AMY BRNGER - BIOGRAPHY

As long as I have painted I have been influenced by seasons as well as my emotional state while working. My approach to a bouquet, a landscape, or an interior will be different depending upon weather, the quality of light, whether I am tired and crabby or energized and happy. All are reflected in the final image. The way I push paint around a panel, feel the paint on my palette knife and brush, are dependent upon my feeling state and the current season.

I try to keep the surprises that make their way onto a panel and stop the painting a few steps before it is finished. Sometimes the image might look awkward and slightly underdone, but if it feels genuine and somehow a reflection of how I see the world in that particular moment, then I want to keep it. When I keep working past that point, the likelihood of scraping the response away, or having an overworked image, is great.

As you look at my flowers and interiors in January, birds and blooms in May, reflections of my studio and hot bright light in August, and the somber light of fall landscapes and end of season blooms, I hope you catch a glimpse of the world as I see it.

  • EXHIBITION HISTORY

    2024

    2024 Winter Juried Exhibition: January 2 –  27, Blue Mountain Gallery, NYC

    2023

    Solo Exhibition. Left Bank Gallery, July. leftbankgallery.com

    Summer Show, Van Ward Gallery. Ogunquit, Maine.

    Ongoing- Gallery at Somes Sound, Somesville, Maine.

    Ongoing- Warm Springs Gallery, Warm Springs, Virginia.

    Ongoing, Alpers Fine Art, Marblehead, MA.

    Ongoing, Bonita Fine Art, Portsmouth, NH

    2022

    Compendium, George Marshall Store Gallery, October-mid November. Lauren Szumita, Curator at the Fitchburg Art Museumhttps://www.georgemarshallstoregallery.com/

    Maine Magazine, Shifting Sequences, Online Exhibition (September). http://themainemag.com/

    Summer Show, Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, Maine. vanwardgallery.com

    Left Bank Gallery, July, show with Ellen Granter, leftbankgallery.com

    Warm Springs Gallery, Individual Exhibition. Warmspringsgallery.com

    2021

    Mind Garden, Individual Exhibition, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. July

    Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA

    Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, ME

    2020

    Enormous Tiny Art #27, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. March 2020

    Individual Show, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, ME. August 2020

    Individual Show, Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA. August 2020

    2019

    End of Season, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, ME.

    Edgewater Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont.

    Enormous Tiny Art #25, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH.

    DeCordeva Museum, Lending Program. Lender since 1996.

    2018

    FORWARD, Nahcotta. Portsmouth, NH. Dec. 7 2018-January 2019.

    Year End, George Marshall Story Gallery, York, ME. November 18-year end.

    Portsmouth Masters 2018, Portsmouth Discovery Center, Portsmouth, NH.  April-September 2018

    At Ease, George Marshall Gallery.  York, ME.  July-August 2018

    Edgewater Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont; Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, Maine; George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, Maine; Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    2017

    Enormous Tiny Art Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH

    Surroundings, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, Maine. July-August 2017

    BLOOMS, Solo Exhibition. Collaboration with Wanderbird Florals. Nahcotta, February 2017

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    Work in ongoing exhibit at Edgewater Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont; Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, Maine; George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, Maine; McGowan Fine Art, Concord, NH; Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    2016

    Three-Person Exhibition, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. July 2016.  July 1-30.

    Summer Exhibition and Painting Demonstration, Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA.

    Home and Nature, Kimball Union Academy, January 2016. Solo Exhibition.

    Enormous Tiny Art Show, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. March 2016.

    What Goes Around, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH. April 2016.

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    Work in ongoing exhibit at Edgewater Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont; Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, Maine; George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, Maine; McGowan Fine Art, Concord, NH; Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH.

    2015

    Salon Show, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    20th Anniversary Show, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbour, ME.

    Group Exhibition, Discover Portsmouth Center, Portsmouth, NH.

    Bouquets of the Seasons, Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA. Solo show and demonstration, August.

    Enormous Tiny Art, Winter 2015

    Love, Lust, and Desire, McGowan Fine Art, Winter 2015

    2014

    Exhibition with John Bonner, the Winery, Bedford, NH (via McGowan Fine Art, Concord, NH)

    Solo show, Life Observed, George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME

    Exposition en milieu de travail / Exhibition in the Workplace, Longbow, Toronto.
    Exposition en milieu de travail / Exhibition in the Workplace, Longbow, Montréal Beaux arts des Ameriques, Montreal, Quebec.

