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About

the artist

Astrid Preston, a Los Angeles based, Latvian-American artist was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She received a B.A. in English Literature from UCLA in 1967.  Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States and Asia, including solo shows at the Laguna Art Museum, Bakersfield Museum, Saginaw Art Museum, Wichita Falls Museum, Ella Sharp Museum and Arts College International. She has had articles and reviews of her work published in the Los Angeles Times, Art in America and ArtForum. Preston received an NEA Fellowship Grant in Painting in 1987 and an artist residency from Lux Art Institute in 2008. Her work is in many public and private collections, including, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Orange County Museum of Art, Long Beach Museum of Art, UCLA Hammer Museum, McNay Art Museum, Oakland Museum and Nevada Museum of Art. She lives and works in Santa Monica, California, where she is represented by the Craig Krull Gallery.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023
Astrid Preston: For The Trees, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2021
Between Worlds, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2019
New Paintings, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2018
Echoing Light, R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2017
Upside Down World, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Poetics of Nature, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA
Into Nature - Astrid Preston / Sasha Koozel Reibstein (Two Person Show), R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2015
Coming to the Edge, R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
On Reflections, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2013
New Territory, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Astrid Preston solo exhibition, SCAPE, Corona del Mar, CA
2012
Small Forest, GRACIE & Project Room 1, Pop-Up show & sale, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA
2010
east west spring fall, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2009
Paintings & Drawings, The Colburn School, Los Angeles, CA
Birdwatching, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024
sublime NATURE AND ABSTRACTION Three Person Show, SCAPE, Corona del Mar, CA
Wonderland, Sullivan Goss, Santa Barbara, CA
The Summer Salon II, Sullivan Goss, Santa Barbara, CA
Spring 2024, R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2023
The Flower Show, L.A. Louver Gallery, Venice, CA
Uncharted Terrain: Imagined Landscapes: Hilary Brace, David Eddington, Astrid Preston, Vita Art Center, Ventura, CA
Surreal Women, Sullivan Goss - An American Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
Color and Form, Tufenkian Fine Arts, Glendale, CA
2022
Multiple Insights, R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
On The Edge LA Art 1970-90s from the Joan & Jack Quinn Family Collection, Armenian Museum of America, Watertown, MA
Emsemble, R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
Nocturnal Sun, S.C.A.P.E., Corona del Mar, CA
2021
The Edge LA Art 1970-90s from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA
Sky Space Time Change, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna, CA
Decade by Decade: Women Artists of California, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
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ARTICLES & REVIEWS

