Chelsie Nicole is honored to partner with esteemed painters David Kassan & Shana Levenson for our first national juried art exhibition!

David and Shana will judge Unwavering Resolve in two phases. Juror selection for finalists will be completed digitally solely through Café Call. Award winners will be selected from the exhibition finalists.

David Jon Kassan is an internationally recognized contemporary American painter, filmmaker, and philanthropist best known for his life-size representational paintings, which combine figurative subjects with abstract backgrounds or “tromp l’oeil texture studies, ”Of this dual representation strategy” Kassan notes, “my effort to constantly learn to document reality with a naturalistic, representational painting technique allows for pieces to be inherent contradictions; paintings that are both real and abstract.”

Kassan is a much sought after drawing and painting instructor because of his steadfast commitment to the age old discipline of working from life and creating compelling expressions of the human condition. He has given painting/drawing seminars and lectures at various institutions, and universities around the world. In 2013, he founded the Kassan Foundation in hopes of giving grants directly to underprivileged talent in both the visual and musical arts. Kassan works can be seen in many public and private collections worldwide. 

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 hyper-realistic 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. Shana Levenson’s commitment to her art and her community, both as an artist and an educator, makes her a notable figure in contemporary realism.