About

Photo by Clément Bernard

Adrienne Farb is an American-French abstract painter.
Farb’s paintings are motivated by a search for unexpected color rhythms and relationships that create a new pictorial space. Saturated and nuanced, the colors and shapes emerge gradually, almost like an occurrence in nature. The surface is both dense and translucent, weightless and hefty. Colors have a profound necessity. Shape, color, gesture and sensations become one.

Inspired by sea and Seine, sky and trees, vegetables in markets, 19th century French painting and the Italian Renaissance, Farb merges the contradictions of urban environments, nature and different cultures. Her paintings build on each other in a felt and intuitive way. They develop slowly over time and are based on four decades of looking and reflecting.

Farb's paintings are about feeling. When day fades into night, the colors hover and change. It is at this moment that the colors become impossible to name and the paintings can be experienced with the greatest intensity.

Adrienne Farb

  • Born: August 28, 1956 Chicago, IL, USA

  • Nationality: American and French

  • Education: 1978, Brown University, B.A., magna cum laude, History of Art

  • Contact: info@adriennefarb.com

Principal Solo Exhibitions

  • 2013 “Adrienne Farb Peintures et oeuvres sur papier,” La Fabrique du Pont d’Aleyrac, France

  • 2008 “Adrienne Farb: Recent Paintings & Works on Paper,” Mary Ryan Gallery, NY, NY USA

  • 2007 “Adrienne Farb,” JOSEPH, New York, New York, USA

  • 2006 “The Spiritual Landscapes of Adrienne Farb, 1980-2006,” Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts. Catalogs are available at the College of The Holy Cross.

  • 2005 “Adrienne Farb and Robert Stuart Glow,” Mary Ryan Gallery, NY, NY, USA

  • 2004 “Glimpse of the Moon,” Lohin-Geduld Gallery New York, NY, USA

  • 1999 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1997 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1997 Le “19” Centre Régional d’Art, Montbéliard, France

  • 1995 Galerie Pierre Colt, Nice, France

  • 1995 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1995 Maison de la Faïence, Desvres, France

  • 1994 Galerie Pierre Colt, Nice, France

  • 1993 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1993 Musée de Maubeuge, exposition David Budd et Adrienne Farb, Maubeuge, France

  • 1992 Découvertes, Grand Palais, Galerie Bernard et Gwénolée Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1991 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1989 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1987 Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1985 Barbara Tamerin Fine Arts, New York City, NY, USA

  • 1983 57 Laight Street, New York City, NY, USA

  • 1982 Watson Gallery, Wheaton College, Norton, MA, USA

  • 1981 Elise Meyer Gallery, New York City, NY, USA

Principal Group Exhibitions

  • 2024 Collection Condé Peintures des Années 80, Atelier du Hézo, Le Hézo France

  • 2021 Aux couleurs de l’été, Atelier Babioles, Ivry-sur-seine, France mai 2021

  • 2016 Drawing Conclusions, Danese/Corey Gallery, New York

  • 2016 Non-figuratif -un regain d’intérêt? Abbaye Saint André Corrèze France

  • 2016 Airs de Famille, La fabrique du pont d’Aleyrac Ardèche France

  • 2016 Salon International de l’Estampe et du Dessin au Grand Palais a Paris, Galerie Paul Prouté, Paris

  • 2015 Salon International de l’Estampe et du Dessin au Grand Palais a Paris, Galerie Paul Prouté, Paris

  • 2014 Salon International de l’Estampe et du Dessin au Grand Palais a Paris, Galerie Paul Prouté, Paris

  • 2013 Salon International de l’Estampe et du Dessin au Grand Palais a Paris, Galerie Paul Prouté, Paris

  • 2012 Bernard Boyer Adrienne Farb Ernesto Riveiro Galerie MGE, Paris (December 2012 – January 2013)

  • 2012 Le Geste et la Couleur, Ecole d’Art Gérard Jacot in Belfort France (September- october)

