Today we’d like to introduce you to Orna Feinstein.
Hi Orna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My artistic journey began at the age of 16. When I was in high school, I majored in biology, but in the afternoons I took some art classes with a local artist. I was attracted to nature ever since I was a little child, so obviously, I drew and painted nature as soon as I used the art supply. My education kept focusing on science in high school, and at the university. After years of studies, and making art, I made the final choice to focus on art only. I started with art classes with several artists, and then enrolled at the Glassell School of Art. Printmaking was my favorite media, and still is. When my monoprints became dimensional, I decided to go back to school and study sculpture. I graduated from University of Houston with a BFA in Sculpture. That journey continued for almost 15 years, until my monoprints became three dimensional. At that point, the interest in my work from galleries, collectors and museums was growing exponentially. My retrospective exhibition traveled to five museums in Texas.
As my education included science and art, my art reflected just that. For almost 30 years , the focus of my art is the tree trunk, and other plants. My art reflects the balance between the organic and geometric in nature, as seen with the naked eyes, and as seen under the microscope. Order and disorder, life cycles, colors and patterns are all playing a role in my art. The journey continues as I keep experimenting with material and processes to explore new ways to express new ideas, and balance in nature.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe that no journey is smooth, and mine was no exception. As an artist, other then making the art, one needs to sell her art. Typically, it’s a one person business. Entering juried exhibitions, maintaining relationships with galleries, museums and collectors is more than a full time job. Balancing the work in the studio, and at home on the computer, is a daily challenge. I think that resilience is the key to success. Keep doing what I love doing is the key to success, and knowing that success is what happens in between is failures is essential.
I want to share a detour I took on in my artistic journey. This journey emphasizes how important being flexible and open to new ideas, can make a big difference, and actually open doors to new adventures.
In January of 2023 I took an expedition to Antarctica. Thinking about the snowy landscape, I realized I will be away from trees and other green vegetation for 10 days. I decided to take art supplies with me, and keep focusing on creating art with the same theme of trees and plants I have been working on for many years. I created 10 collages of monoprints on location, and was able to exhibit them on location at Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. In July of 2023 I took an expedition to the Arctic Circle. I took these Monoprints with me, and was able to show them in the Arctic Circle as well. I also created new collages of monoprints in the Arctic Circle, and was able to show them on the ship in front of a Monacobreen Glacier.
That same year I traveled to Patagonia. I showed my art on the snowy border of Chile and Argentina. Standing with one leg in each country, the artworks were shown half on Argentinian soil and half on Chilean soil. That was also the first ever exhibition at this location. Other art exhibitions and performances were in front of Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina lake and more.
The titles of these outdoor nature exhibitions were The Presence of Absence. This title emphasizes the presence of 2 things that are not available on these locations; art and trees.
Currently, these unique artworks are on view at an exhibition titled Pole to Pole at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas in Beaumont. The exhibition includes 24 monoprints that I created on location in Antarctica, the Arctic Circle and Patagonia. Ten artworks that were created and shown on Snow Hill Island in Antarctica, traveled to the Arctic Circle, and were shown there as well. These artworks that were shown on both poles are truly Bi-Polar.
The exhibition is on view until May 13rd, 2025.
West Gallery
Art Museum of Southeast Texas, 500 Main St. Beaumont, TX 77701.
Museum hours are:
M-F 9-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Free admission
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I mentioned earlier, my passion is printmaking. As an individual that has a background in science and art, I believe that these two opposite interests have an impact on my art making practice. I feel like an artist, and think like a scientist, therefore my artistic journey is very experimental. I always try new ideas and materials to achieve new balance and effects. This approach led me to new discoveries and achievements in the field of printmaking. I am creating 3D monoprints that are collected and exhibited extensively.
My journey is unique, and in the past few years I am invited to give talks about it to assortments of groups, ranging from young adults, professionals, and art and travel enthusiasts.
How do you think about happiness?
I am an artist and a world traveler. I enjoy being in the studio, creating artworks and listening to music. I also love traveling to new, exotic, and remote places. In the past few years, I was able to combine the two passions, and was able to balance the two in a unique and rewarding ways. No journey was easy or smooth, but the harder it was, the greater the feeling of achievement and satisfaction I achieved.
The part that comes after creation is sharing it with collectors and art enthusiasts. Exhibition openings are a great joy to me, as I can share my stories and art with many people. There are always new people who are not familiar with my art. Seeing their interest and appreciation for the work I created is joyous.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ornafeinstein.com
- Instagram: ornafeinstein
- Facebook: Orna Feinstein
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orna-feinstein-73037117/
- Youtube: Orna Feinstein Artist
