Shana Levenson
Shana Levenson is an accomplished representational painter based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her artistic journey began with a BA in Fashion Design from The University of Texas, Austin. After the birth of her children in 2009 and 2010, she pursued and completed an MFA in Fine Art Painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her work primarily focuses on portraiture and the figure, often capturing people who are significant in her life. Levenson aims to tell each person’s story in an authentic and meaningful way, drawing inspiration from her own experiences.
Levenson is known for her hyperrealist style, where she emphasizes delicate and feminine details in her subjects, like body shape, lace, and jewelry. Her background in fashion has notably influenced her latest series of paintings featuring lace. Additionally, she incorporates surrealistic elements in her current work, highlighting the strength and beauty of women
Beyond her painting career, Levenson is deeply involved in education. She teaches workshops out of her studio, mentors students, and conducts workshops worldwide. These teaching experiences have shaped her patience and approach as an artist, allowing her to tailor her guidance to each artist’s individual journey.
Levenson’s exhibition experiences have been significant and memorable throughout her career. Her first exhibition in Louisville, CO, was a pivotal moment, where she realized the potential for her work to connect with a broader audience. Her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions across the United States and internationally. She exhibits in galleries around the United States including Rehs Gallery in NYC, Sugarlift gallery in NYC, Corey Hellford Gallery in LA, and Abend Gallery in Denver.
Shana Levenson’s work has evolved over the years, and she continues to challenge herself with each new piece, striving for growth and improvement. Her commitment to her art and her community, both as an artist and an educator, makes her a notable figure in contemporary realism.
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2022 Outside the box, 6th place, Portrait Society of America
2022 ARC finalist, Rehs Gallery award
2022 Best Figurative, NOAPS online exhibition
2022.Certificate of excellence, Portrait Society of America
2022 Outside the Box, 10th Place, Portrait Society of America
2022 Commissioned Portrait, Finalist, Portrait Society of America
2021 Blue Review Art Prize, Honorable Mention, Blue Review Art Prize
2021 3rd Place, NOAPS online exhibition
2021 ModPortait, Finalist, Spain
2020 Outside the Box, Finalist, Portrait Society of America
2020 Still Life, Finalist, Portrait Society of America
2020 Award Of Excellence, NOAPS online exhibition
2020 Allied Artists of America Award, Grand National Exhibition, NYC
2019 Outstanding Figurative Award, American Women Artists Online Exhibition
2018 Chairman’s Choice Award, ARC Salon Show
2018 Best in Show, Allied Artists of America, Salmagundi Club, NYC
2018 Honorable Mention, Portrait Society of America
2018 Best in Show, American Women Aritst Online Juried Show
2018 2nd Place, June BoldBrush online awards
2018 Honorable Mention, NOAPS Best of America Exhibition
2017 Best Oil Painting, NOAPS Best of America Exhibition
2017 Chairman’s Choice Award, ARC Salon Show
2016 3rd Place, American Women Artist Online Juried Show
2015 Honorable Mention, ModPortrait Competition, MEAM, Barcelona, Spain
2015 Best of Show, Bold Brush competition, FASO.com
2015 Second Place, TRAC Online competition
2015 Gold Award, The American Artists Professional League
2015 Finalist in RayMar Online Competition
2014 First Place, Beaumont Art League, Beaumont, TX
2014 First Place, Naples Art Association, 50th Founders Juried Awards Exhibition, Naples, FL
2014 Gold Ribbon, FAME exhibition online
2014 First Place, Shades of Red Show, Vista, CA
2014 Second Place, Louisville Art Association, Louisville, CA
2014 First Place Award, EAFA Gallery, Seattle, WA
2014 Exhibition, NOPAS online international competition2014 First Place Award, EAFA Gallery, Seattle, WA
2014 Exhibition, NOPAS online international competition
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2025 Immersive Portrait Painting, Urbino, Italy co-teach with David Kassan
2025 Painting Beyond the Photo, Chelsie Nicole Contemporary, Springfield, MO
2025 Hand Painting, Scottsdale Artists School, Scottsdale, AZ
2024 Painting Beyond the Photo, Co-teach with David Kassan, ABQ, NM
2023 Painting Beyond the Photo, Co-teach with Dorielle Caimi, Albuqueruque, NM
2023 Rome Art Residency, Rome, Italy
2023 Story Telling with the Self Portrait, Albuquerque, NM