    Group Show, Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA

    Spreading the Word, Group Exhibition, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, ME

    Enormous Tiny Art (ETA) 15, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH

    Love, Lust, and Desire, McGowan Fine Arts, Concord, NH

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    2013  

    Winter Expectations, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, ME

    New to the Gallery, McGowan Fine Arts, Concord, NH

    Love, Lust, and Desire, McGowan Fine Arts, Concord, NH.

    Enormous Tiny Art (ETA) 13 and 14, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH.

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    2012           

    Group Exhibition, Left Bank Gallery, Orleans, MA

    Exhibition in the Workplace, S & C Assurances, Montreal, QC. Curator: Beaux-arts des Ameriques.

    New Media/Fresh Paint II, New Art Center, Newton, MA

    Solo Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH.

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    2011

    From the Garden to the Kitchen, George Marshall Gallery, York, ME.

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    2010

    10 Year Anniversary Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH.

    2010...Paintings: Realism to Abstraction. Susan Maasch Fine Art, Portland, Maine.

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    2009 

    Sense and Sensibility, solo exhibition. George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, ME

    Seasonal Show. Van Ward Gallery; Ogunquit, ME and Andover, MA.

    DeCordeva Museum, Corporate Art Program Lender since 1996.

    2008  

    Petit Choses, Fine Art of the Americas, Montreal, Quebec.

    Artists Environments, Coolidge Center for the Arts, Portsmouth, NH

    Summer Exhibition, Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, ME

    Road Trip, George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME

    August Landscape Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH

    Ogunquit Land Preservation Annual Art Auction, Ogunquit, ME

    Salon Show, Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA

    Tiny Art Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH

    2007           

    Summer Exhibition, Van Ward Gallery, Ogunquit, ME

    May Flowers, solo exhibition, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    Second Annual Flower Exhibition, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    Momentum V, George Marshall Store Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    2006           

    Home Exhibition, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    Benefit Auction, Ogunquit Museum of Art, Ogunquit, ME A Show of White, Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH

    21st Century Painting in New Hampshire, Kimball Jenkins Museum, Concord, NH and

    Plymouth State College

    Inside Looking Out, solo exhibition. Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    The Flower Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH.

    2005           

    Accord VI, George Marshall Gallery, York, ME

    Recent Drawings by Craig Hood and Amy Brnger, New England College, Henniker, NH

    Gallery Show, Gallery Cornucopia, Orleans, MA

    Summer Landscape Show, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    Cornucopia, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI

    In The Garden, Wentworth Coolidge Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    Art Appeal, UNH Art Gallery, Durham, NH

    Art To Go, Seacoast Outright, Durham, NH

    2004           

    Group Landscape Show, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH

    Drawing Show, Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH

    32 Degrees (Reflections of Winter), George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME

    Amy Brnger & Niels Burger, Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH.

    2003            

    Whispers of the Orient, Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH

    Seacoast Outright Art Walk, Paul Creative Arts Center, Durham, NH

    Relatives, Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH

    Neither Black Nor White (Drawing Exhibition), The Firehouse Gallery, Damariscotta, ME

    Art Appeal, UNH Art Gallery, Durham, NH

    On The Table, Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH

    Landscapes of Interpretation, Case Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    2002

    National Small Oil Painting Exhibition, Wichita Center for the Arts, Kansas

    100 Market Street Summer show, Portsmouth, NH.

    Birds, Bugs, Beasts, and Blossoms, Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH.

    Celebrating Drawing, George Marshall Store Gallery, York Harbor, ME.

    100 Market Street Winter Show, 100 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH.

    2002 Midwest Winter Landscape Exhibition, Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI.

    2001           

    100 Market Street Winter Show, Portsmouth, NH.

    Robin Hill Show House, Kennebunkport, ME.

    Good Enough To Eat, George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME.

    2000           

    100 Market Street Fall Show, Portsmouth, NH.

    National Small Oil Painting Exhibition, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS.

    1999     

    1999 National Small Works Show, Canton Artists Guild, Canton, CT.

    1998           

    Related by Marriage, George Marshall Gallery, York, ME.

    1997           

    In the Land We Trust, George Marshall Gallery, York, Maine.