Lita Barrie, "Art of Devotion: Astrid Preston and Blue McRight at Craig Krull Gallery" Whitehot Magazine, Sep. 2023 Peter Frank, "Dan McCleary and Astrid Preston at Craig Krull, Santa Monica", Whitehot Magazine, Sep. 2021 Robert L. Pincus, "Freezing Flux: Art and Artifice in Astrid Preston's Paintings ("Echoing Light"), R.B. Stevenson Gallery, June 2018 Gary Brewer, "Astrid Preston; Between Earth and Silence", Art and Cake, Dec. 28, 2017 Jody Zellen, "Astrid Preston, Upside Down World at Craig Krull Gallery", Art and Cake, Nov. 10, 2017 Lita Barrie, "Pixelation Breathes Life into Landscape Painting: Astrid Preston Upside Down World", ART Là-bas, Oct. 13, 2017 John O'Hern, "Et in Arcadia Ego", American Art Collector, Apr. 2017, p. 46-51 John Seed, “Astrid Preston: New Territory at Craig Krull Gallery,” Huffpost Arts & Culture, Feb. 13, 2013 Michael Charles Tobias, “New Territories: Artist Astrid Preston Celebrates the Earth in a Landmark Nature Exhibition,” Forbes.com, Jan. 31, 2013 Previews, “Astrid Preston: New Territory,” Artweek. LA, Jan. 21, 2013 Constance Mallison, “Astrid Preston: “east west spring fall,” art ltd., Jan/Feb. 2013, p. 25-26 Michael Shaw, “Exhibitions, Continuing and Recommended,” ArtScene, Nov. 2010, p. 18-19 Michael Shaw, “November's Top Exhibitions in the Western United States,” The Huffington Post, Nov. 19, 2010 Leah Ollman, “Scientific Lens on Shrubbery,” Los Angeles Times, May 2008 Robert L. Pincus, “’Plein Air Past & Present’ showcases continuity in painting,” The San Diego Union-Tribune, Feb. 24, 2008, p. E2-3 Adam Kaye, “Plein air artist sets up easel in Encinitas,” North County Times, Feb. 19, 2008, p. B-1 & B-7 Marcia Manna, “The Nature Lover,” The San Diego Union-Tribune North County, Feb. 7-13, 2008, p.1 Susan Heeger, “The Inner and Outer Landscapes,” Los Angeles Times West, Apr. 16, 2006, p. 32-35 Mike Vensel, “Astrid Preston. Art,” interview, kittenmag.com, 2003 Anne Valdespino, “This new art installation is bearing fruit,” Los Angeles Times, May 22, 2003, p. E21 Alex Worman, “L.A. Confidential,” Artnet, September 12, 2003 David Pagel, Art Reviews, Los Angeles Times, September 10, 1999 David Lewinson, “Astrid Preston at Arts College Int’l,” ArtWeek, August 1999 Kate Milano, “Preston’s Gardens,” Coast Orange County, v.8, December 1998, p. 69 Terrence Rogers, “City of Vapor,” American Artist, July 1998, p. 28-37, 72-73 Orville O. Clarke, Jr., “Astrid Preston,” ArtScene, December 1998, p. 11-12 Suzanne Muchnic, “City of Vapor,” ARTnews, February 1997, p. 122 Susan Heeger, “No Watering Required,” Los Angeles Times Magazine, January 19, 1997, p. 24-25 Barbara L. Fredricksen, “Exhibit’s theme gets back to nature,” Pasco Times, Sep. 6, 1996, p. 5 Kim Irwin, “Canvassing the Westside,” Daily Breeze, May 12, 1996, p. B1, B2 Doree Dunlap, “The Golden Land,” OCWeekly, March 8-14, 1996 Elenore Wells, “Landscape of the Soul,” Visions, v.6, no.2, Fall, 1992 Heather Lineberry, “California Landscapes,” Art of California, vol.4, no.2, March 1991, p. 10-11 Marlena Donohue, Review, Art in America, v.78, no.4, April 1990, p. 272-273 Orville O. Clark, Jr., “The Jan Turner Gallery,” So. California Home & Garden, July 1989, p. 32-38 Merle Schipper, “Astrid Preston: Living Landscapes,” Angeles, June 1989, p. 40-42 Orville O. Clark, Jr., Review, Home & Garden, March 1989, p. 57 Robert L. Pincus, Review, Art in America, V.75, no.10, October 1987, p. 191 Susan Freudenheim, Review, Artforum, September 1987, p. 136 Leah Goldman, Review, Los Angeles Times (S.D. Edition), Calendar, July 3, 1987 Robert L. Pincus, Review, San Diego Union, Currents, June 11, 1987, p. E8 Merle Schipper, Review, ARTnews, May 1987, p. 50 Suzanne Muchnic, Review, Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1985 Peter Clothier, “Matters of Life and Death,” L.A. Weekly, June 24 - July 4, 1985, p. 57 Robert L. Pincus, Review, San Diego Union, March 11, 1985, p. D4 Robert McDonald, Review, Artweek, March 6, 1985, p. 3 Suzanne Muchnic, “ARCO Finale is Awash in Whimsy,” Los Angeles Times, Aug. 1984, p. 1 Orville O. Clark, Jr., Review, Images & Issues, May/June 1984, p. 55 Laura Boucher, “Free Spirits, Painters Brush Up for Community Project,” Evening Outlook, June 1, 1984, p. A1 and Focus Magazine Marlena Donohue, Review, Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1984 Merle Schipper, Review, Images & Issues, Sep/Oct 1983 Ron Sequeria, “Houses Open for Inspection,” The Pioneer, November 15, 1983, p. 5 Joanne Burnstein, “California Color,” Artweek, April 23, 1983, p. 24 Suzanne Muchnic, Review, Los Angeles Times, March 18, 1983 Barry Brennan, “Santa Monica Gets Pinned,” Evening Outlook, July 27, 1982, p. B2 Betty Brown, “Astrid Preston’s Fractured Urbanscapes,” Reader, April 9, 1982, p. 15 William Wilson, Review, Los Angeles Times, Calendar, April 12, 1982 Cornelia Emerson, “Studio Stop for Fine Arts Seminar,” At Art Center, February 1982 Melinda Wortz, “New Editions: Astrid Preston,” ARTnews, September 1981, p. 159 Suzanne Muchnic, Review, Los Angeles Times, Calendar, June 5, 1981 Suzanne Muchnic, “A connective Muni Survey,” Los Angeles Times, Calendar, March 23, 1980 William Wilson, Review, Los Angeles Times, December 16, 1977 William Wilson, Review, Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1977 Louise Lewis, “A Point of View-Four L.A. Artists,” Art Week, July 1977, p. 16 Phillip Gordon, “The Two Cultures,” Los Angeles Free Press, January 17-21, 1977 Faith Wilding, “Twenty-Four Women Making Art,” Artweek, January 15, 1976 Gordon J. Hazlitt, Review, ARTnews, March 1976, p. 88 Melinda Wortz, “Women’s Art Experiences,” Artweek, September 6, 1975

