BETTE RIDGEWAY, A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Born in the Adirondack
Mountains of New York, Ridgeway’s education preceding her four-decade art
career began with graphic design at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York.
Professional designer with Reuben H. Donnelley Advertising Corporation was her
first position. Next came the School of Interior Design Art and the Art
Students League, both in New York City.
Studies continued abroad:
painting, exhibiting, teaching, immersed in the cultures of Madagascar,
Australia and Chile.
Returning to the United
States, her fine art and professional careers continued. Visual arts specialist
for the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission and Executive
Director and CEO of Very Special Arts an educational affiliate of The John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, were amongst her positions.
1970s- Acclaimed Abstract
Expressionist painter Paul Jenkins, saw a light in Ridgeway and closely mentored
her over several decades. Forty years hence, her signature technique of
“Layering Light” on large-scale, luminous poured canvases and metal sculptures
has been perfected.
Mid-1990s-current
Ridgeway has been creating and residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Global
exhibitions include 80+ museums, universities and galleries, including: Palais Royale, Paris, Embassy of
Madagascar and London Art Biennale.
Awards include Top 60
Contemporary Masters, Leonardo
DaVinci Prize, Rome and Sandro Botticelli Prize, Museum of Florence, Italy. Mayo Clinic and Federal Reserve Bank are amongst Ridgeway’s
many permanent public placements. Numerous books and publications have featured her work,
among them: International Contemporary
Masters and 100 Famous Contemporary
Artists. Ridgeway has also penned several books about art and process.