Amy Howel

The pandemic has made all of us think about the environment we share as human beings. I embraced this time to explore not only my relationship to humanity, but also the inner relationship to myself. I
have been influenced by the abstract expressionists energy as they confronted the post-war unrest during their times. This energy has inspired me to not only unleash my own unrest with the
uncertainty of our times, but also the beauty that coexists with it. There is much conflict occurring in the news cycle, sending its reverberations into the very cells of our being. Yet in the bigger view of being alive, we are created from beauty and relate to what we find beautiful. Everyone is so busy. Viewing art slows us down as does any activity that we are passionate about participating in. I want the audience to have a personal experience in viewing my work the way music evokes one’s innermost feelings. Creating my pieces is an emotional ride, never quite knowing where it will take me. Art is what grounds me and what brings me boundless joy.

I define myself as an emerging artist as I have begun focusing on showing my work publicly in the last
three years. I am currently working part-time at the Imagine Museum. Museums have always been
sanctuaries for education and inspiration for me. I have a BA in Graphic Design from the University of
Illinois, Champaign-Urbana where I found my artistic expression in painting and photography.
I am inspired by the abstract expressionists with their freedom of color, composition, and pushing the
limits of possibility. I relate to their energy with today’s current events which influences the pieces I am
working on. Working intuitively, I allow the piece to transform, like an evolving puzzle. I want the viewer
to personally connect to my art if listening to music.

Starting in May, I will have work at Art Expo on Corey Ave in St Pete Beach. My work was shown at
Brenda McMahon Gallery in Gulfport, FL for two years. I was accepted to a juried show at the Art
Festival Beth-el in St Petersburg FL in 2022. I have also been in several juried shows at the Warehouse Arts District Association in St. Petersburg. I am a member of PAVA and more recently at the Morean Arts Center. In the past, my work has also been
accepted into juried shows at the Provincetown Art Association Museum and two group shows at AMP
Gallery in Provincetown, MA.