Celeste Collier Fine Art

Artist's Bio

Celeste von Ahnen Collier recently left the great state of Texas, and now resides in beautiful Southeastern Arizona.  A Pennsylvania native, Celeste received a Talent Scholarship to study fine art at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Celeste earned her B.F.A. in drawing and painting.  In 2004, Celeste left a successful career in retail fashion to concentrate her efforts on her family and her artwork. 

Since that time, her award-winning work has been included in numerous national exhibitions, and regional shows.  In 2009, Celeste was awarded a grant from the Artists' Fellowship in NYC. 

Celeste's work is characterized by her attention to detail, regardless of medium.  Celeste produces beautiful works in oils, watercolor, charcoal, colored pencil, ink and graphite.

Celeste and husband, Mark, have two children, Lucas and Josie.  The Collier family also includes loveable dog, "Missy".

In July of 2008, Celeste was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.  Celeste has successfully undergone surgery, chemotheraphy and radiation.   The Collier family is grateful for the prayers and well-wishes from so many good people during this time.   Thank you and God bless

Artist's Statement

Art is highly personal and subjective.  What one person may love, another dislikes.  I paint what I enjoy painting.  As a cancer survivor, I've been inspired by Lance Armstrong.  What I love about his story is that he was a better cyclist AFTER cancer than he was BEFORE.  That is what strive for in my art - to be a better artist now than I was before I was diagnosed. 

My Father-in-law took this picture of my work area, while I was working on a study for the painting "Two Bar-D Ranch". 

What people are saying:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you... we are absolutely awestruck, we couldn't believe the beauty and detail... it is so perfect."

Marsha, Texas, USA

(Private Commission Piece)

Exhibitions

2010 - Tombstone Association of the Arts 30th Annual Open Judged Show, Tombstone, AZ

2010 - Celebrate the Arts Juried Art Show, Benson, AZ 

2010 - "Wounded in Action", an Art exhibition of Orthopaedic Advancements, Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

2009 - "Remember When" Art Exhibit, Allen Heritage Museum, Allen, TX 

2009 - Plano Art Association 41st Annual Member Show, Plano, Tx

2009 - 24th Texas & Neighbors Regional Art Exhibit, Irving, TX

2009 - Regional 125 Show, Plano, TX

2008-Plano Art Association 40th Annual Member Show, Plano, TX 

2008 - eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopaedics in Art, San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL

2008 - 44th Annual Collin County Adult Art Show, McKinney, TX

2007 - Plano Art Association 39th Annual Member Show, Plano, TX

2007 - Plano City Hall, Plano, TX

2007 - State Fair of Texas, Creative Arts, Dallas, TX

2007 - Visual Arts Coalition of Dallas, Dallas, TX

2006 - 07 PaintAmerica Top 100 Touring National Exhibit

2006 - Plano Art Association 9th Annual National Juried Art Show, Plano, TX

2006 - Plano Art Association 38th Annual Member Show, Plano, TX

2006 - State Fair of Texas, Creative Arts, Dallas, TX

2005 - State Fair of Texas, Creative Arts, Dallas, TX

Awards 

2010 - Awarded First Place in Oil by the Tombstone Vigilettes, Third Place in Graphics and Third Place in Watercolor, Tombstone Association of the Arts 30th Annual Open Judged Show, Tombstone, AZ

2009 - Best in Category - Graphics, 125 Regional Show, Plano, TX 

2008 - Best in Category -
Drawing, Plano Art Association Annual Members Show 

2008 – First Place, Professional Graphics, 44th Annual Collin County Adult Art Show

2007 - First Place, Watercolor, 39th Annual Plano Art Assocation Members Show

2007 - First Place, pen and ink, State Fair of Texas, Dallas, TX

2006 - Second Place Watercolor, Second Place Colored Pencil, State Fair of Texas

2006 - Third Best Overall, 38th Annual Plano Art Association Members Show

2005 - Second Place Charcoal, State Fair of Texas, Dallas, TX