{"Id":7398,"Name":"Vala Ola","Biography":"\u003CSTRONG\u003ECONTACT INFO\u003CBR\u003EWebsite:\u003C/STRONG\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.valaola.com\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ewww.valaola.com\u003C/a\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003CSTRONG\u003EEmail:\u003C/STRONG\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:vala@valaola.com\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Evala@valaola.com \u003C/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E Vala Ola is an artist who passionately and relentlessly seeks to create artworks that show her dedication to excellence. Her classical training in Europe is reflected in her art. Her figurative bronze sculptures are noted for their depth of expression and emotion. The high quality of her sculpted form has earned her great respect among art appreciators. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u0026#34;The bronze gives me an opportunity to mold the sense of life into an everlasting form. From the force of a muscle in motion to a tender human emotion expressed. That along with the abstract quality of composition is what inspires me.\u0022\u0026#34;\u003C/i\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n Vala Ola was born and raised in Iceland. She has lived in the US since 1994. After 8 years in Santa Fe, NM, she relocated to Scottsdale, AZ. Vala Ola\u0026#39;s artistic talent was apparent early on, and from the age of thirteen she attended classes drawing models from life. Graduating from the College of Hamrahlid, she furthered her studies at the Icelandic College of the Arts, and later graduated from The Arts Institute in Bournemouth, England. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nShe won the Icelandic Design Excellence Award for the first time at the age of twenty\u0026#45;six. During her studies in England, she was a finalist at the Smithsonian Young Illustrator\u0026#39;s Competition. She went on as her country\u0026#39;s sole representative at the Nordic Graphic \u0026 Illustration Awards. Moving to the United States in 1994, she changed her focus to portraiture, and found herself booked solid for the next 7 years painting portraits in oil. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nVala rekindled her interest in sculpting 2001 and has won awards from the Allied Artist\u0026#39;s of America, the International Guild of Realism and placed as finalist at the Art Renewal Center. She is an elected professional member of the prestigious National Sculpture Society. Once a year she teaches a sculpting workshop at the Scottsdale Artist\u0026#39;s School. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nHer inspiration derives from her observation of life. Even the most mundane circumstance we find ourselves in daily will spark an idea. The Flemish artist Vermeer would paint the simple act of pouring milk, elevating it to a moment worth remembering for eternity, in a similar way Vala will look at a moment usually passed by as moment worth noticing. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u0026#34;All we have in life at any given time is the very moment we are living and that moment is of importance\u0026#34;\u003C/i\u003E, Vala says.\u003Ci\u003E\u0026#34;I would like to inspire myself and others to have awareness and appreciation for our life.\u0026#34;\u003C/i\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nVala sculpts in her studio in Cave Creek, Arizona. All her sculptures are cast in bronze and can be viewed in art galleries in: \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nSanta Fe\u003Cbr /\u003E\nPalm Desert\u003Cbr /\u003E\nNapa Valley, CA. \u003Cbr /\u003E\nCarmel\u003Cbr /\u003E\nBeavercreek, CO. \u003Cbr /\u003E\nScottsdale\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003CU\u003EGALLERY REPRESENTATION\u003C/U\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nVala Ola\u0026#39;s work can be seen in:\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ESage Creek Gallery\u003C/strong\u003E, 200 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EKnox Gallery\u003C/strong\u003E, Beavercreek, CO.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EJ. Willott Gallery\u003C/strong\u003E, El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EJones \u0026 Terwilliger Gallery\u003C/strong\u003E, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EShorr Gallery\u003C/strong\u003E, Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ.\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003CU\u003ETHE US AND EUROPE\u003C/U\u003E \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\nVala\u0026#39;s work has been exhibited in Reykjavik, London, New York, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Scottsdale, Carmel, Aspen, Dallas, Park City, Loveland, Cape Cod and Palm Desert. \u003Cbr /\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2009 \u0026#34;National Sculpture Society 76th Annual Show\u0026#34;, NYC. February 09 opening. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008/09 J. Willott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA. Ongoing \u002B February 12th 09 opening. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2009 Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ. Jan. 16\u0026#45;March 28, 2009. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Elected Professional Member of the National Sculpture Society, NY. Founded 1893.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Allied Artist\u0026#39;s of America, Annual show, NY. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Peppertree Art Show, Santa Ynez Valley, CA. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM. Ongoing \u002B end of December 08 opening. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 \u0026#34;National Sculpture Society 75th Annual Show\u0026#34;, NYC. