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.​

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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.



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CURRENT REPRESENTATION

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John Derian Company

6 East 2nd Street

New York, NY 10003

212-677-5517

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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

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PORCH

"Next Chapter"

Carpinteria

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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

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Selected Works from Berkus Collection

Channing Peak Gallery

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100 Grand

Sullivan Goss

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2019

Sullivan Goss

100 Grand

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Casa del Huerra 

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2018

Funk Zone Art Walk

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Michael Kate

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SullivanGoss

Red Headed Step Child

 

Sullivan Goss

100 Grand

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2017

Green House Studio

Spring Show

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Elverhoe Museum

Solvang, CA

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Santa Barbara Studio Artists Show and Tour

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Philip Koplin Memorial Show

Sullivan Goss

Santa Barbara

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100 Grand

Sullivan Goss

Santa Barbara

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Michael Kate

Santa Barbara, CA

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2016

3 Shows

Green House Studios

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Watson Kennedy

Seattle, WA

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Michael Kate

Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara Studio Artists Show and Tour

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Then and Now

Santa Barbara Arts Fund

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2015

3 shows Green House Studios

Santa Barbara

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4 x 4

Santa Barbara Arts Fund

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Beverly Hills Art Show

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100 Grand

Sullivan Goss

Santa Barbara

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2014

Art From Scrap One Night Stand

Santa Barbara,CA

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Green House Studio

3 Shows

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Beverly Hills Art Show

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100 Grand

Sullivan Goss

Santa Barbara, CA

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Animal Museum

West Hollywood, CA

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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

 

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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