Irene Pantelis is a mixed-media artist living and working in Maryland. Initially a lawyer, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Maryland at College Park, where she is currently a Lecturer, in addition to teaching at Montgomery College. Held in private and public collections, her work has been included in group shows nationally and featured in solo shows at Studio Gallery in Washington D.C.; UMD’s Art Gallery, VisArts, and Glen Echo Park in Maryland; and at the Mattie Kelley Arts Center in Florida. Her public works include a large mural in the Willowsong Restaurant at IHG’s InterContinental Hotel at the Wharf in Washington D.C. Derived from her drawing process, her experimental videos have been screened worldwide, receiving numerous awards, among them, an Official Selection at the Cannes Film Awards in France.

Artist Statement

“My current art explorations focus on bodily and existential vulnerability through the lens of plant specimens imperiled by a world that increasingly offers diminishing support, necessitating a dependency on humans and their ingenuity. Infused in magic realism, my botanical forms often morph into or interact with other artifacts, discoveries and natural phenomena, engaging narratives of identity, memory, assimilation and ecology. I work primarily with ink and watercolor on synthetic papers, often layering other materials, particularly pigments and filaments obtained from household items, or manipulating my images digitally, to create framed wall pieces, murals, installations and videos. Balancing the naturally fluid and chaotic behavior of water, ink and other materials against my deliberate mark-making, my works record a process, a symbiosis, a transformation, a story still unfolding, an assemblage where botanical forms offer many possibilities.”

En Español

La artista Irene Pantelis vive y trabaja en Maryland, Estados Unidos. Tras ejercer derecho por una década, obtuvo un bachillerato y un masters en bellas artes de la Universidad de Maryland en College Park, donde ahora enseña como catedrática, además de dar clases en Montgomery College. Sus obras han ingresado a colecciones privadas y públicas y han formado parte de exposiciones a nivel nacional. Ha tenido exposiciones exclusivas en Studio Gallery en Washington D.C., en el Adkins Arboretum, la Universidad de Maryland, VisArts y Glen Echo Park en Maryland, y en el Mattie Kelley Arts Center en la Florida. Entre sus obras públicas se encuentra un mural instalado en el restaurante Willowsong dentro del hotel IHG InterContinental Washington D.C. at the Wharf. Sus videos experimentales nacen de sus dibujos y han sido incluidos en festivales y eventos a nivel mundial, recibiendo numerosos premios, entre ellos, una selección oficial al Cannes Film Awards en Francia.

“Mis obras más recientes exploran la vulnerabilidad física y existencial a través de la historia de especímenes de plantas amenazadas por un mundo que cada vez ofrece menos recursos, creando una dependencia con los humanos y su ingenio. Con un toque de realismo mágico, mis dibujos botánicos interactúan con otros diversos artefactos, descubrimientos y fenómenos naturales, entretejiendo temas de identidad, memoria, asimilación y ecología. Trabajo mayormente con tinta y acuarela sobre papeles sintéticos, mezclando otros materiales, como pigmentos y fibras derivados de productos caseros, o manipulando las imágenes digitalmente, para crear cuadros, murales, instalaciones o videos. Al trabajar busco equilibrar el comportamiento fluido y caótico del agua, la tinta y demás materiales con el control de mis trazos y así mis obras acaban siendo el registro de un proceso, una simbiosis, una transformación, una historia aún sin terminar, un montage donde las formas botánicas ofrecen muchas posibilidades.”

Solo & Duo Exhibitions

2026

  • Studio Gallery, Washington D.C. (February 25-March 21)

2025

  • This Little Glade, Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely, Maryland (duo show with Rhonda Luckey, November 4-January 2)

  • Where the Trees Meet, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2024

  • When Time Is a Keyhole, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2023

  • Of Water Too Are the Grasses, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2022

2021

2019

  • Marks of Existence, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland

2018-19

  • Beneath My Lawn, VisArts, Common Grounds Gallery, Rockville, Maryland

Selected Group Exhibitions

2025

  • Aquachrome, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio (September 26-October 24)

  • My Heart Leaps Up, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C. (November 26-December 20)

2024

  • The World Around Us, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • DC Art Now 2025, Art Grants Finalists Show, I Street Gallery SE, Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washington, D.C.

  • Faculty Show, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland

  • Arte del Alma, City Hall Gallery, Bowie, Maryland

  • Butterflies in the Outhouse, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • This Land, Art Fluent Online Gallery, Boston, Massachussets

  • What Is Love?, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, Maryland

  • 2024 Adkins Arboretum Juried Show, Ridgely, Maryland (curated by Mehves Lelic, Assistant Professor of Art and Art History and Director of Mosely Gallery at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore)

2023

  • Positive/Negative 38th National Juried Exhiibition, East Tennessee State University, Slocumb Galleries, Johnson City, Tennessee (curated by Mark Scala, Chief Curator of the Frist Art Museum in Nashville)

  • Our Common Humanity, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • See You Soon, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2022

  • Myth and Memory, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • DC Art Now 2022, Art Grants Finalists Show, 200 I Street Gallery SE, Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washington D.C.

