Gretchen Scharnagl (Connecticut, USA 12/24/1957 -)
Exhibited by
About
Gretchen Scharnagl is a multifaceted artist whose creative initiatives bridge disciplines as an A+AH and Honors College Teaching Professor at Florida International University and an Artist in Residence at The Deering Estate. She delves into the symbiosis between environmental consciousness and poetic expression, a theme intricately woven throughout her body of work.
From Connecticut and now Miami-based, the natural environment of South Florida is an inspiration and muse for her art that resonates deeply with viewers. From intricate drawings of lichen to breathtaking immersive installations of massive Pine Trees, her unbound creativity is deeply linked to stories of life on earth, both micro and macro proportions. She is speaking to us of the earth and her passage through it.
Gretchen’s oeuvre ranges from two-dimensional works, ephemeral or semi-performative, to the complexities of installations, but underlying her approach is a deep and critical commitment to the environment through eco-materialism and bricoleur practices.
Gretchen’s artistic philosophy extends beyond aesthetics and reflects a profound commitment to environmental stewardship and community advocacy. Through innovative techniques like eco-materialism (our choices of what, how, and why we use a material and its impact on our environment) everything from dirt and glue to every possible residue of the remains of life upcycling and repurposing in bricolage, a practice she discovered by chance as she grew and is her hallmark and compass staff for creating all her work.
She transforms ordinary objects into poignant reflections of her personal life and immediate surroundings as a continuation of the greater world around her. Gretchen’s belief in the interconnectedness of art, humanity, and environmental responsibility imbues her work with a sense of purpose and integrity in subtle poetic terms. Her body of work in many ways is an epic poem interconnected weaving a fascinating creative oeuvre.
Scharnagl explores the role of art in modern society by focusing on diverse forms such as edible, ephemeral, and environmental art, as well as art made from debris, collaborative projects, and civic action. She views art as a means of thinking and idea generation, prioritizing a broad audience over the traditional art world’s focus. Scharnagl values critique from scientists as much as from fellow artists, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach and desire for a wider engagement with her work.
Her artistic journey has earned her a place in esteemed collections such as the Daum Contemporary Art Museum and The Frost Art Museum, alongside recognition in the Everglades Collection. With her work Gretchen has, in her own words, as a bricoleur, set out to “create a less frightening future for us all.”
From Connecticut and now Miami-based, the natural environment of South Florida is an inspiration and muse for her art that resonates deeply with viewers. From intricate drawings of lichen to breathtaking immersive installations of massive Pine Trees, her unbound creativity is deeply linked to stories of life on earth, both micro and macro proportions. She is speaking to us of the earth and her passage through it.
Gretchen’s oeuvre ranges from two-dimensional works, ephemeral or semi-performative, to the complexities of installations, but underlying her approach is a deep and critical commitment to the environment through eco-materialism and bricoleur practices.
Gretchen’s artistic philosophy extends beyond aesthetics and reflects a profound commitment to environmental stewardship and community advocacy. Through innovative techniques like eco-materialism (our choices of what, how, and why we use a material and its impact on our environment) everything from dirt and glue to every possible residue of the remains of life upcycling and repurposing in bricolage, a practice she discovered by chance as she grew and is her hallmark and compass staff for creating all her work.
She transforms ordinary objects into poignant reflections of her personal life and immediate surroundings as a continuation of the greater world around her. Gretchen’s belief in the interconnectedness of art, humanity, and environmental responsibility imbues her work with a sense of purpose and integrity in subtle poetic terms. Her body of work in many ways is an epic poem interconnected weaving a fascinating creative oeuvre.
Scharnagl explores the role of art in modern society by focusing on diverse forms such as edible, ephemeral, and environmental art, as well as art made from debris, collaborative projects, and civic action. She views art as a means of thinking and idea generation, prioritizing a broad audience over the traditional art world’s focus. Scharnagl values critique from scientists as much as from fellow artists, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach and desire for a wider engagement with her work.
Her artistic journey has earned her a place in esteemed collections such as the Daum Contemporary Art Museum and The Frost Art Museum, alongside recognition in the Everglades Collection. With her work Gretchen has, in her own words, as a bricoleur, set out to “create a less frightening future for us all.”
