BIO

Self-taught artist and lifelong Vermonter Tonya Whitney has been passionate about art making as far back as she can remember. In 2019 her creativity accelerated after discovering a colored pencil technique that achieved paint-like results, allowing her to work at home where painting was nearly impossible. In 2021 after taking a break from tech work she won an inspiring year-long studio residency sponsored by the South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA). During that period, she rekindled her connection to a diversity of mediums first encountered during middle and high school. Within the roomy studio she was able to experiment with large scale sculpture and drawings to create her first solo show called Pushing Buttons. An element of importance in Tonya’s process is using as much natural, recycled or upcycled materials as possible. Now back to full-time work at UVMMC she still fits in art making whenever possible at home or in her Burlington studio space Syzygy (28 Howard St. #108).

STATEMENT

Through the interplay of color, light and shadow, I bring whimsical worlds to life using colored pencil, paper-mache, clay or digital drawing. My work is inspired by everyday moments—from the flora and fauna seen on a woodland walk to the sunlight playing on a cafe plate full of deliciousness.

I am constantly striving to refine my realism skills in order to transform those ungraspable moments into something tangible. Each piece I create is infused with a sense of nostalgia, comfort, or sometimes mirth—emotions that, in their own way, hold a quiet power to heal and connect.

At the heart of my work is the belief that beauty is always present, waiting to be seen. I hope that through my art, others will pause, notice, and feel the same wonder that inspires me daily.

CV

  • Birds of Vermont Museum: Birds and Myth Group Show May-Oct 2025, Huntington VT

  • Space Gallery: Members group show April 2025, Burlington VT

  • Green Door Studio First Friday group show April 2025, Burlington VT

  • SEABA Members group show March 2025, Burlington VT

  • Space Gallery: All The Feels group show Feb-March 2025, Burlington VT

  • Rice High School/Flynn Theater Stunt night backdrop design transfer team Nov 2024, Burlington VT

  • The Current Gallery members group show Nov 2024, Stowe VT

  • Space Gallery: Small and Large work group show Nov 24-Jan 2025, Burlington VT

  • SEABA Art Hop juried show Sept 2024, Burlington VT

  • Space Gallery Art Hop group show Sept 2024, Burlington VT

  • Syzygy (@syzygybtv) soft studio opening Oct 2024, Burlington VT

  • Better Living Audiology solo exhibition curated by Dr. Julie Bier June-August 2024, South Burlington VT

  • STRUT! SEABA Fashion show May 4th, 2024, at Hula, Burlington: One of the 13 Designers

  • Space Gallery: members group show May-July 2024, Burlington VT

  • Total Eclipse of the Art SEABA Vaults group show April 2025, Burlington VT

  • RL Photo Gallery The Art Show No. 31, Burlington April 2023, Burlington VT

  • Astronomical Art Open Studio (The Art Loft Collective 4 Howard St. Burlington) and Craft Faire with a hand

    painting Eclipse t-shirt station: Collective artist and event coordinator March 6th, 2024.

  • Festive February Open Studio (The Art Loft Collective 4 Howard St. Burlington) and

    Craft Faire: Collective artist and event coordinator Feb 11, 2024.

  • VT Juice Co. art prints available in the store window, Burlington VT

  • Space Gallery: All The Feels group show Feb 2-March 2024, Burlington VT

  • Space Gallery: Small Works group show Dec 1-Jan 17, 2024, Burlington VT

  • Hunt Middle School Artist Residency (Art Club):

    via Sarah Holbrook Community Center, Burlington-Nov/Dec 2023

  • RL Photo Gallery The Art Show No. 27, Burlington Nov 2023

  • Thirty Odd store Burlington VT: sculptures on display since 10/2023

  • Rice High School/Flynn Theater Stunt night backdrop design assist Oct 2023, Burlington VT

  • SEABA Art Hop 2023 open studio 4 Howard St Burlington VT

  • POP! Art Closet Studio Installation Sept 8-10, 2023

  • Art For Flood Relief VT/another-earth.com, Aug 21-Sept-Aug 2023, multi-artist online sale gallery

  • Media Factory, Burlington VT group show, ‘On the Air’ July 14th - Aug 27th, 2023

  • Gallerium: GAP - 2023 | Group Exhibition | Gallerium Art Prize 15-Jun-2023 To 15-Aug-2023

  • Plex Festival (first annual) Group Show Spring 2023, Burlington North End, VT

  • The Art Dames Society: First Friday Online Art Gallery group show 1 and 2, May 5th, June 1st, 2023.

  • Space Gallery: Member Group Show May-July 2023, Burlington VT

  • Women United Art Magazine: Curators Pick Issue 2, page 122. Winter/Spring 2023

  • ‘HeArtShowVT’ annual group show/benefit auction at Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne VT, Feb 2023

  • Space Gallery: Small Works group show Jan 2023, Burlington VT

  • Burlington VT South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA) 2021/22 Residency Winner

  • Studio Solo Art Show 2022: Pushing Buttons, September 9-11 Vaults 28 Howard St. Burlington

  • Colored Pencil Magazine 2022 Look Book artist listing.

  • Sweet Simone’s Bakery art wall July 2022, Richmond VT

  • Light Space & Time online gallery: July 2022 Open Theme exhibition special merit award

  • Space Gallery: Members Group Show June-July 2022, Burlington VT

  • Space Gallery: Fool Me Once Group Show May 2022, Burlington VT

  • SEABA ART Hop 2021 curated show Maltex Building and Space Gallery

PRESS

SevenDays Art Hop article/Studio highlight 9/2024

SevenDays Strut! show article 5/2024

Education