I enjoy the creative freedom and the exploration that painting in oils offers me. The figure and landscape are subjects that I paint regularly. Showing my paintings locally and nationally over twenty years has given me the opportunity to work with curators and show organizers. I have a background as a graphic designer, which I have incorporated into some of my projects.

Figurative Narratives: My figure oil paintings use the human body as a metaphor to speak about our current history. The props surrounding the figure are symbolic. My goal is to give the viewer a reflection of the times we live in.

Paintings of Santa Cruz: My landscape oil paintings are pure observation. I try to give some unusual local perspective of my Santa Cruz, California hometown. Some are painted en plein air and others are studio works.

Special Projects: I am the child of Italian immigrants and wanted to share their story. The project is called, A Boat to America. It includes oil paintings, assemblage and an interactive work that involves the viewer to share their family history.

Books: Using my graphic design knowledge, I have self-published books of my art. Circus Real Surreal: A Collection of Narrative Paintings, was published in 2021. It tells about contemporary U.S. historical events using figurative narrative imagery set in a circus theme. In this circus there are various stage acts where the figures in my paintings are the performers. An Artist’s View of Santa Cruz: Places to Visit and Enjoy was published in 2012 and is a guidebook as well as a collection of my landscape paintings. The book shows people where to find the locations I painted providing maps and a short description of the site.

Art Exhibits: I have participated in exhibits at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, CA; University of California at Santa Cruz, CA; Holy Family University Gallery, Philadephia, PA, East Tennessee State University Slocumb Galleries, TN; and Phoenix Gallery, NY. Some outstanding jurors for these exhibits were: Kathryn Calley Galitz, Met NY; Peter Selz, U.C. Berkely and MOMA, NY; George Rivera, Triton Museum CA; Dr. Anja Foerschner, Getty Research Institute, CA.

Contact me if my work fits into your exhibition space. LidiaStudio@mail.com

“Lidia Hasenauer’s new exhibit...is an observant portrayal of serious global issues...Her oil paintings are so vibrantly colored and thought-provoking, that even non-art connoisseurs will find themselves captivated.”

- J Singh
Good Times, Santa Cruz

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RESUME : Exhibition History • Publications • Works on Loan

Exhibition History

2022
FL3TCH3R Exhibit, Reece Museum, East Tennessee State University. Awarded: Fletcher Dyer Award. Juror: Wesam Mazhar Haddad

Left Coast Annual at the Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. Executive Director: Cindy Abbott. Juror: Jeff Nathanson executive director and art curator Museum of Sonoma County.

Natural Habitats at Cabrillo College Gallery, Soquel, CA. Juried by Dona Seager and Suzanne Gray owners of Seager Gray Gallery, San Francisco.

2019
Vote! Your Voice is Your Vote! Pajaro Valley Arts, Watsonville, CA, Group Exhibit

2018
Spoken/Unspoken, Santa Cruz Public Library Downtown Branch, part of county wide exhibit, Curated by: Dee Hooker

Art As Response/Artist at Catalyst/Spoken-Unspoken, Porter Faculty Art Gallery at UC Santa Cruz, curated by Angela Gleason and Andrea Bursuk.

2017
We Are Artists, East Tennessee State University Slocumb Galleries, TN
Juror: Dr. Anja Foerschner, Getty Research Institute

The Figure Contemporary, A National Art Exhibit, Santa Cruz Art League, CA
Juror: Noah Buchanan, Artist/Professor, UC Santa Cruz

2016
Nationalism: Belonging / Not Belonging, Holy Family University Gallery,
Philadelphia, PA. Group show curated by Pamela Flynn

What’s Right, What’s Left: Democracy in America, Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY.
Group show in collaboration with Gutfreund Cornett Art.
Juror: Dr. Kathy Battista, Founder and Director of the MA Contemporary Art program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York

2015
Visaural: Sight, Sound and Action, Nave Gallery Annex, Somerville, MA. Group show in collaboration with Gutfreund Cornett Art

Reaction, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, CA
Juror: John Seed, visual arts blogger for the Huffington Post Arts and art professor at Mt. San Jacinto College.

2014
Cultures Made Visible, Santa Cruz Public LIbrary, Santa Cruz CA
Group Show Curated by Valri Peyser

This is Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Art League
Group Show

2013
THE FL3TCHER EXHIBIT: Social & Politically Engaged Art, Tipton Gallery, Johnson City, Tennessee
Juror: Michael Aurbach, Vanderbilt University

Coastal Community Art Show, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
Invitational group exhibit to assist promotion of Coastal Clean Up Day, a community event
Curated by Kelly Cuffe and Nora Grant

2012
Canvas for a Community, curated by Kimberly Parrish, Feldner Project
1030 41st Ave., Santa Cruz

2011
RED, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA. Group Show.
Curated by George Rivera, Director of the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, CA

Celebrate Santa Cruz County , Curated by Joan Blackmer. Santa Cruz County Bank Arts Collaborative group show special tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the Boardwalk's Carousel

2010
Artists Look at Human Rights, United Nations Association of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz, CA. Louden Nelson Center
Los Gatos Art Association Statewide Open Juried Show
Los Gatos, CA. Juror: Katherine Levin-Lau

2009
Artists Look at Human Rights, United Nations Association of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz, CA. A group exhibit, curated by Lucien Kubo

The Art of Peace, Missing Peace Art Space, Dayton, Ohio. Internationally juried competition. Juror: Dr. Rossana Pitelli: Curator, Italian Cultural Institute, London, UK

25th Annual Los Gatos Art Association Open Juried Show, Los Gatos Museum of Art, Los Gatos, CA. Juried by Kenny Mencher, Associate Professor of Art and Art History Ohlone College, Fremont, CA

2008
Visual Politics : Art & The American Experience
October-November. Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA
Juror: Peter Selz, Professor Emeritus of Art History at UC Berkeley, founding Executive Director of the Berkeley Art Museum, curator of painting and sculpture MOMA, New York, 1958.

2007
Plein Air Affaire. July. The Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
Juror: Karen Kienzle, Curator de Saisset Museum Santa Clara University, CA

Plein Air Artists Respond to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. July- September
The Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA. Group Exhibit

2006
78th Annual International Juried Exhibition. Harrisburg Art Association, Harrisburg, PA
Juried by Kathryn Calley-Galitz, Assistant Curator, 19th Century, Modern and Contemporary Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

2006-1998 Exhibitions upon request

Publications

2021
Author/illustrator for book, “Circus Real Surreal: A Collection of Narrative Paintings.” Hardcover, Paperback and ebook. Amazon.com

2012
“An Artist’s View of Santa Cruz” Self-published art book/ guide book of the Santa Cruz area. Amazon.com

“Santa Cruz: An Artist's Guide”
Kindle e-book

2011
“Man As Object - Reversing the Gaze” show catalog. Women’s Caucus for Art

"Good Times, Santa Cruz" art review

2010
Studio Visit Magazine, Juried by Steven Zevitas, Publisher, New American Paintings. Volume Nine

Works on Loan

2013-2014 Driftwood Healthcare Center
Artworks throughout healthcare facility, Capitola CA

2010 - present PRIME Pain Management Institute
Artworks in waiting room, Capitola, CA

2009 Still Lifes a short film by Victoria Johnson featuring six paintings as background props.
Filmed at the Los Gatos Museum of Art, Los Gatos, California