Biography

Amy Steinberg is a painter whose work is based on voyages of the mind, travels both real and imagined to far away places. 

Steinberg begins her works by researching a region of interest, whether vast or specific, and delves into the area's architecture, colors, smells, and atmosphere.  Part National Geographic junkie, part restless nomad, Steinberg strives to unlock the secrets of places by creating paintings that recall the moments when one first arrives in a new environment--the intoxicating  feel of a new wind, the awakening of the brain as it absorbs different smells, unfamiliar architecture, geographic markers, the choreography of passersby, and local dialect all at once. She is interested in capturing a place, be it ancient Persia or contemporary Paris, at a precise and fleeting point in time.  The paintings she creates represent places as she has come to understand them, whether through intensive reading, perusing photographs, recalling her own travels, or listening to the stories of friends native to a region that captivates her. 

Steinberg absorbs as much as she can about a place before beginning each piece.  The research complete, she filters through the information, both mentally and in her sketchbook, to arrive at what she interprets as the essence of a place.  With this notion in mind, she begins her work.  Pieces may include collage elements, areas heavily textured with modeling paste, partially obliterated writing, elegant, curving flowers, and bold washes of color.  The final product blends recognizable icons with rich, mysterious layers, evoking the romance of maps, early 20th Century travel posters, and a wistfulness for something beyond our immediate grasp. 

Amy Steinberg was raised in Idaho and at the age of eighteen moved to Hawaii and eventually completed a degree in communications at Hawaii Pacific University.  The ideas for her current work have their roots in her studies of cultural anthropology and religion.  Steinberg began painting after being inspired by the work of San Francisco artist Fain Hancock.  Two of this artist's paintings now hang in her home.  She admires the tactility of Wayne Thiebaud and the masterful shifts of color in the work of Georgia O'Keeffe.  In daily life, she is inspired by her husband, her daughter, and two cats.  She resides in San Jose, CA.

Juried Shows & Exhibits

Art Papers, Mason Murer Fine Art

Solo Exhibition, Monsoon - Art, Sculpture & Frame Gallery

5th Annual Starving Artist Exhibit - JCC

Solo Exhibition "Alice in Paris", Perris

Driven To Abstraction, Charlotte Art League

Painting Music II, Queens University of Charlotte

Art/Wine/Elegance Evening, The Art of The Bath

Solo Exhibition, Cuvée Wine + Art Gallery

Through Women's Eyes, By Women's Hands, The Women's Center

Exhibit of Commissioned Works, Monsoon - Art, Sculpture & Frame Gallery

Art Papers, Mason Murer Fine Art

New Artist Exhibit, Dilworth Playhouse

50th Annual Juried Art Show, Durham Art Guild

Large Pieces, Danville Fine Arts Gallery