Every language comes with the caveat of abstraction, so to avoid overwriting my work here, perhaps I can distill something about myself instead: I’m a sci-fi geek and science dilettante, attracted to what defies classification. Since that is also what I hope to create, you could say I make pants out of pants. As much as I like [illustration, crafts, products], I try hard not to make them. Paradoxes and dualities regularly show up in my work (chaos/control is a favorite), and sometimes within my process, which might include passage through digital media in some direction. So many things are possible and impossible at the same time, including myself, which I keep seeing differently. On Tuesday, I’m an idiot/savant using the wrong end of a screwdriver. That’s the best I can do, I think. I want to STFU before I’m likely to say something like “I want to generate agnostic one-time code.”

Sandra Cohen studied fine art at Parsons School of Design, the SMFA, and the Art Institute of Boston. A Massachusetts Cultural Council Painting Fellow (2008) and a former member of the Copley Society of Art, she has also been a performing singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter; graphic artist, web designer, art director and pretzel cart vendor.

Awards

Painting Fellowship, Massachusetts Cultural Council, 2008

Education

Lesley University, Cambridge, MA (BS Studio Art, Art History)
Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, MA (Printmaking, Drawing)
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (Painting, Printmaking)
Parsons School of Design, New York, NY (Studio Art)

Exhibitions

2023

ABOUT FACE, (International Group Show)Juried by Michelle May and Payal Thiffault, Curators
BRIDGES, The Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River MA; Joseph Fontina & Lior Neiger, Curators
IN SEARCH OF…, Fountain Street Gallery, Boston MA; Joseph Fontina & Lior Neiger, Curators

2021

REFUGE, Newburyport Art Association & Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport MA; Joe Donelly, Juror
NAA FALL JURIED SHOW, Newburyport Art Association, Newburyport MA; Kari Bernard, Juror
2018
BEARING ARMS: RESPONDING TO GUNS IN AMERICAN CULTURE, (online), Broadsided Press
2017
A BAND CALLED BETE NOIR, (Solo), National Boston, Brookline MA

2015

CHROMA, Gallery 263, Cambridge, MA; Lynda Schlosberg, Curator
CAA 14th NATIONAL PRIZE SHOW, University Place Gallery, Cambridge, MA; Michael Rush, Juror
2013
CAMBRIDGE ARTS COUNCIL, Cambridge, MA
NATIONAL BOSTON, Brookline, MA
2012
CAA 11th NATIONAL PRIZE SHOW, University Place Gallery, Cambridge, MA; Clara Kim, juror
2011
MASSACHUETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL: PAINTING FELLOWS 2008, Concord Art Association, Concord MA
2009
RED, (National Juried) CAA University Place Gallery, Cambridge, MA; Carl Belz, Juror
STRATA, MKL Gallery, Somerville MA
2008
CAA NORTHEAST PRIZE SHOW, Cambridge MA; Nicholas Baume, Juror
2006

EMERGING VISIONS, The Harvard Club of Boston at Copley Society, Boston, MA
DJINNI, (solo) Co|So Gallery, Boston, MA
CLEX, Zeitgeist Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2005
IDYLL ENGINES, Zeitgeist Gallery, Cambridge MA

2004

ART & SOUL, The Cloud Foundation, Boston, MA

Affiliations

Ipswich Art Association (2023- )
Fountain Street Gallery (2022- )
Ipswich Cultural Council (2020- )
Newburyport Art Association (2020-2021)
Co|So Boston (2000-2019)
Gallery 263 (2015-2019)

Please contact me for more information.