Exhibition
GRETCHEN SCHARNAGL
United States
EDUCATION
2004 MFA Florida International University, Miami, FL
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024
“Animals” Art & Culture Center Hollywood, Hollywood, FL
"EARTHBOUND", Doral Contemporary Art Museum DORCAM, Doral, FL
“Floridiana, The Land’s Identity” OMSA Gallery, Southwest Ranches, FL
“Interlocking Dimensions Eco-Art at the Deering Contemporary” Grounds of Deering Estate,
Miami, FL
2023
“Draw: Point to Point” Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL
“Fountainhead Artist Open Deering Estate” Deering Estate Studio, Miami, FL
“Working Here” Faculty and Staff Alumni Show, VH Gallery, Florida International University,
Miami, FL
2022
“Elemental: Terra Tide Time”, The Frank Art Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL
2021
“Nature Exhibition” Online, The In Art Gallery
2020
“Biological Futurism” The Frank Art Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL
2017
“Platform 450 Exhibition,” Outdoor site-specific installation
“Cauterize”, Deering Estate, Miami, FL
“8th All Media Juried Biennial”, 20 mixed media drawings, Hollywood Art and Culture Center,
Hollywood, FL
2016
“Showhouse,” Multiple installations, Junior League of Miami at the Kampong, Coconut Grove FL
2015
“Secret Garden,” Installation: “2015 All Media Juried Biennial”, Art & Culture Center of
Hollywood, Hollywood, FL
“Dali and Me,” Mixed media drawing, MAC FINE ART, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2014
“Draw, Drawing, Drawn,” Graphite drawing, Vita Art Center, Ventura, CA
“Wish You Were Here,” Mixed media collage, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2013
“Paperworks2013,” Installation, bjSpoke Gallery, Huntington, NY
“2013 Silvia White Gallery Exhibition,” Graphite drawing, Silvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2012
“SECAC 2012 Juried Exhibition,” Graphite drawing, SECAC 2012: Durham Arts Council,
Durham, NC
“Art of Our Time- Appleton Biennial 2012 Florida Installation Art, ” Installation, Appleton
Museum, of Art, College of Central Florida, Ocala, FL
“The New Naturalists: Contemporary Artists in the Realm of Natural History,” Installation,
Herron Galleries, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
2011
“Food, Home, Love,” Edible sculpture, Edgezones Art Gallery, Miami, FL
2007
“Aesthetics & Values 2007,” Installation, The Gallery at Green Library, Miami, FL
2005
“Omniart2 2005,” Large installation, Design District Warehouse 1, Miami, FL
2004
“Omniart1 2004”, Large installation, Design District Warehouse 1, Miami, FL
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
“Terra Ephemera”, Coral Springs Art Museum, Coral Springs, FL
2019
“Migration” Stone House Ballroom and Hall, Deering Estate, Miami, FL
“Earth 2019,” MBUS Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
2018
“Clima - Solo Artist Series- Drawing the Anthropocene,” Installation and drawings, Hibiscus
Gallery at Pinecrest Gardens, Miami, FL
2014
“Wall Piercing”, Four mixed media installations, Pyramid Studios, Miami, FL
2012
“Underground Miami, Fertile Earth 2012 ‘Invasivores’ Event,” Edible sculpture and prints, Villa
221, Miami, FL
2011
“Eat Lionfish”, Collaborative drawing installation, edible sculpture, and feast event, Pyramid
Studios, Miami, FL
2010
“Ephemeral Mapping,” Environmental ephemeral drawing installation with prints and other
works, Pyramid Studios, Miami, FL
2006
“Phototaxis,” 50-foot experiential light installation plus four additional installations including
light, sculpture, photographs and sound, Deluxe Arts, Miami, FL
2005
“Gretchen Scharnagl: Installation,” Four installations including drawing, sculptural and light
based, The Art Gallery, Broward Community College South Campus, Pembroke Pines, FL
SELECTED AWARDS
Juror’s Award Best in Show and People’s Choice Award “Art of Our Time- Appleton Biennial
2012 Florida Installation Art,” Installation, Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida
