Bella Feldman

Bio

Selected Solo Exhibitions

  • 2018

    • Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco, CA, War Toys, fire and fury

  • 2016

    • Vessel Gallery, Oakland,CA

  • 2013

    • Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA, 50 Year Survey

  • 2011

    • Nieto Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Anxious Objects
    • Public Glass, San Francisco, CA, Works in Glass and Steel

  • 2010

    • San Luis Obispo Museum, San Luis Obispo, CA
    • Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Overview

  • 2009

    • The Atrium @ 600 Townsend, San Francisco, CA, Metal and Glass
    • Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Bella Feldman-JP Long Dialogue

  • 2008

    • The Atrium Anne Reed Gallery, Ketchum, ID

  • 2007

    • Sculpturesite, San Francisco, CA
    • Buschlen Mowatt, Palm Desert, CA

  • 2006

    • Sculpturesite, San Francisco, CA
    • Habatat Gallery, Chicago, IL, Glass Engravings

  • 2004

    • Habatat Gallery, Chicago, IL, War Toys Redux
    • Bryan Ohno Gallery, Seattle, WA, War Toys Redux
    • Varnish Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
    • Crafts and Cultural Arts Gallery, California State Building, Oakland, CA

  • 2003

    • Museum of Craft and Folk Art, San Francisco, CA, War Toys Redux
    • Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, War Toys Redux

  • 2002

    • Tucson Museum, Tucson, AZ
    • Habatat Chicago, Chicago, IL, Flasks of Fiction
    • Buschlen Mowatt, Palm Desert, CA
    • Habatat Pontiac, Pontiac, MI

  • 2001

    • Habatat Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • 2000

    • Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1999

    • Habatat Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • 1998

    • D. P. Fong, San Jose, CA
    • Pat Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 1997

    • Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, New Work

  • 1996

    • Fresno Art Museum, Fresno, CA. (Distinguished Woman Artist of 1996),
    • Palo Alto Cultural Center, Palo Alto, CA
    • Michael Dunev Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 1995

    • Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
    • Decompression Gallery, Phoenix, AZ

  • 1994

    • Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI, War Toy Installation

  • 1993

    • Shidoni Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
    • Gwenda Jay Gallery, Chicago, IL
    • Downey Museum, Downey, CA
    • St. Mary's College, Moraga, CA

  • 1992

    • California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA
    • Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
    • Oakland Museum, Downtown Sculpture Court, Oakland, CA

  • 1991

    • Zaks Gallery, Chicago, IL
    • SPACE Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1989

    • Zaks Gallery, Chicago, IL
    • San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

  • 1988

    • Foxley Leach Gallery, Washington, DC
    • SPACE Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1987

    • Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL, Bella Feldman, Steel Sculpture (funded by
    • Chicago Arts Council)
    • SPACE Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1984

    • University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, Fiber Forms of Bella Feldman
    • Monterey Peninsula Museum, Monterey, CA, Sculpture

  • 1983

    • University of Denver, Denver, CO, Sculpture by Bella Feldman

  • 1982

    • San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA, Bella T. Feldman/Sculpture

  • 1980

    • Memorial Union Art Gallery, University of California, Davis, CA,
    • Spine Series

  • 1976

    • Mills College Art Gallery, Oakland, CA

  • 1975

    • Gallerie Bernard Letu, Geneva, Switzerland, Bella: Sculptures
    • University of California at Santa Barbara, CA, Installation Metamorphosis

  • 1973

    • San Jose State University, San Jose, CA. Metamorphosis

Group Exhibitions (*indicates curator)

  • 2018

    • Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA,
    • Contraption: Rediscovering California Jewish Artists

  • 2017

    • Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA.