  • My Muse, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • Out of the Artist’s Closet: A Studio Gallery Retrospective, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2021

  • Organic Geometry: A Nancy Frankel Tribute, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • Faculty Exhibition, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland

  • Joy in Convergence, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2020

  • Co-Operative Visions, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • Peace in Ambiguity, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

  • 28th Annual Emerald Coast National Juried Fine Arts Exhibit, Mattie Kelley Arts Center, Niceville, Florida (curated by Ndubuisi “Endy” Ezeluomba, Ph.D., Francoise Billion Richardson Curator of African Art at the New Orleans Museum of Art)

  • Maryland Federation of Art @ Gallery B, Bethesda, Maryland (juried by Nora Sturges, Area Head of Painting and Drawing in the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education at Towson University in Maryland)

2019

  • National Juried Exhibition, The Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, Maryland (curated by Sandy Guttman, Curatorial Assistant at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

  • Creating a Space, Rhizomes, University of Maryland, Herman Maryl Gallery, College Park, Maryland

2018

  • American Landscapes, Circle Gallery, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, Maryland (juried by Joann Moser, Senior Curator Emerita, Smithsonian American Art Museum)

  • National Juried Exhibition, Blue Mountain Gallery, New York, New York (curated by John Yau, poet and critic, publisher of Black Square Editions, co-starter of Hyperallergic Weekend)

  • Juncture, Towson University, Holtzman Gallery, Towson, Maryland

  • Media Lux, University of Maryland, Stamp Gallery, College Park, Maryland

  • Facing the Wall, Art League of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island (juried by Julia Samuels, Director, Overpass Projects)

  • Sadat Art for Peace: Confronting Prejudice and Hate, University of Maryland, Herman Maryl Gallery, College Park< Maryland

  • Back and Forth, University of Maryland, Herman Maryl Gallery, College Park, Maryland

2017

  • WorkFlows, University of Maryland, Herman Maryl Gallery, College Park, Maryland 

  • Being Sentient, Sentient Being, Wills Creek Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, Maryland (juried by Aneta Georgievska-Shine)

  • Visualizing Migration, University of Maryland, Center for Literary and Comparative Studies, College Park, Maryland (curated by Christina Walter)

2016

  • Primordial States, University of Maryland, Herman Maryl Gallery, College Park, Maryland

Film Festivals & Video Screenings

2024

  • Hispanic International Film Festival, Cinema Art Theater, Lewis, Delaware

2023

  • Female Filmmakers Festival, Berlin, Germany

  • Rising Sun Cinema Festival, Tokyo, Japan

  • Filmtage Der Nationen, Frankfurt, Germany

  • Latino Film Market, La Kota Alliance, New York, New York

2022

  • Brentwood Arts Exchange, Prince George’s County Gateway Arts District, Lights Out, Brentwood, MD

  • National Short Film Festival, Washington, D.C.

  • Miami National Film Festival, Miami, Florida

  • WXSA Barcelona International Awards, Barcelona, Spain

  • Animate - Australia Animation Film Festival, Sydney, Australia

2021

  • Cannes Film Awards, Cannes, France

  • Paris Play International Film Festival, Paris, France

  • Lisbon Film RendezVous, Lisbon, Portugal

  • AXD Short Film Festival, Alexandroupolis, Evros, Greece

  • Prague International Monthly Film Festival, Prague, Czech Republic

  • Bridge Fest, Vancouver, Canada

  • Montreal International Animation Film Festival, ANIMAZE, Montreal, Canada

  • Motion Pictures International Film Festival, Alberta, Canada

  • Gold Star Movie Awards, Newark, New Jersey

  • Mindfield Film Festival, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • Rocky Mountain International Film Festival, Silverthorne, Colorado

  • Mile High International Film Festival, Denver, Colorado

  • New York City IO Film Festival, Brooklyn, New York

  • International Animation Festival, Los Angeles, California

  • Jornadas Virtuales de Música Contemporánea, La Paz, Bolivia

  • Le Prince International Film Festival, Caracas, Venezuela

  • Acorazado Film Festival, Caracas, Venezuela

  • World Film Carnival, Singapore

  • Virgin Spring Cinefest, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

  • A Collective Conversation: Observing a Year, More than a Human World Library, conversations-projects.com (curated by Sobia Ahmad and Monroe Isenberg)

Grants & Awards

2024

  • Winner, Experimental Category, Hispanic International Film Festival, Cinema Art Theater, Lewis, Delaware

  • Leon Andrus First Place Award, 2024 Adkins Arboretum Juried Show, Ridgely, Maryland (awarded by Mehves Lelic, Assistant Professor of Art and Art History and Director of Mosely Gallery at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore)

  • Homiens Art Prize, New York, USA (long list)

  • Finalist, Animated Short Film, Richmond International Film Festival, Richmond, Virginia

  • Finalist, Grant-Art Bank Acquisition, Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washington, D.C.

2023

  • Grant-Art Bank Acquisition, Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washington, D.C.

