Florida Artists Group

Ofra's Bio:

Artists Statement:

My sculptures emphasize the flowing and undulating features of the figure, organic forms and nature elements. I try to capture some of their life energy in three dimensional form.

I find the wire mesh as the best medium to convey a light and ethereal quality. My works explore line, movement and emotion. Some of them depict series of biomorphic shapes, positioned against each other. Having an element of repetition, each shape is still different from the other. They convey a concept of an individual in relation to a group, and a motif of change and creation.

I work mainly with the raw media of wire mesh and metal, changing their roughness by creating soft and flowing lines. The hollow and semi transparent qualities of the metal mesh create the illusion of looking through the outer layer of the figure. When the hollow figures or shapes are grouped together, they blend with each other, forming new outlines and reflecting through each other. The contrast between the size of the metal mesh and its light weight, enables me to sculpt large-scale sculptures and reliefs, as well as installations suspended in space, that seem to defy the laws of gravity. They invite the viewer to look inside and see beyond the outer shell of the sculpture.

Ofra Friedman

Public/Outdoor Sculpture:

Permanent collection           Polk State College, Airside campus                                       Lakeland, FL
                                                Pompeii Fragments, Time Fragments, Inspiration
Feb 2013- Feb 2016            Crealde School of Art            Winter Park, FL
                                                Gaia, Contemporary Sculpture Garden
Jan 2011- Jan 2012             Tampa ArtLoud Outdoor public project                               Tampa, FL
                                                Gaia, Tampa Theatre
Dec 2010- Jan 2012            Sarasota Intersections outdoor sculpture project               Sarasota, FL
                                                Freedom-Sky, Selby Five Points Park
May 2010-June 2011          ArtLoud Outdoor sculpture competition                              Tampa, FL
                                                Leaves and Life, Tampa Municipal Building park
April 2010-  April 2012       Polk State College, Airside campus                                       Lakeland, FL
                                                Pompeii Fragments, Pompeii- Life exposed, Energy
Jan 2009- Jan 2010            ArtLoud Outdoor Kinetic Sculpture competition                Tampa, FL
                                                Leaves and Life, Massey Park
                                                Freedom, Tampa Federal Courthouse
                                                Earth-Energy, Business center
Jan 2001-May 2001             TBT Fitness Center, 3 life-size sculptures                         Clearwater, FL

Curating:
                
2010    Museum of Science & Industry, MOSI ARC Gallery                                            Tampa, FL     
              Artemis Collection, Polk State College Art in Public Places                           
              Museum of Science & Industry, MOSI ARC Gallery                                           Tampa, FL
              Unseen, National juried exhibition                                                                  
              Museum of Science & Industry, MOSI ARC Gallery                                           Tampa, FL
              EarthVisions, National juried exhibition                                                                
2009    Jim warren Art Gallery, From Realism to Surrealism                                         Clearwater, FL
2008    Art on the Docks Gallery, Life In Art                                                                      Tarpon Springs, FL

Art Exhibitions:

2012
             Gallery Garage Bonci, Modus Operandi                                                                  Pietrasanta, Italy
                Eight artists International exhibition
             Florida Museum for Women Artists                                                                        Deland, FL
                Witness to Creativity, site specific installation  
             Bruce Museum, Your Face Squared                                                                        Greenwich, CT
             Orlando City Hall, Terrace gallery, Florida Artists Group, Area V                       Orlando, FL
             Florida Artists Group 62nd Annual exhibition
                Ringling College of Art and Design, Selby Gallery                                               Sarasota, FL
             Manhattan Art International online exhibition                                                      New York, NY
             Fourth Annual Winthrop Arts Festival                                                                    Riverview, FL

2011
             Florida Artists Group 61st Annual Exhibition/ Symposium                                  Maitland, FL
             Art & History Museums
             Museum of Science and Industry ARC Gallery                                                      Tampa, FL
             Elements- MOSI curators Invitational exhibition  
             Florida Artists Group, Cornell Museum of Art                                                         Delray Beach, FL
             Dancing Through the Eyes of Women, Sarasota Art Center                                 Sarasota, FL
             In-Flight  Site specific Installation, Fuzion Dance company   
             Artattack, University of South Florida                                                                     Sarasota, FL
             Sarasota Art Center, iconcept: Art Meets Fashion, Invitational    Sarasota, FL
             Artistry with Sparks Art Gallery, Hyde Park Village   Tampa, FL
             The Supper Party, Archetype Gallery    Atlanta, GA
             New Century Artists Gallery, Chelsea, Together International Exhibition   Chelsea, NY

