There are stories all around us—both those that have been told time and time again, and those that have yet to gain a voice. The focus of my artwork is on the latter. I believe that everyone is a natural storyteller to some extent. It is through storytelling that we make sense of our world and our place in it. Building on this natural inclination, my work allows viewers a glimpse into a story that has not yet been told. In this way, storytelling becomes organic and ever changing, dependent upon the interpretation and experiences of each individual viewer.
I begin each of my pieces by collaging a foundation of words using recycled book and journal pages. I then apply layers of paint, drawings, and recycled materials to build up the surface. The elements of each story develop naturally throughout this process. There always comes a moment in my work in which I feel that my part of the story is finished—there is nothing more to be added. When I reach this point, I paint a brightly colored border around the edge of the work, signifying its conclusion. Thus the telling of the story is left to the imagination and interpretation of the viewer.
Tara Pappas is a mixed media artist in the beautiful state of Wyoming. Drawing from her knowledge of fairy tales, folklore, and fables, Tara strives to create visual stories, embodying the timelessness of the fantastic and its connection with the ordinary. When she's not in her art studio, she enjoys exploring the natural beauty of her surroundings, hiking the mountain trails of Wyoming and Colorado.
To stay updates with Tara's most recent art ventures, please "like" her on Facebook and follow her blog updates on the "Welcome" page!
Galleries/ Exhibitions:
Solo Exhibition in "Touchstone Laramie", Laramie, WY (11/11/16-11/13/16)
Group Exhibition in "Game of Life", Cheyenne, WY (6/2016 - 8/2016)
Group Exhibition in "West Side Alive", Laramie, WY (4/16/16-4/17/16)
Solo Exhibition at Coal Creek Downtown, Laramie, WY (1/1/16 - 1/31/16)
Solo Exhibition at Sweet Melissa, Laramie, WY (10/1/15-12/1/15)
Solo Exhibition at The Night Heron, Laramie, WY (8/1/15-10/1/15)
Aurora Arts Festival, Aurora, CO (6/27/15)
Roxborough Art Fair, Roxborough, CO (6/13/15)
Solo Exhibition at Art Gallery at The Paramount Cafe, Cheyenne, WY (6/10/15-7/5/15)
Solo Exhibition at Everyday Joe's, Fort Collins, CO (4/1/15-4/30/15)
Zonta Ladies Night, Cheyenne, WY (3/6/15)
Solo Exhibition at Everyday Joe's, Fort Collins, CO (4/1/15-4/30/15)
Zonta Ladies Night, Cheyenne, WY (3/6/15)
Solo Exhibition at Coal Creek Downtown, Laramie, WY (3/1/15-3/31/15)
Laramie Art & Music Thing, Laramie, WY (2/14/15)
Solo Exhibition at The Night Heron, Laramie, WY (1/3/15 - 2/28/15)
Design & Dine, The Art Factory, Cheyenne, WY (12/11/14)
Solo Exhibition at Sweet Melissa, Laramie, WY (10/1/14 - 11/30/14)
Solo Exhibition at Coal Creek Uptown Gallery, Laramie, WY (9/1/14 - 9/30/14)
Design & Dine, Iron Sharpens Iron Studio, Cheyenne, WY (9/11/14)
17th Street Arts Festival, Cheyenne, WY (8/15/14 - 8/16/14)
Solo Exhibition at Flydragon Studio, Cheyenne, WY (8/3/14 - 9/6/14) - Art Design & Dine (8/14/14)
Cheyenne Artist Guild National Art Show (8/9/14 - 8/28/14)
Laramie Farmers Market, Laramie, WY (7/25/14)
Buell Children's Museum, Pueblo, CO (7/15/14) - Children's Mixed Media Art Workshops
Paramount Cafe Art Gallery, Cheyenne, WY (5/6/14 - 6/12/14) - Art Design & DIne (5/8/14)
Art Gallery at Sweet Melissa, Laramie, WY (3/31/2014 - 4/30/2014)
Art Gallery at Night Heron, Laramie, WY (2/27/2014 - 4/30/2014)
"Failed Resolutions" collaborative event at Night Heron, Laramie, WY (1/2014)
Holiday Market, Laramie, WY (12/2013)
Coal Creek Coffee Uptown, Laramie, WY (11/2013)