  • Honorable Mention, Positive/Negative 38th National Juried Exhibition, Tennessee State University, Slocumb Galleries, Johnson City, Tennessee (awarded by Mark Scala, Chief Curator of the Frist Art Museum in Nashville)

  • Official Selection, Best Latino Short Film-USA, Latino Film Market, New York, New York

  • Winner, Experimental Shorts, Filmtage Der Nationen, Frankfurt, Germany

  • Finalist, Animation Film, Rising Sun Cinema Festival, Tokyo, Japan

2022

  • Finalist, Micro Film, WSXA Barcelona/International Awards, Barcelona, Spain

  • Quarter Finalist, Short Animation-Experimental, Animate - Australia Animation Film Festival, Sydney, Australia

  • Quarter Finalist, National Short Film Festival, Washington, D.C.

2021

  • Official Selection, Cannes Film Awards, Cannes, France

  • Best Experimental Short Film, Rocky Mountain International Film Festival, Silverthorne, CO

  • Best Experimental Film, Paris Play International Film Festival, Paris, France

  • Annual Winner, Best Fantasy Short Films, Bridge Fest, Vancouver, Canada

  • Diamond Award, Best Experimental Short, Mindfield Film Festival, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • Best Fantasy Short, Gold Star Movie Awards, Newark, New Jersey

  • Finalist, Best Experimental Short Film, Mile High International Film Festival, Denver, Colorado

  • Finalist, Super Short Film, Prague International Film Awards, Prague, Czech Republic

  • Finalist, Short Film, Lisbon Film RendezVous, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Quarter Finalist, Short Script, International Animation Festival, Los Angeles, California

  • Nominee, Experimental, Motion Pictures International Film Festival, Alberta, Canada

  • Outstanding Achievement Award, Animated Films, Virgin Spring Cinefest, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

  • Guardian of Honor Award, Virgin Spring Cinefest, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

  • Outstanding Achievement Award, Animated Films, World Film Carnival, Singapore

2020

  • Best in Show, 28th Annual Emerald Coast National Juried Fine Arts Exhibit, Mattie Kelley Arts Center Galleries, Niceville, Florida (awarded by Ndubuisi “Endy” Ezeluomba, Ph.D., Francoise Billion Richardson curator of African art at the New Orleans Museum of Art)

2018

  • Juror's Choice Award, American Landscapes, Maryland Federation of Art (awarded by Joann Moser, Senior Curator Emerita, Smithsonian American Art Museum)

  • First Place, Sadat Art for Peace Competition: Confronting Prejudice and Hate, The Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development, University of Maryland at College Park

2017

  • Graduate Award, Visualizing Migration, Center for Literary and Comparative Studies, University of Maryland at College Park

Public Collections

  • Willowsong Restaurant, IHG Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf (Washington, D.C.)

  • Commission on the Arts and Humanities Art Bank (Washington, D.C.)

  • Mattie Kelley Arts Center (Florida)

  • Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development (Maryland)

Media Coverage

Affiliations

  • Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

    • Co-Chair, Board of Trustees (July 2024-Present)

    • Coordinator, Fellowships Program (June 2023-Present)

  • Maryland Public Artist Roster (2026-2028)

  • Micheline Klagsbrun Studios, Tuesday Night Group, Washington, D.C.

Committee & Curatorial Involvements

2024

  • Curator, Emergence, outreach exhibition for MFA students, Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2017-2018

  • Graduate Student Representative, Committee on the Arts Initiative, Office of the Provost, University of Maryland at College Park

  • Mentor, Annual Exhibition Curated by the Department of Art Honors Students, University of Maryland at College Park

Teaching Experience

  • University of Maryland , Department of Art, College Park, MD

o   2021-Present, Lecturer, Drawing I, II

o   2019 Adjunct Professor, Drawing I

o   2019 Instructor of Record, Drawing I

o   2017-2018 Teaching Assistant, Drawing I

o   2017 Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Digital Art

  • Montgomery College, Department of Art, Rockville & Germantown, MD

o   2020, 2023-Present, Adjunct Professor, Introduction to Drawing

  • International Development Bank, Family Association, Bethesda, MD

o   2022, 2024 Guest Lecturer (ink, watercolor, collage workshops)

Other Experience

  • 2001-2007 National Treasury Employees Union, Office of the General Counsel, Assistant Counsel, Washington, D.C.

  • 2005-2007 Government of the District of Columbia, Office of Police Complaints, Complaints Examiner, Washington, D.C.

  • 1999-2001 Slevin and Hart PC, Associate, Washington D.C.

  • 1997-1999 O’Donoghue and O’Donoghue LLP, Associate, Washington D.C.

  • 1995-1996 United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Chambers of the Honorable Judge Gladys Kessler, Intern, Washington, D.C.

Education

  • 2019 MFA University of Maryland at College Park (Studio Art)

  • 2016 BA University of Maryland at College Park (Studio Art)

  • 1997 JD Georgetown University Law Center (labor law scholarship award recipient)

  • 1993 BA University of Maryland at College Park (Spanish Language and Literature, Honors Citation, Cum Laude)