast ", a gourmet cooking company

2003 Logo design for Arts Base Community Development

2002 Logo design for " A Forkable Feast" catering company

2001 Cover design for "Divining", a book of poems by Pauletta Hansel (Boulder, CO: WovenWord Press,

2001): won Ohio Poet of the Year, 2002

2000 Big Pig Gig, "Sownd Investor" for Ohio National Financial Corporation

1999 "gaining momentum" CD cover

1998 "a thousand lives" CD cover

"Thirst " CD cover

1998 Siebert Design, Las Vegas window sculptures

1995 Cooper Tabletop

1993 The Petersen Murals, Petersen's downtown (4'x12' and 4'x16')

1990 The Mullane's Tabletop

1978 Cincinnati Zoo Educational Center, Indoor Sculpture

CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

ANTHEM PRESCRIPTION

BERMAN PRINTING

BETHESDA HOSPITALS, CHILDREN'S HOSPICE

CARDINAL ALUMINUM, Louisville, Kentucky

CARMEL HIGHLANDS RESORT, Rancho Bernardo, California

THE CHRIST HOSPITAL

CINCINNATI BELL

THE CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

DELUXE ENGRAVING

FRANKLIN SAVINGS

GIVAUDAN ROURE

GOLDEN ARTIST COLORS, INC. New Berlin, New York

KRIEG OFFSET INCORPORATED

THE MAISONETTE

SCRIPPS-HOWARD

ULMER & BERNE

Collections without a city reference are in Cincinnati, Ohio

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Cincinnati, OH numerous

Northern KY numerous

Eastern Indiana numerous

Dublin OH Jim & Linda Sigman

Indianapolis, IN Sarah Fogle

Litchfield, CT William & Joan Spear; Dan & Stacey Caren-Hersh

Los Angeles, CA Ron Boustead & Ruth Rivin; Keith Popplewell & Doug Crawford; Barbara Bolan

New York, NY Leslie Hertzog & Paul Carrellas; Bill Ruggeri & Iva Kravitz

San Francisco, CA Douglas Oleson; Bruce Neumeier & Darren Dill; Scott Preston

Portland, OR Thomas Liddy

Santa Cruz, CA Peter Marks

San Diego, CA Ron & Sharyl Solar; Howard & Donna Rosen; Robert Dickens

Scottsdale, AZ Sander Nassan

Washington, D.C. Jane & Jay Lewis; Richard & Audrey Mandell; Royal & Jean Hutchison

