Artist Statement
Dora Patin is a representational oil painter specializing in still life, particularly in the trompe l’oeil tradition. This style perfectly complements her love of close-up compositions that allow for intimate and detailed exploration of her subjects. She studies her subjects with a nearly scientific eye, often incorporating symbols, metaphors and allegories to infuse a deeper meaning into her work. She strives to engage viewers to discover the layers of meaning within her paintings.
In addition to her meticulous trompe l’oeil pieces, Dora experiments with alla prima painting, a method that contrasts with the detailed, time-intensive trompe l’oeil. These quicker, one-session paintings allow her to experiment freely and complete a piece without the prolonged commitment of weeks. This dual approach allows her to embrace both precision and spontaneity in her artistic expression.
Artist Bio
Dora Patin was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. In the early 90’s, she moved to Vienna, Austria where she enrolled in the University of Vienna and then subsequently worked for an international organization. She loved to draw from a young age, but for a time, circumstances took her on a different path. In 2005, she moved to the United States, where she dedicated the following several years to raising her children. In 2016 she returned to her lifelong interest in art. In 2017, wanting to improve her skills, she enrolled in The Compass Atelier’s 3-year Master Artist Program. Since finishing the program in early 2020, she has participated in numerous exhibitions in the DMV area. She is also a returning artist at the Affordable Art Fair in New York City. She has won several awards including the Bertha Clum Award in Kensington and Best in Show at the 2024 annual Strathmore juried exhibition.
Awards
Best in Show - “Prism” 32nd Annual Juried Exhibition - Strathmore - MD 2024 - Jurors Zoma Wallace (artist, curator, writer) and Glen Kessler (Director of The Compass Atelier)
Best In Show - “Art In Bloom” - Martha Spak Gallery - MD 2023 - Juror Glen Kessler, Director of the Compass Atelier
1st Place / Bertha Clum Award - “Paint The Town Art Show” - Kensington Town Hall / Armory, MD 2022 - Juror Lenny Campello (artist, art critic, author, art dealer, curator, and visual arts blogger)
Silver Award - Artist Choice VI International Visual Arts Group Award Exhibition, Camelback Gallery - 2021
1st Place - Animal Portraits MAA Juried Online Exhibition - MD 2020 - Juror Kevin King, Founder of The King’s Canvas
3rd Place - The 7th South-Atlantic Juried Exhibition - Montpelier, VA 2020 - Juror Alexis Shockley
Honorable Mention - “Creative Expressions” - MAA Virtual Exhibition, MD 2020 - Juror Lee Newman, Founder of the Washington Studio School in DC
1st Place Portrait Category - "Paint The Town Art Show” - Kensington Town Hall / Armory, MD 2019 - Juror Glen Kessler, Director of The Compass Atelier
Honorable Mention - “Creative Expressions” - Friendship Heights Village Center, MD 2019 - Juror Gaby Mizes, Registrar of the Glenstone Museum
Solo Exhibitions
Kensington Park Library, MD 2022
Signal Financial “Art in the City” program, virtual, 2022
Java Nation Kensington, MD, 2021
Group Exhibitions
15th Annual Sylvia Maria Glesmann Floral Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York City, 2024
Affordable Art Fair NYC Fall Edition, Alida Anderson Art Projects, New York City, 2024
Fall Art at the Mill Juried Art Show, Berryville, VA, 2024
“For The Love Of Kensington” Juried Art Show at Compass Art Center, Kensington MD, 2024
“2024 Paint The Town” Juried Art Show at Kensington Town Hall/Armory, Kensington MD, 2024
Faculty Exhibition, Compass Art Center Gallery, Kensington MD, 2024
Heart of the Vineyard, Spring Art Festival at Windridge, Darnestown MD, 2024
Spring Art at the Mill Juried Art Show, Berryville, VA, 2024
Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring Edition, Alida Anderson Art Projects, New York City, 2024
Trains: A Journey Through Time, Manor Mill Gallery, Monkton MD, 2024
7 Collective, Penn Place Gallery, Garret Park MD, 2024
