About the Artist
I am a painter living in the glorious Finger Lakes region of upstate New York
The more I paint and observe the world around me, the more I am aware of the existence of layers. Nothing is opaque. Everything appears to be composed of layers of shifting colors, light, and shapes, all superimposed upon each other. This astonishes and inspires me. I often paint over colored grounds or older paintings, and I am always excited by the ghost images that peek through the layers of paint. These layers represent to me the depth and mystery of the visual world.
I am endlessly intrigued by patterns of light and shadow. The most ordinary object becomes overwhelmingly beautiful when light falls on it in just the right way. The most familiar scene becomes magical when the sun shines on it at a particular angle. I am always searching for these moments, and my quest is to express what I see and feel. The closer I look, the more I see. The more I see, the more excited I become and the more I want to paint what I am seeing and feeling. The challenge is to transform that initial excitement into a painting.”
I have studied with painters including Marc Dennis, Stuart Shils, Catherine Kehoe, Peter Fiore, and Martin Poole.
State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY
West End Gallery, Corning NY
Bonfoey Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio
Solo and Small Group Exhibitions
3 Americans, Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY. Bossard, Kalyan, and Kaplan. February-May, 2026
Black and White and... Ileen Kaplan and David Watkins, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY May 2026
Spring Spotlight, West End Gallery May 2025
Summer Synergy, Ileen Kaplan, Rosemary and Alan Bennett, Cynthia Cratsley,Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Arts, Corning,NY 7/2022
Double Vision, Ileen Kaplan and David Watkins, State of the Art Gallery,Ithaca,NY 4/2022
Freedom in Constraint, Ileen Kaplan and Domenica Brockman, Corners Gallery,Ithaca, NY 2020
Spotlight Exhibit, West End Gallery, Corning . NY, 6/5-7/9/20
Gang of Nine, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY 1/3/20-1/29/20
Spotlight Exhibit. 171 Cedar Art Center, Corning, NY, 10/20/19-12/20/19
Textures: New Work by Ileen Kaplan and Patricia Brown, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY 9/3/19-9/30/19
New Work: Ileen Kaplan , Agava Restaurant, Ithaca, NY 3/19-5/19
Spotlight Exhibit, West End Gallery, Corning, NY. 4-4-18 through 4-31-18
Luminous Worlds, New Work By Ileen Kaplan and Carol Ast, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca NY. 9/1/17-10/1/17
Essence, New Work by Ileen Kaplan and Michael Maxwell CAP ArtSpace, The Commons, Ithaca NY November 2016
Color Notes, New work by Ileen Kaplan and Patricia Brown, Damiani Wine Cellars, Burdett, NY June 2016
In the Spotlight, Six Artists at West End Gallery, 12 W. Market St, Corning, NY March 6-April 24, 2015
Painting Light, New Work by Ileen Kaplan, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY. February 3-March 1, 2015.
On the Road, Paintings by Ileen Kaplan, Decorum-Too, Dewitt Mall, Ithaca , NY June 1-July 30, 2014
Jane Dennis and Ileen Kaplan: Sculpture and Paintings, George Waters Gallery, Elmira College, February 6 - March 1, 2014
Layers: Paintings by Ileen Kaplan, The Corners Gallery. July 12- August 31, 2013
Pop-Up: A Temporal Gallery Green St., Ithaca, NY, May 2103
Magic and Light, Work by Ileen Kaplan, Carol Spence, and Michael Maxwell, Leidenfrost Vineyards, hector NY, April 2013
Color Stories, Recent Work by Ileen Kaplan and Mary Ann Bowman, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY. January 2013
This Land is Our Land, Featured Artists Ileen Kaplan, Carlton Manzano, Adelaide Rice , Trumansburg Conservatory, Trumansburg , NY October 2012
First Impressions, Ileen Kaplan, Kent Salisbury, and Sheldon Berlyn, Yates County Art Center, Penn Yan Ny, July 22 2012
Tre Donne, Paintings by Melissa Sarat, Bridget Bossart von Otterloo, and Ileen Kaplan, Damiaini Wine Cellars , April 1- May 15 2012
Dog Magic: Paintings by Ileen Kaplan September 1-30, 2011, Montour Coffee House, Montour Falls, NY
Media-Scapes: Work by Carol Spence, Ileen Kaplan, and Michael Maxwell. Leidenfrost Vineyard, April, 2011.
Four Dimensions, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca NY, Ileen Kaplan, James Spitznagel, Mary Ann Bowman, Janet Sherman, January 5-January 30, 2011
Celebrating the Sun, Paintings by Ileen Kaplan, Fibers and Fantasy, Ithaca, NY June 8-July 17 , 2010
Sparks: Solo Show, Lightner Gallery, Keuka College - March 2008
Two Voices: Art Work by Ileen Kaplan and Carol Spence, Leidenfrost Vineyard, Hector, NY, - April 2008
Heart Song Gallery, Greene, NY - 2002
Exhibitions
Arnot Art Museum Regional Juried Show, Elmira, NY July 2015
Southern Tier Biennial, Olean NY, September 2014
State of the Art Gallery, Members' Show, January 2014
West End Gallery, Little Gems, Corning , NY, February 2014
West End Gallery, Director's Choice, Corning, NY, November 2013
West End Gallery, Little Gems Exhibit, Corning, NY February 2013
West End Gallery, Celebrating the Artists of West End, Corning, NY November 2012
State of the Art Gallery, Members' Show November 2012
West End Gallery, Director's Choice, March 2012.
West End Gallery, Little Gems, December 2012.
State Of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY. Member's Show, May 2011.
West End Gallery, Corning, NY. Director's Choice Exhibit, April, 2011.
Franklin Street Gallery, Watkins Glen, NY, March, 2011
George Waters Gallery, Elmira, NY SOAG Group Exhibition, February 2011
State of the Art Gallery, Members' Show, September 2010
Main Street Gallery, Groton, NY, National Small Works Painting Exhibition - December, 2009.
State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY, Regional Juried Exhibition - December 2009 and 2007
CSMA Juried Show - December 2009 and 2008
Ithaca Artists Market, - Juried Market 2009 and 2008
Trumansburg Conservatory Invitational Art Show - 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Kitchen Theater Auction, Clinton House Gallery - March 2009 and 2008
Palace Theater Juried Exhibition "Let it Snow” - December 2008
Clinton House Gallery Ithaca, NY, Artists and their Pets, Invitational Group Show, - September 2007.
Random Selections 1V: An Exhibition of Artwork from Upstate NY and New York City George Waters Gallery, Elmira College - March 2007
Corning Community College Invitational Group Show: “Introductions” - September 2005
Rural Research Laboratory Sayre, Pa. Group Show “Temporary Tattoos” - April 2005
Awards
First Prize Winner in Regional Juried Show at George Waters Gallery, Elmira College, Elmira, NY
Honorable Mention for "Breakfast", Franklin Street Gallery Mothers and Daughters Show, March 2011
Honorable Mention for "Cafe Days" in State of the Art Juried Exhibition - December 2009.
Honorable Mention for "Wine Before Dinner" The Main Street Gallery National Small Works Exhibition, December - 2009
Best in Show for "Breakfast", Kitchen Theater Auction, - March 2008.