  • 2015

    • Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA, All That Glitters
    • Yianna Grammatopoula Gallery, Athens, Greece, Magic Carpet Ride
    • San Luis Obispo Museum, San Luis Obispo, CA. CA Sculpture Slam
    • Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA. The Object and the Void
    • Sierra Nevada College, Lake Tahoe, CA, Vessel
    • Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA. Dorothy Saxe Invitational
    • Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA. Woman
    • Cabrillo College Gallery, Apton, CA. Material Illusions

  • 2014

    • A New Leaf Gallery/Sculpturesite, Sonoma CA. Being Woman
    • Paradise Ridge Winery Santa Rosa, CA 20@20

  • 2013

    • A New Leaf Gallery/Sculpturesite, Sonoma CA. Black_White_Red
    • Transmission Gallery, Oakland, CA. Armed Medium: The Military Vehicle as Subject
    • Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, New Media Combinations
    • Santa Rosa Junior College Art Gallery, Santa Rosa CA. Tradition of Mayhem

  • 2012

    • Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA, Playing with Fire: Artists of the California Studio Glass Movement.

  • 2011

    • Richmond Art Center, Richmond CA, 75th Anniversary Show
    • Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Amorphous Dreams

  • 2009

    • Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA, estro-GEN

  • 2008

    • Oakland Art Museum, Oakland, CA, Artists of Invention: 100 years CCA

  • 2007

    • Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA

  • 2006

    • Fresno Art Museum and Art Center, Fresno, CA, 18 Profiles, Distinguished Women Artists of California.
    • Whitney Biennial 2006, Peace Tower, New York, NY

  • 2005

    • Habatat Chicago, Chicago, IL
    • Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2004

    • Varnish Fine Art, San Francisco, CA, Toys

  • 2001

    • Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA, Being There: 45 Artists

  • 1996

    • Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA,
    • Generations: The Lineage of Influence in the Bay Area,

  • 1994

    • Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL, Menorah Exhibit
    • Alternative Museum, New York, NY, National Showcase

  • 1993

    • Rockford Museum, Rockford, IL, War Toy Installation

  • 1992

    • Gallery of Contemporary Art, University of Colorado,
    • Colorado Springs, CO, Crossovers

  • 1991

    • Oakland Museum, Downtown Sculpture Court, Inaugural Exhibition, Phil Linhares*

  • 1989

    • Baeker Galerie, Cologne, Germany, Five California Artists

  • 1988

    • Maryland Art Institute, Baltimore, MD, Tangents: Seven Artists,
    • Mary Jane Jacob* Traveling to Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA; Cleveland
    • Art Institute, Cleveland, OH

  • 1986

    • Fresno Art Museum and Art Center, Fresno, CA,
    • Survey of California Women Artists 1945 Present, Joyce Aiken*

  • 1985

    • San Francisco Airport Commission, San Francisco, CA,
    • Menagerie-Contemporary Animal Images
    • Focus Gallery, Lausanne, Switzerland, Six Artistes of the Biennale
    • Musee de Beaux Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland, Fibre/Sculpture Biennale

  • 1984

    • Meadows Museum, Dallas, TX, The Presence of Light, Betty Park*, Dominique Mazaud*
    • Twining Gallery, New York, NY, Art in Craft Media, Mildred Constantine*
    • John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Milwaukee, WI, Fiber Cross Currents

  • 1983

    • Musee de Beaux Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland,
    • Fibre/Espace; Tapisserie Biennale
    • Japan Traveling Exhibit, Art and/or Craft USA: 1982 Japan, Sherri Warner*

  • 1982

    • Walnut Creek Art Center, Walnut Creek, CA,
    • Between the Lines: Lightweight Sculpture, Visual Art Center of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, National Sculpture Invitational, (Traveled to Fairbanks and Juneau)
    • Japan Traveling Exhibit, Art and/or Craft USA: 1982 Japan, Sherri Warner*

  • 1978

    • 80 Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit, Paper as Medium, Jane Farmer*

  • 1976

    • SPACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Death Show, Ed Lau*
    • Santa Barbara Museum, Santa Barbara, CA, The Handmade Paper Object,
    • Richard Kubiak* (Traveled until 1982)
    • Fine Arts Museum, San Francisco, CA, The Multiple Image

  • 1975

    • Athol McBean Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, Paper Sculpture