  • 2012 Salon International de l’Estampes et du Dessin au Grand Palais de Paris, Galerie Paul Prouté, Paris

  • 2012 Parti Pris, Centre Régional d’Art Contemporain, Montbéliard, France

  • 2011 Summer Time, Mary Ryan Gallery, NY

  • 2010 Estampes, Galerie Jacques Elbaz, Paris

  • 2010 Farb, Bonnefoi, Pincemin, Frydman, Galerie Jacques Elbaz, Paris

  • 2010 Carte Blanche à Philippe Cyroulnik, Galerie Brun Leglise, Paris

  • 2009 Le Petit Objet (October 2009), Royale Projects, Indian Wells, California

  • 2009 West/East: Contemporary artists from the two coasts (April-May 2009), Royale Projects

  • 2009 Mary Ryan Gallery at ADAA Fair, New York (February 2009)

  • 2007 Paysages, Les Dominicaines, Pont-l’Eveque, France

  • 2005 “40 Peintures de Petit Format,” Galerie Jean Fournier, Paris, France 12/22/2005 ~ 1/14/2006

  • 2004 “Band of Abstraction,” currated by Joe Fyfe, Van Brunt Gallery, NY, NY, USA

  • 2004 “Paysages de la Couleur,” Galerie des Grands Bains Douches de la Plaine, Marseille, France

  • 2004 “Selections,” Lohin-Geduld Gallery, NY, NY USA

  • 2004 “Traversees du Paysages,” Ecole d’Art Gerard Jacot del Belfort, France

  • 2003 “Un Dimanche à la Campagne,” Maison des Artistes, Gouhelans, France (July-Aug.)

  • 2003 “Paysages Parcours d’art contemporain au sein de l’Institut Gustave-Roussy “, Villejuif, France

  • 2003 “Paysages Contemporains,” Galerie d’Art contemporain, Auver-sur-Oise, France

  • 2002-2003 le Chantier de la Maison d’artistes Commence, Maison de laFaience, Desvres, France (October 2002 to March 2003)

  • 2002 Alumni Exhibition, New York Studio School, Elizabeth Harris Gallery, NY, NY, USA

  • 2001 Quartier d’été au Saint-James, Bouliac (Bordeaux), France

  • 2000 Ateliers au féminin, Fondation COPRIM, Paris, France

  • 2000 Desves: Contemporary Ceramics, KIAD at Rochester, Kent, England

  • 1999 Apprendre à Regarder, Hall de H.E.C., Jouy en Josas, France

  • 1999 Virtuel-Réel, Espace Paul Ricard, Paris, France

  • 1998 Desvres Contemporary Ceramics, Ranmsgate Library Gallery, Kent, England

  • 1998 Ferme du Coulevrain, Savigny-le-Temple, France

  • 1997 Artistes Américains en France, Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France

  • 1997 Artistes-en-Résidences à Desvres, expositions à l’Espace Lumière (Hénin Beaumont), Maison de l’Art et de la Communication(Sallaumines), & the Musée du Touquet (Le Touquet), & Desvres, France

  • 1997 Figures et Paysages, FRAC, Ile-de-France au CRAC, Alkkirch & La Manufacture des Oeillets, Ivry, France

  • 1997 La Règle et l’Emotion, Fondation Champedron, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France

  • 1997 Table d’Art, Château de Bourdeilles, Dordogne, France

  • 1995 Mettez l’Art dans votre vie, le Bon Marché, Paris, France

  • 1995 30-40 Beurs Jonge, (Art Fair) Kunst Knokke, Knokke, Belgium

  • 1995 Three American Expatriates, Galerie Piltzer, Chicago Art Chicago Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, USA (May)

  • 1994 Carte Blanche à Jean-Louis Pinte, Galerie Piltzer, Paris, France

  • 1994 I’Ame du Fonds, Collection FRAC-Ile de France, France

  • 1994 Papiers Peints, Galerie Le Carré, Lille, France

  • 1993 Vraiment Peintres, Galerie Bernard et Gwénolée Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1993 1ère Triennale des Amériques, Maubeuge, France

