Andrea Harris was educated at the School of the Art Institute Chicago. She works in a variety of mixed media, however her favorite paintings are created in oil and cold wax. Collections of Andrea’s paintings have been exhibited in public venues, museums and galleries and have been considered influential in humanitarian and environmental sectors.

Harris’s passion for painting the figure was her initial step toward integrating the connection of humanity with nature- very often exploring the subtle relationship of the human form, “It is a perception that each of us is unique in the universe- yet shape, form and color remind us we are elements in nature.”

Harris’s artwork has evolved as being centered on observations of nature and humanity. Because we are elements of society, her work also examines our cultural role- especially as seen in current events. The dichotomy between what we are and how we act is central to her work. This is a theme Harris has approached for some time, for example- her “Women of Courage: Beyond Boundaries monumental and ongoing portrait project.  This traveling exhibition is a series that celebrates women who have inspired others to pursue their dreams.

“Impressions” is a current body of work of environmental interest- an exhibition/ installation of large-scale paintings that interfaces the emotional moment as we are “kissed” by nature.

“Change of Heart” is a metaphor of paintings, emotion and relationships. During the past two years limited edition books and prints of this series have been available. Each painting depicts the “seasonal” journey of the heart. This series is about first impressions, friendship, love and self-awareness.

Andrea’s artwork is represented in private collections throughout the United States and Europe. Her series, “The Veil: A Mosaic Connecting Cultural Boundaries” was featured October through December 2005 during the Silk Road Theatre’s production of “Ten Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith,” located in the historic Chicago Temple Building. Other select exhibitions include “Beyond Boundaries,” a solo exhibition that celebrated Women’s History Month at the Mayor Daley Civic Center, ”In the Forest,” a solo exhibition at the Chicago Fine Arts Building Gallery and solo exhibition “Women of Courage,” featured at Chicago’s Apollo Theatre and Rosaland Franklin University. Recent exhibitions include the “Acquisition Exhibition” located at Chicago’s Illinois Institute of Art and resulted in the permanent acquisition of a Harris painting by the Illinois Institute of Art.

Harris was selected to participate in the “Cool Globes” Chicago exhibition that took place along the lakefront and The Field Museum Campus during summer, 2007. Each juried and sponsored artist created a visual solution to global warming that was integrated onto a five-foot diameter fiberglass globe. Harris’s globe was chosen to be on view at the National Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. from June until October 2008 and in 2009 Los Angeles and Houston hosted the Cool Globes exhibition. Internationally, the five-foot diameter globe “Eco-Heroes” has traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009 and in 2010 Geneva, Switzerland and Marseilles, France. Harris also created a 12″ mini-globe replica of her larger “Eco-Heroes” globe, and it was one of 12 selected to be on exhibition at the United Nations for World Environment Day.  The replica “mini-globe” was also on display at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Andrea’s paintings are often exhibited in collaboration with her husband, photographer Bart Harris, http://www.BartHarris.com.  This dynamic artist duo is featured as an integral part of the PlaneTree healing arts program located at Chicago’s Swedish Covenant Hospital.

In November 2012, Andrea Harris was inducted into the National Association of Women Artists, the oldest professional women’s fine art organization in the United States.  It provides a forum for women artists to share ideas and to exhibit their work.

Harris serves on the board of directors for the Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art. Founded in 1972 in connection with the College Art Association (CAA), CWCA is a national member organization unique in its multi-disciplinary, multicultural membership of artists, art historians, students, educators and museum professionals.

In addition to her paintings and installations, Harris was a founding board member of the Global Alliance of Artists, http://www.GlobalAllianceArtists.org. This non-profit organization harnesses creativity as a catalyst for solving social and environmental challenges.

Harris’s paintings are represented in the following cities: Chelsea, New York City: Amsterdam Whitney International Fine Art: http://www.amsterdamwhitneygallery.com, Chicago, Illinois at Homey Gallery: http://www.ILoveHomey.com, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Bluestone Fine Art Gallery: http://www.bluestone-gallery.com and Harbor Country, Michigan at Gallery H: http://www.GalleryH.com. More extensive artwork can be viewed at http://www.AndreaHarris.com.