PHYLLIS SHIPLEY BIOGRAPHY 

Phyllis Shipley has been producing fine art paintings for the past thirty (30) years and has been a successful gallery owner, art show participant and award winner, and a continual student in the details of watercolor and acrylics.  Phyllis began painting in the early 1980's, after her son brought his painting of a toucan bird from school. She asked him if he would like to take classes at the university and he said, "yes, if you will Mom". That is how it all started. Later, always loving the arts, following years of playing and teaching music with the organ and piano, raising children, and a successful career as a purchasing executive with a major chemical corporation, the time was right to pursue her new passion of painting. 

Artist Shipley, a native of Johnson City, Tennessee, opened her first gallery in 1984 in a gift shop in Kingsport, Tennessee, where she painted a large 12’x28’ mural in the Tea Room.  Later, becoming a full-time artist, she opened her gallery in October of 1992 in Johnson City.  Stepping inside, the gallery showed the artist’s vivid imagination in using the vivacious colors of her palette.  

Shipley often describes her childhood as the house being full of music and the garden full of flowers. Her mother, grandmother and aunts all had large flower gardens. This instilled in her a feeling of love of color and rhythm. “Flowers are a symbol of strength as well as delicacy and beauty. The rains come, beat them down but then the sun shines and they perk back up again, showing their strength”. Phyllis applies her "Inner Vision" to create juicy and loose paintings with a musical fluidity of expressions. Her “inner vision” subjects may be referred to as “figurative abstracts”. She “delights” in working with her clients.    

Besides being a successful gallery owner, Phyllis has participated in many art shows in the U.S., also participating in the Wholesale Art Marts in Atlanta, New York City, Dallas, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte.  Closing her gallery after a family loss, moving to Florida in 2003, her attention has been focused more on using the acrylic medium. “Using the variety of textures and the wonderful action and reaction of acrylic is nothing but fascinating and fun. I lose all sense of time when I paint, being totally intrigued with the process.  The freedom is indescribable”. Phyllis states “my desire in painting is to express the zest, the energy, and the joy of life that is all around us and be thankful for that beautiful gift”. Phyllis's story was written in The National Digest Magazine 2021 and she is also in Marquis Who's Who in America 2022. 

Education: 

East Tennessee State College 1955-1956 Business 

Workshops and private instruction in the US, Europe and Mexico beginning 1980 with International AWS and NWS 

Solo Exhibitions: 

2022 - Saphira and Ventura Gallery, NY, NY 

2021 – Upside Gallery, Melbourne, FL, 

2021 – Balibar Wines and Finds, Merritt Island, FL 

2019 – Art Gallery of Viera, “A Higher Look” , Viera, FL 

2016 - Fifth Avenue Gallery, “Visions of Italy,” Melbourne, FL, USA 

2015 – Daisy Hope Center International Cultural Affair, Vero, FL 

2014 – Library of Palm Bay, “Reflections”, Palm Bay, FL, USA 

1998 – Johnson City Medical Center, “Inner Visions of Spring”, Johnson City, TN, USA 

1992 – Historic Jonesborough Visitor’s Center, “Symbols”, Jonesborough, TN, USA 

 

Selected Group Exhibitions: 

2021 - SCOPE Miami Saphira and Ventura, NY, Dec.1-5  2021 

2021 - Spectrum Miami Artblend Gallery Dec 1-5, 2021 

2021 - Amsterdam Whitney Gallery Oct.-Dec 

2020 – Artblend Gallery Oct Pompano Beach, FL 

2019 – Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, NY –December Holiday 

2019 – ArtExpo, New York, April 4-7 – NY Intl Contemporary 

2018 - Spectrum Miami Saphira and Ventura Gallery, NY 

2018 - Amsterdam Whitney Gallery December 

 

"Color can express emotions and my goal is to express a sense of joy and excitement for being alive through my paintings".  Along with vibrant use of color, I also release emotions and expressions of life's journey in presenting an inner belief or thought. Come along with me on my journey and enjoy and saturate your thoughts to follow the story I am telling.