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Gail Titus

Gail Titus


After working as a ceramic artist for more than twenty years creating wall sculptures, Gail Titus has been focusing more extensively on pursuing her long-time interest in abstract painting. Her detailed studies of abstract painting techniques led Titus to develop works on canvas using acrylic paint and a variety of unconventional tools and techniques. Her primary focus in painting has been on textural surface development.

Gail Titus works spontaneously and intuitively without regard to realistic forms, but with a focus on textures, colors, and interesting shapes. She creates artwork by applying paint to a canvas using brushes, scrapers, water bottles, or other objects, working intuitively. As this process continues, certain areas of the painting will start to feel undeveloped. She will methodically rework those areas until the artwork gradually feels resolved. Her original artworks have been acquired by corporations and private collectors throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia.

All artworks by artist



Gail Titus, with over two decades of experience as a ceramic artist creating wall sculptures and commissioned installations, has recently shifted her focus toward her enduring passion for abstract painting. Delving into in-depth studies of abstract painting techniques, Titus has channeled her expertise into crafting works on canvas utilizing acrylic paint and an array of unconventional tools and methods. Much like her ceramic creations, her primary emphasis in painting remains on the development of surfaces.

Titus works spontaneously and intuitively without regard to realistic forms, but with a focus of textures, colors and interesting shapes. She creates artworks by applying paint to a canvas using brushes, scrapers, water bottles or other objects, working quickly and intuitively. After this initial phase she begins to discern and work more methodically, further developing the painting. As this process continues, certain areas of the painting will start to feel undeveloped. This is when she will methodically rework those areas until the artwork gradually feels resolved. 

Titus says of her work, “It is difficult to title my work. I paint spontaneously, usually without any preconceived ideas…when a painting is close to being finished or when it is finished that I can relate the composition to something external, but often not even then. I really want the viewer to relate to the images on the painting, with their response coming from their own experiences.”

Her artworks have been acquired by corporations and private collectors throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

Gail Titus, with over two decades of experience as a ceramic artist creating wall sculptures and commissioned installations, has recently shifted her focus toward her enduring passion for abstract painting. Delving into in-depth studies of abstract painting techniques, Titus has channeled her expertise into crafting works on canvas utilizing acrylic paint and an array of unconventional tools and methods. Much like her ceramic creations, her primary emphasis in painting remains on the development of surfaces.

Titus works spontaneously and intuitively without regard to realistic forms, but with a focus of textures, colors and interesting shapes. She creates artworks by applying paint to a canvas using brushes, scrapers, water bottles or other objects, working quickly and intuitively. After this initial phase she begins to discern and work more methodically, further developing the painting. As this process continues, certain areas of the painting will start to feel undeveloped. This is when she will methodically rework those areas until the artwork gradually feels resolved. 

Titus says of her work, “It is difficult to title my work. I paint spontaneously, usually without any preconceived ideas…when a painting is close to being finished or when it is finished that I can relate the composition to something external, but often not even then. I really want the viewer to relate to the images on the painting, with their response coming from their own experiences.”

Her artworks have been acquired by corporations and private collectors throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

EXHIBITIONS
2022 The Unknown Nature of Being, Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2021 Surfing Madonna Save the Ocean, Escondido Municipal Gallery, Escondido, CA
Mission Valley Artwalk @ Little Italy, San Diego, CA
Twenty Women Artists: NOW - Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA
2020 20/20: Twenty Women of Vision, Fresh Paint Gallery, San Diego, CA
2019 OMA Artist Alliance: Creative License,- Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA
The First Artist’s Invitational, Swift Gallery, San Diego, CA
Mission Federal Artwalk @ Little Italy, San Diego, CA
Artwalk @ Liberty Station, San Diego, CA 
2018 Informal Languages, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles
Prom Dress: Seventeen on Being 17, Cannon Gallery, Carlsbad, CA
2017 Featured Artist Exhibition, SACCA, Tucson, AZ
Pop Futurism and Abstraction, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA      
2010 Abstract Paintings, Ventana Canyon, Ventana medical Systems, Inc, Tucson, AZ
2007 hand + spirit + art, Tohono Chul, Tucson, AZ 
The Practice of Abstract Painting, The Drawing Studio, Tucson, AZ
2000 Crosscurrents, The Gallery at the Tucson International Airport, Tucson, AZ
1997 Art Spirit, Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ
Desert Reflections, Ironwood Gallery, Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, Tucson AZ
1996 Two person show, Tucson Jewish Community Center Fine Art Gallery, Tucson AZ
From Earth to Art, Pink Adobe Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1995 Designer Showcase ’95, Tucson Museum of Art and ASID, Tucson, AZ
1993 Four Person Exhibit, After Image Gallery, Silver City, NM
Alumni Show, WMNU McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM
SACA Show, Desert Artisans Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1992 WNMU McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM
All Fired Up, Impressions Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1991 Southern AZ Clay Artists, Impressions Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1988 Graduate Show, WNMU McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM

AWARDS
2022 The Unknown Nature of Being, Best of Show Award
2010 Ventana Canyon Abstract Paintings, Honorable Mention
1997 Desert Reflections, Honorable Mention
1993 Southern AZ Clay Artists, Cash Award
1992 WNMU Miller Library Permanent Collection, Purchase Award

COLLECTIONS
USC Fisher Museum of Art permanent collection, Los Angeles, CA
WNMU Miller Library permanent collection, Silver City, NM
Law Office of Jojene Mills, Tucson, AZ
Karp and Weiss, Tucson, AZ
Farrell and Bromile, Tucson, AZ 
Crescent Real Estate, Fort Worth, TX
Gavi Italian Restaurant Corporation, Tucson, AZ
Myerscoff Restaurant Corporation, Inc., Charleston, IL
Numerous Private Collections

INSTALLATIONS
2006 Ceramic Installation, Ford Elementary School, TUSD,Tucson, AZ
2005 Ceramic Installation and Painted Mural, Gavi Italian Restaurant, Tucson AZ
2005 Ceramic Installation, Private Residence, Tucson AZ
2004 Ceramic Installation, Ochoa Elementary School, TUSD, Tucson, AZ

MEDIA COVERAGE
2021 Interview, CBS Channel 8, San Diego

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Time for Women Artists, San Diego, CA  
American Women Artists, Chesterfield, MA

EDUCATION
2018 Paulette Warner workshop, Tucson, AZ
2017-22 Pen and Ink, Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA
2008-11 Metalsmith Coursework, Pima Community College, Tucson AZ 
2003-10 Drawing Studio, Abstract Painting, Tucson, AZ
1990-00 Graduate coursework in art, University of AZ and WNMU
1999 Paula Rice workshop, Tucson, AZ 
1997 Frank Boydon workshop, Phoenix, AZ
1996 Akio Takamori, Phoenix, AZ
1996 Wayne Higby workshop, Santa Fe, NM
1995 Robert Piepenburg workshop, Tucson, AZ
1991 NCECA conference and workshops, Phoenix, AZ 
1991 Wayne Higby workshop, Tempe, AZ 
1990 Harvey Sadow workshop, Phoenix, AZ
1989 Don Reitz workshop, Tucson, AZ
1987 Bachelor of Arts in Art - Western New Mexico University 
1986 David Shaner workshop, Silver City, NM
1976 Master of Arts in Sociology - Eastern Illinois University 
1975 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Eastern Illinois University 

TV & FILM
Insecure, HBO
ROAR, Apple TV
Home Economics, ABC