Statement
Silas SHABELEWSKA (b.1963) French-American
Shabelewska uses what photographers call a “purist“ approach to the image without alterations or digital manipulation following her fascination with the works of Steichen, Stieglitz and others. Shabelewska wanted to apply a 19th century feeling and technology to a resolutely contemporary approach to the image. The black & white enlargements are selenium toned silver gelatin prints. The silver gelatin process is so called because image is formed by grains of metallic silver in the suspension of gelatin layer coated on the supporting material, such as paper, glass plate, or plastic film. This technology appeared in late 19th century.All images © silas shabelewska all rights reserved.
Biography
Silas SHABELEWSKA (b.1963) French-American
Born and raised in Monaco (from Polish parents), Shabelewska explored photography since the age of 16. In 1984, Shabelewska enrolled at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where she majored in photography, Polaroid 20x24 and film & video. Over the years, Shabelewska photographed personalities like Leo Castelli and Helmut Newton. In 2007 and 2008, Shabelewska created the PEACE & LOVE series to celebrate the 50th year Anniversary of the PEACE Symbol. PEACE 5 was featured in O THE OPRAH MAGAZINE in June 2008, and LOVE 7 was exhibited at The Art of Caring a Look at Life Through Photogrpahy, curated by Dr Cynthia Goodman and organized by The New Orleans Museum of Art , 16 May 11 October 2009, The Cincinnati Museum Center 9 July 2010 – 19 September 2010, The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2 May 2011 – 25 September 2011, The Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, 22 October 2011 – 1 January 2012. Past solo shows include: The Vermeer Series (Soufer Gallery, New York); Roads America (Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York); Roads: America (Gallery Kayafas, Boston); Roads: America (Briggs Robinson Gallery at Soho House New York); Silas Shabelewska (Patrick Verelst Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium) and PEACE & LOVE (Soufer Gallery, New York). In September 2011, Shabelewska revealed for the first time her early works from 1980’s, shot in and around Monaco in abandoned 19th Century villas: The Monte-Carlo series. The work was on view at Soufer Gallery 1015 Madison Avenue, New York. In February 2014, ROADS AMERICA, shabelewska’s take on Mark Rothko’s black paintings at The Menil chapel in Texas, was featured along side 3 other artists at Soufer Gallery, for The Contemporary Industrial Landscape through the eyes of four international Photographers: Adolfo Doring, Andre von Morisse, Sergio Purtell, Silas Sabelewska, curated by Andre von Morisse, February 27 - April 12, 2014. In parallel to her art career, Shabelewska worked as Director and Gallery Manager for relevant blue chip galleries in New York city for 15 years from 2000 to 2013. In 2014, Shabelewska created her own gallery, Silas von Morisse Gallery, named after her husband the Norwegian painter Andre von Morisse. She lives and works in the USA.
All images © silas shabelewska all rights reserved.
Resume / CV
CV SILAS SHABELEWSKA
Born Nice France, 1963
Education Studied at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, 1984-1985
Studied at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY, 1985-1988
Resides Lives and Works in New York and Indiana, USA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009 Three Series of Photographs, Soufer Gallery, New York, NY
2009 PEACE & LOVE, Untitled 2144 Gallery, Miami, FL
2008 PEACE & LOVE, Soufer Gallery, New York, NY
2008 The Vermeer Series, Soufer Gallery, New York, NY
2007 LOVE, Soufer Gallery, New York, NY
2006 Roads America, Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York, NY
2005 Roads America, Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA
2004 Roads America, Briggs Robinson Gallery at Soho House, New York, NY
2003-4 Silas Shabelewska, Patrick Verelst Gallery, Antwerp (Belgium)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBTIONS
2014 THE CONTEMPORARY INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE Through the Eyes of Four International Photographers: Adolfo Doring, Andre von Morisee, Sergio Purtell, Silas Shabelewska, curated by Andre von Morisse, Soufer Gallery New York