Artists In Cellophane- Art-o-Mat, www.artomat.org (10/2013 - present)
Arts In The Park, Laramie, WY (8/2013) - People's Choice Award for "Stargazing" (2013)
Coal Creek Coffee Downtown, Laramie, WY (6/30/2013 - 7/31/2013)
Turning Art, www.turningart.com (Summer 2013 - present)
Works of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (2/2013-present)
Published Works:
Mixed Media Art Magazine, Issue 10, March 2014 (http://bit.ly/mmam-i10-pappas)
Agave Magazine, Issue I, Volume I, Summer/Fall 2013Commissioned Works:
Door mural for Thunderground Sound Studio, Laramie, WY (Winter 2013)
Private Commissioned Mixed Media Painting, "Comforts of Home" (2/2014)
Private Commission Mixed Media Painting, "Wanderlust" (5/2015)
Private Commission Mixed Media Painting, "New Chapters" (8/2016)
Private Commission Mixed Media Painting, "Owl in the Family" (10/2016)
Solo Exhibition in "Touchstone Laramie", Laramie, WY (11/11/16-11/13/16)
Group Exhibition in "Game of Life", Cheyenne, WY (6/2016 - 8/2016)
Group Exhibition in "West Side Alive", Laramie, WY (4/16/16-4/17/16)
Solo Exhibition at Coal Creek Downtown, Laramie, WY (1/1/16 - 1/31/16)
Solo Exhibition at Sweet Melissa, Laramie, WY (10/1/15-12/1/15)
Solo Exhibition at The Night Heron, Laramie, WY (8/1/15-10/1/15)
Aurora Arts Festival, Aurora, CO (6/27/15)
Roxborough Art Fair, Roxborough, CO (6/13/15)
Solo Exhibition at Art Gallery at The Paramount Cafe, Cheyenne, WY (6/10/15-7/5/15)
Solo Exhibition at Everyday Joe's, Fort Collins, CO (4/1/15-4/30/15)
Zonta Ladies Night, Cheyenne, WY (3/6/15)
Solo Exhibition at Everyday Joe's, Fort Collins, CO (4/1/15-4/30/15)
Zonta Ladies Night, Cheyenne, WY (3/6/15)
Solo Exhibition at Coal Creek Downtown, Laramie, WY (3/1/15-3/31/15)
Laramie Art & Music Thing, Laramie, WY (2/14/15)
Solo Exhibition at The Night Heron, Laramie, WY (1/3/15 - 2/28/15)
Design & Dine, The Art Factory, Cheyenne, WY (12/11/14)
Solo Exhibition at Sweet Melissa, Laramie, WY (10/1/14 - 11/30/14)
Solo Exhibition at Coal Creek Uptown Gallery, Laramie, WY (9/1/14 - 9/30/14)
Design & Dine, Iron Sharpens Iron Studio, Cheyenne, WY (9/11/14)
17th Street Arts Festival, Cheyenne, WY (8/15/14 - 8/16/14)
Solo Exhibition at Flydragon Studio, Cheyenne, WY (8/3/14 - 9/6/14) - Art Design & Dine (8/14/14)
Cheyenne Artist Guild National Art Show (8/9/14 - 8/28/14)
Laramie Farmers Market, Laramie, WY (7/25/14)
Buell Children's Museum, Pueblo, CO (7/15/14) - Children's Mixed Media Art Workshops
Paramount Cafe Art Gallery, Cheyenne, WY (5/6/14 - 6/12/14) - Art Design & DIne (5/8/14)
Art Gallery at Sweet Melissa, Laramie, WY (3/31/2014 - 4/30/2014)
Art Gallery at Night Heron, Laramie, WY (2/27/2014 - 4/30/2014)
"Failed Resolutions" collaborative event at Night Heron, Laramie, WY (1/2014)
Holiday Market, Laramie, WY (12/2013)
Coal Creek Coffee Uptown, Laramie, WY (11/2013)
Artists In Cellophane- Art-o-Mat, www.artomat.org (10/2013 - present)
Arts In The Park, Laramie, WY (8/2013) - People's Choice Award for "Stargazing" (2013)
Coal Creek Coffee Downtown, Laramie, WY (6/30/2013 - 7/31/2013)
Turning Art, www.turningart.com (Summer 2013 - present)
Works of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (2/2013-present)
Published Works:
Mixed Media Art Magazine, Issue 10, March 2014 (http://bit.ly/mmam-i10-pappas)
Agave Magazine, Issue I, Volume I, Summer/Fall 2013Commissioned Works:
Door mural for Thunderground Sound Studio, Laramie, WY (Winter 2013)
Private Commissioned Mixed Media Painting, "Comforts of Home" (2/2014)
Private Commission Mixed Media Painting, "Wanderlust" (5/2015)
Private Commission Mixed Media Painting, "New Chapters" (8/2016)
Private Commission Mixed Media Painting, "Owl in the Family" (10/2016)