About me

ARTIST STATEMENT

My paintings create layered visual narratives that examine love, protection, and human connection through a lens of humor and history. Working in hand-mixed acrylics, I build complex compositions that break down large shapes into intricate individual forms—a technique that invites extended viewing and discovery of hidden details.

I place contemporary and historical figures into unexpected scenarios that reveal the absurdities and truths of human relationships. My "Harlots" series transforms personal insults into empowering visual dialogues, while works in "The LA Series" reimagine historical figures onto pop culture scenery. These paintings operate as visual stories where symbolism and tongue-in-cheek humor create multiple layers of meaning.

My process involves painting flat on a table with controlled brushwork, mixing all colors by hand to achieve the specific vibrancy each piece demands. This meticulous approach allows me to focus on crisp lines and bold illustration while maintaining the spontaneous energy that drives the narrative content. The patterns and designs of Mexico, South America, Africa, and Japan influence my visual vocabulary, combining with the color traditions of Fauvism and the surreal sensibilities of artists like Frida Kahlo.

Each painting emerges from personal experiences—spiritual breakthroughs, relationship dynamics, and life transitions—transformed through research and imagination into universal stories. The work connects past and present, celebrity and everyman, creating a visual language that speaks to viewers across generations about the complexities of being human.

BIO

Andrea Monroe creates enigmatic narrative paintings that transform vintage photographs and historical imagery into surreal, richly detailed landscapes. Her work combines meticulous botanical illustration with fantastical storytelling, placing mid-20th century figures in dreamlike natural settings where underground caves reveal hidden worlds, decorative skies unfold in intricate patterns, and unexpected creatures emerge from lush jungle environments. Through her distinctive folk art-influenced style, Monroe constructs mysterious visual narratives that blur the boundaries between reality and imagination.

Born to Lithuanian American parents in Berwyn, Illinois, Monroe's artistic journey began with early recognition at The Art Institute of Chicago, where her pastel drawing earned an Honorable Mention. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked in fashion retail for prestigious establishments including Maxfield, Ecru, and LA EyeWorks before transitioning into film costuming. Her experience in fashion and film provided her with a sophisticated understanding of visual storytelling and character development that deeply informs her current artistic practice.

Monroe's evolution as a visual artist progressed through several phases - from creating whimsically painted children's accessories to exploring devotional imagery in natural settings in the early 2000s. Her contemporary work represents a mature synthesis of her lifelong fascination with nature, narrative, and the mysterious. Each painting functions as a portal into an alternative world where historical figures become characters in fantastical stories, and the natural world serves as both setting and active participant in unfolding mysteries. Monroe continues to develop this distinctive narrative style from her studio in Los Angeles.

Artist Resume - Selected Exhibitions

RECENT EXHIBITIONS (2023-2025)

2025

The Beverly Hills Art Show, SCWCA Group Show, Beverly Hills, CA
Gallery of Hermosa, "Discovery" Group Show, Hermosa Beach, CA
Long Beach Creative Group, SCWCA Group Show, Long Beach, CA
Huntington Beach Art Center, "Power of Paint" Group Show, Huntington Beach, CA
Tryst at Delamo Crossing, WPW Group Show, Torrance, CA

2023

The California Heritage Museum, "The Portrait Show," Santa Monica, CA

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015

Cactus Gallery, "The Story of My Divorce," Frog Town, CA

2016

The Beverly Hills Art Show, Beverly Hills, CA

2006-2007

Cactus Gallery, Paintings & Assemblages, Eagle Rock, CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015

Manhattan Arts, "Bold Expressions," New York, NY (Online Juried Exhibition, Certificate of Excellence)
Gallery H, "Where the Magic Happens," Hawthorne, CA
Studio 50, "Water-A Necessary Conversation," Los Angeles, CA (Juried by Southern California Women's Caucus for Art)
Reseda Art Tour, Reseda, CA

2014

11:11 Art Collective, "Sudden Impact," Tarzana, CA

2013

La Guitarra Festival, San Luis Obispo, CA
Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

PUBLIC ART & SPECIAL PROJECTS

2022

Montana Ave. Art Walk, Santa Monica, CA

2020

Los Angeles County Arts & Culture, Civic Arts Program, "Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment"

2015

Featured Artist, The Art of Monteque (Online Art Community)
Madrid Theater, "Dia De Los Meurtos," Canoga Park, CA

2014

Justice Street Elementary, Public Mural, West Hills, CA
(Certificate of Recognition from Councilman Bob Blumenfield, 3rd District)
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, "Dia De Los Meurtos" Altar Installation, Hollywood, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Southern California Women's Caucus for Art (SCWCA)
Women Painters West (WPW)
Shoebox Arts