Olivia Munroe

Biography
In the four decades over which Olivia Munroe has refined her studio practice, she has explored concepts of memory, tranquility, simplicity, and illumination. The artist’s process is complex and unique, allowing her to transform the fundamentals of geometry into visual experiences that range in tone from the absolute to the euphoric.

Olivia Munroe (b. 1953) has shown work internationally at venues like Annely Juda Gallery, London; Hong Kong Arts Center; Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York; among others. Her work is in numerous collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Portland Museum of Art, New York Public Library. Munroe has a BFA in Printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design. The artist lives and works in Albuquerque, NM.

I’m interested in the sacred. Not in any organized religion, per se, but rather in what is, you might say, something larger than our human selves. Our relationship with nature. An awareness of all of that in relation to what’s spiritual in ourselves.

There’s something about the most basic geometric forms and materials that everyone can relate to, and whose nature is universal. For me, there’s something sacred in that. – Olivia Munroe 

Education
2000-04        Theological Education by Extension, Education for Ministry, University of the South
1977-78        Art Students League, NY
1976             Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A.
1972             University of Siena, SUNY, Siena, Italy
1971             Maryland Institute College of Art

Exhibitions
2017
Archetypes, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, NY

2014-15
Winter Salon, The Drawing Room, East Hampton, NY

2014
Two Elements, ARC Fine Art, Amagansett, NY

2012
Pentimento, ARC Fine Art, Fairfield, CT

2010
Inside Out, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

2011
Elements, ARC Fine Art, Fairfield, CT
Tucker Robbins, New York, NY
Inside Out, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

2007
New Members Exhibition, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

2006
Art and Artists of Black Rock, City Lights Gallery, Bridgeport, CT
A Family of Artists, Bendheim Gallery, Greenwich, CT

1992
Americana, Hong Kong Arts Center, Hong Kong
Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

1991
Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

1990
Art Windows, Grand Central Partnership, Pan Am Building, New York, NY
Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT
Collector’s Choice, Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL

1986
Recent Acquisitions from the Art Bank Program, Department of State, Washington, DC
Three-person exhibition, Center for Financial Studies, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Two-person exhibition, Goodrich Gallery, New Haven, CT
62nd Annual SAGA Exhibition, New York, NY

1985
Opening Exhibition, Victoria Munroe Gallery, New York,  NY
Pratt-Silvermine International Print Exhibition, New York, NY; Connecticut Artists’ Association, Old Lyme Art Works, Old Lyme, CT; Shippee Gallery, New York, NY

1984
Group Show, Associated American Artists, New York, NY
A Connecticut Artist, a Rare Show, Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT

1983-84
Jerome Foundation Awardees Exhibition, Cayman Gallery,  New York, NY; Hamilton College, Clinton, NY; Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, University of Santa Cruz, CA; and six Arizona State Community Colleges

1983
Emerging Artists, Center for Financial Studies, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Solo exhibition, Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
Tulip Time, Impressions Gallery, Boston, MA
Two-person exhibition, Addison-Ripley Gallery, Washington, DC

1983-82
Collector’s Gallery Exhibition, McNay Institute of Art, San Antonio, TX
Solo exhibition, Augen Gallery, Portland, OR
The Fine Art of Printmaking, Randall Gallery, New York, NY
Two-person exhibition, Annely Juda Gallery, London, UK
Impressions, Philadelphia Print Club, Philadelphia, PA

1981
Solo Show, Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
Art for Your Collection, RISD Museum, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
New Work by Four Printmakers, Impressions Gallery, Boston, MA
Art by Four Women, Dubose Gallery, Houston, TX

1980
Glitter, Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
Stillife, Impressions Gallery, Boston, MA
Four Printmakers, Bethel Gallery, Bethel, CT
Silvermine National Print Show, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT
Beth-El Temple Sisterhood Seventeenth Annual Art Exhibition, Hartford, CT
Art of the NorthEast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

1979
Boston Printmakers, Brockton Art Center, Brockton, MA
Westport-Weston Arts Council, Westport, CT

1978
Three-person exhibition, Bethel Gallery, Bethel, CT
Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

1977
Connecticut Women Artists, Bridgeport University, Bridgeport, CT
New Artist Members Show, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT
Three-person exhibition, Wilton Gallery, Wilton, CT
Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT

1976
Embassy Program, Department of State, Washington, DC

1975-76
Group exhibition, Woods Gerry Mansion, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

1975
Stillife, Westmoreland County Museum of Art, Greenberg, PA

1973
Gallery Artists, FAR Gallery, New York, NY
Hurblatt Gallery, Greenwich Library, Greenwich, CT

1969
Two-person exhibition, Rive Gauche Gallery, Denver, CO; Vail, CO

1968
Two-person exhibition, Rive Gauche Gallery, Darien, CT

1966
Two-person exhibition, Rive Gauche Gallery, Darien, CT

1965
Two-person exhibition, Rive Gauche Gallery, Darien, CT

Collections
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Aetna Life and Casualty
Art Planning Consultants
Ashland Oil Company
Atlantic Richfield
Bankers Trust
CBT
Champion International Corporation
Chemical Bank
Chrysler Capital
College Art Museum Mobil
Connecticut Bank and Trust
Connecticut General Life
Credit Suisse
Fidelity Mutual Life
FMC
Hearst Entertainment
IBM
Kelly, Dry and Warren
Mellon Bank
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mobil
New York Public Library
North East Savings
Philip Morris
Portland Museum of Art
Prudential Life Insurance
RJ Reynolds
Salomon Brothers
Security Pacific Bank
Shell Corporation
Sherman and Sterling
Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett
Smithsonian, Archives of American Art Aetna Life and Casualty
Southeast Banking Corporation
Truce Company of North America
Vassar College

Awards
1991
William Henry Lowman Memorial Award from Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Guild, New Canaan, CT
1985
Champion International Award and Rolm Corporation Award, Connecticut Artists’ Association, Old Lyme
Art Works, Old Lyme, CT and Shippee Gallery, New York, NY
1979
Purchase Prize, Boston Printmakers, Brockton Art Center, Brockton, MA

Press
2021
Gómez, Edward M., “Washing Our Hands and Thinking about “Purity”: What’s Authentic? What’s Real?” [cover], Brut Journal, December 6, 2021

2017
Gómez, Edward M., “Olivia Munroe’s Art Goes Mystic,” Hyperallergic

1999
Florato, Jocelyn-Scott, “Lives Filled with Wonder Under a Striped Umbrella,” The Westport News
Thomas, Morgan, “Artist Gets – and Creates Props for Boar’s Head,” Fairfield Citizen News

1986
Luzzi, Michael, Sunday New York Times, Connecticut Section, April 6
Gonzalez, Shirley, The New Haven Register. May 18

1985
The Telegram, Bridgeport, CT, February 19
Print Collector’s Newsletter. November – December

1984
“Exhibit In Fairfield Is a Family Affair”

1983
Print Review Arts, October

1981
ARTnews, September

1981
ARTnews, January

1980
Scott, Martha. Bridgeport Sunday Post, June

1979
Print Collector’s Newsletter, October

1978
Scott, Martha. Bridgeport Sunday Post, June

1977
Scott, Martha. Bridgeport Sunday Post, December

1974
Peterson, Patricia, New York Times, February

Press Release
2025 Richard Levy Gallery at EXPO CHICAGO