Artist's Statement

Barbara Oertli is a Dundas, MN based contemporary realist artist working primarily in oils. Inspired by the observation of nature she creates landscapes and nature studies, still life studies and figurative work. A native of San Jose, California, she holds a BA in Studio Art, San Jose State University, with post grad work at the Lacoste School of the Arts in France​, and a Certificate in Web Design & Development from University of California, Santa Cruz. Ongoing continuing education in illustration, painting, collage and figure/portrait drawing have rounded out her artistic studies.

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Professionally she has worked graphic design, web design, marketing communications and illustration for high tech and non-profit companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Retiring from corporate life, first to Northern California, and more recently relocating to Minnesota have given her more time to pursue her artistic interests.

 

Influences & Instructors: Fletcher Benton, Geoffrey Bowman, Ingrid Christensen, John De Vincenzi, Inge Infante, Kristin Lindseth, Bernard A. Pfriem, George Rivera, Ken Schwab, Tom Sparacino

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Selected Shows & Exhibits:

2026 Minnesota Artists Association Fall Juried Show, Frameworks Gallery, St. Paul, MN

2026 Minnesota Artists Association Spring Juried Show, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN

2024 Minnesota Artists Association Fall Juried Members’ Show, Ames Center, Burnsville, MN

2024 Minnesota Artists Association Spring Juried Show, Arboretum, Chaska, MN

2015 Artists of River Town, Oroville CA “CROWDED 2015 Juried show” (First Place)

2014 Artists of River Town, Oroville CA “WATER:LIFE 2014 Juried Show”

2013 – 2015  Artists of River Town, Oroville CA, participated in monthly members shows

2010 Alameda Art Works, SWAN Day Exhibit, group show

2008 SBAWCA, “Inner Landscapes”, MLK Library, San Jose, CA, group show

2007 Los Gatos Art Association, juried show

2007 SBAWCA, “Just for Fun”, Los Altos Library, CA, members show

2007 SBAWCA, “A Women’s Touch”, MLK Library, San Jose, CA, members show

2007 SBAWCA, “Masks – Faces We Imagine”, XZIBit Gallery, Hercules, CA, group show

2006 SBAWCA, “Heart to Heart”, Quinlan Community Center, Cupertino, CA members show

2005 Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA, members show

2005 SBAWCA, “My Place at the Table”, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA, members show

2004 SBAWCA, “Women in Arts – Continued”, Hakone Gardens, Saratoga, CA, group show

2004 SBAWCA, Women in Art, Tresidder Union, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, group show

2004 AVA Art Fest, Triton Museum grounds, Santa Clara, CA, SBAWCA group show

2004 PALPA, Palo Alto, CA,  March members show

2003 Solo Exhibit, City Lights Expresso coffee house, Santa Clara CA

2003 PALPA, Palo Alto, CA, Students of Inge Infante, group show

2003 Silicon Valley Open Studio, PALPA Annex Palo Alto, CA (with artist Linda Tapscott)

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Art Associations:

Minnesota Art Associations: Minnesota Artists Association, Outdoor Painters of Minnesota

California Art Associations: South Bay Area Women's Caucus for Art (Newsletter Editor, Board member); Pacific Art League of Palo Alto CA, Triton Museum of Art, and Artists of RiverTown, Oroville CA, Board member & chair, Webmaster. 

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