    Kobe Landscapes (with Craig Hood), Rokko Island, Kobe, Japan

    Recent Paintings (with Craig Hood and Wada Naoko). Kobe Institute, Kobe, Japan

    1996           

    The Bowery Gallery: Nat. Competition, Bowery Gallery, NY, NY. Juror: Gabriel Laderman

    1994           

    Alumni Exhibition, University Art Galleries, Paul Creative Arts Center, UNH

    American Drawing Biennial IV, Muscarelle Museum of Art, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. Juror: Peter Plagens.

    1992           

    National Competition, First Street Gallery, New York City. Juror: Paul Georges.

    1991           

    National Competition Exhibition of 2 Dimensional Work, Bowery Gallery, NY,NY. Juror: Nell Blaine.

    1990           

    New Dimensions: Recent Work by UNH Art Alumni, University Art Galleries, UNH

    Still Life, Graham Horstman Gallery, Denton, Texas.

    1989           

    Benefit Auction and Show, The Blackthorne Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    1988           

    A Christmas Show, The Blackthorne Gallery, Portsmouth, NH.

    First Street Selects, First Street Gallery, New York City. Juror: James McGarrell.

    1987           

    A Christmas Show, The Blackthorne Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

    A Self-Portrait Show, The Gallery Terramagra, Portsmouth, NH.

  • TEACHING EXPERIENCE

    Online Teaching, 2020-present, amybrnger.podia.com

    Oil painting classes and workshops, invited instructor for various art centers throughout both US and International.

    Independent workshops, landscape and flower painting. Portsmouth, NH. 2012-present

    GRANTS/ AWARDS/COMMISSIONS

    Private Commissions completed for private residences throughout the country.

    2020

    Commission for a series of large flower paintings in the Ob-Gyn Reception area, Greenwich Yale New Haven Hospital, Greenwich, CT.

    2010           

    NH Council for the Arts, Public Art Commission, Laconia Court House, Laconia, NH.

    2009           

    NH Council for the Arts, Public Art Commission, Revenue Admn. Bldg, Lebanon, NH.

    2005           

    Commission for series New Hampshire landscape paintings, The Ridge, Exeter, NH

    2003           

    NH Council for the Arts, Public Art Commission, Dover Court House

    1991           

    The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation - grant for painting. 

    1989           

    The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation - grant for painting.

    PUBLICATIONS/PODCASTS/REVIEWS

    2023 Interview, Learn to Paint Podcast, Kellyann Powers

    2022 Maine Magazine, September issue. Shifting Sequences.

    2020 Artists of New England, Podcast Interview with Laura King

    2018 Catalog, Seacoast Masters, published by Portsmouth Historical Society, Portsmouth Discovery Center.

    2018 Two Shows Worth Seeing at York Gallery, Portland Herald, August 5, 2018

    2017 Considering Flowers, Painting Perceptions, paintingperceptions.com

    2016 Other Lives: Finding the Perfect Balance, Portsmouth Herald, February 4, 2016.

    2014 Enormous Tiny Art at Nahcotta, NH Magazine, May 2014

    2012 New Works by Amy Brnger at Nahcotta, Seacoast Magazine, May 30, 2012

    2012 Amy Brnger: Sense and Sensibility, Maine Art Scene Magazine, 2012

    2006 21st Century Painting in New Hampshire Exhibition, catalogue

    2006 NEC Drawing Show Review, Art New England, Winter 2006 (reviewed by Margaret McCann)

    2006 Take time to see 'The Flower Show', Ann Bryant, The Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH

    2004 Two Landscape Shows, The Wire, Portsmouth, NH

    2004 Brnger, Burger, A Colorful Pair at Nahcotta, Portsmouth Times & Seacoast Times

    2003 Firehouse Gallery Hosts Varied Collection, Lincoln County News

    2002 Celebrating Drawing Shows What Fine Line Pencil Can Wield, Portsmouth Herald

    2002 A Special Place: George Marshall Store Gallery Opens Spring Season with a "Celebration of Drawing', York Weekly

    2001 Robin Hill Decorator’s Show House Exhibition Printed Material, York, ME

    1997 George Marshall Store Exhibit Celebrates the Land Around Us, Spotlight/The Portsmouth Herald