  • 1974

    • Womanspace, Los Angeles, CA. Taboo Show

Awards

  • 2005

    • Women's Caucus for the Arts, Distinguished Artist Award

  • 1996

    • Fresno Art Museum, Fresno, CA, Distinguished Woman Artist

  • 1995

    • Florsheim Art Grant

  • 1994

    • California Arts Council Grant
    • Spertus Museum Award

  • 1986

    • National Endowment for the Arts, Visual Artist's Fellowship (Major award)

  • 1975

    • E. L. Cabot Trust Fund at Harvard University (Travel award)

Collections

  • Di Rosa Collection, Napa, CA
  • Fresno Art Museum, Fresno, CA
  • Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, FL
  • Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA
  • Palm Springs Museum, Palm Springs, CA
  • University Art Museum, University of California, Berkeley, CA
  • Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Utah State University, Logan, UT
  • DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA

Architectural Commissions

  • Sculpture Fountain, Federal Home Loan Bank Lobby, 600 California Street, San Francisco, CA
  • Sculpture Fountain, Barclay Simpson Garden, Orinda, CA ~ Ron Lutsko, Landscape Architect
  • Mosaic Tile Facade, Crystal Elementary School, Suisun City, CA ~ Van Bourg, Architect
  • Mosaic Panel, Medical Building, Redding, CA ~ Burns Cadwalader, Architect
  • Panels for Garden Wall, IBM, San Jose, CA ~ John Bolles, Architect
  • Mosaic Mural, Executive Office, Lovable Brassiere Co., Atlanta, GA
  • Relief, Temple Rodef Sholom, San Rafael, CA ~ Marquis & Stoller, Architects
  • Relief, City Hall, Mountain View, CA ~ George Dueker, Architect
  • Relief, Science & Industrial Arts Building, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, Berkeley, CA, ~ Aitkin & Collin, Architects
  • Sculptures, Marina Vista Plaza, Vallejo, CA and Potrero Project, Richmond, CA ~ Royston,
  • Hanamoto & Mayes, Landscape Architects
  • Sculpture, Hydronautics, Inc., Washington, DC suburb James Hilleary Associates, Architects
  • Group of Sculptures, Newport Shopping Center, Newport, CA ~ Sasaki, Walker,
  • Landscape Architects.

Published

  • 2008

    • Bella, Bella, a Documentary Film by Elizabeth Sher

  • 2006

    • Eighteen Profiles, Distinguished Women Artists of California, Fresno Art Museum
    • Bella Feldman, (cover story) Artist Blacksmith, UK Summer 2006

  • 2001

    • Bella-Works in Glass and Mixed Media

  • 1996

    • Bella: Survey of Sculpture, 1974-1996, catalogue for Fresno Art Museum Distinguished Woman Artist of 1996 exhibit.

  • 1992

    • Leonardo Theme Publication #8, Women, Art and Technology.

  • 1984

    • Leonardo, Journal of the International Society of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Dec ~ Jan Issue. A View of Evolution Expressed in Sculpture: A Reflection of Nuclear Angst.

  • 1983

    • African Arts, University of California Press, Los Angeles, Fall Issue. The So Cattle Sculpture of Uganda, co-authored with Dr. Ross Coates.

Bibliography

  • 1996

    • Bella: Survey of Sculpture, 1974-1996, catalogue for Fresno Art Museum Distinguished Woman Artist of 1996 exhibit.

  • 1991

    • Blasier, Paula. Profile: An Interview, CITY LIFE.

  • 1987

    • International Who's Who of Business and Professional Women, International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.
    • Possibility and Paradox in Fiber Art, The Oakland Museum, Sept.-Oct. 1987.

  • 1986

    • Matson Jones, Virginia. Contemporary American Women Sculptors, Oryx Press, Phoenix,AZ.
    • Singer, Elizabeth. Sculpture of Bella Feldman, Textic Kunst, Hannover, Germany

  • 1984

    • Scarborough, Jessica. Vision of Bella Feldman, FIBER ARTS MAGAZINE.

