Betty Kirshner’s Philosophy About Art:
“Rather than illustrate, I probe, discern, connect, relate and interpret.
I aim to capture the soul of the subject.
I consider it a privilege to express my joy and wonderment at the beauty and
complexities of nature, people, and objects people create.
When I paint or draw, I feel a sense of power and well-being. If art is a mirror of life, it
is sometimes also a celebration of life.”
Prints of Betty’s work are available for sale, by special request.
BETTY B. KIRSHNER
(MARCH 1929-JULY 2015)
Humanist Expressionist Painter
About the Artist:
Betty B. Kirshner was a former art teacher, having taught in the Saturday series for Children in Manhasset, and directed the GIFT arts & crafts program (developed by Carnegie Foundation for gifted children) in Brookville, NY. She has also taught art in public schools on Long Island, NY.
She studied at the Art Students League, Hunter College, Adelphi University, and privately with various instructors including Harry Sternberg, Peggy Bacon, Ethel Katz, and Paul Margin, and Betty Holiday.
Fine Arts Major, Hunter College; B.A. in Art Education, Adelphi University.
Mrs. Kirshner has exhibited extensively in New York and Florida. Exhibitions include: Long Beach Art Association exhibit, LBAA Gallery; NYC,1979, Mother/daughter show in Greenwich Village, NY with daughter Karen, 1982. First Prize, juried East Meadow Art Show, 1993, 1997; Third Prize, 1995;
Wantagh Art Show, 1989, 1994; East Meadow Public Library, 1994 NLAPW, Queens College, 1994!Chelsea Museum, Muttontown, NY, President’s Choice Show, 1994-96 Tri-County Art League, 1995;
Wisser Library, NY Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, 1995 Roslyn Savings Bank Show at Bethpage State Park, 1995. Annual Juried Art Shows, Fine Arts Museum of Long Island, 1995, 1996 ANGN Gallery 54, Soho, NYC 1996;
Fine Arts Museum of Long Island, 1995, 1996,Paintings in Art World Gallery, Syosset, NY; Library Shows in Great Neck, Garden City, Shelter Rock, Wantagh, East Meadow, through 1998. Also exhibited in Boca Raton.
Mrs. Kirshner has been a member of the Artists’ Network of Great Neck, NY, Wantagh Community Arts Program, and National Association of American Pen Women, Queens/Nassau chapter.
Betty had several solo shows, and participated in many group exhibitions. Her paintings are in a number of private collections in the U.S., Canada and Japan.
At 86, Betty continued to create art. Although she suffered from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, she had a positive outlook on life and continued to appreciate, observe and capture beauty. Betty regularly worked on new projects at home in East Meadow, with a highly creative certified, licensed art therapist.
Betty’s positive attitude, beauty and charm are displayed in the style in which she portrayed people on canvas.
One last exhibit was arranged while she was in the hospital. Her magnificent watercolor of “A Time Remembered” was displayed at the BJ Spokes Gallery in Huntington, NY, alongside Karen’s “Faith” painting in July 2015. Although it was not for sale, it was greatly admired for her mastery of color, imagery, originality and talent.
A retrospective “Mother-Daughter Art Show” was on exhibit at the East Meadow Public Library, where she had won numerous awards in her lifetime. This long-awaited Mother-Daughter show (the first one in Manhattan in the early ’80s) was a huge success, and was up through May 2016. Karen dedicated it as a tribute to her mother’s legacy.
