About the Artist
Portrait Artist- Vianna Szabo IAPS EP, PSA, PSWC DP, MWCS, GLPS
Artist and Instructor
Using expressive color, Vianna interprets the world around her to tell a visual story. Whether she is working in pastel, oil or watercolor she’s inspired to capture a moment by painting light and atmosphere to express emotion. Vianna believes painting is a journey of creative study and encourages her students to learn the fundamentals so they express their own artistic voice.
Vianna exhibits regularly in national juried shows including the Pastel Society of America, The Portrait Society of America, and Oil Painters of America, and the American Impressionist Society, The Michigan Watercolor Society and The Adirondacks Watercolor Society She has acted as a juror in shows including the Pastel Society of the West Coast, The International Association of Pastel Societies, and the Figurative/Portrait Juror for the Pastel Journal's Pastel 100 competition.
Vianna is a popular and passionate instructor and teaches workshops nationally and abroad. She has a BS in Education from Eastern Michigan University but credits her art education to books, long hours at the easel, and the generosity of talented friends. Vianna is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and has achieved Distinguished Pastellist status in the Pastel Society of the West Coast. She was inducted into the International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle in 2011 and achieved Eminent Pastelist status in 2015 and earned signature member status in the Michigan Watercolor Society in 2020.
Vianna lives with her husband, Mark, in Romeo, MI. They have two grown children, Shawn and Anna, who have served as her models and inspiration.
Recent exhibitions include:
Dakota Art Pastels International Soft Pastel Competition, 2022 Grand Final- First Place Established Artist
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition. James Ross Gallery, Indianapolis, Indiana. 2022. Award of Excellence
Dakota Art Pastel Competition, Second Quarter. First Place in Established Artist Category. 2022
Oil Painters of America 30th National Juried Exhibition, California Center For the Arts, Escondido Museum, Escondido, CA 2021
36th International Association of Pastel Societies, Dunedin Art Center, Dunedin, FL 2020 Silver Award, In honor of Maggie Price
American Impressionists Society Small Showcase Exhibition, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredricksburg, TX 2020
Bold Brush Painting Exhibition, Best Pastel, November 2019.
Great Lakes Pastel Society Members Show, Three Rivers Art Center, Three Rivers, MI 2019 Richerson Award
American Impressionists Society Small Showcase Exhibition, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey, MI 2019
Pastel USA Annual Exhibition, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Art Center Morro Bay, Morro Bay, California. The Pastel Society of America Award, 2018
2018 National Adirondack Watercolor Society Exhibition, The View, Old Forge, New York. W.B. Romeling Memorial Fund Award, 2018
The Visual Arts Center 11th Biennial National Arts Exhibition. The Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida. Award of Merit, 2018
American Impressionist Society 18 Annual Juried National Exhibition, Montgomery Fine Arts, Park City, Utah. Award of Excellence in Pastel, 2017
Pastels USA Annual Exhibition, Pastel Society of the West Coast, A Sense of Place Gallery, Fresno, CA, Waif Mullens Award, 2017
70th Michigan Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition of Watercolor, Traverse City, MI Golden Artist Award, 2017
Pastels USA Annual Exhibition, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Art Center Morro Bay, CA. HK Holbein Award, 2016
Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolor, View, Old Forge, NY.Margaret and William Foley Award 2016
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibition, Holland Arts Council, Holland, MI. Service Reproduction Company Award.2016
Tenth Biennial National Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida, 2016. Bowles Award for Portrait Excellence.2016
68th Annual Michigan Water Color Society Exhibition, Janice Charach Gallery, West Bloomfield, MI, 2015
Michigan Water Color Society Founders Memorial Award.
Pastel Society of the West Coast, Online Member Exhibition,2015, First Place Signature Division.
IAPS Web Show 2014 - Achieved Eminent Pastelist Status
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition, Dennos Museum, Traverse City, MI 2104 Gold Medal
Ninth Biennial National Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida, 2014. Bowles Award for Portrait Excellence.2014
Chicago Pastel Painters National Juried Exhibition, The Art Center, Highland Park, Illinois. 2013 " End of Day" won the Purchase Award and "Ludwig's Heart" won the Terry Ludwig/ Judson Outfitters Award.
Pastel Society of New Mexico National Juried Exhibition, Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2013 "Blue" won 4th place
Great Lakes Pastel Society Members Exhibition, Novi Civic Center, Atrium Gallery, Novi, MI. "Master of the House" Gold Medal Award. 2013
14th Annual Pastel Journal Magazine, Pastel 100 Competition, Honorable Mention, Portrait/Figure Category for "Turnaround"
Faces and Figures National Juried Competition, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, Florida, 2013. Bowles Award for Portrait Excellence. "Koala Games"
Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, Honorable Mention, Out Of The Box Catagory, 2013 for "Koala Game"
FASO Bold Brush Compeition, Best Pastel, for "Koala Games" August 2012
Pastel Society of America 40th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club: New York City, New York, 2012.
IAPS 20th Juried Exhibition, City of Brea Gallery, Brea, California. Honorable Mention for "Golden Flow"
Pastel Society of the West Coast 26th International Open Exhibition, Art Center Morro Bay, Morro Bay, California. 2012, Qualified for signature membership
Third Biennial Chicago Pastel Painters National Exhibition, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook, Illinois. 2011
Best of Show for "Rose Red"
Pastel Society of America 39th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club: New York City, New York, 2011.
Wallis Corporation Award for "Ludwig's Heart"
First Master Circle Exhibition,Hispanic Arts Building, Albuquerque, New Mexico 2011
Pastel Society of the West Coast 25th International Open Exhibition, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California. 2011 Dakota Pastels Award
Great Lakes Pastel Society, Members Show. Carnige Art Center, Three Rivers, MI 2011. Founders Award
Pastel Journal's 12th annual Pastel 100 Competition. Honorable mention, Still Life Category.
IAPS 17th Juried Exhibition, web show, Honorable Mention
Degas Pastel Society 13th Biennial National Exhibition, Hammond Art Center, Hammond, Louisiana, 2010. Award of Excellence
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition, Walls Gallery: Wilmington, South Carolina, 2010
Pastel Society of America 38th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club: New York City, New York, 2010
Pastel Society of the West Coast, 24th International Open Exhibition, Thelma Davis Memorial Award. 2010
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Competition, Alden B Dow Museum of Art and Science, Midland, MI, 2010, 4th place
Pastel Journal's 11th annual Pastel 100 Competition. Honorable Mention, Portrait Category.
Bold Brush Competition, Sponsored by Fine Art Studio Online, Fav 15 Finalist, July, Aug, Nov, Dec 2009 March, April, August, September, 2010
14th IAPS Web Show, www.pastelinternational.com. 2009, Third Place Award
West Coast Pastel Society Exhibition” Pastels USA 2009” Triton Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Clara, California. 2009 Cheap Joes Award
International Association of Pastel Societies 13th Juried Exhibition, Ventana Fine Art Gallery,Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2009
Great Lakes Pastel Society Members Exhibition, Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, Michigan 2009 Honorable Mention Award
Pastel Society of America 36th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club: New York City, New York, 2008
Great Lakes Pastel Society Small Paintings National Competition, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2008 Gold Medal Winner
International Association of Pastel Societies 11th and 13th Juried Exhibition, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio 2008, 2010
Pastel Society of the West Coast 22nd International Open Exhibition, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California. 2008 Terry Ludwig Pastels Award
Pastel Society of America 35th Annual Exhibition at the National Arts Club, New York, New York. 2007 Pastel Society of North Carolina Award
Oil Painters of America 16th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, at Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredricksburg,Texas 2007
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Finalists, at Weatherburn Gallery in Naples, Florida, 2007
Richeson 75 Portrait/Figure Exhibition, Richerson Academy of Art Kimberly,Wisconsin, 2007.
Chicago Pastel Painters at the Palette and Chisel Club, Chicago Illinois, 2007. Great American Artworks Award
Our Town in Birmingham, Michigan, 2004 - 2009
Scottsdale School Best and Brightest in Scottsdale, Arizona, 2006.
Vianna was also Artist in Residence at Kettering University in 2005.
Recent Works
