Artist’s Statement
Charmagne Vasquez is an artist of contemporary paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Her current works often focus on interconnectedness and humankind’s role within earth’s dynamic biology. The artworks are made spontaneously with traditional and non-traditional media, as Charmagne builds up complex, colorful layers. Viewers experience organic landscapes and menageries. She expresses the tension of daily human occurrences, in parallel to the vast, interconnected web of life. Urban and feral. Civilization and hinterlands. She moves away from paradigms of personifying nature and magical thinking, and toward a curiosity-led perspective of better understanding flora and fauna. A work may contain references to the scientific world, as well as a rock and roll anthem. Having reverence of nature, of which we human animals are a part, is a very major theme. With the building up of each layer, she watchfully responds to emerging forms. Her process simultaneously radiates in all directions, with many creative projects cross-pollinating. Charmagne spends most days prolifically creating in her Phoenix, AZ studio.
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
1991-1994
Northern Arizona University: BA in Elementary Education, Minor in Fine Art, ESL endorsement
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2024
-Hinterlands & Murmurations, Walter Art Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2021
-Contrails and Peripheries, Royse Contemporary Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2018
-Pan Door, Royse Contemporary Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2016
-The Reaches, Chartreuse Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2014
-Prelude, Shade West of MonOrchid Gallery, Renaissance Hotel, Phoenix, AZ
2013
-From Hinterland, Gallery One13, Flagstaff, AZ
2011
-Embark, Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ
2008
-Holland Studio, Flagstaff, AZ
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024
-Arizona Art Stars, trio exhibition curated by Terri Rundle and Jerre Lynn Vanier, Soca Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2023
-Visual Syntax, abstract exhibition, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Mesa, AZ
-Artist + Researcher Project, Phoenix Bioscience Core and Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
-Sustainable, HQ Gallery, Surprise, AZ
-The Space Between, Artsy, Jen Tough Gallery & The Artist Alliance, Santa Fe, NM
2022
-Flinn Foundation Art Exhibition, Flinn Foundation, Phoenix, AZ
-Upcycle, FOUND:RE Contemporary, Phoenix, AZ
2021
-Artlink presents: 21st Annual Juried Exhibition, FOUND:RE Contemporary, Phoenix, AZ
2020
-See What We Say, Shaneland Arts, Phoenix, AZ
2019
-Abstract Formation, Walter Art Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2017
-Contemporary Southwest Now, Royse Contemporary Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2016
-Tiny Works | Tiny Dances, {9}The Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
-35 Live, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
2015
-Spring Exhibition, Arizona Opera, Phoenix, AZ
-Essential Creatures, West of the Moon Gallery, Flagstaff, AZ
-Miniature Art, Ghost Gallery, Seattle, WA
2014
-(un)Still Life, Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ
2013
-Imaginatio(n)ow, ASU Institute for Humanities Research, Phoenix, AZ
-Mail Me Art: Short & Sweet, The Framers Gallery, London
-Thermal PHX, MonOrchid Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
-Show and Tell, Herberger Theater, Phoenix, AZ
2012
-10×10, Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ
2011
-Bluecanvas Magazine Issue 8 Launch Event, Los Angeles, CA
2010
-Here and Ago, Holland Studio, Flagstaff, AZ
Representation:
2025 - Present, Bobby Beals Presents / Horeseshoe Gallery, Santa Fe, AZ
2017 - 2022 Royse Contemporary Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2015 - 2016 Ghost Gallery, Seattle, WA
2013 - 2014 Monorchid Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2012 - 2014 Gallery 113, Flagstaff, AZ
Selected Bibliography:
2018
-Phoenix Magazine, “Studio Snapshot”, February
2015
-Arizona Foothills Magazine Blog, "Artist Spotlight”, March
2014
-Creative Quarterly, issue 34 - 35, winner of Fine Art Category
-Luxe Interiors + Design magazine, feature and interview, Spring Arizona Edition, April
-Viriditas: Anthology Celebrating the Work of Contemporary Women Artists, curated by Michaela Meadow, feature and interview
-Arcadia Magazine, featured artwork, issue #8
2013
-“Inner Goddess Puking: Dreadful Writing as Striptease”, Noah Berlatsky reviews Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James, editorial illustration, June
2011
-Daydream Magazine, featured artwork, December
2010
-“The Impossible is Possible Tonight”, CarpaccioMagazine, featured artwork, Issue #10, January
-Blue Canvas Magazine, featured artwork, Issue #6, September
2009
-“Uncertain Glory of an April Day”, Carpaccio Magazine, front page feature, Issue #1
-Blue Canvas, Jennifer Yun, interview, Issue #1
-“The Body Divided”, Ona Gritz, editorial illustration, Utne Reader, September/October
Album Artwork Design:
2015
-CD cover art, Matt Bingham, Fireflies
2014
-Gatefold vinyl sleeves cover art and poetry, Pausal, Along the Mantic Spring
Writing:
2015
-Honey Wove the Marrow, art columnist, Online Sundries by Arcadia Magazine
2014
-Familiar Spirits Light a Way, art columnist, Online Sundries by Arcadia Magazine
Awards/Honors:
2023
-Artist + Research Cohort, Phoenix Bioscience Core
2021
-Artlink, 21st Annual Juried Exhibition, selected artist, Phoenix, AZ
2014
-Creative Quarterly, magazine issue 34 - 35, winner of Fine Art Category
Professional Affiliations
-Artlink Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
-Museum of Arizona Artists [MOAZA], Phoenix, AZ