Artist Statement
My abstract paintings unveil the marvelous hidden within the everyday. Invoking a sense of wonder, my work captures the fleeting, the precious, the unknown, and the unseen. I do not seek to recreate an exact representation of reality; rather, like a writer of fiction, I navigate the in-between—less than reality, more than a dream.
Rooted in the tradition of abstract expressionism, my work conjures moments in time through bold lines, vibrant shapes, and playful forms. I weave together mediums as I weave together memory—layering acrylic paint, pencil, crayon, marker, and collage to create depth and spontaneity. The fast-drying nature of acrylic allows me to be unconstrained, to pivot, react, and build layers with immediacy, embracing the energy of the process.
I am an intuitive painter, trusting my instincts to guide each decision. Yet, beneath the spontaneity, a story emerges—one told through a visual language of shapes, marks, and lines. This language is not mine alone; it is one we all understand, a reflection of the emotions we share—joy, beauty, curiosity, and the fundamental experience of being human.
Artist Bio
Valerie Corvin is an American contemporary abstract painter working in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her paintings uncover the magic within the ordinary, transforming the unseen into wonder. Through bold forms and layered textures, Corvin work captures fleeting moments that echo our shared human experience.
Corvin holds a Master of Arts, Museum Administration from John F Kennedy University, (2007). Corvin worked for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art as a museum educator for three years. She has been painting for over twenty years, studying fine art at the California College of the Arts and with numerous instructors.
Corvin’s work has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions nationwide, including Manna Gallery, Lireille Gallery, and UCSF Women’s Health Center. She has participated in prestigious art fairs such as Red Dot Miami and ArtExpo New York through Jen Tough Gallery and has been featured in publications like Canvas Rebel, American Artwork Magazine, and Artists of the Bay Area. Her paintings have been juried into exhibitions at Marin MOCA, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, and Palo Alto Art Center, earning recognition for their expressive energy and thoughtful abstraction.
In February 2025, Corvin will attend an artist residency at Château Orquevaux, further deepening her exploration of abstraction. Represented by Artsy, Saatchi, and Jen Tough Gallery, her work continues to captivate audiences seeking art that evokes curiosity, beauty, and emotion.
“Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot see with his eyes…..Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond what is tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an exploration into unknown areas.”
-Arshile Gorky