About the Artist

Amy Kollar Anderson creates surreal narrative paintings inspired by natural forms, the decorative arts and her love of animals. Her work has been shown internationally and featured in the publication, Imagine the Imagination: New Visions of Surrealism. Anderson was awarded three of the ReImagining Works commissions for the Dayton Metro Library in 2014-17, a commission for the Miami Valley Hospital and the Woodbourne Centerville Library in 2018 and a Culture Works MCACD Artist Opportunity Grant in 2018 & 2020. 

She received her B.F.A. from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a Master of Humanities, with a focus in Fine Arts, from Wright State University.

Amy Kollar Anderson lives with her husband and their three cats in the birthplace of aviation, Dayton, Ohio. Until recently, she was the Gallery Coordinator for the Rosewood Gallery, but left that position to pursue her art career full-time.

Artwork Themes & Subject Matter

Inspired by her sewing hobby and the thrift stores she frequents, Amy Kollar Anderson’s paintings pair patterns, textures and colors in unconventional ways. Using a panel base, she builds the painting surface with layers of Pouring Medium embedded with unique materials, such as glitter, mica, washi, and holographic/metallic foils. These layers also include areas of paint that she applies with her fingers or in puddles, allowing the material to drip and evaporate in unpredictable ways. These dense layers hover above each other with an effect similar to glass or resin, then she incorporates detailed narrative images. The narratives explore tension/anxiety, obsession, humor, and transformation. Her subject matter is influenced by the natural world and her environmental concerns, dreams, and personal experiences. She recently finished a 13 panel series inspired by the symbolism of the Zodiac constellations and is currently working on another 13 panel series focused on the Celtic Tree Zodiac. 

Selected Awards and Grants

• 2021 : Public Art Commission - Big Brother Big Sister, Dayton, Ohio

• 2020 : MCACD Artist Opportunity Grant

• 2018 : Commission for the Miami Valley Hospital South, Spine and Joint Center

• 2017 : MCACD Artist Opportunity Grant

• 2017 : 2nd Place - Whitewater Valley Art Competition, Indiana University East

• 2017 : Public Art Commission for Washington-Centerville Library Woodbourne Branch

• 2015 : Public Art Commission for ReImagining Works - Dayton Public Library, Miamisburg Branch

• 2015 : Public Art Commission for ReImagining Works - Dayton Public Library, New Lebanon Branch

• 2014 : Public Art Commission for ReImagining Works - Dayton Public Library, Northwest Branch

• 2013 : People's Choice Award - Mystery Build Competition

• 2011 : 3rd Place - Surreal Salon - Baton Rouge Gallery - Juror Chris Ryniak

• 2009 : People's Choice Award - Creative Soul Dayton Exhibiton

• 2007 : MCACD Fellowship Grant

• 2006 : Best of Show - The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exposition - Professional Division

• 2006 : 1st Place - Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptures 60th Anniversary Spring Juried Show - Oil and Acrylic Division

• 2006 : Joan Cord Memorial Award - The Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati: 113th Annual Juried Exhibition

• 2003 : Best of Show - The Beloved T-Shirt Show

• 2003 : 3rd Place - Professional Painter Category - Springfield Museum of Art Members' Juried Exhibition

• 2002 : Award Winner - Artist Unknown Competition, Dayton City Paper

• 2001 : Best of District - Art About Town

• 2001 : Purchase Award: The Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture

Selected Exhibitions

• 2024 : Dark Skies - Group Show - Confluence Gallery, Twisp, WA

• 2023 : Rule Makers/Rule Breakers - DIAD Gallery, Dayton, OH

• 2023 : Ten by Ten - Group Show - Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL

• 2022 : A Marvelous System of Wiggles - Solo Show - Circles Gallery, Dayton, OH

• 2021 : Dangerous Lullabies VII - Group Show - Dole Mansion, Crystal Lake, IL

• 2021 : I Hate Pink III - Group Show - Circles Art Studio, Dayton, OH

• 2021 : Spirit of Front Street - Group Show - Orphanage Gallery, Dayton, OH

• 2019 : 41st Annual Whitewater Competition - Group Show - Indiana University East, Richmond, IN

• 2019 : Alematic Artisan Brewery - Solo Show - Dayton, OH

• 2018 : Stratum: New Works by Amy Kollar Anderson and Kate Huser Santucci, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton, OH

• 2018 : Gemcity Catfé - Solo Show - Dayton, OH

• 2018 : Small Wonders - Group Show - Atomic Cafe Gallery, Hamtramck, Michigan

• 2017 : Cabinets of Curiosity: Amy Kollar Anderson, Laine Bachman and Carrie Longley, Southern Ohio Museum, Portsmouth, OH