2023 Painting Beyond the Photo, Co-teach with Dorielle Caimi, Albuqueruque, NM
2022 Hand and Jewelry workshop, GoTerracotta.com
2022 Story Telling with the Self Portrait, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Rome Art Residency, Rome, Italy
2022 Story Telling with the Self Portrait, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Painting Beyond the Portrait, Denton, TX
2021 Story Telling with the Self Portrait, Albuquerque, NM
2020 Painting Hands, Albuquerque Studio, Albuquerque, NM
2020 Painting Beyond the Photo, Co-teach with Dorielle Caimi, Albuqueruque, NM
2020 Lace Painting, Scottsdale Artist School
2020 Drawing the Portrait from Life, Scottsdale Aritst School
2019 Painting Beyond the Photo, Co teach with Dorielle Caimi, Albuquerque, NM
2019 Apprenticeship, Albuquerque, NM
2019 Drawing the Portrait from Life, Scottsdale Artist’s School, Scottsdale, AZ
2019 Painting the Portrait from Life, Art Academy, Adelaide, Australia
2018 Painting Beyond the Photo, Albuquerque, NM
2018 Drawing the Portrait from Life, Hull Acedmey, Dallas, TX
2018 Drawing the Portrait from Life, Seville, Spain
2018 Painting Beyond the Photo Workshop, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2018 Drawing the Portrait from Life Workshop, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2017 Painting Beyond the Photo Workshop, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2017 Drawing Beyond the Photo Workshop, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2017 Drawing Beyond the Photo Workshop, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2017 Painting the Skull from Life, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2017 Painting Beyond the Photo workshop, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2016 Drawing Beyond the Photo Workshop, Art Studio Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
2016 Figure Drawing, New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM
2015-current—adult and teen art classes, Albuquerque, NM
2015 Figure Drawing, New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM
2015 Portrait Drawing, New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM
2015 Portrait Painting: David Kassan, Scottsdale School of Art, Scottsdale, AZ (assistant)
2015 Portrait Painting: David Kassan, Rochester, NY (assistant)
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2023 Hamptons Art Fair with Rehs Gallery, NY
2023 Mini painting show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2023 American’s in Paris exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, NY
2023 Art Market Hamptons booth with Sugar Lift Gallery, Water Mill, NY
2023 Secret Longing w/ Beautiful Bizarre, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Halcyon Days w/ Beautiful Bizarre, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2021 Solo show at Mclarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2020 Group Show at Stone Sparrow Gallery, NYC, NY
2020 Artist and the Muse, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL May
2020 Women’s Group Exhibition, Sparrow Gallery, Sacramento, CA March
2020 Women’s Group Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY March
2020 The UNSEEN, Stone Sparrow Gallery, NYC, NY March
2019 5th International Figure Painting Competition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, NY
2019 Women’s group exhibition, Meyer Gallery, Park City, UT
2019 Portrait Society of American Tri State Competition, Oklahoma City, OK
2019 Paint The Figure Now, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2019 Solo Show, Sheer Strength, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2019 Painting Today: International Women’s Day, MEAM, Spain
2018 Miniature Holiday Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2018 Galeria Artelibre 20x20 Anniversary Show, MEAM, Spain
2018 WMOCA, Wausau Museum, Wausau, WI
2018 Painting the Figure Now, Wausau Museum, Wausau, WI
2018 Lot 5 Collective, Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, London, UK
2018 ModPortrait, MEAM, Spain
2018 ARC Salon Show, traveling exhibition, MEAM & Sotheby’s Los Angeles
2018 Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries, London
2018 RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
2018 Women’s Group Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY
2018 Works on Paper, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY
2017 "Something more than realism .. XI", Galería artelibre , Barcelona, Spain
2017 Distinction Gallery, CA
2017 Best of America, NOAPS, Castle Gallerieas, Fort Wayne, Indiana