Bend, OR Jim & Judy Clinton

Jonesville, VT Daniel Lusk

Minneapolis, MN Jenny Gantz

Chicago, IL Lory & Marla Littlefield

Denver, CO Claire Griffin & James Swafford

Overland Park, KS Tim Butt & Brad Bloom

Dallas, TS Jeannine & Stephen Coffey

Boston, MA Donna Schroth

Grayling, MI Charlie Curro

Norfolk, VA Sonja Barisic & Jay Lidington

Hallandale FL Nicholas Chaparos

Knoxville, TN Barbara Boeing & Thomas Kearney

Hampshire, England John & Wendy Colvin

Austria Steve Scamihorn

Aegina, Greece Holly & Dimitri Papaleonardos

CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE

2007-6 Drawing Instructor, Art Academy of Cincinnati

2006 Golden Artist Colors Working Artist Program-Midwest: Lectures, Demos, Workshops:

Ohio Art League Lecture/Demo; Columbus, OH

Utrecht Staff Training; Columbus, OH

Denison University Lecture/Demo; Granville, OH

Western Ohio Watercolor Society Lecture/Demo at Springfield Art Museum

Preston Art Center Staff Training; Louisville, KY

Spot 5 Studio, Gels & Grounds Workshop; Louisville, KY

Dick Blick; Lecture/Demo; Columbus, OH

2005 Artist in Residence, Waushogal School district; Waushogal, WA

2005-83 Private drawing instructor

1999-81 Drawing instructor, University of Cincinnati

1995 Conservation work with Mark Golden, CEO of Golden Artist Colors

1993 Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont

1986 Portfolio Development & Presentation Workshop, Art Academy of Cincinnati

1986-85 Drawing instructor, Art Academy of Cincinnati

1986-84 Drawing instructor, Discovery Center

1985 Assistant on major site sculpture by Stuart Fink

1984 Consultant to Civic Garden Center

1982-81 Department Head, ceramics, Thomas More College

1980-78 Ceramics instructor, University of Cincinnati

1978-74 Department Head, ceramics, Arts Consortium

1976 Poet and Craftsmen Workshop, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine

1973-72 Arts instructor, Fairview Art Center

1972 Substitute art teacher, Cincinnati Public Schools

1971 Manager of portrait artists, Kings Island Amusement Park

1970-64 Arts instructor, Jewish Community Center

1970-69 Portrait artist, Wildwood,NJ & Ocean City, MD

1969 Director, Pre-school program, Cincinnati Art Museum

1968 Instructor, Pre-school Program, Cincinnati Art Museum

CATALOGS

1996 THE CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER SILVER ANNIVERSARY, Covington, Kentucky

1993 CELEBRATING CINCINNATI WOMEN ARTISTS, YWCA

1989 ART PASSIONS, School for the Creative and Performing Arts

1984 LANDSCAPE '84, Contemporary Arts Center

1977 8-STATE ANNUAL GRAPHICS SHOW, J.B. Speed Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

A CHANGE OF FACE, Junior Art Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky

1976 8-STATE ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, J.B. Speed Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

AWARDS, HONORS AND GRANTS

2005 Individual Artist-in-Residence in the schools, Washougal,Washington, funded by foundation grant

2003/2002/2000/1995/1994/1993 Six City of Cincinnati Individual Artist Grants

1995 Art on the Square, Purchase Awards

1994 City of Cincinnati Individual Artist Grant

1993 Vermont Studio Center Residency Grant

1985 Hyde Park Art Show, Juror

Arts Consortium 10th Annual Competitive, Honorable Mention

1984 Arts Consortium 9th Annual Competitive, Third Prize

1980 Commission on the Arts Gallery, Juror

1980/1978/1976/1972 Summerfair, Juror

LECTURES/DEMONSTRATIONS/PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2003 Live TV interview on WKRC, May 21, 2003, "Experience the Art " segment of Good Morning Cincinnati

2002 Two lectures, Art Appreciation classes, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY

1990 Lecture, Sculpture Department, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY

1985 NEA Site Evaluation Presentation, Arts Consortium

1984 Lecture, School of Art, University of Cincinnati

1983 Featured Workshop Leader, Professional Development Institute, Association of Women

Administrators, University of Cincinnati

1981 Tuesday Poetry Series, Tangeman Fine Arts Gallery, University of Cincinnati

1978 Interview, WAIF Radio , Cincinnati, Ohio

1978-74 Thirty lecture/demonstrations throughout the Cincinnati Public School System, mental health

institutions, nursing homes, and the city jail

1977 Two Artist-in-Residences for Ohio Arts Council, Mad River Township, Ohio

ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

Lisa Baggeman, "Merle Rosen: A Decade of Pathways", Dialogue, November - December, 1997

"Rediscover daydreaming at the Gallery at Wellage & Buxton", Everybody's News, March, 1996

Kim Krause, "Viva La Difference", City Beat, March, 1996

"Art show mixes eclectic artists to form ELEVEN ", The Downtowner, February, 1996

Catherine O'Hara, "The Birch Society", Dialogue, January - February, 1993

Mi Hertog, "Rolling out of Bed into the Office in Seconds", Cincinnati Enquirer, August, 1979

Robert Uth, "Object Maker Sculpts to Keep the 'Magick' in Life", Cincinnati Enquirer, December, 1974

EDUCATION

2006 Professional training at Golden Artist Colors

2002-1979 Alternative workshops in the healing arts

2000-1999 Bronze foundry, University of Cincinnati

1999 Set Design for Theater, University of Cincinnati

T.I.G. welding class, Ohio College of Applied Science

1998-97 Glass casting workshop, Art Academy of Cincinnati

1997-95 Computer classes - University of Cincinnati & Art Academy of Cincinnati

1996 Italian language classes, University of Cincinnati

1992-79 Cabinetmaking, Ohio College of Applied Science

1974 Graduate studies in ceramics & foundry, University of Cincinnati

1971 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Cincinnati

works available