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About

Whitney Bedford’s precise visual language combines tightly rendered detail, lush colors, and evocative gestures in reinterpretations of historical landscape paintings by artists such as Milton Avery, Pierre Bonnard, John Constable, Edouard Vuillard, and others. Her utopian images of Arcadian landscapes are a visual lexicon within which she negotiates the burden of history. She uses the materiality of paint to mark and manipulate the images, highlighting the image to locate new emotional potential in the re-worked imagery. Her most recent paintings approach landscape through a temporal lens, drawing the verdant past into conversation with the increasingly arid present. In each painting, the movement of paint describes and embodies the power and beauty of nature’s creative and destructive forces.

Whitney Bedford was born in 1976 in Baltimore, Maryland and lives and works in Los Angeles. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1998, and her MFA at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2003.  She was the winner of the 2001 UCLA Hammer Museum Drawing Biennial and received a Fulbright Graduate Fellowship from the Hochschule der Kuenste, Berlin, Germany. Recent Exhibitions include: Conjuring Houdini, the Jewish Museum, New York; This Is Killing Me, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA; X – Snow Falls in the Mountains, St Paul St Gallery, University of Auckland, New Zealand; The Triumph of Painting, part 5, Which Reality?, The Saatchi Gallery, London; Step Into Liquid, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, among others. Bedford’s work is featured in the collection of The Saatchi Gallery, London; the Jumex Collection, Mexico; and the collection of Francois Pinault.

Selected Works

This image depicts an artwork by Whitney Bedford titled "Veduta (Bonnard The Terrace)." This artwork was created in 2024 and measures 96" x 96" x 2" [HxWxD] (243.84 x 243.84 x 5.08 cm). Its medium is Ink and oil on nyalinen on panel.
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Bonnard The Terrace),” 2024
This image depicts an artwork by Whitney Bedford titled "Veduta (Avery Figure By Pool)." This artwork was created in 2024 and measures 28" x 36" x 2" [HxWxD] (71.12 x 91.44 x 5.08 cm). Its medium is Ink and oil on linen on panel.
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Avery Figure By Pool),” 2024
This image depicts an artwork by Whitney Bedford titled "Veduta (Innes The Storm)." This artwork was created in 2024 and measures 34" x 54" x 2" [HxWxD] (86.36 x 137.16 x 5.08 cm). Its medium is Ink and oil on linen on panel.
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Innes The Storm),” 2024
This image depicts an artwork by Whitney Bedford titled "Veduta (Vulliard Jardins Publics)." This artwork was created in 2023-2024 and measures 84 ¹⁄₂" x 335 ¹³⁄₁₆" x 2" [HxWxD] (214.63 x 852.93 x 5.08 cm) overallPanel 1: 84" x 38" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 2: 84" x 27" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 3: 84" x 39" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 4: 84" x 38" x 2" [HxWxD]Panel 5: 84" x 35" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 6: 84" x 36" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 7: 84" x 29" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 8: 84" x 61" x 2" [HxWxD]; Panel 9: 84" x 32" x 2" [HxWxD]. Its medium is 9 oil and ink on hybrid panels.
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Vulliard Jardins Publics),” 2023-2024
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Bonnard Mediterranean Mid Morning) Triptych,” 2022
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Bonnard Mediterranean Mid Morning) Triptych,” 2022
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Church Valley Of Santa Ysabel),” 2021
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Church Valley Of Santa Ysabel),” 2021
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Amiet Orchard),” 2022
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Amiet Orchard),” 2022
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Vallotton Moonlight),” 2021
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Vallotton Moonlight),” 2021
This image depicts an artwork by Whitney Bedford titled "Vivienne Westwood." This artwork was created in 2021 and measures 30" x 22" [HxW] (76.2 x 55.88 cm). Its medium is Graphite on Arches Paper.
Whitney Bedford
“Vivienne Westwood,” 2021
This image depicts an artwork by Whitney Bedford titled "Peggy Guggenheim (Glasses)." This artwork was created in 2021 and measures 30" x 22" [HxW] (76.2 x 55.88 cm). Its medium is Graphite on Arches Paper.
Whitney Bedford
“Peggy Guggenheim (Glasses),” 2021
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Vuillard Vineyard),” 2021
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Vuillard Vineyard),” 2021
Whitney Bedford “Veduta, (Friedrich/ White Rainbow),” 2019
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta, (Friedrich/ White Rainbow),” 2019
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Kilauea),” 2019
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Kilauea),” 2019
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (Verdant),” 2019
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (Verdant),” 2019
Whitney Bedford “Veduta (For Turner),” 2019
Whitney Bedford
“Veduta (For Turner),” 2019
Whitney Bedford “The Night Conductor,” 2017
Whitney Bedford
“The Night Conductor,” 2017
Whitney Bedford “The Bells,” 2016
Whitney Bedford
“The Bells,” 2016
Whitney Bedford “Watching and Waiting,” 2015
Whitney Bedford
“Watching and Waiting,” 2015
Whitney Bedford “Untitled Lightning (Grey/ Gray),” 2011
Whitney Bedford
“Untitled Lightning (Grey/ Gray),” 2011
Whitney Bedford “Untitled (Radiant),” 2011
Whitney Bedford
“Untitled (Radiant),” 2011