  • 1979

    • Frym, Gloria. Editor, Second Stories, CHRONICLE BOOKS.

  • 1974

    • Erickson, Barbara. BERKELEY GAZETTE, Feature article.

Catalogues

  • 2013

    • Bella Feldman Retrospective 1991 - 2012

  • 2001

    • Bella, Works in Glass and Mixed Media

  • 1996

    • Distinguished Woman Artist of 1996, catalogue for Fresno Art Museum

  • 1992

    • War Toys, An Installation Traveling.

  • 1985

    • Fibre/Sculpture, Musee de Beaux Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland

  • 1983

    • Fibre/Espace, Musee de Beaux Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland

  • 1982

    • Art and/or Craft, USA: Japan Center for the Visual Arts, Sculpture Catalogue, Oakland, CA
    • Atlantic Coast/Pacific Coast, 75th Anniversary Exhibit,
    • California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA

  • 1976

    • The Handmade Paper Object, Santa Barbara Museum, Santa Barbara, CA

Selected Reviews Since 1982

  • Selz, Peter. Solidity is Always Undermined, SCULPTURE MAGAZINE October 2014
  • Fancher, Lou. Exhibit: 50-year Survey of Oakland artist Bella Feldman,
  • OAKLAND TRIBUNE September 2013
  • Burke, Sarah. Reflecting on the work of Bella Feldman, EAST BAY EXPRESS October 2013
  • Baker, Kenneth. Bella Feldman: Sculptor gets a retrospective,
  • SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE October 2013
  • Roth, David. Bella Feldman at Sculpturesite Gallery, ARTWEEK, November 2006
  • Farr, Sheila. War Toys: Weapons of Mass Devotion, SEATTLE TIMES, July 9, 2004.
  • Whitney, Kathleen. Feldman at Habatat Gallery, WORLD SCULPTURE NEWS Summer, 2000.
  • Whitney, Kathleen. Bella Feldman-Remarkable Pieces of Apparatus, SCULPTURE
  • MAGAZINE, June 2000.
  • Ollman, Leah. Metaphoric Richness in Steel and Glass, LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 1999.
  • Dalkey, Victoria. Imagination Highlights Sculpture SACRAMENTO BEE, May 1999.
  • Bella Feldman at d.p. Fong, ARTWEEK, November 1998.
  • Porge, Maria. Bella Feldman, SCULPTURE MAGAZINE, October 1998.
  • Keeler, Guy, Heavy Mettle, FRESNO BEE, September 22, 1996.
  • Baker, Kenneth. Feldman's Moving Sculpture Exhibit, SAN FRANCISCO CRONICLE, March 7, 1996.
  • Santiago, Chiori, Exploring the Dark Side, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, July 21, 1996.
  • Nilsen, Richard. Inventive Artworks are Scary, Funny, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, May 21, 1995.
  • Rinheart, Betty. Toying with Our Emotions, ARIZONA NEW TIMES, April 20~26, 1995.
  • Review of Exhibit for Center for Creative Studies, SCULPTURE MAGAZINE, December 1994.
  • Colby, Joy Hakanson. Sculptor's War Toys Make a Play for Peace, DETROIT NEWS, March 11, 1994.
  • Miro, Marsha. Sculptor Uses Ridicule to Stress War's Folly, DETROIT FREE PRESS, March 13, 1994.
  • Lebzelter, Bill. Solidity is Always Undermined in the Work of Bella Feldman,
  • PASATIEMPO, Santa Fe, May 7, 1993.
  • Baker, Kenneth. Scavenged Material Becomes Sculpture,
  • SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, September 15, 1992.
  • Cohn, Terri. Bella Feldman, ARTWEEK, January 9, 1992.
  • Suvan, Geer, Form that Uses Movement as an Idea and Reality, LOS ANGELES TIMES, April 18, 1991.
  • Baker, Kenneth. Summer Surprises, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, August 26, 1989.
  • Anderson, Roger. Murmurs of the Art, EAST BAY EXPRESS, May 27, 1988.
  • Baker, Kenneth. Home Grown Sculpture, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, March 31, 1988.
  • Donohue, Melinda. LOS ANGELES TIMES, March 4, 1988.
  • Baker, Kenneth. New Works of Art in Search of a Context, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, May 2, 1987.
  • Gardner, Colin.LOS ANGELES TIMES, January 23, 1987.
  • Jordan, Jim. A Vocabulary of Subtle Aggressions, ARTWEEK, November 1984
  • Bornstein, Anne. Sculpture Recreates Our Link to Nature, DAILY CALIFORNIAN, October 26, 1984
  • Scarborough, Jessica. Bella Tabak Feldman, Recent Sculpture FIBER ARTS MAGAZINE, March ~ April 1983.
  • Meisel, Alan R. From the San Francisco Bay Area, CRAFT INTERNATIONAL, January 1983.
  • Boettger, Suzaan. Best of 1982, BAY GUARDIAN, December 1982.
  • Boettger, Suzaan. Potent Allusions, ARTWEEK, October 1982.
  • Curtis, Cathy. Lightweight Sculpture Comes of Age, ARTWEEK, February 1982.
  • Burkhart, Dorothy. Seethrough Sculpture Reshapes Our Ideas about Space and Mass, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, September 1982.