2010
             Artistry with Sparks Art Gallery, Hyde Park Village, gallery representation   Tampa, FL Raymond              James Inc. Art Show (3 months)                                                                              Sarasota, FL
             Sarasota Art Center, The Fiber of Our being                                                         Sarasota, FL
             Ridge Art association, Art from Found Objects                                                      Winter Haven, FL
             Orlando City Hall, Terrace Gallery, Florida Sculptors Guild                                Orlando, FL
             Museum of Science and Industry Arc Gallery, “One” Exhibition                        Tampa, FL
             Platform Art, Polk County Historical Museum                                                       Bartow, FL
             Ridge Art Association 60th Anniversary Fine Arts Exhibition                            Winter Haven, FL

2009
             Florida Sculptors Guild- Orlando City Hall Terrace gallery                                 Orlando, FL
             Orlando Public Art program  
             National Museum of Women in the Arts FL Committee,                                      Tampa, FL
                Carrolwood Cultural Center  
             Tarpon Spring Cultural Center                                                                                  Tarpon Springs, FL
             From Realism to Surrealism- Two Artists Exhibition                                            Clearwater, FL
                Jim Warren Gallery
             Infinity Art Installation Exhibit                                                                                 Tel Aviv, Israel
             Brevard Art Museum Invitational- Take Out                                                         Melbourne, FL
             Alternative Functions Art Center Manatee Juried Show                                       Bradenton, FL
             Artists Gone Wild, Anna Maria Island Art Center, juried                                      Anna Maria Island, FL
             Gulf coast artists’ alliance Art competition                                                               Clearwater, FL
             Art with a Twist, west Pasco art center                                                                    New Port Richey, FL
             Blanc Et Noir Juried show, Lakeland Creative arts Center                                    Lakeland, FL
             Tarpon Springs Art Association Spring Show,                                                         Tarpon Springs, FL
                Tarpon Springs Cultural Museum                                                                           
             Eco- Vision Platform Art                                                                                             Lakeland, FL
             Arts on The Parks 2009 Juried Fine arts show                                                       Lakeland, FL
             Old Hyde Park Art Center members show                                                               Tampa, FL
             Brief Interlude juried show, Artcenter Manatee                                                     Bradenton, FL
             Bay Area Art, juried show, Tampa Realistic artists                                                Tampa, FL
             Comma Art Gallery gallery representation                                                              Orlando, FL

2008
             Adored artists, Comma Art Gallery                                                                           Orlando, FL
             Tarpon springs art association Juried show,                                                            Tarpon Springs, FL
                Tarpon Springs Cultural Center  
             Orlando Museum of Art 1st Thursdays event,                                                        Orlando, FL
                Sculpture: from House to City   
                Life in Art- Two women exhibition
             Art on the Docks Gallery                                                                                            Tarpon springs, FL
             Faces and Figures juried show, Old Hyde Park Art center                                   Tampa, FL
             Essence of Essential, Octagon art Center                                                                 Clearwater, FL
             Belleair Landing art exhibit                                                                                        Belleair, FL
             Creative Artists Guild Annual juried show                                                               Dunedin, FL
             Broadway and Beyond                                                                                                Clearwater, FL
             Summa + Magna  Dunedin Fine Art Center                                                            Dunedin, FL
             Martinis & Matisse Art Event, Guest Sophie Matisse                                            Clearwater, FL

1999 - 2007
             Clearwater Beautification Gallery                                                                             Clearwater, FL
             Celebration of the Arts, Clearwater Arts Studios                                                   Clearwater, FL
             Feed Your Senses, Clearwater Arts Studios                                                           Clearwater, FL
             Artists in Action, Clearwater building                                                                      Clearwater, FL
             Broadway to Hollywood event/solo exhibition                                                       Clearwater, FL
             A Fine Art Exhibit                                                                                                       Clearwater, FL
             Joy of Dance event/solo exhibition                                                                          Clearwater, FL
             Indian Shores Fine Art Show                                                                                    Indian Shores, FL
             Entrance to Island Paradise                                                                                      Island Estates, FL
             Studioworks 98, Shillard-Smith Gallery                                                                  Belleair, FL

Awards and Honors:

