Carol Pittman

City Art announces its upcoming exhibition of new works by Carol Pittman opening Artista Vista, the annual spring Vista gallery crawl, April 21, 2016 with opening reception from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.  The exhibit will continue thru June 2016.

These new works are an evolution from her tile work into acrylic paintings. Many of the paintings focus on the circular composition as she sees the world as a continuing entity. The colors that she uses are greatly influenced by her love of colorful clothing for herself and other people and from the vivid colors she experiences in her travels to Greece especially. The circular motif can obviously be interpreted as an expression of the flow of life and hers is always one of great optimism. Her joy and vitality of life come thru her works as rendered in the colors that she uses.  Her tile pieces are an extension of her free spirit.

Carol Pittman began her art career at eight years old with her mother “dropping” her off on Saturdays at the Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Va.  She moved to Columbia at sixteen and studied art with Moselle Skinner at Dreher High School.  She has attended universities in various locations, while a navy wife and raising three sons.  Universities include Coker College, Old Dominion University in Virginia Beach, the University of Maryland, The Accademia di Belle Arti in Naples Italy, and finally received her BA in Art History, and MA in Sudio Art and a MAT in teaching art, all from the University of South Carolina.

She taught art appreciation at USC for 25 years and has exhibited at many places, including the Asheville Art Museum, the Columbia Museum of Art, Dorothy McCrae Gallery in Atlanta, Nina Liu Gallery in Charleston, the Florence Museum, USC-Sumter, the Fine Arts Center in Camden, and at City Art in Columbia.

Pittman comments, “Byzantine painters used rhythm and the repetition of elements in order to draw the viewer into the work.  Rhythm is also important in my work.  I use rhythm to draw in the viewer.  Sometimes, I also include dancing and musical instruments to show that my women are not passive, but active.

“My years spent in Naples, Italy and travels each year to Greece are also reflected in my art.  While in these countries, I am surrounded by colorful tile, pottery shards, roman and renaissance frescoes, and other evidence of ancient cultures.  I try to make connections between women in the ancient world and the world in which I live.”

City Art Gallery is located at 1224 Lincoln St. in the historic Congaree Vista area in Columbia, South Carolina.  Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. until 6 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  For more information contact Wendyth Wells, City Art Gallery, at 803-252-3613.  Visit online at www.cityartonline.com