  • 1992 2ème Salon International d’Arts Plastiques, Valognes, France (2ndPrize, Jean-François Millet)

  • 1991 Salon de Mars, Galerie Bernard et Gwénolée Zurcher, Paris, France

  • 1991 Collection d’Art contemporain de la BNP, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris, France

  • 1990 Exhibition of Egyptian and American Art, American Cultural Center, Alexandria,Egypt

  • 1990 Visiting Artists, Iris B. & Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA

  • 1989 41st Annual Purchase Exhibition, American Academy of Arts and Letters,New York City, NY, USA

  • 1988 Carte Blanche à Yves Michaud, CREDAC, Ivry, France

  • 1988 Galerie Zurcher at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture, Grand Palais, Paris, France

  • 1987 New Talent, Stephen Rosenberg Gallery, New York City, NY, USA

  • 1987 Salon de Montrouge, Montrouge, France

  • 1986 Nine French Painters, P.S. 1, New York City, New York, USA

  • 1985 La Voie Abstraite, Hôtel de Ville de Paris, Paris, France

  • 1984 Première Biennale de Dessin, Clermont-Ferrand, France

  • 1983 Group Show, Galerie Le Dessin, Paris, France

  • 1983 Travaux sur papier, Villeparisis, France

  • 1982 Salon de Montrouge, Montouge, France

  • 1982 En avant les sources, Château de Neil, France

  • 1981 Travaux sur papier, Villeparisis, France

Teaching Experience

  • 2017 “Beyond the model” workshop, The Art Students League of New York

  • 2011-2012 The Children Storefront,New York, NY, Young Woman’s mentor

  • 2010-2011 The Children Storefront,New York, NY, Young Woman’s mentor

  • 2010 The Children’s Storefront, New York, NY (Visiting Artist)

  • 2008 Drew University, New Jersey, NY Semester of Contemporary Art (Visiting Artist)

  • 1994—2003 Professor of Painting, Adult Education Summer Programs, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France

  • 2000 Visiting Artist, Union College, Florence, Italy

  • 1999 Gallery talk on Gary Hume, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, England

  • 1998 Visiting Artist, Union College, Schnectady, NY, USA

  • 1996-1997 Brown University in Paris, Coordinator of Studio Art Program at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris, France

  • 1994 Preselection, Professor of Painting, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris (June)

  • 1993 Visiting Artist, Ecole Régionale des Beaux Arts, Rennes, France

  • 1992-1996 Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, Professor of Painting and Drawing (Adult Education)

  • 1992 Member of three person jury to award diplomas, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts a Paris

  • 1991 Preselection, Professor of Painting, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris (June)

  • 1990 Visiting Artist, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA

  • 1990 Visiting Artist, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA

  • 1988-1989 Professor of Drawing, Bennington College in Paris, France

  • 1986-1996 Southern Methodist University in Paris, Professor of Studio Art and History of Art

  • 1986-1987 Professor of Studio Art, Allegheny College in Paris, France

Artist-in-Residence

  • 1993 Entreprise Fourmaintraux-Dutertre et Maison de la Faience, Desvres, France

  • 1980-1982 Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France. Studio granted by the American Center, Paris, France

CD-Rom

  • Frac Ile-de-France (Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain), Acquisitions, 2002, L’Art Contemporain Français— Génération 2000

Film

  • Adrienne Farb, by Roger Bendayan, FR3 Productions (French television), 1993

Radio

  • July 8 1993 Manet, une vie, une oeuvre, interview by Pascal Charpentier

  • January 1993 Interview with Francine Auger, Radio Canal Sambre, France

Television

  • The Unicorn, episode 110, December 5, 2019,

  • Grace and Frankie, Netflix, Episode 206, 2016

  • The New Normal, Fox TV, episode 115, February 5, 2013