Academic Positions

  • 1965-2001 Professor of Sculpture, California College of Arts, Oakland, CA
  • 1996,1987-1989 Chair, Sculpture Department, California College of Arts, Oakland,CA
  • 1987 Consultant, African Nomadic Art Exhibit, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
  • 1975-1979 Graduate Director, California College of Arts, Oakland CA
  • 1972-1975 Founder, Sculpture Program, Santa Rosa Jr. College, Santa Rosa, CA
  • 1968-1970 Lecturer, Fine Art School, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
  • 1961 Lecturer, University of California, Extension Division

Guest Artist

  • 2014 Visiting Artist, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
  • 2004 Visiting Artist, California State University, San Jose
  • 2003 Visiting Artist, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
  • 1998 Visiting Artist, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK
  • 1997 Visiting Artist, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
  • 1994 Visiting Artist, Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
  • 1992 Visiting Artist, California Polytechnic Institute at San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, CA
  • 1990 Cultural Specialist for the U.S. Information Service, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
  • 1989 Lecture tour, three Japanese art colleges.
  • 1986 Visiting artist, Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, IL
  • Visiting artist, Montclair State College, Montclair, NJ
  • Visiting artist, California State University at Humboldt, Arcata, CA
  • 1985 Visiting artist, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
  • 1984 Visiting artist, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • 1983 Visiting artist, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
  • 1982 Sculpture workshop for International Sculpture Conference, Mills College, Oakland, CA
  • 1981 Visiting artist, Visual Arts Center, Anchorage, AK
  • 1980 Visiting artist, Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, Portland, OR
  • 1979 Visiting artist, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • 1975 Visiting artist, Sonoma State University, Cotati, CA
  • 1974 Visiting artist, University of Washington, Pullman, WA

Juror

  • 2015 San Luis Obispo Museum, San Luis Opisbo, CA
  • 2003 Colorado Arts Council, Denver CO
  • 2002 Fairbanks Art Association, Fairbanks, AK
  • 1997 Pacific Rim Sculptors, San Francisco, CA
  • 1995 San Francisco Women Artists, San Francisco, CA
  • 1989 National Women's Art, Matrix Gallery, Sacramento, CA
  • 1987 State Grants to Artists, State of Rhode Island
  • 1984 Annual Juried Exhibition, San Mateo Art Association, CA
  • 1982 Fiber Art, Iowa City, IA
  • 1967 California State Fair, CA

Education

  • M. A., San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
  • B. A., Queens College, Queens, NY
  • Diploma, H. S. of Music and Art, New York, NY