PRISM - 32nd Annual Strathmore Juried Exhibition, Strathmore Mansion, Rockville MD, 2024
“It’s the Little Things” Small Works Show, Girls Who Paint, Kensington MD, 2023
“‘Tis the Season”, Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville MD, 2023
“Seeing the Beauty in All Things”, Goldman Art Gallery, Rockville MD, 2023
“Barbie” Juried Art Show, Girls Who Paint Gallery, Kensington MD, 2023
Affordable Art Fair NYC Fall Edition, Alida Anderson Art Projects, New York City, 2023
“2023 Paint The Town” Juried Art Show at Kensington Town Hall/Armory, Kensington MD, 2023
Leading Women Artists Show - Invitational Group Show, Martha Spak Gallery, Washington DC, 2023
Exploring the World of Plants and Animals, Brookside Gardens, Wheaton MD, 2023
Heart of the Vineyard Art Show & Exhibit, Windridge Vineyard, Darnestown MD, 2023
Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring Edition, Alida Anderson Art Projects, New York City, 2023
Art In Bloom Juried Exhibition, Martha Spak Gallery, Washington DC, 2023
“Play” 31st Annual Juried Exhibition, Strathmore, Rockville MD, 2023
“Love Hurts” Juried Art Show, Girls Who Paint Gallery, Kensington MD, 2023
Benjamin Gaither Center Art Show, MAA, Gaithersburg MD, 2023
“Celebrating Color and Light”, Goldman Art Gallery, Rockville MD, 2022
“Alone, Together” Exhibition, Glenview Mansion, Rockville MD, 2022
“2022 Paint The Town” Juried Art Show at Kensington Town Hall/Armory, Kensington MD, 2022
“Spring Fling” Juried Exhibition, District Arts, Frederick MD, 2022
“Artists of the Atelier” Exhibition, Brookside Gardens, Wheaton MD, 2022
“Spring is in the Air” Juried Exhibition, Windridge Vineyards, Darnestown MD, 2022
MAA members show at the Benjamin Gaither Center, Gaithersburg MD, 2022
“The Nature of Art” Exhibition at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton MD, 2022
Windridge Vineyards Winter Exhibition, Darnestown MD, 2022
Oasis Gallery MAA member show, Bethesda MD, 2022
TOUCH, 30th Annual Strathmore Juried Exhibition, Rockville MD, 2021
“2021 Paint The Town” Juried Art Show at Kensington Town Hall/Armory, Kensington MD, 2021
Windridge Vineyards Summer Tasting Room Show, Darnestown MD, 2021
“Creative Expressions” Juried Online Exhibition, MAA, 2021
“Artists of the Atelier” at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton MD 2021
Windridge Vineyards Spring Tasting Room Show, Darnestown MD, 2021
8th Annual South-Atlantic Juried Exhibition, The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education, Montpelier VA, 2021
Artist Choice VI International Visual Arts Competition, Camelback Gallery, Virtual, 2021
“Light and Hope” Online Exhibition, MAA, MD, 2021
Still Life Juried Online Exhibition, MAA, MD, 2020
Portraits Juried Online Exhibition, MAA, MD, 2020
Natural Landscapes Juried Online Exhibition, MAA, MD, 2020
7th Annual South Atlantic Juried Exhibition, The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education, Montpelier VA, 2020
“Creative Expressions” Juried Virtual Exhibition, MAA, MD, 2020
“Our Stories” Online Exhibition, MAA, MD, 2020
CHAL’s 9th Annual Open Call Juried Exhibition “Perspectives”, Washington D.C., 2020
“Colorful Explorations” Exhibition at Glenview Mansion, Rockville MD, 2020
Master Artist Program Thesis Exhibition at Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville MD, 2020
“2019 Paint the Town” Juried Art Show at the Kensington Town Hall/Armory, Kensington MD, 2019
“The Nature of Art” Exhibition at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton MD, 2019
“It’s a Wonderful World” Exhibit at Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase MD, 2019
“Creative Expressions” Exhibit at Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase MD, 2019
“Bridging Art” Concourse D/E International Art Gallery, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Odenton MD, 2019
“Animal Farm & Pet Portrait show” Martha Spak Gallery at the Wharf, Washington DC, 2019
Resume
“Master Artist Program”, The Compass Atelier, 2017-2020
“Materials and Techniques Workshop” by Glen Kessler, The Compass Atelier, 2019
Affiliations
Montgomery Art Association
NOAPS - National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society