CATALOGUES & BOOKS

Astrid Preston: For The Trees, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2023) Between Worlds, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2021) Echoing Light, R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA (2018) Upside Down World, Essay by Lita Barrie, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2017) Et in Arcadia Ego, New Museum Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA (2016) On Reflections, Essay by Robert L. Pincus, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2015) Why Life Matters, Michael Charles Tobias and Jane Gray Morrison, Springer, Cham, Switzerland (2014) Painted Landscapes, Contemporary Views, Lauren P. Della Monica, Schiffer Pub. Ltd, Arglen, PA (2013) Outside: Selections from the Doug Simay Collection, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA (2013) Breaking in Two: A Provocative Vision of Motherhood, Arena 1 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2012) L.A. Rising, SoCal Artists Before 1980, Lyn Kienholz, California/International Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA (2010) Astrid Preston – New Paintings, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2008) Plein Air Past and Present, San Diego Museum of Art and Lux Art Institute, San Diego and Encinitas, CA (2008) Then + Now: Women Artists of Southern California, Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2007) Echoes: Women Inspired by Nature, OCCCA, Santa Ana, CA (2007) Astrid Preston – Paintings, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2006) BordoErdo/Re(a)d Forest/Roter Wald, Johanna Domokos, Apokrif, Hungary (2004) Astrid Preston: Paintings, Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2002) Dreamscapes: Contemporary Surrealist Landscapes, Wignall Museum/Gallery, Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA (2001) Landscape Not Forgotten, William D. Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA (2000) Arte actual en Los Angeles, Sala de Exposiciones de la Excma, Cuenca, Spain (1997) Landscape: The Continuum, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles, CA (1996) Southern California: The Conceptual Landscape, Madison Art Center, Madison, WI (1994) Paintings of California. Arnold Skolnick, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, New York, NY (1993) Near Paradise, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA (1987) Landscape/Seascape/Cityscape, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA (1986) Chemical Bank: An Art Collection in Perspective, Chemical Bank, New York, NY (1985) Los Angeles and the Palm Tree - Image of a City, ARCO Center for Visual Art, Los Angeles, CA (1984) American Landscape Painting, California State University, Los Angeles, CA (1984) A Broad Spectrum - Contemporary Los Angeles Painters & Sculptors ‘84, Design Center of Los Angeles, CA (1984) United Bank of Denver 1983 Art Collection, Denver, CO (1983) Drawings by Painters, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA (1982) Locations, California State College, San Bernardino, CA (1981) Elegant Night, Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA (1981) Drawing: Personal Definitions, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA (1980) Contemporaries: 17 Artists, Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA (1980) Newspace in San Diego, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA (1979) Exhibitions ‘76 ‘77, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA (1978) Drawing: Various Approaches, Long Beach City College, Long Beach, CA (1977) Twenty-Four Southern California Women Artists, Cerritos College Art Gallery, Norwalk, CA (1977) American Artists ‘76: A Celebration, Marion Koogler McNay Art Institute, San Antonio, TX (1976)

COLLECTIONS

Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA

Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA

Grunwald Graphic Arts Center, UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA

Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art 

Long Beach Museum, Long Beach, CA

Lux Art Institute, Encinitas, CA

Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV

McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, TX

The Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA

Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA

Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR

Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA

City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica, CA

Kaufman & Broad, Paris, France

Kaufman & Broad, Los Angeles, CA​

COMMISSIONS

Banner Project for the Third Street Promenade: The FLORA and FAUNA of Santa Monica. 16 images, enlarged from 24 x 24 inch paintings to 9 foot square banners for Downtown Santa Monica (2016)

Roll Global, Los Angeles, CA, three oil on canvas paintings for conference room, 42 x 24 inches each: Pistachios, Oranges and Pomegranates (2002)

Lux Art Institute, Encinitas, CA, “Apple Valise” and “Garden of  Apple Delights” (site installation of 15 Anna apple trees,) (2002-2003)

Princess Cruises, Sun Princess, 5 oil on canvas paintings (1995)

The Principal Financial Group, 80 Grand, Des Moines, Iowa, lobby mural, 6 oil on canvas paintings on a 70 ft. wall. (1992)

JMB Development, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, lobby, design for 3 tapestries, 117 x 47 ½ inches each (1990-1991)

Home Savings of America, Woodland Hills, CA, 6 ft. x 26 ft., ceramic tile mural (1989)

Home Savings of America, Monterey Park, CA, ceramic tile & glass mosaic mural, 16 ft. x 16 ft. (1989)

Home Savings of America, Irwindale, CA, 2 enamel on wood paintings for cafeteria, 26 panels on a 60 ft. wall and 20 panels on a 40 ft. wall., (1988)

Golf Corp. of America, Santa Monica, CA, 6 oil on canvas painting​, Irvine Hilton, Costa Mesa, CA, three enamel on aluminum paintings for coffee shop (1985)

ARCHIVES

Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 2019

Focus on the Masters Archive & Library, Ventura, CA, 2019

RESIDENCY

Lux Art Institute, Encinitas, CA, 2008

PEFORMANCE

Re(a)d Forest, with Johanna Domokos, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA, 2005

AWARDS

NEA Fellowship Grant in Painting, 1987

EDUCATION

1967  B.A., English Literature, University of California, Los Angeles

SEARCH

© 2014-2025 by Astrid Preston. All Rights Reserved. Designed by Studio Nobu.

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