2017 Women As Warriors, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2017 Sight Unseen, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Miniature Group Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Maxwell Alexander Online Show
2016, Holiday Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY
2016 Miniatures and More, Albuquerque Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM
2016 Contemporary Configuration Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Women Painting Women, RJD Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
2016 Freak Out, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2016 Nexus, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 ModPortrait Exhibition, MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain
2016 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2015 AAPL 87th Grand National Exhibit, Salmagundi Club, NYC
2015 Women Painting Women, RJD Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
2015 Tell Them Stories: Origins, Mark Miller Gallery, NYC
2015 Portrait Society of Atlanta, Maretta Cobb Art Museum, Atlanta, GA
2015 Unconfined Exhibition, Albuquerque, NM
2015 Academy of Art Spring Show, San Francisco, CA
2013 Academy of Art Spring Show, San Francisco, CA
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2023 Hamptons Art Fair with Rehs Gallery, NY
2023 Mini painting show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2023 American’s in Paris exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, NY
2023 Art Market Hamptons booth with Sugar Lift Gallery, Water Mill, NY
2023 Secret Longing w/ Beautiful Bizarre, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Halcyon Days w/ Beautiful Bizarre, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2021 Solo show at Mclarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2020 Group Show at Stone Sparrow Gallery, NYC, NY
2020 Artist and the Muse, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL May
2020 Women’s Group Exhibition, Sparrow Gallery, Sacramento, CA March
2020 Women’s Group Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY March
2020 The UNSEEN, Stone Sparrow Gallery, NYC, NY March
2019 5th International Figure Painting Competition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, NY
2019 Women’s group exhibition, Meyer Gallery, Park City, UT
2019 Portrait Society of American Tri State Competition, Oklahoma City, OK
2019 Paint The Figure Now, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2019 Solo Show, Sheer Strength, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2019 Painting Today: International Women’s Day, MEAM, Spain
2018 Miniature Holiday Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2018 Galeria Artelibre 20x20 Anniversary Show, MEAM, Spain
2018 WMOCA, Wausau Museum, Wausau, WI
2018 Painting the Figure Now, Wausau Museum, Wausau, WI
2018 Lot 5 Collective, Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, London, UK
2018 ModPortrait, MEAM, Spain
2018 ARC Salon Show, traveling exhibition, MEAM & Sotheby’s Los Angeles
2018 Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries, London
2018 RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
2018 Women’s Group Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY
2018 Works on Paper, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY
2017 "Something more than realism .. XI", Galería artelibre , Barcelona, Spain
2017 Distinction Gallery, CA
2017 Best of America, NOAPS, Castle Gallerieas, Fort Wayne, Indiana
2017 Women As Warriors, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2017 Sight Unseen, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Miniature Group Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Maxwell Alexander Online Show
2016, Holiday Exhibition, Dacia Gallery, NYC, NY
2016 Miniatures and More, Albuquerque Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM
2016 Contemporary Configuration Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Women Painting Women, RJD Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
2016 Freak Out, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2016 Nexus, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 ModPortrait Exhibition, MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain
2016 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2015 AAPL 87th Grand National Exhibit, Salmagundi Club, NYC
2015 Women Painting Women, RJD Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
2015 Tell Them Stories: Origins, Mark Miller Gallery, NYC
2015 Portrait Society of Atlanta, Maretta Cobb Art Museum, Atlanta, GA
2015 Unconfined Exhibition, Albuquerque, NM
2015 Academy of Art Spring Show, San Francisco, CA
2013 Academy of Art Spring Show, San Francisco, CA