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Art Renewal Center Salon, NJ, finalist sculpture category. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Wichita Art Museum, \u0026#34;The New Reality\u0026#34; IGOR Museum Tour, Kansas.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 The Springfield Museums, \u0026#34;The New Reality\u0026#34; IGOR, Massachusetts. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Museum of Texas Tech University, \u0026#34;The New Reality\u0026#34; IGOR, TX. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2008 Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, \u0026#34;The New Reality\u0026#34; IGOR, Wisconsin. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2007 \u0026#34;International Guild of Realism Annual Show\u0026#34;, Cape Cod, MA. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006/07/08/09 Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2007/08/09 J. Willot Gallery, Palm Desert, CA. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2007/08/09 E. S. Lawrence Art Gallery, Aspen, CO. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2007/08 Teaching a sculpture workshop at Scottsdale Artist\u0026#39;s School, AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2007 Fountain Hills, AZ, sculpture placed in public park. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 Art Renewal Center Salon, NJ, finalist sculpture category.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 Award: \u0026#34;Raymond H. Brumer Award\u0026#34;, Allied Artists of America 93rd Annual Show, NYC.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 Award: \u0026#34;Best Figurative Award\u0026#34; at the Annual Int. Guild of Realism, Manitou G., Santa Fe, NM. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 Award: \u0026#34;Best and the Brightest\u0026#34;, 2nd place Professional Award, Scottsdale Artist\u0026#39;s School. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 \u0026#34;National Sculpture Society 73rd Annual Awards Show\u0026#34;, NYC. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 \u0026#34;Peppertree Art Show\u0026#34;, Santa Ynez, CA. \u0026#40;May\u0026#41; \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006/07 Sanders Gallery, Tucson. AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 \u0026#34;The Best and the Brightest\u0026#34; Show, professional cat., Scottsdale Artist\u0026#39;s School, AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005/06/07/08/09 \u0026#34;Celebration of Fine Art\u0026#34;, Scottsdale, AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005 Finalist for a public art sculptures for a park in Longmont, CO. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005 Finalist for a public art sculpture, City of Peoria, AZ., Peoria Pioneer Memorial\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005 University of Dubuque, Iowa - Dr. Charles Myers\u0026#45; commission bronze statue. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005 Monument commissioned, \u0026#34;Victory\u0026#34; 7 feet. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2006 Phoenix Art Museum, live art auction, fetched highest bid in Breast of Phoenix. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005/06 \u0026#34;Sculpture in the Park\u0026#34;, Loveland, CO. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005/06/08 \u0026#34;Peppertree Art Show\u0026#34;, Santa Ynez, CA.\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2005/06/07/08 Int. Guild of Realism, charter member 04, Annual Show. Dallas, Santa Fe, Scottsdale \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2004/05/06 \u0026#34;Phippen Arts Festival\u0026#34;, Prescott, AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2003 National Sculpture Society, NY, membership. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2003 Mr. \u0026 Mrs. Steven Rockefeller, NY, portrait commission. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2003 Spirit of the Senses, lecture and art viewing, Scottsdale, AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2003 Three life\u0026#45;size bronzes commissioned by Mr. \u0026 Mrs. Cameron, OK. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2002 \u0026#34;Celebration of Fine Art, art show\u0026#34;, Scottsdale, AZ. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1995 thru 2002 Waterford Marriott Hotel, Oklahoma City. Yearly invitational art show. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2000 The Artist\u0026#39;s Magazine, finalist winner in portrait category. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n2000 The American Society of Portrait Artists, membership. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1999 Ventana Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM, group exhibition. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1998 National Museum of Catholic Art \u0026 History, Rockefeller Center, NY. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1997 CCA, The Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM, group exhibition. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1994 Nomination for the Nordic Graphic Design and Illustration Awards, Denmark . \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1992 St. Martin\u0026#39;s in the Field Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, two woman show. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1991 The Mall Gallery, \u0026#34;BPCA\u0026D Exhibition\u0026#34;. \u003Cbr /\u003E\n1990 Smith\u0026#39;s Gallery, London, UK. \u0026#34;Reader\u0026#39;s Digest Young Illustrators\u0026#39; Exhibition\u0026#34;.","Awards":null,"HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":true,"HasRelationships":false,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":false,"HasLetters":false,"HasLibraryItems":false,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":false,"TotalArtworks":37}