expressions of life fine art gallery
   Original charcoal drawings, soft pastel and oil paintings by Canadian artist Anna Sponer

Anna Sponer (Chiarelli) is a self taught Canadian artist, born and currently living in Hamilton, Ontario. Her parents, Salvatrice and Antonino Chiarelli, immigrated to Canada in the 1940’s from Racalmuto, Sicily. She is the only daughter and the youngest in a family of six children.  Raised in the predominantly Italian "north end" of Hamilton, Anna’s interest in art arose from her colourful working class surroundings. She began drawing at an early age spending many hours observing and re-creating  images on paper.  Later in life, she visited many prominent art galleries in the U.S., Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy; and viewed  the paintings and sculptures created by some of the world's greatest classical and contemporary artists. Her artistic proclivity was further nurtured by her fascination with impressionism.

Anna Sponer began her gallery in 2004, by first exploring charcoal as a medium followed by soft black and white pastel and incorporating color shortly after. The majority of her latest art work is now created in oil paint on canvas. 

In Anna's gallery, a diversity of artistic subjects are displayed together with the many portrait paintings of numerous persons, including works completed for three members of the Canadian Woman's National Soccer Team. 

Since 2004, Anna has held numerous exhibitions throughout the Greater Hamilton Area and has been commissioned to create original paintings for individuals and corporations in the United States, Europe and across Canada.

Her diverse collection of paintings represent the impressionistic style with a touch of expressionism. She has a unique way of visualizing and creating exceptional works of art. By utilizing her images, studying and exposing them to the public they become real, personal and in depth. Anna's treatment of lighting and shadows, emphasized in her portraits and other artistic subjects, dynamically embrace and transcend the expression of human emotions. 

Anna Sponer has been a member of McMaster Museum of Art,  Women's Art Association of Hamilton (WAAH)  and Arts Hamilton  visual arts committee.  From 2006 to 2009 Anna has partaken in evaluating art work submitted by local artists for prospective exhibitions presented in the Arts Hamilton Gallery. She had also judged visual art for the "Street Canvas 2007-2008" contest held by the Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area;  instructed and demonstrated her art at Mother Teresa's Elementary School in Hamilton (2005); was a nominee for the City of Hamilton's 2004 Arts Awards and actively supports various charities.

Anna's paintings  - presented in The Hamilton Spectator,  the Hamilton Mountain News, the Stoney Creek News and aired on CHCH-TV community events covering the 23rd International Spring Art Exhibition, organized by Hamilton Folk Arts Heritage Council; and shown during the Hamilton Literary Awards (2007) presented by Arts Hamilton.

*The AGH (Art Gallery of Hamilton) has put her art on display in the spring of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 - juried exhibition presented by the Women's Art Association of Hamilton (WAAH).

*"To Dance", an oil on canvas art piece (especially created for Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation) was auctioned off ($12,000) with all the proceeds going to Mac Kids. The art piece was generously donated by the buyer to Mac Kids to be permanently exhibited at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton Ontario (2008). 

*"To Dance" was printed on the cover of the "Hamilton  Health Sciences Foundation Annual Donor Report i ~ April 2011 including a mention in the report.

*Anna's oil painting "Young Oprah Winfrey" was published in "Portrait of America"
Oprah Winfrey: The Celebrity As Entrepreneur, Vol. II, 10th edition, United States,
(published in 2010 - for higher education)
Authors: Stephen B. Oates & Charles J. Errico

*Founder / Member  - www.ArtistArtworld.com  International Virtual Art Gallery & Forum

*Recipient of the YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction 2010 Award  ~
Arts, Entertainment and Creative Energy. 
Gala Event - Hamilton Convention Centre ( May 3rd, 2011)
view www.women1distinction.blogspot.com for more info.

*Anna's Artworks to be exhibited in South India - Calicut, Kerala ~ 2011

*Anna and her brother Charly Chiarelli (International storyteller, actor, musician and writer) are currently working on various projects together.  View Charly's profile blog at:  www.charlychiarelli.blogspot.com. 
DVD's of his performances are available for sale on the On-line Store.

Artist Statement
My motivation for creating this body of artwork is to bring to visual fruition my unyielding sensitivity to critical moments in the lives of people. The manner with which the human form and general composition reflect and react to these moments, shape my work and move me to exploit my emotional and artistic sensitivity. I am naturally predisposed to tell stories through portraiture and figurative painting.
 

Accolades

"Sponer is a self-taught artist who has developed an excellent ability to use the blending qualities of the pastel medium to create... "
- Elaine Hujer - Freelance writer for The Hamilton Spectator  (2005)

"A more enigmatic narrative is at the heart of Anna Sponer's  "Alone"... "

-Regina Haggo -  Art Columnist for The Hamilton Spectator  (2008)

"Its a beautiful piece (To Dance) and will hang in a place of honour at Mac Kids..."

-Dan Mclean - Senior Anchor for CHCH News,  Hamilton, Ontario (2008)

E-mail:  anna@annasponer.com

Founder / Member:
www.ArtistArtWorld.com
International Artists Gallery and Discussion Forum.  Become a member of this site and connect with the world of the Arts.

Profile Blog:  www.AnnasArtworld.blogspot.com  

View Anna's projects on the Behance Network:
www.behance.net/annasponer

 
Profile updated March, 2011
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