Biography

Each new Shelley Lazarus painting, whether it be a plein-air landscape, a still life created in the comfort of her studio or working from models, is an exciting journey into a world that she can create and alter to express her own visions and self. As a daughter, mother and grandmother, she is constantly aware of the connection of one generation to the next, the impact they leave, and the need to appreciate what has come before and what we can leave as our mark to both our biological heirs and our spiritual ones. With the joy that is felt, she will try to search out and touch people through the medium of paper compositions.

Shelley Lazarus was born and educated in New York, where as a teenager she began her art studies at Pratt College while still attending Lincoln High School. Lazarus later was a student at Syracuse University and Parsons School of Design. In 1973 she relocated to the Los Angeles area with her husband and their three sons.

Although her art career was interrupted for a time, in 1981 Shelley Lazarus became involved with the Brentwood Art Center. Since then she has been actively pursuing her art career. Lazarus' works have been shown annually in both local and national shows. These works have received numerous awards including a diptych and a triptych that were in the International Art Competition for the Olympics in 1984, first place from the San Fernando Art Club for a watercolor in the Santa Monica Mountains Celebration, and the recent Oklahoma National Watercolor Investment Award. Her paintings are in the collections of private, corporate and public sectors here and abroad. She is an active participant in Women Painters West, Valley Watercolor Society, Gallery 825 and Valley Institute of Visual Arts (VIVA). In 1998 and in 2002, Lazarus was commissioned to paint the poster for the Pasadena Showcase Houses.

Shelley Lazarus has taught art to both children and adults. At the present time she is teaching advance watercolor painting studies to adults at the Brentwood Art Center. Lazarus also teaches plein-air painting during the summer months and has given private lessons to those in the entertainment industry as well as to royalty.

In 1993 Lazarus became involved in the formation of TAG - The Artists’ Gallery which is a co-op gallery located in Santa Monica. In 2000 she served as the president of the gallery and has been on their Board almost since its inception.

At this time her works can be found through TAG - The Artists’ Gallery located at 2903 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA. Telephone: 310.829.9556 / E-mail: taggal@gte.net.