David Stanger is a painter living and working in Pittsburgh. His recent portraits, interiors and still-lives have an uncanny atmosphere, where outer appearances give way to a range of emotions and dreamlike associations.
Stanger’s work was featured in the BP Portrait Award 2017, a traveling exhibition of contemporary portraiture that debuted at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. His work has been exhibited regionally and nationally at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Mattress Factory, the Butler Institute of American Art, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, as well as Manifest Gallery and the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Stanger’s work can be found in many private collections and is most notably in the collections of the Carnegie Museum of Art.
Stanger received a BFA in painting from Syracuse University, studied painting and renaissance art history in Florence, Italy and earned an MFA from the Hoffberger School of Painting with Grace Hartigan as Director. For more than a decade, Stanger taught as a Professor of Painting before stepping away from academia in 2024 to fully devote himself to his studio practice. His work can be found in many private and public collections and he is currently represented by Winfield Gallery in Carmel, CA.
- Interview -
To learn more, read Elana Haglar's interview with David Stanger at Painting Perceptions.
- Curriculum Vitae -
Education
2003
M.F.A. Maryland Institute, College of Art
Hoffberger School of Painting - Grace Hartigan, Director
1998
B.F.A. Syracuse University - Painting
1997
Syracuse University - Florence Center, Italy
Exhibitions
2024
University of North Carolina Asheville, 15th Annual Drawing Discourse, Asheville, NC
Juror – Phong Bui (Exhibition Catalog)
Winfield Gallery, Selections, Carmel, CA
2023
Portrait Commission, “Chief Justice Debra Todd of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court” for the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA
Harlan Gallery, Faculty Exhibition, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Winfield Gallery, Selections, Carmel, CA
2022
Portrait Commission, “Professor Robert Harper” for the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA
Winfield Gallery, Selections, Carmel, CA
2021
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Featured Artists Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Winfield Gallery, Selections, Carmel, CA
2020
Winfield Gallery, David Stanger - Selected Works, Carmel, CA
2019
Portrait Commission, “Bernita Buncher” for the Buncher Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA
Harlan Gallery, Faculty Exhibition, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
2018
Jask Gallery, End of the World, Pittsburgh, PA
Curator – Fred Blauth
Westmoreland Museum of Art, Artists Who Teach, Greensburg, PA
Curator – Barbara Jones
2017
National Portrait Gallery, BP Portrait Award 2017, London, England
Traveling Exhibition also presented at:
+ Exeter City Art Gallery, Exeter, England
+ Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburg, Scotland
+ Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Sunderland, England
2016
Manifest Gallery, 7th International Painting Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
Carnegie Museum of Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 105th Annual, Pittsburgh, PA
Juror – Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer (Exhibition Catalog)
Manifest Gallery, 6th International Painting Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
2015
Harlan Gallery, Seton Hill University, Faculty Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Butler Institute of American Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 104th Annual, Youngstown, OH
* Bernstein/Schoen Award & Hillman Award; Juror – Dr. Louis Zona (Exhibition Caltalog)
Future Tenant Gallery, Bedtime Stories, Pittsburgh, PA
Manifest Gallery, 5th International Painting Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
2014
Manifest Gallery, Face First – Contemporary Portraiture, Cincinnati, OH
Manifest Gallery, Loosing Your Head – The Skull in Contemporary Art, Cincinnati, OH
Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Peddling Personalities, Greensburg, PA
Greater Latrobe School District – Art Trust, Annual Art Gala and Exhibition, Latrobe, PA
Salmagundi Club, Hudson Valley Art Association - 82nd Annual Exhibition, New York, NY
* Herbert and Rosetta Bohnert Memorial Award
Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 103 Annual, Greensburg, PA
* Jack Buncher Award; Juror – Barbara Jones (Exhibition Catalog)
