Olivia Beens

Sculptor/educator Olivia Beens, born in 1948 in the Netherlands of Czech and Dutch parents and lived in Portugal until age 7. After receiving a BFA from Pratt Institute in 1977 and an MFA from Hunter College in 1982 she moved to the Lower East Side of Manhattan where she still lives and works.

Olivia’s work has transformed over the years and clay has become her medium of choice. She works figuratively and abstractly exploring issues of identity, feminism, and spirituality. Her works range from small intimate pieces to installations and public artworks.

During the 1980’s she exhibited installation and performance work in many alternative art galleries including Franklin Furnace, ABC No Rio, PS 122 and was a member of artists groups such as Colab, PADD, and other political art groups. In 2014 and 2015 she was a (SPARC) Artist In Residence at Sirovich Senior Center and completed a series of ceramic murals that are permanently installed in the grand auditorium. She has taught through many arts organizations, worked for the New York City Department of Education, Brooklyn College and Pratt Institute. Beens has received commissions for public art works through Public Art for Public School and has been awarded a New York State Council on the Arts fellowship as well as residencies to the Mac Dowell colony for the Arts, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the Hambidge Center and received a Fulbright-Hayes fellowship to Turkey, and traveled to India and Portugal with grants.

Website: www.oliviabeens.com

Exhibitions

August 8 - September 4, 2019
On the Surface: A Ceramics Show

July 11 - 31, 2019
The Small Works Show

February 8 - March 1, 2018
Big Love

December 7 - 21, 2017
Holiday Bazaar

June 29 - July 20, 2017
Summer in the City 

March 2 - 23, 2017
Changing Patterns

July 28, 2016
8 x 8 x 100

April 7 - 28, 2016
Earth Spirit

February 4 - 25, 2016
On the Wall

July 9 - 30, 2015
12x12 Group Exhibition