Elaine Coombs lives and works in San Francisco, California. Born and educated in Ontario, Canada, she moved to the Bay Area in 2001 after several years of travel and work abroad. Her paintings have been exhibited across the United States from California to Maine, as well as in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Her work can be found in over 400 private, corporate and public collections, most notably the U.S. Department of State - Art Bank Program; The City and County of San Francisco Civic Art Collection; The Alameda County Department of Environmental Health; various Kaiser Permanente and UCSF medical facilities; the Mayo Clinic; Imagery Estate Winery; and the Ritz Carlton Highlands Hotel in Lake Tahoe, California.
In her latest artwork, Elaine is exploring the use of metallic paints to create other worldly sky-scapes that evoke joy and contemplation.
Artist Statement - Sky Series
At my best, I am an unapologetically optimistic individual that hopes to inspire through a halcyon lens of uplifting imagery. Nature has always been the place where I can return to center spiritually, as it fosters in me a clearer connection with the presence of the divine. Mesmerized by cloud patterns and the colors found at golden hour, I seek to conjure a peaceful emotional space, as well as interpret a physical one. In the studio, softly reflective metallic backgrounds in silvery pearl, gold and blue pearl acrylic stand in for sunlight and provide a soothing visual respite to rhythmic palette knife marks that indicate clouds, meticulously applied. This combination of both simple and complex forms completes an ethereal skyward vision of the artist’s ideal psychological state made manifest.
Forest Landscapes
Since 2005, I have created contemporary landscape paintings that strive to capture the essence of nature, as it feels to me at this time, namely, sacred, stoic, and tranquil. I seek to conjure a particularly idyllic moment, and this moment need not be a named place, for one can look at it and see many places in it. I want the viewer to have a sense of connection with something more – my depiction indeed hints at a peaceful force beyond us that is benevolent. To wander through a forest is truly to be present in that remarkable goodness.
EDUCATION
1996
Honours BA – Art & Art History Specialist, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada
1996
Diploma – Studio Art, Painting & Printmaking major, Sheridan College, Ontario, Canada
Joint program with University of Toronto (UTM), Art & Art History program
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Sky Bloom, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2023
Untethered, Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2022
Transcendence, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
2021
Artists in Focus: Introducing Elaine Coombs (Mini-Solo), Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2016
Solo exhibit, 425 California Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Conversations / Second State (Two-person), J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
2012
Point of Contrast, 455 Market Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011
Solo exhibit, Hang Art Projects, 55 Second Street Solarium, San Francisco, CA
Blue Skies, 525 Market Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009
Silent Poetry, Baxter & Cook Art Advisors, San Francisco Design Center, San Francisco, CA
2007
Enchantment, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Progressive Shift (Two-person), @Space Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
2006
Unconditionally Feminine (Two-person), Caldwell Memorial Gallery, Redwood City, CA
2005
Solo exhibit, Lindsay Dirkx Brown Gallery, San Ramon, CA
2000
Square Dancing, The Palette Room Gallery - SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GROUP EXHIBITIONS, SELECTED
2024
Art Miami Art Fair, (with Andrea Schwartz Gallery), One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL
Wonder & All that Glitters, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Ascension, Walker Fine Art, Denver, CO
Spectrum Art Auction, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
Tickled Pink, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Muse (3 person exhibit), Avant-ART Gallery, Houston, TX
Overboard, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Summer Pleasures, Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
The Art of Home, Avant-ART Gallery, Houston, TX
Summertide, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
San Francisco Art Fair (with Andrea Schwartz Gallery), Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
Florals for Spring... Groundbreaking, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Affordable Art Fair NYC, (with KW Contemporary Art), Metropolitan Pavillion, New York, NY
Femme Vital, Avant-ART Gallery, Houston, TX,
Love, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
2023
Art Miami Art Fair (with Andrea Schwartz Gallery), Miami, FL
Falling 2, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Emerging Perspecitives, Avant-ART Gallery, Houston, TX
Summer Pleasures, Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Soft Opening, Avant-ART Gallery, Houston, TX
Summertide, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Art Market San Francisco Art Fair ( with Andrea Schwartz Gallery), Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
Lux et Tenebrae, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Group Show, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2022
All that Glitters, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Environmental Reflections, Walker Fine Art, Denver, CO
The Table, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Summer Pleasures, Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Summertide, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Glimmer (Three person show), J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
2021
Of Sol, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
All That Glitters, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
In-Situ/Ex-Situ, Prospect Executive Suites, Park City, UT (with J GO Gallery)