2009-2012 THE ART OF CARING, A LOOK AT LIFE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY, curated by Dr Cynthia Goodman (exhibition catalogue page 134), NOMA – The New Orleans Museum of Art - Then travelling:
• Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, OH
• Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
2009 Sale: AGUTTES, Drouot-Richelieu, Paris, Tableaux XIXème & Modernes, 16 Dec. 2009, Lots 74, 75
2008 White Out, curated by Christina Warner (sponsored by Galerie Mourlot), New York, NY
2008 Winter Group Show, Galerie Mourlot, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Group Show, Selected Pieces, Galerie Mourlot, New York, NY
2007 LOVE series, Photo Miami, Waterhouse & Dodd, Miami, FL
2007 Art Under Glass, The Synergy of Art & Fashion, curated by Gabrielle Bryers, Macy’s, New York, NY
2007 Intimate Works, curated by Robert Edelman, Anita Friedman Fine Arts, New York, NY
2007 Sale: AGUTTES, Drouot-Richelieu, Paris, Contemporary Art & Photographs, 25 June, Lots 345, 346, 349
2007 Sanford’s Smith 19th Annual Works on Paper, Joakim von Ditmar Gallery, New York, NY
2007 The 2007 New York Design Fair, February 8-11, the 7th Regiment Armory at 67th Street, New York
2006 Sale: AGUTTES, Drouot-Richelieu, Paris, Contemporary Art & Photographs, 20 December 2006, Lots 232, 235, 236
2006 Sale: AGUTTES, Drout-Richelieu, Paris, Contemporary Paintings & Photographs, 26 June 2006, Lot 296
2006 Locus, Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York, NY
2006 Sanford’s Smith 18th Annual Works on Paper, Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York, NY
2005 Group show, Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York, NY
2004 PRC Benefit Auction & Exhibition, Reach for the Stars, Portrait of Helmut Newton; Lot 220, Boston
2003 Summer Show, Daniel Silverstein Gallery, New York, NY
2003 AIPAD, Photography Show, The Ralls Collection
2002 AMERICA & Summer Show, The Ralls Collection, Washington DC
2002 LUNARIS FLORA, (t)here Limited Editions, Armory Show 2002, New York, NY
2001 (t)here Limited Editions, Armory Show 2001, New York, NY
1999 Solo Artists Series, Virginie Oth & Silas Shabelewska, The Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts, New York
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2014 ARTNET News, Andre von Morisse Takes on Industrial Landscape Photography The Norwegian artist discusses the poetics of urban and industrial imagery by Bree Hughes, March 19, 2014
2009 THE ART OF CARING, A Look at Life through Photography, exhibition catalogue, essay by Cynthia Goodman, The New Orleans Museum of Art, LOVE 7, illus. in colour, p. 134
2008 O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE, June 2008, PEACE 5, illus. in colour, p. 179
2007 Antiques and the Arts Weekly, Auction Action in Paris France, May 4, p.76, illus.
2006 Rebecca Robertson, Silas Shabelewska, Art News, May 2006 Issue, p.169 illus.
2006 Joel Simpson, 18th Annual Works on Paper Show, M The New York Art World.com, New York, April 2006 issue, p. 8 & 9.
2005 Kristen Pounds, Silas Shabelewska: Roads, Art New England, August-Sept. issue, illus.
2003 Robert Edelman, Silas Shabelewska: Roads America, exhibition catalogue
2002 John Blee, Art Wrap, The Georgetowner, July 16, 2002
2002 Louis Jacobson, The Ralls Collection Summer Show, Washington City Paper, June 28, 2002 (illustrated)
2001 Silas Shabelewska: Lunaris Flora, (t)here Magazine Issue 5, (illustrated)
2001 Gilles Montelatici, Les Jardins Mentonnais, Ou Pais Mentounasc, numero 99, Sept. 2001, illus.
2001 Gilles Montelatici, Silas Shabelewska, Une photographe dans les jardins de Menton, Menton Magazine, France, June 2001 (illustrated)
1999 Carole Chabannes, Festival du Cinéma Féminin, Une Francaise à La Brooklyn Academy of Music, France-Amérique 13-19 Février 1999 (illustrated)
PORTFOLIO (books)
2002 portfolio, Lunaris Flora (10 b/w photographs); in: (t)here Magazine, published by (t)here Limited Editions, New York
BROADCAST
2002 Nathalie Kestemont, Silas Shabelewska: Lunaris Flora - Les Jardins Reliquaires de La Côte d’Azur, Point de Rencontre, Nice Télévision Canal 40, Nice France 6 August 2002
1995 Special Helmut Newton, photographs by silas shabelewska, Télé Monte-Carlo, May, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
GRANTS - AWARDS
2003 Puffin Foundation
2003 Artists’ Fellowship
All images © silas shabelewska all rights reserved.