• 2017 : Bared: The Art of Bras and Breasts, The Diamond Shop Gallery, Morgantown, VW

• 2017 : Art 360°: Contemporary Art Hatching Across Ohio, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH

• 2017 : The Wiles of a Woman, Ikon Images Gallery, Canton, OH

• 2016 : Art 360°: Contemporary Art Hatching Across Ohio, Massillon Museum, Massillon, OH

• 2016 : Solo Show : Yellow Springs Brewery, Yellow Springs, OH

• 2016 : Art 360°: Contemporary Art Hatching Across Ohio, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH

• 2015 : XO Numia Solo Show: Ann Miller Gallery, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH

• 2015 : Quondam Solo Show : Studio 14 Fine Art Gallery, Tipp City, OH

• 2015 : Folktales and Legends: An Exhibition Without Borders : John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

• 2014 : Observatarie : Amy Kollar Anderson, Laine Bachman and Carrie Longley : Gallery West, Cuyahoga Community College/Western Campus, Parma, OH

• 2014 : Identification Solo Show : ArtStreet Gallery, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

• 2013 : Just Passing Through Solo Show : Rigsby Contemporary Museum, Columbus, OH

• 2012 : Passage Solo Show : Fitton Center for Creative Arts, Hamilton, OH

• 2012 : Surreal Salon : Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA

• 2012 : 49th Juried Competition : Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA

• 2011 : Rise : Create:Fixate, Los Angeles, CA

• 2011 : Featured Artist : The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

• 2011 : Here's Looking at You : Portraits in Ohio, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH

• 2011 : Mad Monster A Go-Go : Memento Tattoo Salon and Gallery, Columbus, OH

• 2010 : The Laboratory Solo Show : Gallery 510, Dayton, OH

• 2010 : 5th Anniversary Avatar Show : The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

• 2010 : Flies in the Land of Milk and Honey : Instinct Gallery, Des Moines, IA

• 2009 : Strange Figurations : Limner Gallery, Hudson, NY

• 2009 : It's All About ©POP, The End is Near : ©POP Gallery, Detroit, MI

• 2009 : Dirty Show X : Bert's Warehouse Theater, Detroit, MI

• 2008 : Under Glass Solo Show : Goloka Gallery, Oregon Division, Dayton, OH

• 2008 : Other Worlds/Altered Visions : Indianapolis Art Center, IN

• 2007 : Group Show : The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

• 2006 : Flights of Imagination : Museum de Giger, Switzerland

• 2004 : Paranormal Taxonomy Solo Show : Full Support Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA

• 2004 : Fantastic Voyage: Imagining Science and Nature : Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH

• 2003 : Brave Destiny : Williamsburg Art And Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY

• 2003 : Small Works : ROY G BIV Gallery, Columbus, OH

Selected Bibliography

Joyell Nevins. "Working in tandem." Dayton City Paper 20 Feb. 2018. Online.

Meredith Moss. "Art enhances new Dayton Metro Library Northwest Branch." Dayton Daily News 23 Apr. 2016: Web.

Vivienne Machi. "DVAC’s newest program connects six artists to local art lovers." Dayton Daily News 13 Mar. 2016: Web.

Dillon, Pamela. "Amy Kollar Anderson on TV and beer : Artist stretches after leaving Rosewood." Dayton Daily News 3 Sept. 2015: Web.

Hutten, CC. "A new identity." Dayton City Paper 14-20 Jan. 2014: 13. Print.

McConville, Shayna V. "Beyond the canvas." Dayton City Paper 5-11 March 2013: 10. Print.

Moss, Meredith. "MetroParks kicks off birthday gala." Dayton Daily News 7 April 2013: D3, D8. Print.

Rollins, Ron. "BP disaster stirs local artist." Dayton Daily News 6 June 2010: D19. Print.

Dillon, Pamela. "Lewis Carroll writings inspire Dayton artist." Dayton Daily News 6 Feb. 2011: D20. Print.

Starr, Ann. "Ohio portraits come in many styles and moods." The Other Paper 17 Feb. 2011: 16. Print.

Dillon, Pamela. "Murals enliven East Third Street." Dayton Daily News. Print.

Dillon, Pamela. "Rubber Duck Regatta will attract artists to make splash." Dayton Daily News 9 May 2010: D19. Print.

Moss, Meredith. "Safe place to grow theme of Daybreak, DVAC project." Dayton Daily News 16 April 2010: D12. Print.

Yalkut, Jud. "Obsession and Containment." Dayton City Paper 24-30 Sept. 2008: 6. Print.

Dillon, Pamela. "Artist tries to find a balance in opposing ideas." Dayton Daily News 21 Sept. 2008. Print.