Virginia McCracken is a Santa Barbara–based artist who creates small-scale assemblages …. imaginary worlds inside boxes that are inhabited by papier mache figures. The expressively detailed characters are of unknown species, generally related to cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses, but not quite, and sometimes not at all. She creates evocative habitats for these creatures, some minimal and mysterious, others crafted like stage sets or rooms. There are no explicit stories, although a hint of narrative is often contained in the titles. The characters are sometimes engaged in activity or relationship, but some are contemplative and alone. The miniature works have been described as whimsical and touching, humorous, as well as dark. The artist is inspired by make-believe and the notion of secret interior worlds. The viewer must step up close because of the small scale and is drawn into the intimate, ethereal realm of each piece and into his or her own story.
Virginia has been making art for more than 30 years. Her work has been widely shown in California, Washington State, and New York City and is in collections both internationally and nationally. Locally her work is in the County Arts Commission/Berkus Collection. She is represented by John Derian Company in New York , Gary Gibson Studio in Los Angeles, Wendy Foster Upstairs in Montecito, CA, Sollano 16 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Watson Kennedy in Seatle, WA, and Water Works Gallery in Friday Harbor, WA. Until 2012 she owned and operated The Project Fine Art Zone Gallery, in Santa Barbara, with eight other artists.
She currently shares studio space with Santa Barbara artists at Green House Studios, 136 East Yanonali Street in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone.
Call at 805-455-4630.
CURRENT REPRESENTATION
John Derian Company
6 East 2nd Street
New York, NY 10003
212-677-5517
Gary Gibson Studio
7350 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-934-4248
Wendy Foster/Pierre LaFond Upstairs
516 San Ysidro Road
Montecito, CA
Sollano 16
Calle Sollano 16
San Miguel de Allende
Guanajuato, Mexico 37700
54-415-154-8872
WaterWorks Gallery
315 Argyle Avenue
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-3060
360-317-8262
ONE-PERSON SHOWS
2019
CabadaGray
Ventura,CA
PORCH
"Next Chapter"
Carpinteria
2015
PORCH
2013
PORCH
Carpinteria, CA
2008
Studio 3 East Gallery
Santa Barbara
2002
Architectural Foundation
Santa Barbara
GROUP SHOWS
2020
Green House Show
SullivanGoss
Selected Works from Berkus Collection
Channing Peak Gallery
100 Grand
Sullivan Goss
2019
Sullivan Goss
100 Grand
Casa del Huerra
2018
Funk Zone Art Walk
Michael Kate
SullivanGoss
Red Headed Step Child
Sullivan Goss
100 Grand
2017
Green House Studio
Spring Show
Elverhoe Museum
Solvang, CA
Santa Barbara Studio Artists Show and Tour
Philip Koplin Memorial Show
Sullivan Goss
Santa Barbara
100 Grand
Sullivan Goss
Santa Barbara
Michael Kate
Santa Barbara, CA
2016
3 Shows
Green House Studios
Watson Kennedy
Seattle, WA
Michael Kate
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Studio Artists Show and Tour
Then and Now
Santa Barbara Arts Fund
2015
3 shows Green House Studios
Santa Barbara
4 x 4
Santa Barbara Arts Fund
Beverly Hills Art Show
100 Grand
Sullivan Goss
Santa Barbara
2014
Art From Scrap One Night Stand
Santa Barbara,CA
Green House Studio
3 Shows
Beverly Hills Art Show
100 Grand
Sullivan Goss
Santa Barbara, CA
Animal Museum
West Hollywood, CA
2013
Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art
Hotel Indigo
Santa Barbara Arts Fund
Double Trouble Redux
Beverly Hills Art Show
Albuquerque Art Museum
Miniatures and More
Sullivan and Goss
100 Grand
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Funk Zone Art Festival
Green House Studios
Art From Scrap
One Night Stand
Santa Barbara
2012
The Project Fine Art Zone
Owner/ artist
Santa Barbara
Laguna Art Museum
Beverly Hills Art Show
Small Images
Atkinson Gallery
Santa Barbara
2011
The Project Fine Art Zone (ongoing)
Owner/ artist
Santa Barbara
Art from Scrap
One Night Stand
SBTennis Club
Santa Barbara
Small Images Show
Atkinson Gallery
Santa Barbara
Works Selected from
the Berkus Collection
Santa Barbara Superior
Court, Santa Barbara
2010
Individual Artist Awards
Santa Barbara Arts Fund
Santa Barbara
Monlleo Gallery
Santa Barbara
Spring at the JCC
Santa Barbara
2009
Circles
Art From Scrap
Santa Barbara
Small Images Show
Atkinson Gallery
Santa Barbara
2008
Twelve Hands
Studio 3 East
Santa Barbara
Paper Cuts
Art From Scrap
2007
Small Image
Atkinson Gallery
Santa Barbara
Philip Koplin/Virginia McCracken
Studio 3 East
Santa Barbara
2006
Barry Berkus Collection
Channing Peake Gallery
Santa Barbara
Small Images
Atkinson Gallery
2004
Small Images
Atkinson Gallery
Santa Barbara
2003
Small Images Show
Atkinson Gallery
Santa Barbara
Peace
Monllelo Gallery
Santa Barbara
2002
CouplesMonllelo Gallery
Santa Barbara
2001
Small Images Show
Santa Barbara
Un Ange Passe
Westmont College
Santa Barbara
Hadu
New York, NY
1999
Virginia McCracken/PhilipKoplin
Frameworks
Santa Barbara, CA
AWARDS
2013
Beverly Hills Art Show
2012
Beverly Hills Art Show
1st Place Mixed Media/3D
Most Original in Show
2011
Juror’s Choice Award
Small Images Show
2010
Santa Barbara Arts Fund award
2009
Colville Award
2007
Small Images Show
2001
Small Images Show
Un Ange PasseWestmont College
COLLECTIONS (partial list)
Art Institute of Chicago
Santa Barbara County Arts Commission/Berkus Collection
Watson Kennedy
1022 First Avenue @ Spring Street
Seattle, WA 98104
206-652-8350