What’s Your Bag?

The Reader by collage artist Megan Coyle
“The Reader.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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April 2nd – 25th, 2010
Nicholas Colasanto Center; Alexandria, Virginia
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One of Megan’s latest collages, “The Reader,” was on display in the Del Ray Artisans’ “What’s Your Bag?” exhibition.

“What’s Your Bag?” featured artwork by local artists that explored the theme of bags in our culture and everyday life. The show included works that depicted the bag in any form, including bags used for carrying food, taking work home, and travelling away from home.

The exhibition showcased artwork made from a variety of media, including paintings, drawings, and photographs. With images of backpacks, satchels, suitcases, and other bags used for everyday use, the show included interesting angles on a familiar subject matter.

Women in Art: Body of Work

A few days ago I gallery sat for the DRA’s “Women in Art: Body of Work” exhibition. I took a few pictures of the show as well as some images of my work on the wall.

Megan Coyle collage artist Megan Coyle collage artist

My collages, “The New York Diner” and “Jean,” framed and hanging on the gallery walls. “The New York Diner” was made for an upcoming solo exhibit that I’m having in May and “Jean” is a piece I finished in ’08 for my senior thesis exhibition.

Megan Coyle collage artist Megan Coyle collage artist

Megan Coyle collage artistThe exhibit had quite a variety of artwork, with metal sculptures, photographs, paintings, drawings, and mixed media pieces. I always like seeing the range in artwork hanging in themed exhibitions – it’s interesting how different artists approach the same subject matter with a different style, idea, and medium.

Women in Art: Body of Work

Jean by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Jean.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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March 5th – 21st, 2010
Nicholas Colasanto Center; Alexandria, Virginia
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One of Megan’s older pieces, “Jean,” as well as a newly finished figurative collage, “The New York Diner,” were on display in the Nicholas Colasanto Center’s “Women in Art: Body of Work Exhibition.”

“Jean” was a collage that was created in 2008 for Megan’s senior thesis exhibition at Elon University.

The “Women in Art: Body of Work” show featured the artwork of local artists who tackled the theme of women in art. The exhibition was presented by the Del Ray artisans and the Divas of Decoupage.

Collaging the Figure

Here are a few images of the exhibit I installed the other day (there’s a bit of a glare from the lighting):

Collage artwork by Megan Coyle Collage artwork by Megan Coyle

Collage artwork by Megan Coyle Collage artwork by Megan Coyle

All of the work, with the exception of one of the smaller pieces, are collages that were completed either several years ago or a couple of years ago. I wanted to showcase the work that’s led up to the direction I’m moving in now, where I’m exploring different ways of depicting the figure. I’m not just doing portrait pieces where the sitter sits prominently in the center of the composition, but collages from all angles.

Looking back at the work I’ve created over the past couple of years makes me want to start experimenting more with trying to find different ways to develop my style. I think spending a few minutes every day brainstorming could be pretty helpful.

Collaging the Figure

Man at the Market by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Man at the Market.” Collage on mat board. 16″x20″
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March 1st – 31st, 2010
Arlington Central East Gallery; Arlington, Virginia
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“Collaging the Figure” is one of Megan’s first solo exhibitions that occured during the entire month of March. The show featured figurative collages that she has done within the past several years. With older works of art such as “Orange Girl” and “Girl with Glasses” (which was exhibited at the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center), Megan’s exhibition gave viewers a look at what her collage work looked like when she was just getting started with the medium.

Pieces like “Bren,” “Man at the Market,” “Figure in Front of the Window,” “The Artist from a Distance,” “Figure Seated by the Counter,” and “Smile,” consist of compositions that Megan has worked on within the past couple of years. This exhibition served as a reflection on her previous work, as Megan gets ready for her two upcoming figurative solo exhibitions that will feature a large body of work that moves in a different direction.

Artioms

Cup of Joe by Megan Coyle

February 5th – 21st, 2010
Nicholas Colasanto Center; Alexandria, Virginia
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Megan created a collage, “Cup of Joe,” specifically for the Del Ray Artisan’s “Artioms” exhibition. The work of art is available for sale, and is part of her coffee cup series.

“Artioms” includes artwork that expresses idioms, cliches, and word phrases by a variety of local artists. The exhibition showcases what happens when artists play with words through their artwork.

New Work for a New Year

Goldfish Pond by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Goldfish Pond.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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January 8th – 24th, 2010
Nicholas Colasanto Center; Alexandria, Virginia
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Megan had two of her latest collages, “Hungry Hippo” and “Goldfish Pond,” in the Del Ray Artisan’s “New Work for a New Year” exhibition. Both pieces are part of an animal series that Megan is currently working on for a solo show in August.

“New Work for a New Year” included art from local artists. All the artwork on display hadn’t been previously exhibited at a show or gallery.

New Work for a New Year

This weekend I gallery sat at the “New Work for a New Year” exhibition which is up in the Nicholas Colasanto Center in Alexandria, Virginia. Two of my pieces, “Hungry Hippo” and “Goldfish Pond”, are going to be on display in the show from January 8th until the 24th.

Here are some pictures I took of the exhibition:

Megan Coyle's Exhibitions
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Megan Coyle's Exhibitions
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The Arts Build Communities

Yesterday I gallery-sat at the Del Ray Artisans for their “The Arts Build Communities” exhibition. I have a couple of collages on display there, “The Guitar Man” and “A Potomac River Afternoon,” and both of them are marked Not for Sale since I might use them for my solo exhibition at the Art League Gallery in July. The exhibition opened on October 2nd and will last until the 25th.

Here are a few pictures I took of the exhibition:

Megan Coyle's exhibitions Megan Coyle's exhibitions

The Arts Build Communities

“A Potomac River Afternoon.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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October 2nd – 25th, 2009
Nicholas Colasanto Center; Alexandria, Virginia
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Megan’s collages, “A Potomac River Afternoon” (right) and “Guitar Man” (bottom right), were on display in the Del Ray Artisans’ “The Arts Build Communities” exhibition. Both works were not for sale since they were possible candidates for her first solo exhibition.

Guitar Man by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Guitar Man.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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The exhibition focused on how art makes a positive difference in our lives, how it enriches towns, parks, schools, offices, and other communities. The show featured the work of several artists, with artwork that expressed what the arts and communities consist of, and how the two affect each other.