University of North Carolina Asheville, 5th Annual Drawing Discourse, Asheville, NC
Juror – Tim Lowly (Exhibition Catalog)
Manifest Gallery, 4th International Painting Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
2013
Manifest Gallery, Fresh Paint, Cincinnati, OH (Exhibition Catalog)
Manifest Gallery, Vista, Cincinnati, OH (Exhibition Catalog)
Hudson Valley Art Association, 81st Annual Exhibition, Old Lyme, CT (Exhibition Catalog)
* Al Camurati Memorial Award for Drawing
MW Fine Arts, Conversations: 5:10, Pittsburgh, PA
Curator: Graham Shearing
Manifest Gallery, 8th International Drawing Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
* Second Prize Award for Drawing
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 30:2 Invitational, Pittsburgh, PA
Curators: Stacy Weiss & Adam Welch
Fontbonne University, The Figure Now, St. Louis, MO
University of North Carolina Asheville, 4th Annual Drawing Discourse, Asheville, NC
* Juror’s Choice Award; Juror - Susan Hauptman (Exhibition Catalog)
Manifest Gallery, 3rd International Painting Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
2012
Manifest Gallery, The Nude, Cincinnati, OH (Exhibition Catalog)
Manifest Gallery, 7th International Drawing Annual – Exhibition in Print, Cincinnati, OH
Butler Institute of American Art, National Mid-Year Show, Youngstown, OH
Three Rivers Arts Festival, Annual Juried Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Jurors: Linda Benedict-Jones, Murray Horne, Michael Olijnik,
2011
Harlan Gallery, Faculty Exhibition, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Manifest Gallery, The Observed, Cincinnati, OH (Exhibition Catalog)
Brew House Association, Alumni Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Fontbonne University, The Figure Now, St. Louis, MO
* First Prize; Juror - Michael Grimaldi
2010
Carnegie Museum of Art, Associated Artists Centennial Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Curators: Donald Miller and Al Miner
2008
Spool Mfg. Gallery, DOC., Binghamton, NY
Space 101, Brew House Members Show, Pittsburgh, PA
Harlan Gallery, Faculty Exhibition, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, Mid-Atlantic Annual Exhibition, Newcastle, PA
Curator: Douglas Fogle
American Jewish Museum, Making Hope Happen, Pittsburgh, PA (Exhibition Catalog)
2006
Seraphin Gallery, Out of Line – Contemporary Drawing, Philadelphia, PA
SPACE, Pinch Hitters, Pittsburgh, PA
Artscape, Up Periscope, Baltimore, MD
Artist’s Upstairs Gallery, Art Up in Context, Pittsburgh, PA
Sub-Basement Gallery, On the Verge, Baltimore, MD
2005
Artist’s Upstairs Gallery, The Figure: Philip Rostek, David Stanger, Pittsburgh, PA
2003
Mattress Factory, Gestures, Pittsburgh, PA
Curators: Michael Olijnyc and Graham Shearing
Maryland Institute, College of Art, Master of Fine Arts, Thesis Exhibition, Baltimore, MD
2002
Circle Gallery, Maryland Federation of Art, Self-Portraits Exhibition, Annapolis, MD
Curator: Carolyn Carr, PhD
Butler Institute of American Art, 66th National Midyear Show, Youngstown, OH
Juror: Jerry Berger
Maryland Institute, College of Art, War, Baltimore, MD
Curator: John Yau
2000
Three Rivers Arts Festival, Paramnesia, Two PNC Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA
American Jewish Museum, Neither Seed nor Flower, Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Museum of Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 89th Annual Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Curator: Duane Michaels
1998
Syracuse University, The Mist and the Mountain - B.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Syracuse, NY
1997
Carnegie Museum of Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 87th Annual Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
Juror: Madeline Grynsztejn
Public Collections and Commissions
Buncher Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA
Jewish Family & Children's Services, Pittsburgh, PA
Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, PA
Site-specific work commissioned for Gestures
University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA
Honors/Awards
2020
Featured Artist, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
2019
Visiting Artist, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
2018
3rd Prize – Landscape Category, 34th Annual Painting Competition, The Artist’s Magazine
Visiting Artist, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
2017
Exhibiting Finalist – BP Portrait Awards, National Portrait Gallery, London, England
2016
Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
Finalist – 12th International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center