Summer Pleasures, Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Summertide, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Affordable Online Art Fair, with Artered Gallery, Spain
Into the Unknown, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
2020
All That Glitters, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Group exhibit (winter), J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Falling, KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
Common Ground, Walker Fine Art, Denver, CO
Group exhibit (summer), J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
MTNS (Mountains), Curtis Center for the Arts, Greenwood Village, CO
2019
Moving On Up - First Anniversary Exhibition, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
Hampstead Affordable Art Fair, London, UK (with Artered Gallery)
Green: The Impossible Color, The Painting Center, New York, NY (Juried, Catalogue)
Fresh Works IX, Harrington Gallery - Firehouse Arts Center, Pleasanton, CA (Juried, Award)
2018
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
Summer SOL, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Vantage Points, Walker Fine Art, Denver, CO
2017
Winter SOL, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Hamburg Affordable Art Fair, Hamburg Messe, Hamburg, Germany (with Artered
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco
Summer Sol, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
48 Pillars, ARC Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Invitational, catalogue)
Salon at the Triton: Annual Statewide 2D Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA (Juried)
2016
Winter SOL, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Hamburg Affordable Art Fair, Hamburg Messe, Hamburg, Germany (with Artered Gallery)
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
New York Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, NY (with Artered Gallery)
Beyond the Pour II - The Creative Process, San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design (Curator, Bob Nugent)
Massively Small, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
2015
Winter SOL, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Hamburg Affordable Art Fair, Hamburg, Germany (with Artered Gallery)
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
Special Exhibition, Garden Court Antiques Showroom, San Francisco, CA (with Chandra Cerrito Contemporary)
Massively Small, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Hong Kong Affordable Art Fair, HK Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, China (with Artered Gallery)
Singapore Affordable Art Fair, F1 Pit Building, Singapore (with Artered Gallery)
Abstract Landscapes & Cityscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
2014
Winter SOL, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Winter Group Exhibition, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
Massively Small, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Transitional Landscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
Singapore Affordable Art Fair, F1 Pit Building, Singapore (with Artered Gallery)
Inception, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
2013
Winter SOL, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
Landscapes / Cityscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
Winter Group Show, Hespe Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA (with Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts)
Branching Out, Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, CA (Invitational)
Marin Designers Showcase, Belvedere, CA (with Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts)
Winter Market, A. Rudin Showroom, San Francisco Design Center, San Francisco, CA
2011
Seasonal Landscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
New Contemporary Works, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA
Annual Fine Art Trunk Show, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
Northern California Landscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
ArtSpan Benefit Art Show & Auction, SOMArts Bay Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Award)
2010
The Feminine Mystique, Mina Dresden, San Francisco, CA (Invitational)
Holiday Show, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
Seasonal Landscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
Natural and Urban Landscapes, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA
Northern California Landscapes, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, San Francisco, CA
Works on Paper, Robert Allen Fine Art, Sausalito, CA
Artspan Benefit Art Show & Auction, SOMArts Bay Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Award)
2009
End of Summer Group Show, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
California Open Exhibition, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, CA
2008
Holiday Show, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
Red Dot Art Fair - London, UK (with Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY)
Fall Auction Exhibition, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Summer Salon, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
Summer Group Show, Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY
Art Santa Fe, El Museo Cultural, Santa Fe, NM (with Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY)
Monotype Marathon, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Affordable Art Fair - New York (with Hang Art, San Francisco, CA)
Then and Now, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Red Dot Art Fair - New York (with Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY)
9th Annual National Exhibition, Kauffman Gallery- Huber Art Center, Shippensburg University, PA (Juried)
2007
A Tree is Nice, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
Los Angeles Art Show, Santa Monica, CA (with Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA)
Selections 2007, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Juried, Catalogue)
