Ann Schwartz

I received my
B.A. from the U of FL. I married and moved to New Jersey to
teach, I was always painting and exhibiting my art in my free time. My husband,
Don, and I moved back to Florida in 1997. I joined Women in the Visual Arts to
meet other artists and became involved immediately on the Board. I worked my
way up to become President for several years, as well as Exhibition Chair. I
was also on the Board of the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s Artist Guild and served
as interim-President.

In 2003 I became a Destination Lecturer on ancient and
contemporary art on cruise ships, and conducted hands-on art and design
workshops on over 95 sailings. I balanced selling homes, exhibiting and selling
art and winning awards, and doing over 450 lectures and workshops for 17 years
until Covid put me at lockdown. I made one of my guest rooms an art studio and
began to create acrylic collages by cutting up magazine papers with tiny
scissors and a magnifying light. I have participated in over 100 group exhibitions,
and was delighted to win “First Place” for my collage “Contemplation” at the
Lighthouse Center for the Arts in their exhibit “The Art of 16 Associations” I
am most proud of the three exhibitions I did as collaborations with my husband
who took up photography when he retired. We were selected to represent the
United States at the Farindola International Art Festival in Italy with 8 other
artists from around the world. I conducted collage workshops with the children
even though they spoke very little English, and I a little Italian. We managed
to succeed. I thank my husband of 59 years who always supported my efforts and
the changes in my art world, who carried my work to exhibitions, mounted my
sculptures, photographed and framed my art, and applauded my success every time I won an award or sold an artwork! I am delighted my art can be found in collections in England, Italy, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Missouri, and Florida.