Finalist – Portrait Category, 33rd Annual Painting Competition, The Artist’s Magazine
2015
Henry and Elise Hillman Award, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 104th Annual
Nancy Bernstein and Robert E. Schoen Award, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 104th Annual
Finalist – Portrait Category, 32nd Annual Painting Competition, The Artist’s Magazine
2014
Second Prize, 8th International Drawing Annual, Manifest Gallery
Herbert and Rosetta Bohnert Memorial Award, 88th Annual, Hudson Valley Art Association
Finalist – Portrait Category, 31st Annual Painting Competition, The Artist’s Magazine
Finalist – Still Life Category, 31st Annual Painting Competition, The Artist’s Magazine
Jack Buncher Award, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 103rd Annual
2013
Residency, Jerusalem Studio School, Civita Castellana, Italy
Artist Opportunity Grant, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Juror’s Choice Award, 4th Drawing Discourse, UNC Asheville – Juror, Susan Hauptman
Finalist – Portrait Category, 30th Annual Painting Competition, The Artist’s Magazine
Al Camurati Memorial Award for Drawing, 87th Annual, Hudson Valley Art Association
2012
Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2011
First Prize, The Figure Now, Fontbonne University – Juror, Michael Grimaldi
2003
Finalist, International Young Art (IYA) - Artlink in collaboration with Sotheby’s
Finalist, Henry Walters Traveling Fellowship - Maryland Institute, College of Art
2000
Purchase Award, Carnegie Museum of Art - AAP 89th Annual Exhibition
1999
Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
Publications
2019
Studio Break Podcast, Interview with Artist David Stanger, with David Linnewey, 1 hr audio
2018
Painting Perceptions, Aesthetic Charge: An Interview with David Stanger, by Elana Hagler
2017
Catalog, BP Portrait Award 2017, National Portrait Gallery, London
Exhibition in Print, 7th International Painting Annual, Manifest Gallery
Catalog, 12th International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center
The Artist’s Magazine, 33rd Annual Painting Competition, Finalist – Portrait Category
Exhibition in Print, 6th International Painting Annual, Manifest Gallery; February
2016
Catalog, 105th Annual Exhibition, AAP, Carnegie Museum of Art; May
Exhibition in Print, 5th International Painting Annual, Manifest Gallery; April
2015
The Artist’s Magazine, 32rd Annual Painting Competition, Finalist – Portrait Category; December
Catalog, 104th Annual Exhibition, AAP, Butler Institute of American Art; June
Exhibition in Print, 4th International Painting Annual, Manifest Gallery; March
2014
The Artist’s Magazine, 31st Annual Painting Competition, Finalist – Portrait & Still Life Categories; December
Catalog, 82nd Annual Exhibition, HVAA, Salmagundi Club, NYC; September
Catalog, 103rd Annual Exhibition, AAP, Westmoreland Museum of American Art; June
Exhibition in Print, 8th International Drawing Annual, Manifest Gallery; August
Exhibition in Print, 3rd International Painting Annual, Manifest Gallery; April
Catalog, Drawing Discourse – 5th Annual, University of North Carolina; February
2013
The Artist’s Magazine, 30th Annual Painting Competition, Finalist – Portrait Category; December
Catalog, Fresh Paint, Manifest Gallery; October
Catalog, Vista, Manifest Gallery; October
Exhibition in Print, 7th International Drawing Annual, Manifest Gallery; May
Catalog, Drawing Discourse – 4th Annual, University of North Carolina; February
2012
Catalog, The Nude, Manifest Gallery; August
Catalog, 76th National Midyear, Butler Institute of American Art; June
2011
Catalog, The Observed, Manifest Gallery; November
2010
Catalog, 100th Annual Exhibition, AAP, Carnegie Museum of Art; July
2008
Catalog Essay, Making Hope Happen, American Jewish Museum; February
2007
Catalog Essay, Of the Painted Image - Cabessa, Cohen, Rostovsky, American Jewish Museum
Professional Experience
2011- 2024
Associate Professor of Art with Tenure, Seton Hill University, Pittsburgh, PA
2008 - 2011
Visiting Assistant Professor, Seton Hill University, Pittsburgh, PA
2008
Adjunct Faculty - Drawing, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Adjunct Faculty - Drawing, Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA
2005 - 2008
Director and Curator, American Jewish Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
Professional Affiliations
2012 - 2018
Board Member, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2007 - 2010
Board Member, Brew House Association, Pittsburgh, PA
2005 - 2008
Advisory Committee, Heinz History Center, Rauh Jewish Archives, Pittsburgh, PA
Advisory Committee, Holocaust Center, Pittsburgh, PA