Teri Dryden

818-640-3094
tbomb1957@yahoo.com

Teri Dryden’s unorthodox path to becoming an artist began with immersion in an ancient art form in which she was the medium. A theatre major at Towson University in Maryland, she excelled in physical expression and comedy. At the urging of an instructor, she auditioned and won a coveted spot as one of the few female clowns in the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. For two unforgettable years, she performed in every state in the U.S. in one of the most colorful and visually stimulating environments imaginable.

She then moved to Los Angeles and became an award-winning stage actress, but left the stage when her first child was born. After making remarkable fabric art for several years, an admirer urged her to take an art class, and she discovered a latent talent and passion for painting and drawing that burst into a roaring flame practically overnight. During a remarkably short and prolific period, she won several awards and sold dozens of paintings and drawings to rapt fans that recognized her unique sense of composition and color in dramatic florals and still-lifes.

Teri continues to revel in daily discoveries about art and her own sensibilities, and fearlessly explores the infinite possibilities of various media and genres. She still lives and works tirelessly and enthusiastically in Los Angeles.

Artist's Statement:

"My love of experimenting with different types of media has led me to the wonderful world of collage. Through this uniquely versatile medium, I have been able to delve into a more personal and intuitive process in which I can express myself more freely, openly and honestly. Recently I have become interested in the idea of orienteering as a metaphor for discovering my own emotional and psychological path. I allow my memories, experience and knowledge to move paper and paint to map where I've been, where I am, and where I might go. My inner compass navigates me toward self-awareness, with frequent detours into fascinating unknown territories on this trip Dante calls 'our life's way'."

Teri has shown her work in numerous juried exhibitions and is the recipient of several awards.

Exhibitions 2010

2010 "Beneath the Surface", Gallery Western, L.A. (3 person show)
2010 Thousand Oaks Art Association 2010 Juried Show
2010 "ScoreVIII" at VIVA Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA

* None of the artworks may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the Artist