United States
EDUCATION
2004 MFA Florida International University, Miami, FL
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024
“Animals” Art & Culture Center Hollywood, Hollywood, FL
"EARTHBOUND", Doral Contemporary Art Museum DORCAM, Doral, FL
“Floridiana, The Land’s Identity” OMSA Gallery, Southwest Ranches, FL
“Interlocking Dimensions Eco-Art at the Deering Contemporary” Grounds of Deering Estate,
Miami, FL
2023
“Draw: Point to Point” Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL
“Fountainhead Artist Open Deering Estate” Deering Estate Studio, Miami, FL
“Working Here” Faculty and Staff Alumni Show, VH Gallery, Florida International University,
Miami, FL
2022
“Elemental: Terra Tide Time”, The Frank Art Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL
2021
“Nature Exhibition” Online, The In Art Gallery
2020
“Biological Futurism” The Frank Art Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL
2017
“Platform 450 Exhibition,” Outdoor site-specific installation
“Cauterize”, Deering Estate, Miami, FL
“8th All Media Juried Biennial”, 20 mixed media drawings, Hollywood Art and Culture Center,
Hollywood, FL
2016
“Showhouse,” Multiple installations, Junior League of Miami at the Kampong, Coconut Grove FL
2015
“Secret Garden,” Installation: “2015 All Media Juried Biennial”, Art & Culture Center of
Hollywood, Hollywood, FL
“Dali and Me,” Mixed media drawing, MAC FINE ART, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2014
“Draw, Drawing, Drawn,” Graphite drawing, Vita Art Center, Ventura, CA
“Wish You Were Here,” Mixed media collage, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2013
“Paperworks2013,” Installation, bjSpoke Gallery, Huntington, NY
“2013 Silvia White Gallery Exhibition,” Graphite drawing, Silvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2012
“SECAC 2012 Juried Exhibition,” Graphite drawing, SECAC 2012: Durham Arts Council,
Durham, NC
“Art of Our Time- Appleton Biennial 2012 Florida Installation Art, ” Installation, Appleton
Museum, of Art, College of Central Florida, Ocala, FL
“The New Naturalists: Contemporary Artists in the Realm of Natural History,” Installation,
Herron Galleries, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
2011
“Food, Home, Love,” Edible sculpture, Edgezones Art Gallery, Miami, FL
2007
“Aesthetics & Values 2007,” Installation, The Gallery at Green Library, Miami, FL
2005
“Omniart2 2005,” Large installation, Design District Warehouse 1, Miami, FL
2004
“Omniart1 2004”, Large installation, Design District Warehouse 1, Miami, FL
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
“Terra Ephemera”, Coral Springs Art Museum, Coral Springs, FL
2019
“Migration” Stone House Ballroom and Hall, Deering Estate, Miami, FL
“Earth 2019,” MBUS Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
2018
“Clima - Solo Artist Series- Drawing the Anthropocene,” Installation and drawings, Hibiscus
Gallery at Pinecrest Gardens, Miami, FL
2014
“Wall Piercing”, Four mixed media installations, Pyramid Studios, Miami, FL
2012
“Underground Miami, Fertile Earth 2012 ‘Invasivores’ Event,” Edible sculpture and prints, Villa
221, Miami, FL
2011
“Eat Lionfish”, Collaborative drawing installation, edible sculpture, and feast event, Pyramid
Studios, Miami, FL
2010
“Ephemeral Mapping,” Environmental ephemeral drawing installation with prints and other
works, Pyramid Studios, Miami, FL
2006
“Phototaxis,” 50-foot experiential light installation plus four additional installations including
light, sculpture, photographs and sound, Deluxe Arts, Miami, FL
2005
“Gretchen Scharnagl: Installation,” Four installations including drawing, sculptural and light
based, The Art Gallery, Broward Community College South Campus, Pembroke Pines, FL
SELECTED AWARDS
Juror’s Award Best in Show and People’s Choice Award “Art of Our Time- Appleton Biennial
2012 Florida Installation Art,” Installation, Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida