Art Opening Reception - A Resplendent Array of Line and Color - Artworks by Valerie Berner

Doors at 5

Opening exhibit 5-7pm

Admission Free    

Welcome to A Resplendent Array of Line and Color. 

The title of this show comes from borrowed words – words I recently read about a different exhibition by a different artist in a different city. I was captivated by the phrase, “a resplendent array of colors.” The language resonated so strongly that I decided to adapt it for the title of my own exhibition. After all, this is my first Buffalo-based solo show, and for those who have not yet experienced “a Berner” painting, they need to know what they are about to see. They need to be beckoned. 

Bold colors, sharply defined lines, and a gleaming finish are the most immediately recognizable aspects of my style. Looking more closely, viewers will also appreciate the many layers of paint in each seemingly flat composition, my use of diagonals, and the enduring motif of circles and curves. My style is representational but far from realistic, and I typically convey settings and scenes based in outdoor worlds. 

My hope for this exhibition is the same as it is for any show: for viewers to take the time to wonder and wander with the imagery, and for my paintings to add something new to each person’s day. Enjoy! 

Valerie Berner lives in Rochester, NY. She balances a rigorous dedication to painting with a daytime career as a mental health clinician. Berner attended St. Lawrence University from 1998 to 2002, where she double majored in Psychology and Fine Arts, with specialization in painting. She earned a master's degree in Art Therapy from Nazareth College in 2004, followed several years later by board certification and licensure as a creative arts therapist. 

Since 2008, Berner has been displaying her artwork publicly. Her paintings are regularly featured in solo, juried, invitational, and group exhibitions. Berner’s style is characterized by bold colors, sharp edges, and settings that evoke dynamic moods. Though the surfaces of her paintings appear flat, each composition contains dozens of overlapping layers of paint. 

Berner is not on social media, but she welcomes contact via email (val@valerieberner.com) or by visiting her website at www.valerieberner.com