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 work in technology she became the recipient of an inspiring year-long studio residency with SEABA. During that period, she rekindled her connection to a diversity of mediums first encountered during middle and high school; paper-mâché, paper clay, acrylic painting, ink and graphite. 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 non-toxic, recycled and 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 new studio space called Syzygy (in the Vaults #108) at 28 Howard St. Burlington.
STATEMENT
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” – Victor Borge.
With my sculptures I explore the profound and universal phenomenon of laughter and how it extends beyond human emotion as a form of communication. The idea of the Laughing Cacti sculptures surfaced as a self-reminder to laugh more, while also paying tribute to plants I inadvertently lost over the years. Masking during the pandemic also helped me realize how important it is for us to see the human smile, as many of my sculptures are anthropomorphized. The versatility and abundance of the materials I use (cardboard, paper-mâché, recycled items, and glue) mirror the dynamic nature of laughter itself, allowing me to shape expressions or unexpected creations that capture the essence of this vibrant energy.
For the 2023 Art Hop festival I created an interactive installation at my studio featuring oversized wearable paper-mâché sculptures that pulled mostly from popular culture in the 1980s. The larger-than-life wearables offered a transformational moment of play where laughter naturally mingles. Five of those wearables (collectively titled “80s Mixed Closet”) made their stage debut on May 4th, 2024, at the STRUT! Fashion Show in Burlington.
I continue to channel whimsy in all my sculptures and illustrations from surreal plants to everyday objects. I hope to ignite a spark of authentic playful joy within the hearts of those who encounter my work.
CV
SEABA Art Hop juried show Sept 2024
Space Gallery Art Hop group show Sept 2024
Syzygy (@syzygybtv) soft studio opening TBD Aug 2024
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: Member Group Show May-July 2024, Burlington VT
Total Eclipse of the Art SEABA Vaults group show April 5th opening.
RL Photo Gallery The Art Show No. 31, Burlington April 2023
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 Stunt night backdrop design assist Oct 2023, Burlington
SEABA Art Hop 2023 open studio (4 Howard St Burlington)
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 Strut! show article 5/2024
Education
The Carving Center and Sculpture Studio 3-day workshop: Portraits in Clay West Rutland VT 2024
CCV classes: Adobe Creative Cloud, Intro to visual communication VT 2023
B.S. Integrated Studies Champlain College, VT 2017
A.S. Computer Systems Management CCV, VT 2012
Private Collections/Commissions since 2019
Vermont: multiple locations including the Northern New England Museum of Contemporary Art (NNEMOCA)
Northern California
South Dakota
Chicago
Maryland