Willow Bader was born in Washington State and moved to Philadelphia in 1998 to pursue serious figure study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The academy generously awarded her prizes and grants including the Charles Toppan Prize 2001, and the Franklin C. Watkins Memorial Grant 2002, she was also the recipient of the prestigious Schiedt Memorial Travel Scholarship in 2002, which she used for travel in Europe.

Also by this time she was showing regularly at Artist’s House Gallery in Philadelphia, since then she has branched out to show at other prominent galleries in the Philadelphia area, including Rosenfeld Gallery. Having recently moved to Seattle, Willow continues to further her career in the NW.

Her dynamic work unites modern figurative subject matter with traditional mediums. The ancient technique of encaustic, her latest exploration, lends itself beautifully to the sensual physicality and boldness of her work.

An artist who continues to find travel abroad a source of inspiration, Willow’s future interests are in the exposure of her work in galleries nationally and internationally.

Born February 16, 1979

Education  

Certificate earned from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2003

Solo Exhibitions

Gallery by the Bay, Stanwood WA. Paintings and Drawings, September, 2007
Gallery De Paul, Lancaster PA. Of Flesh and Bone, May 5 – 27, 2006
Artists' House Gallery, Philadelphia.  Paintings and Drawings,  November  2 – 27, 2005
Gallery de Paul, Lancaster PA.   Figures,  August 5 - 27, 2005
Artists' House Gallery, Philadelphia.  New Works,  March 31 - May 2, 2004
Artists' House Gallery, Philadelphia.  Paintings and Drawings,  May, 2003

Group Exhibitions
Unclad 2008, Stanwood WA. March 8-9, & 14-16, 2008
Onda Gallery, Portland OR. Tango, February 2008
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia PA.   Small Works Show,  December  2007
Museo Gallery, Langley WA.  Small Works Show,  November and December 2007
Gallery by the Bay, Stanwood WA. Twelve by Twelve, November 31 – December 31, 2007
Gallery de Paul, Lancaster PA.   Encaustic on Paper, July – December 2007
Gallery by the Bay, Stanwood WA. Brushes with the land, October 5 – Nov 11, 2007
Gallery de Paul, Lancaster PA.  Torso, June 2007
Gallery de Paul, Lancaster PA.  Fast Forward, May 4 – 26, 2007
Unclad 2007,  Stanwood WA.  March 9-18,  Portland OR.  April 5-8, 2007
Springing Forth, An Invitational at the Front Room,   Langley WA.  March 31 – April 8, 2007
Museo Gallery, Langley WA.  Torso Show, February 2007
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia PA.  Gigantic Annual Small Works Show, December 2006
Gallery de Paul, Lancaster PA.  Retrospective…a year in art, November 2006
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia PA.  New Talent, July 2006
Gallery de Paul, Lancaster PA. Small Works, November 2-January 27, 2006
Artists' House Gallery, Philadelphia.  Small Works,  November 30 -December 24, 2005
Highwire Gallery, Philadelphia. Corpus VI,   April 2005
Artists' House Gallery, Small  Works,  December 1 - 24, 2004
Ardmore Invitational,  December 6 - 24, 2002

Awards

Louis and Estelle Pearson  Prize for Landscape with Figures, 2003
The Thouron Prize, 2003
Schiedt  Memorial Travel Scholarship, 2002
The PAFA  Fellowship Juried Prize, 2002
Robert Carlen Memorial Endowment,  2002
Franklin C. Watkins Memorial Grant,  2002
The Mindel Caplan Kleinbard Award, Special Notice, 2002
The Michael Pearson Memorial Prize,  2002
Philadelphia Watercolor Society Award,  2002
Charles Toppan Prize, Special Notice, 2001
Cecilia Beaux Memorial Prize, Special Notice, 2001
Samuel David Memorial Prize for Cast Drawing, Second Year,  2001
The PAFA Fellowship Juried Prize,  2001
Samuel David Memorial Prize for Cast Drawing, First Year - Special Notice,  2000

Bibliography
“Gallery by the Bay Features Paintings and Drawings by Edmonds Artist Willow Bader” Stanwood/Camano News, September 18, 2007
Di Fonzo, Clara, “A Dance in Paint and Canvas,” Intelligencer Journal, May 12, 2006
Slupe, Ellen, "Regionals,"  Art Matters, August, 2005
Lindt, Susan, "Figures First,"  Intelligencer Journal, August 5, 2005
Duffy, John, "DePaul Gallery debuts with Dynamic Philly artist,"  Lancaster New Era,  August 4,  2005 

Gallery Representation

Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia  PA
Gallery by the Bay, Stanwood WA
Museo Gallery, Langley WA

Teaching

Private drawing lessons,  2004 - to present
Drawing instructor at the Main Line Art Center, Philadelphia PA,  2005 - 2006
Drawing instructor  at the Philadelphia Art and Music School,  Philadelphia PA,  2003 - 2004