Art by Coleen Tyler

Artist Coleen Tyler, who has previously been chair for the Highland Park Arts Commission, attempts to create an abstract composition that reveals her personal point of view on a given topic. For instance, one composition is entitled, “Once Upon A Time”. This piece is about the innocence, humor, wonder, and excitement inherent in a well-told fairy tale. The ink and collage composition allows the viewer to have a personal interpretation.
This exhibit is composed of encaustic paintings on wood and mixed media pieces on paper. Some unifying elements that interest me are: geometric and spatial illusion, the press and pull of shallow abstract space, and the symbolic use of color, line and shape to convey specific emotional states.

Tyler, has been a life long artist and is a long time resident of Highland Park. For several years she has been an ESL instructor.

She has an ESL Certificate from the College of New Jersey and a Master of Fine Arts in ceramics from the Virginia Commonwealth University.