About
My painting explores human connection and intimacy. I strive to be of this time and also touch the eternal, to see the mythic in the mundane. Alice Neel, known for her brilliant, compassionate figure paintings, juried me into my first exhibition. Like her, I paint my family and friends, aiming to pierce this moment. Formally, the geometry of my compositions and my color choices embody psychological states. Some parts of each work achieve sharp realism while others diffuse or bleed. Translucent and flat solid areas display different qualities of presence or absence. I work with both water media and oil paint on Linen or wood referencing cinematic light, imagined and digital realities.
Artist friends are essential to my work and I am convinced that an international culture based in friendship and the arts will help us meet the many challenges we face globally. I mentor, jury a local residency and curate shows here in New England.
I was born in Queens, New York; the daughter and granddaughter of firefighters. I have a BFA from Hartford Art School and MFA from Vermont College.
For the past 25 years I have lived and painted in New Hampshire with breaks for a Residency year in Dublin, Ireland and a extended trips to teach in Mexico, China, Taiwan and England. Currently my studio is in a former Mill in Harrisville, NH behind a motorcycle shop.
I have exhibited at the Fitchburg Art Museum, MA, Brattleboro Museum, VT, the Mariposa Museum, NH, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA, the Open Center NY, the University Museum of Contemporary Art at UMass and the Attleboro Museum, MA.
Recent Exhibitions
Blue Raven Gallery, Rockland, ME, Intimate Paradox, 2024
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH, Vegetative Soul, 2024
Gallery 51, North Adams, MA: Reflecting Ecologies, 2023
Conant Gallery, Groton, MA: Screens & Shadows- New Work by Joan Hanley and Humberto Ramirez, 2023
Manninen Center for the Arts, Endicott College, Beverly, MA What’s Going On? Paintings by Joan Hanley, 2022
Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA: 86th Annual Regional Exhibition, 2022
Bridgeport Art Center Gallery, Chicago, IL: Occupy the Moment, 2022
Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, Rochester, NH: Breath of the Forest, 2021
NHIA's Sharon Arts Center Gallery, Peterborough, NH: Monadnock Art Tour Preview Exhibition, 2018
Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, VT: Wherever You are is the Center of the World, 2011
Hamden Gallery, UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA: In The Public Sphere: Singular Works, Plural Possibilities, 2008
Mariposa Museum, Peterbrough, NH: Hari Amrit In Memorium, 2004
Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA: Before After, 2002
Lectures and Teaching
MassArt MFA, Boston, MA: Artist Mentor, 2023
Lesley University MFA, Cambridge, MA : Artist Mentor, 2022
Smith College, Northampton, MA: Lecture - Art & Yoga, 2015
Vermont College, Montpelier, VT: Artist Teacher, 2008
Maine College of Art, Portland, ME: Artist Teacher, 2005-6
Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT: Visiting Professor Contemporary Art, 2004
Hofstra University, Queens, NY: Lecture - New Genre Public Art, 2004
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA: Lecture - On Practice, 2000
Education
Vermont College, Montplier, VT: MFA, 2001
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA: MA Creative Arts Therapies, 1988
Hartford Art School, Hartford, CT: BFA , 1976
Podcasts & Interviews
Talk Painting with Brian Rego- Joan Hanley, 2023
The Artist Plunge Podcast, Joan Hanley, 2022