Artist Statement
For me, an unstoppable collector of objects, I find that the reasons I collect these items are as varied as the collections themselves. It could be the craftsmanship, materials, color used or just plain nostalgia. With many of my still life paintings, these objects conjure up memories and emotions and gain a good deal of personality when directed by a creative composition on the canvas. Capturing the personality and intelligence of my subject form the basis of my portraiture; humans, dogs, birds and other fauna. Extracting these dynamic elements are a primary focus of all of my paintings, including my flower paintings, still life, landscape, digital art and plein aire work.
Biography
Pia Ledy is a contemporary realist painter based in TriBeCa and Watermill, New York. While her work includes still life, portraiture and landscape. Pia’s joy has been animals, primarily dogs, where she has been commissioned to paint numerous pets over the years. Her appreciation of birds and flowers, a lifetime of interest piqued by the wide variety on the East End, also play an important role in Pia’s daily painting. She has had several solo shows and has been included in numerous group shows. Recently, one of her new paintings, “Eames Pony Skin Chair”, was selected to be auctioned at Sotheby’s as part of The New York Academy of Art’s juried Artists for Artists event in December 2021 and is now in Beth Rudin DeWoody’s collection.
Representation by The Beverly McNeil Gallery • Portraits, Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama.
Shows & Exhibitions
2022 • Take Home a Nude • New York Academy of Art • New York City
2022 In Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2021 Artists for Artists • Sotheby’s • New York Academy of Art, New York City
2021 Tiny Treasures • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2021 In Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2020 Tiny Treasures • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2020 In Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2020 It Could Be You: Portraiture in a Constructed World • Portraits Inc., Birmingham, Alabama
2019 Tiny Treasures • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2019 It Could Be You: Portraiture in a Constructed World • Equity Gallery • New York City
2019 In Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2019 Antiques at the Garden • Birmingham Botanical Garden • Birmingham, Alabama
2018 Take Home A Nude • Sotheby’s • New York Academy of Art • New York City
2018 Tiny Treasures • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2018 Annual Sporting & Wildlife Show • Birmingham, Alabama
2018 Antiques at the Garden • Birmingham Botanical Gardens • Birmingham, Alabama
2018 In Full Bloom Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery • Birmingham, Alabama
2017 Take Home A Nude • Sotheby’s • New York Academy of Art, New York City
2017 Tiny Treasures • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2017 Annual Sporting & Wildlife Show • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc., Birmingham, Alabama
2017 • Artists Fellowship Anniversary Group Show & Auction • The National Arts Club • New York City
2017 Antiques at the Garden • Birmingham Botanical Gardens • Birmingham, Alabama
2017 In Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2016 Take Home A Nude • Sotheby’s • New York Academy of Art, New York City
2016 In Full Bloom • The Beverly McNeil Gallery & Portraits Inc. • Birmingham, Alabama
2016 In Full Bloom • Portraits Inc. • New York City
2015 Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue • Group Show • Bridgehampton, New York
2015 Take Home A Nude • Sotheby’s • New York Academy of Art, New York City
2015 The Big Show • Silas Marder Gallery • Bridgehampton, New York
2013 Take Home A Nude • Sotheby’s • New York Academy of Art, New York City
2013 The Retreat’s Top 25 Artists Juried Group Show • Artists Against Abuse • Easthampton, New York
2013 Solo Show to benefit Operation Smile and Doctors Without Borders • Fifth Avenue Dental Partners • New York City
2012 New York Academy of Art • CE Group Exhibit • New York Academy of Art • New York City
2011 Solo Show (June 28 – July 31, 2011) Pierre’s • Bridgehampton, New York
2009 Solo Show (July 1 – July 27, 2009) Pierre’s • Bridgehampton, New York
2009 Artists Fellowship 150th Anniversary Group Show & Auction • The National Arts Club • New York City
2005 School of Visual Arts Group Show • New York City
Workshops
2022 • Jen Gennari • 3 day workshop • Animals • Easton, Connecticut
2021 • T.J. Cunningham • 3 day workshop • Plein Aire • Watermill, New York
2021 • T.J. Cunningham • 3 day Plein Aire workshop • Shelburne, Vermont
2021 • Nicholas Wilton • 3 week virtual workshop • Spark! • Sausalito, California
2021 • Denise Cerro • 5 day virtual workshop • Mixed Media • Encinitas, California
2020 • Michael Shane Neal • 5 day Portrait workshop in Everett Raymond Kinstler’s studio • Easton, Connecticut
2020 COVID • All classes and shows cancelled.
2018 – Jake Fischer • 2 day Workshop, Nocturne Painting • New York Academy of Art • New York City
2017 – Alonsa Guevara • 2 day Workshop, “The Magic of Still Life” • New York Academy of Art • New York City
2016 – Alyssa Monks • 4 day Workshop, “Transcending the Photograph” • New York Academy of Art • New York City
2015 – Jeremy Lipking • 1 week Plein Air Workshop • June Lake • Eastern Sierra Mountains, California
2012 – Martin Wittfooth • 3 day workshop • Allegorical Painting • The Teaching Studios of Brooklyn, New York
2011 – Carol Marine • Sedona Arts Center • Sedona, Arizona
2011 – Everett Raymond Kinstler Workshop • The Art Students League – New York City
2010 – Everett Raymond Kinstler Workshop • National Academy of Design – New York City
2010 – Everett Raymond Kinstler Workshop • The Art Students League – New York City
2009 – Everett Raymond Kinstler Workshop • National Academy of Design – New York City
2009 – Everett Raymond Kinstler Workshop • The Art Students League – New York City
2008 – Everett Raymond Kinstler Workshop • National Academy of Design – New York City
2004 – Daniel Greene Weekend Workshop • The Art Students League – New York City
Education
2010 – 2015 Studied with Leah Lopez • New York Academy of Art • NYC
2006 – 2008 Studied with Marvin Mattelson • School of Visual Arts • NYC
2002 – 2005 Studied with John Parks • School of Visual Arts • NYC
1985 – 1988 New York School of Interior Design • NYC • Professional Three-Year Design Degree
Press & Honors
2014 – Connecticut Cottages & Gardens • Holiday Gift Guide
2013 – Dan’s Paper – The Retreat’s “Artists’ Against Abuse Fifth Annual Art Show”
2013 – Nomad Brush “Flex Your Creative Muscles” Competition. First Prize
2012 – Nomad Brush’s Artist of the Month
2012 – Nomad Brush ’Digital Stylus Naming Competition’ Winner • The Nomad “Flex”
2009 – Hamptons Cottages & Gardens
2006-2007 – Quest Magazine NYC “Essentials” Issue: Pet Portraits. The essential dog portraitist
2004-2005 – Quest Magazine NYC “Essentials” Issue: Pet Portraits. The essential dog portraitist
Associations
The Portrait Society of America
The Artist’s Fellowship (Board Trustee)
The National Arts Club • Member
Salmagundi Club • Member
Cecelia Beaux Forum