Exhibitions

Lives and works in Los Angeles
2003
MFA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
1998-2000
Fulbright Visiting Artist under Professor Wolfgang Petrick, Hochschule der Kunste, Berlin, Germany
1998
Art and Architecture of Rome at RISDE European Honors Program, Palazzo Cenci, Rome, Italy
1996
Pont-Aven School of Art, Pont-Aven, France
Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland
1994-1998
BA, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
1993
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland

Selected Solo and Two Person Exhibitions

2025
Solo, Art:Concept, Paris, France (forthcoming)
Solo, Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (forthcoming)
2024
"Whitney Bedford," San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, San Luis Obispo, CA
2023
"Whitney Bedford: Veduta," Miles McEnery, New York, NY
"Whitney Bedford: Vedute," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2022
"Imaginary," Starkwhite, Auckland, New Zealand
"Whitney Bedford: Vedute," Art:Concept, Paris, France
2021
"Whitney Bedford," Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY
"Whitney Bedford: Greenhouse," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2020
"Nevertheless," Carrie Secrist Gallery (online)
"Nevertheless," Starkwhite (online)
"Nevertheless," Vielmetter Los Angeles (online)
"Reflections on the Anthropocene," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2018
"Numinous," Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL (Link)
"Bohemia," Starkwhite Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2017
"The Left Coast," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
“Bardo Parade,” Art:Concept, Paris, France
2016
“East of Eden,” Carrie Secrist, Chicago, IL
“Lost and Found,” Starkwhite, Auckland, New Zealand
2015
"Night and Day," Taymour Grahne, New York, NY
"West of Eden," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
2014
"Whitney Bedford," Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Love Letters," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
2013
"This for That," Starkwhite, Auckland, New Zealand
2011
Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
2010
"Whitney Bedford (here and there)," Starkwhite, Auckland, New Zealand
2009
Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2008
"Whitney Bedford," Art:Concept, Paris, France
2007
"Whitney Bedford: The Escape Artist Series," Cherry and Martin, Los Angeles, USA
2006
Art:Concept, Paris, France
2005
DAmelio Terras, New York, NY
Cherrydelosreyes, Los Angeles, CA
2004
Art:Concept, Paris, France
2000
"Whitney Bedford," Hotel de Ville, Biot, France
1999
"Whitney Bedford," Fulbright-Kommission, Berlin, Germany
1998
"Whitney Bedford," BEB Gallery, Providence, RI
1997
"Whitney Bedford," Sokolofska #124 Space, Prague, Czech Republic

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024
"Seeing the Forest and the Trees" Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, CA
"In the Making: Contemporary Art at SBMA," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
"Overserved," Miles McEnery, New York, NY
"Olio e pepe," Galerie Art: Concept, Paris, France
2023
"New Landscapes Part I," Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
2023-2024
"Inside/Outside," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA (Link)
2023
SWQT Group Show, Starkwhite Queenstown, Queenstown, New Zealand
2022
"Plants Now!," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2021
"Was/Is/Ought," Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL (Link)
2020
"Only Connect," Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Do You Think It Needs A Cloud?”, Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY
"Slippery Painting," Starkwhite, Auckland, NZ
"20 Years," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2019
"Shall we go, you and I while we can," Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Kaleidescope," Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2018
"How They Ran," Over the Influence, Los Angeles, CA
“Evolver,” LA Louver, Los Angeles, CA
“New on the Wall (N.O.W.),” Pizzuti Collection, Columbus, OH (Link)
"C'est Comme Vous Voulez - As You Like It," Praz-Delavallade, Paris, France
2017
“Anniversary Show,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
2016
"A Verdant Summer," Taymour Grahne Gallery, New York, NY
“Painting: A Transitive Space,” ST PAUL ST Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2015
"La femme de trente ans," Galerie Art: Concept, Paris France
2014
"Lovers," Starkwhite, Auckland, New Zealand
"Sargent's Daughters," Sargent's Daughters, New York, NY
2013
"Summer Group Show," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
2012
"Facing the Sublime in Water, CA," Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
2011
"Everything Must Go," A Project with Ceramica Suro Guadalajara, Mexico, organized by Jose Noe Suro and Eduardo Sarabia, Casey Kaplan, New York, NY
2010
"The Gleaners: Works from the Sarah and Jim Taylor Collection," Myhren Gallery, University of Denver, CO
"Five from LA," Galerie Lelong, New York, NY
"Bagna Cauda," Gallerie Art: Concept, Paris, France
"Houdini: Art and Magic, 1919-1949," The Jewish Museum, New York, NY; Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA; Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA; Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, WI
2009
"This Is Killing Me," Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA
2007
"PX - Snow Falls in the Mountains," curated by Jan Bryant, St Paul's Gallery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
"Poker," Galleria Monica de Cardenas, Milan, Italy
2006
"Melancholy in Contemporary Art," Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel
"Step Into Liquid," Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO
"Peindre des images," Galerie de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Quimper, France
2005
"CUT," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA
"Evidence," Inman Gallery, Houston, TX
"The Third Peak," Galerie Art: Concept, Paris, France
"Rogue Wave," LA Louver, Venice, CA
"Wunderkammer 2," Nina Menocal, Mexico City, Mexico
"Sad Songs," University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
"Project Room: A Show Without Works," curated by Daniele Perra, Spazio Lima, Milan, Italy
2004
"summer group show," Cherry de los Reyes, Los Angeles, CA
"Carpet Bag and Cozyspace," Healing Arts Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Rimbaud," Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, Belgium
2003
Black Dragon Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"MFA Exhibitions Show #1," UCLA New Wight Gallery/Kinross, Los Angeles, CA
1998
"New England Connection," Lanning Gallery, Columbus, OH
"Woods-Gerry Invitational Exhibition," Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI
1997
Inagurative Show, Space 1026 Space, Philadelphia, PA
1996
L'ecole Nouveau de Pont-Aven (The New Pont-Aven School Painters), Hotel de Ville, Pont-Aven, France
Salon de Refuses, Gallerie M, Pont-Aven, France
1995
"Common Threads," Rites and Reasons Gallery, Providence, RI

Bibliography

2024
Lanham, Camilla. "Whitney Bedford's solo show at SLOMA highlights what's been lost by looking back at historic landscapes," New Times, October 31 (Link)
Frieze Staff. "Association of Professional Art Advisors’ Top 10 Picks from Frieze Los Angeles Viewing Room 2024," Frieze, February 26 (Link)
Pound, Cath. "11 Contemporary Artists Channeling Pierre Bonnard’s Post-Impressionist Vision," Artsy, January 22 (Link)
2023
Woodard, Josef. "Rethinking, Re-tilling Landscape Art," Santa Barbara Independent, November 26 (Link)
2020
Dambrot, Shana Nys. "Review: Whitney Bedford at Vielmetter Los Angeles," Artillery, March 5 (Link)
Finkel, Jori. "Artist Whitney Bedford is drawing a portrait of Elizabeth Warren every day until she is elected president," The Art Newspaper, March 3 (Link)
Diehl, Travis. "The Best Shows to See in LA," Frieze, February 11 (Link)
Cascone, Sarah. "In LA for Frieze Week? Here Is Our Guide to 33 Inspiring Gallery Shows to See Beyond the Fairs," artnet, February 10 (Link)
2019
Sritharan, Abi. "5 Wonderful Things To Do In London This Weekend (15-17 March 2019)," Luxury London, March 12 (Link)
2018
Jean Black, Ezhra, "Refuge from the Inferno: L.A.’s Best Summer Group Shows," Artillery (web), August 8 (Link)
Riechert, Elliot, "Art Top 5: June 2018," New City Art (web), May 30 (Link)
Zarley, B. David, "Sand, Sea, and the Sublime: A Review of Whitney Bedford at Carrie Secrist Gallery," New City Art (web), June 15 (Link)
2017
“Bardo Parade,” Art.World (web), February
“Whitney Bedford, Bardo Parade,” Daily Art Fair (web), February
“Whitney Bedford, Bardo Parade,” My Art Guides (web), February
“Whitney Bedford : Bardo Parade,” Art Hebdo Médias (web), February
“Whitney Bedford : Bardo Parade,” Connaissance des Arts (web), February
“Bardo Parade, 10 février – 1 avril 2017,” Paris Art (web), February 10
“Whitney Bedford, Bardo Parade at Galerie Art : Concept, Paris,” Artcatalyst, February 11
“Whitney Bedford, Bardo Parade,” Galleries Now (web), February 16
Benoit, Guillaume, “Whitney Bedford , galerie Art : Concept,” Slash Paris, February 18
“Whitney Bedford : Bardo Parade,” FigaroScope (web), February 20
De Santis, Sophie, “Le ‘La-La-Land’ de Whitney Bedford,” Figaroscope, February 22
“Whitney Bedford – Peinture,” Art Libres, March 1 – 7
“Whitney Bedford ‘Bardo Parade’ at Art : Concept, Paris,” Mousse Magazine (web), March
De Santis, Sophie, “Visite virtuelle de l’exposition Whitney Bedford à Paris,” Le Figaro (web), March 3
Gil, Virginia, “The must-see Art Basel Miami 2017 galleries,” Time Out Miami, November 20
"Sea, art & money,” Beaux Arts Magazine, December
“Travel: Hot tickets,” Net-A-Porter (web), December
Zevitas, Steven, “Making it to the Big Stage: New American Paintings Alumni on View at Art Basel Miami 2017,” New American Paintings, December
2016
Vallecorse, Victoria, “Alumna showcases art worldwide, stays in LA for dynamic environment,” Daily Bruin, February 26
Zarley, B. David, “Whitney Bedford: The Sinister Sublime,” New American Paintings (web), June 6 (Link)
Rigou, Vasia, “Painting Raging Nature and the Powerful Sublime, Whitney Bedford in Profile,” NewCity Art (web), June 10 (Link)
Yood, James. “Whitney Bedford: “East of Eden” at Carrie Secrist Gallery, art ltd., July/August
2015
Hess, Hugo, "Whitney Bedford," WideWalls, February 2
La Femme de trente ans, Contemporary Art Daily, July 21
Pick of the Week: Whitney Bedford, Artillery Magazine (web), December 17
2014
Karman, Tony, "An Unprecedented List of Cultural Exhibitions and Events in Chicago This September," September 16
"Preview the 2014 Expo Chicago Art Fair," ARTnews, September 15
2013
McNamara, T.J., "Colour Heightens Vivid Drama," The New Zealand Herald, April 20
2012
Mizota, Sharon, "Facing the Sublime in Water, CA delves deep," Los Angeles Times, December 20
2011
Goodrich, John, Five From L.A., City Arts, January 26
2009
Tran, Khanh T.L., Memo Pad: A Portrait of the Artist, Womens Wear Daily, Vol. 197, Iss. 49, p. 12, March 9
2007
Freeman, Tommy, Reviews, Artweek, December/January
Bedford, Christopher, Whitney Bedford at Cherry and Martin, Art In America, Vol. 95, Iss. 11, p. 168, December
Mizota, Sharon, Whitney Bedford at Cherry and Martin, Art Ltd., November, p. 17
Wilder, Matthew, Critics Pick, Artforum, October
Myers, Holly, Gallery World: Making a Scene, Los Angeles Times, October 17
Brooks, Amra, Must See Art, LA Weekly, October 10
Knight, Christopher, Around the Galleris, Los Angeles Times, October 5
2006
Mendelsohn, Meredith, The New Romantics, ARTnews, February, pg. 123
2005
Freeman, Tommy, Art Review, December
Baldessari, John, 100 Future Greats: Whitney Bedford, Art Review, December
News & Features, Art Basel Miami: Theyre a Steal!, ARTINFO, December
Bennou, Kassiani, The risk of Art: Yorgos Tsibiridis Collection, Ozon, July/August
Rogue Wave 05, exhibition catalog, LA Louvre, Venice, CA
2004
Fertiles Textiles, Jalouse, November
Brochard, Yves, Mixed Paint: A Survey of Contemporary Painters, Flash Art, November
Dagan, Philippe, Le allusions fantomatiques de Whitney Bedford, Le Monde, October
Brochard, Yves, Whitney Bedford, Louise, September 11- November 6
Selbach, Gerard, Whitney Bedford, paris-art.com, September
Bedford, Whitney, Self Portrait, Tema Celeste, May/June, pg. 84-85

Catalogues and Publications

2023
Schwabsky, Barry and Sarah Whitfield. "Bonnard: The Experience of Seeing," Acquavella Galleries, New York, NY, 2023
2021
Schwabsky, Barry. “Whitney Bedford,” Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY 2021

Teaching Experience

2020
Visiting Artist, University of Texas, Austin, TX
2018-2024
Adjunct Professor, Chapman University, Orange, CA
2018-2021
Adjunct Professor, University of California, Riverside
2018
Visiting Artist, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2016-2017
Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego
2016
Visiting Artist, Otis College of Design, Los Angeles, CA
2014
Visiting Artist, University of California, Los Angeles
2012
Visiting Artist, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA

Awards, Grants and Fellowships

2015
Pollock Krasner Award
2000-2003
UCLA Darcy Hayman Award
2001
UCLA Hammer Museum Drawing Biennial Winner
1998-2000
Fulbright Graduate Fellowship, Hoschule der Kunste, Berlin, Germany
1998-1999
Karl-Hoffer Gesellschaft Atelier, Kunstler Werkstatt Banhoff Westend
1997
Peggy Guggenheim Collection Studentship, Venice, Italy

Public Collections

Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA
Eric Decelle, Brussels, Belgium
Francois Pinault Collection, Paris, France
Ginette Moulin and Guillaume Houzé Contemporary Art Collection, Paris, France
Hammer Museum, Hammer Contemporary Collection, Los Angeles, CA
Jumex Collection, Mexico City, Mexico
Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Pizutti Collection, Columbus, OH
Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz, Miami, FL
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
The Saatchi Gallery, London, UK