2012    Winthrop fourth Annual Arts Festival First Place
             Manhattan Arts International Excellence Award
2010    Ibor Arts in the Park Third Palace
             Art Creations Magazine Honorable Mention
             Ridge Art association Excellence Award
2009    Anna Maria Island Art Center juried show Best of Show
             Gulf Coast Artists Alliance Art competition First place
             Tarpon Springs Art Association, Cultural Heritage Museum Best of Show
             Platform Art, Lakeland Sponsor Awards (two awards)
             Art Center Manatee Juried exhibition, Bradenton Third place
             ArtLoud Tampa Outdoor Sculpture competition People’s Choice
2008    Tarpon springs art association annual Juried show First place
             Tampa Realistic Artists juried show Third place
             Florida Division of Cultural Affairs Artist Enhancement Grant
             Creative Artists Guild Annual Juried art show Honorable mention
2001    Arts Project International Inc. Art show Excellence Award
             Artists in Action art show Merit award

 

Articles and Media:

2013         Professional Artist Magazine
2012         Italy Artribune Magazine
                  UnDo.Net, Italy
                  Inside Art, Italy
                  Art Is Life, Italy
                  Find Art, Italy
                  Autunno 2012, Italy
                  Herald Tribune, Sarasota
                  Sarasota Observer, Sarasota
                  Siesta Key Pelican Press, Siesta Key
                  Sarasota Patch
                  Longboat Key Observer, Longboat Key
                  83 Degrees
                  The Rickie Report
                  Tampa Bay online
                  Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch, Riverview
2011         Gallery & Studio Magazine NY
                  Herald Tribune
                  Examine
                  WTSP 10News,
                  Sarasota History Alive
                  Sarasota Arts and Cultural Alliance
                  Sarasota Patch
                  The Observer
                  Citrus County Chronicle
2010        The Observer
                  Orlando Insider
                  Lakeland ledger
2009        The Tampa Tribune
                  St. Petersburg Times
                  Tampa Bay Business Journal
                  Lakeland Ledger
                  Tampa Bay online
                  Tampa Bay Arts
                  Tampa Daily Photo
2008         Tampa Bay Informer
2002         The Communication Line
2001         Tampa Bay magazine
                  Performing Artists Magazine
                  Public channel TV interview

 

Business and Private Collections:

Aaron Fodiman, Tampa Bay Magazine Editor                                                               Tampa, Florida
Owen Sweet, Jewelry design Gallery                                                                              Indian Rocks, Florida
Kaufman Iris, Traffic Lights Inc owner, 4 sculptures                                                   Caracas, Venezuela
Charles Dupuis, Director of Financier National Bank                                                    Montreal, Canada
George Seger , Boxing Agent- 2 sculptures                                                                    Largo, Florida
Dr. Steller, chiropractor-3 sculptures                                                                             Largo, Florida
Fortress Technologies, Inc.                                                                                              Oldsmar, Florida
Lynn Kenny, Art collector                                                                                                Belleaire, Florida
Meg Enterprise –3 sculptures                                                                                         Dunedin, Florida
Family life Clinic -2 sculptures                                                                                        Clearwater, Florida
Tina Turbin,  Author                                                                                                        Dunedin, Florida
James Jokel, Real Estate manager                                                                                 Clearwater, Florida
Polk state College                                                                                                              Lakeland,  Florida
                                                                                                                                          
Professional Organizations:

Allied Artists of America
Artists in Action International
Creative Artists Guild
Florida Artists Group
FL Committee of National Museum of Women in the Arts
Florida Museum for Women Artists
Florida Sculptors guild
FSU Museum of Fine Arts Artists League
International Sculpture center
Sarasota Arts Council
Tampa Realistic Artists
Tarpon Springs Art Association
West Pasco Art Guild
Women’s Caucus for Art

 

Education:

1999         George Wagner Studio, Stone Sculpture                                                    Belleair, Florida
                  Dunedin Fine Art Center, Sculpture                                                           Dunedin, Florida
1998         Shulamit Hartal Studio, Wire Mesh Sculpture                                           Tel Aviv, Israel
1997         Florida Gulf Coast Art Center/ Gulf Coast Museum           
                  Stone Sculpture, Sculpture Casting                                                             Belleair, Florida
1996         New York Academy of Art, Sculpture                                                         New York,  New York
                  Northern New Jersey Art Center, Sculpture                                             Ridge, New Jersey
1992-95   S.U.N.Y Suffolk County Community College                                     
                  Associate in Science,  Studio Arts                                                                 Long Island, New York
1988-90  Montgomery College, Visual Arts and Interior Design                              Rockville, Maryland
1986         S.U.N.Y Old Westbury, Performing Arts, Dance                                       Old Westbury, New York
1984         Tel Aviv Artists art center, 3-D sculpture                                                  Tel Aviv, Israel