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PATRICE WACHS

Based in Sonoma County

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Patrice Wachs is a contemporary realist painter residing in rural Sonoma County. Her work explores the interplay of light, shadow, color and form in landscapes and architectural structures, often with the subtext of isolation. Balancing a modern approach to composition while minimizing nostalgia, she uses her graphic art experience and photographic skills to reimagine her subjects with a strong structural sense of place, omitting and altering details to achieve clean, flat planes of color.

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After college graduation, Wachs left the grey Pacific Northwest with her husband for sunny Santa Monica, where she continued her art education at Otis Art Institute. She started her career as an artist and art director for magazines, film and animation companies, as well as book, record album and product design for private clients. While working on a documentary, she enrolled in the film program at UCLA, expanding her experience with work on the Eye on LA TV show, designing film graphics and storyboards for multiple films and commercials. After raising their two children, she was hired to create an art curriculum for a Malibu private middle school where she taught painting, drawing, ceramics, and photography, with her students winning multiple awards.

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Moving to the North Bay in 2019, Wachs returned to painting full time, gaining recognition for her contemporary depiction of barns and iconic structures. Her paintings are in numerous private collections across the country.

 

EDUCATION

UCLA, Film Director Program, Los Angeles, CA

Otis Art Institute, Painting/Illustration/Graphic Design, LA, CA

Portland State University, Painting/Ceramics, BFA, Portland, OR

EXHIBITIONS - Upcoming

"Members Exhibit", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA  December 2024

"Dart for Art", Juried Auction for Lymelight Foundation, San Francisco, CA  March 2025

"Food Bank Auction", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA   January 2025

"Members Exhibit", Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA  January 2025

"Solo Show", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA August 2025

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EXHIBITIONS - Present

"Members Exhibit", Juried Group Show, Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA

"PAC Fundraiser"Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA

 "Tiny", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"The Art of Cake", Juried Group Show, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA​

 

EXHIBITIONS - Past

2024

"Online Trunk Show" Juried Group Fundraiser, Stephanie Breitbard fine Arts, SF, CA

"Sonoma County Art Trails", Juried Open Studios, Cotati, CA

Oct. 19-20 & 26-27

 Preview Art Trails 2024", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

"Small Wonders", Juried Group Show, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA

"3 Artists", Invitational Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Delicious", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"City Streets", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Group Show" Trentadue Winery, Healdsburg, Ca

"Dart for Art", Juried Auction for Lymelight Foundation, San Francisco, CA

"Food Bank Auction", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"40th Annual Art From the Heart", Sonoma State Juried Art Auction, Rohnert Park, C

"Members Exhibit", Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA

2023

"DeYoung Open 2023", Juried Bay Area Group Show, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA

"Members Exhibit", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

"Members Exhibit", Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA

 "Tiny", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"12th Annual Small Works Juried Show", Graton Gallery, Graton, CA 

"Sonoma County Art Trails 2023", Juried Open Studios, Cotati, CA

"Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Preview Art Trails 2023", Sebastopol, CA

"Healdsburg Center for the Arts - Preview Art Trails 2023", Healdsburg, CA

"Corricks Gallery - Preview Art Trails 2023", Santa Rosa, CA

"6 Women", Invitational Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"On The Road", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Art @ Sonoma Clean Power" Juried Group Show, SCP, Santa Rosa, CA (Purchased for Private Collection)

"Shadows and Light", Juried Group Show, Healdsburg Art Center, CA

 "Terrain", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Food Bank Auction", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Color of Water", Juried Group Show, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

"Favorite Things", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

2022

"New Paintings", Solo Show, First Gallery, Santa Rosa, CA

"11th Annual Small Works Juried Show", Awarded Best of Show, Graton Gallery, Graton, CA

"Members Exhibit", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

"Members Exhibit", Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA

"Tiny", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Agri-CULTURED", Juried Group Show, Petaluma Arts Center, Petaluma, CA

"Delicious", Juried Group Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Art at the Source", Open Art Studios, Sonoma County, CA

"Light & Shade", Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

"Landscapes & Seascapes", Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

"Favorite Things: Portraits", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

2021

"Members Exhibit", Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA

"Members Exhibit", Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

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AWARDS/RECOGNITION

2023 "DeYoung Open 2023", 11% selected from 7,700 entries, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA

2023 "Art @ Sonoma Clean Power", Purchase Public Art Collection, SCP, Santa Rosa, CA

2023  "12th Annual Small Works Juried Show"Best of Show Award, "Schellville Station", Graton Gallery, Graton, CA 

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