Paperwork, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Fall Auction Exhibition, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Dwell on Design, San Francisco Concourse & Exhibition Center, (with Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA)
Works of Art on Paper, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ (Juried)
50th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition, Rocky Mount Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC (Juried)
Wild and Scenic, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
2006
Wish, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Holiday Show, Propeller Modern, San Francisco, CA
Rooted, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Unframed, Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Affordable Art Fair - New York (with Hang Art, San Francisco, CA)
2005
New Directions ’05, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY (Juried)
Botanica, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA (Juried)
30th Annual Open Show, Roseville Arts Center, Roseville, CA (Juried)
Arts on Fire IX, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA (Juried)
Annual Juried Show, Art Museum of Los Gatos, CA
General Art Show, Cultural Arts Commission Gallery, South San Francisco, CA
2004
Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery 717, San Francisco, CA (Invitational)
General Art Show, Cultural Arts Commission Gallery, South San Francisco, CA
2000
13th Annual Miniature Exhibition, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario, Canada (Juried)
1996
Graduating Exhibition, Blackwood Gallery, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Public
Alameda County Arts Commission, Department of Environmental Health, Alameda, CA
City and County of San Francisco Civic Art Collection, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, San Francisco, CA
City and County of San Francisco Civic Art Collection, Zuckerberg General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
Deerfield Campbell LLC, Menlo Park, CA (Lobby)
San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, 2017 ‘Hearts in SF’ Public Art Series - Large Heart, San Francisco, CA
Kaiser Permanente Specialty Medical Office Building, Dublin, CA (Second State Collaborations, Lobby)
Romel Enterprises LLC, San Mateo, CA. (Lobby)
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
U.S. Department of State, Art Bank Program, Washington, DC
Corporate
Colorado Center, Denver, CO
Dryden Apartments, Denver, CO
Eden Medical Center, Castro Valley, CA
El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, CA
HUB International, Toronto, ON, Canada
Imagery Estate Winery, Glen Ellen, CA (Individual Wine Label, 2017 & 2022)
Imagery Estate Winery, Glen Ellen, CA (4 label Artistry Series, Second State Collaboration)
John Muir Health, Walnut Creek, CA
Kaiser Permanente Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA
Kaiser Permanente Specialty Medical Office Building, Dublin, CA
Kaiser Permanente Technology Center, Pleasanton, CA
Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Merrie Mill Farm and Vineyard, Keswick, VA
Munger, Tolles, & Olson LLP, San Francisco, CA
New Island Capital, San Francisco, CA
North East Medical Services (NEMS), San Jose, CA
Park Hyatt Hotel, Toronto, Canada
Park Ward Village, Honololu, HI
Ritz-Carlton Highlands Hotel, Lake Tahoe, CA
Stonebrae Country Club & Golf Course, Hayward, CA
Stoneridge Creek Guest Suites, Pleasanton, CA
Sutter Health, Los Gatos, CA
Symbol Capital Ventures, San Francisco, CA
UCSF Precision Cancer Medicine Building, San Francisco, CA
UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Cancer Care Outpatient Facility, Dallas, TX
Weill Cornell Hospital, New York, NY
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
2023 - Present Avant-ART Gallery, Houston, TX
2022 - Present Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2021 - Present Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2020 - Present KW Contemporary Art, Kennebunk, ME
2018 - Present Walker Fine Art, Denver, CO
AWARDS
2019
Merit Award — Fresh Works IX, Harrington Gallery - Firehouse Arts Center, Pleasanton, CA (Juror: Virginia Tominia)
2018
Honorarium — Semi-finalist, Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) public art project, Alameda County Arts Commission
2017
Honorarium – Commission, Hearts in SF Large Heart Sculpture, San Francisco General Hospital Foundation
2016
Honorarium - Hearts in SF 2017 Large Heart Sculpture Artist, San Francisco General Hospital Foundation
Honorarium – In conjunction with 425 California Street Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
2011
Honorarium - In conjunction with Hang Art Projects Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
1st Place Award: Representational Category – ArtSpan Benefit Art Show & Auction, SOMArts Bay Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010
Juror’s Choice Award - Artspan Benefit Art Show & Auction, SOMArts Bay Gallery, San Francisco, CA
LECTURES
2012
The Tree as Artist’s Muse, Artist talk and slide presentation in conjunction with the exhibition, Branching Out, Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, CA
In the Studio, Artist talk given to the graduating BFA students and faculty of Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado.
PROJECTS
2011 – 2017
Second State – Collaborative art project with Colorado artist Heather Patterson. www.SecondState.weebly.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Robin Barr Sussman. ‘’From Bellinis to Bling, Pantone’s Peach Fuzz is All the Buzz’’, Houston City Book, January 5, 2024.
Deborah Bishop. ‘’Painting the Sky: Artist Elaine Coombs has her Head in the Clouds’’, Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine - San Francisco, March/April 2023, p. 178-181.
Clarke Reader. ‘’Open the Door to Denver’s Spaces’’, Highlands Ranch Herald, September 21, 2022.
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Paige Porter Fischer. ‘’Back to their Roots’’, Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine - San Francisco, August 2020, (photo)
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(Cover photo) Nob Hill Gazette, February 2017.
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