About Donna Grande

Donna Grande is a graduate of Montclair State University with a Design Degree from F.I.T. and has established a professional art career over the last 30 years. Her paintings have won numerous awards and exhibited in many galleries as solo and group shows including Studio Montclair, s.h.e. Gallery, and Simon Gallery, as well as featured on NBC and Fox News. As an established and intuitively inspired artist, her work expresses a journey created with acrylics, pastels, and oils with colorful, vital, and dynamic designs and densely layered surface which depicts the mystery and beauty of the environment. The complexity of color, design, and expertise of medium usage is reflected in the paintings by Grande. Out of the Box is inspired by the need and hope to escape this time of COVID-19 threat in history as desire sometimes was palpable, leading Grande’s exploratory to this work

New Brunswick Art Salon 2020 – “The Space Between” – Women’s Caucus for Art New York City Chapter

Artist Personal Website: www.donnagrande.com

Email: dmgrande@yahoo.com

Artist Statement

The need and hope to escape this time in history is what prompted the idea behind this painting.  The desire at times was palpable which led me to experiment with acrylic, lending an exploratory evolution to this work.  It combines with the free expression I hoped we could all enjoy, to escape the COVID-19 threat.  “Out of the Box” look to a time of unrestrained space within our environment. 

An accomplished and intuitively inspired artist, my work is an expressive journey created with acrylics, pastels and oils.  Colorful designs articulate, enrich, and create a densely layered surface reflecting the mystery and beauty of our environment.  My paintings possess a sophisticated sense of color, unique design, and expert use of her mediums. 

I am a graduate of Montclair State University and have a design degree from F.I.T.  I have also studied at the Art Students League of New York and have established a noteworthy career as an artist over the last 30 years.  I have won numerous awards for my paintings, have been included in many juried exhibits and galleries, have presented numerous solo shows in the Northeast, and have been featured on NBC and Fox News. 

Although the aesthetic and creative process is a personal one, I endeavor to create what was never seen before –something new and truly original.  “The excitement found while working in the immediacy of nature leads one to joyfully express the myriad patterns of light and color.  When you are held in this suspension you begin to lose yourself.  It is as if the creative universe is at your side holding the painting tools with you.  This is the inspiration that artists so often talk about.”  I then continue to paint through a period of chaos and eventual elimination to create a unique piece. 

Always full of energy, emotion, and surprise, my paintings can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the United States including the DiBernardo building, Dai-Kichi, and the Atlantic Museum.  I have exhibited at the Capitol Building in Maine, Montclair State University, Bloomfield College, the Salmagundi Club, and the National Arts Club, Allied Artists, among others. 

Exhibitions

  • Viewpoints, Montclair, NJ, 2019 
  • Hillside Square, Montclair, NJ, 2018 
  • Berkshire Hathaway, Montclair, NJ, 2017-18 
  • Art Around the Park, Simon Gallery, NJ, 2014 
  • Oska, Montclair, NJ, 2012-14 
  • s.h.e. Gallery, Boonton, NJ, 2011 
  • V.S. Block Gallery, Montclair, NJ, 2010 
  • J & W Gallery, New Hope, PA, 2009
  • Triumph Brewery, New Hope, PA, 2008 
  • Westminster Gallery, Bloomfield, NJ, 2007 
  • Anne Louise Davis Gallery, Plainfield, NJ, 2007
  • Artspace 129, Montclair, NJ, 2006 
  • Park Avenue Club, Florham Park, NJ, 2006 
  • ADP, Adp Atrium Roseland, NJ, 2006 
  • Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ, 2005 
  • Wilson Gallery, Mountain Lakes, NJ, 2005 
  • Dupre Gallery, Montclair, NJ, 2004 
  • Maine Capitol Building, Augusta, Maine, 2004 
  • Cloninger Art Consultants Morris Plains, NJ, 2004 
  • Montclair Sate University, Show, NJ, 2001 
  • Atlantic City Art Center, Atlantic City, NJ, 2000 
  • City Without Walls, Newark, NJ, 2000 
  • Brookwood Showhouse, Montclair, NJ, 2000 

Achievements

  • Viewpoints, International Exhibition 2019 – Honorable Mention
  • York Fine Art Festival 2017 – Best in Show
  • American Artists Professional League 2012 – Mixed Media Award
  • West Essex Art Association 2011 – Merit Award
  • Pastel Society of New Jersey, NJ 2009 – PSA Award
  • American Artist Professional League, NJ. 2008 – AAPL Pastel Award
  • Mountain Art Show, NJ 2007 – Best in Show
  • New Hope Art Show, PA. 2006 – Best in Show
  • Millburn Art Festival, NJ 2006 – Merit Award
  • Mountain Art Show, NJ 2005 – Best in Show
  • Millburn Art Festival, NJ 2005 – Merit Award
  • Portland Art Festival, Maine. 2004 – 3rd Place
  • Bar Harbor Art Show, Maine. 2003 – 1st Place
  • Bar Harbor Art Show, Maine. 2002 – 1st Place
  • Summit Art Show, NJ. 2002 – Pastel Award
  • Portland Art Festival, Maine 2001 – Best in Show
  • West Essex Art Association, NJ. 2001 – Merit Award
  • Ridgewood Art Institute, NJ. 2001 – PSA Award
  • Millburn Art Festival, NJ. 2001 – Merit Award
  • Atlantic City Art Center, NJ. 2000 – Merit Award
  • Millburn Art Festival, NJ 1999 – Merit Award
  • Atlantic City Art Center, NJ. 1999 – Purchase Award
  • Cape Elizabeth Maine Arts Festival. 1999 – Purchase & Merit Awards
  • Skylands Art Show, Sparta, NJ. 1999 – Best in Show
  • Northeast Art Festival, Caldwell, NJ. 1999 – 2nd Place
  • Monmouth County Arts Council Show, NJ. 1999 – Honorable Mention
  • Millburn Art Festival, NJ 1998 – Merit Award