PATTER HELLSTROM VISUAL ART

Inspired by the brilliant pigments of multicolor flow cytometry, Patter Hellstrom created this large-scale piece for BD Biosciences to commemorate the creation of the first set of Product Development Modules in Building 1. This new spatial ecosystem is designed to improve collaboration and teamwork to promote scientific innovation, stimulate technological breakthroughs, and accelerate product development from idea to launch. The Artist Patter lives and works in San Francisco. Inspired by study of calligraphy in China, experiences of nature on the west coast of the USA and the intense color seen in India, Hellstrom creates abstract work that distills experience. The paintings created on polypropylene material with acrylic water-resistant artists ink are a new media, intensely colored. Artist Statement “Isolated brush movements executed with mudra-like precision give physical expression to an inner state of being, offering a platform to investigate the dichotomy between thought and emotion. That curious space is ripe with a complexity. The alchemy of how experience is lived out dwells in the constancy of change despite our desire for permanence. Composed of energy, emotions flow like water mixing with our consciousness. Together they generate a vivid energy, deeply felt and ever-changing. Balance is reached in my work as structural lines are held despite insistent disruptions, speaking to stability within chaos. A seamless method of applying ink with unlikely brushes to a slick surface records the ephemeral moment or spark of experience."

Dynamic and colorful works installed in CLIMB real estate company headquarters in San Francisco and contemporary loft project with HGTV are in keeping with the company's interest in innovation,style and energy flow.

Community installations and projects with schools and other groups. The 2017 WEB OF COMMUNITY was created at Mirman School see link here... https://mirman.org/newsroom/web-community-ties-mirman-together As artist-in-residence Patter Hellstrom worked with students to create a memorial installation to honor James Kessler. On May 9, 2009, student James Kessler died, ending his journey with cancer. He was brave, creative and loving beyond measure.

Grief Path is a 40-foot long installation at CIIS in San Francisco from September - December 2012. Hellstrom's large-scale installation on view at the CIIS galley. The California Institute of Integral Studies, an urban interdisciplinary university in San Francisco, hosts Hellstroms' work and invites her to interact with MFA students and the public through programming in mid September. Friday, September 21st 6PM-7:30PM The Arts at CIIS will host Patter Hellstrom in a public dialogue about her work, and intersecting influences from Buddhism to Abstract Expressionism at the CIIS main building, 1453 Mission Street, San Francisco. Filmmaker Cedric Pilard filmed the process. Watch for his film in late September.

Flower Mandala 2010 installation was created using over 500 fresh flowers at the Unilever Discover Campus in Trumbull CT. Exploring beauty and compassion was the intention. FLOWER MANDALA 2003 made of 1700 tubes filled with fresh flowers and arranged in a concentric circular design on a 10ft diameter base. Hellstrom's unique installation was commissioned by JP Morgan Chase Art Program for it's Project Space in Newport for the 2003 Jersey City Artist Studio Tour. It refers in form to Tibetan Mandalas - Sand Mandalas in particular. Flower Mandala was created as an act of compassion on the Jersey City waterfront in the wake of 9/11. The Flower Mandala encouraged viewers to share a peaceful moment realizing the temporal joy which is at the core of meditation practice.

SF BLU and The Infinity Towers welcomed Patter Hellstrom's acrylic ink paintings on polypropylene showcasing the Penthouses. See video of Patter's work in BLU.

Restricted movement that is directly related to the length of the center line marks this group of drawings. Each branching arm is tied to the center pole, like a May Pole of sorts. This image was developed in 30-day studio practice project. The concept speaks to the inability to share resources within our changing global community.

This group of works is based on the idea of wounds caused by grief. Achieving a tactile connection with bruising and wounding these paintings have been shot through using a 22 caliber gun on a shooting range. The actual holes are the center point of the injury. Visual scabbing and bruises are created as the acrylic ink pools around those holes speaking to discolored skin, burst blood vessels and healing injuries.

Patter Hellstrom’s new intimate panel paintings were on view at the Mina Dresden Gallery in San Francisco. Chhatra relates to one of the eight auspicious symbols seen in Tibetan Buddhism. The parasol (Chhatra) reference used in this work relates to protection, keeping beings from harm such as sun, illness, harmful forces, and obstacles. This project exhibited at Mina Dresden Gallery was curated by Lynnore Goldfarb and is an investigation of the ideas and patterns that surface while artists create new bodies of work. This mixed media and abstract painting exhibit features the strong narratives and concepts by five up and coming San Francisco artists.

Patter Hellstrom completed a year long artist-in-residence project (2008 - 2009)with 80 students in KIPP Summit Academy (East Bay) entitled "Layering Identity". The courtyard installation draws it's palette from the skin and eye color of the community. Culture is represented with sections of fabric, stylized and painted. Finally each student created a symbol of the gift they have brought to the community. "Patter is an expert in the field.... Patter exemplifies the whole package as an artist. She is talented, business savvy, flexible, and has a tremendous sense of humor." Dia Penning, Associate Director, Center for Teaching Excellence at Columbia College Chicago

The Dharma series focussed on large scale expressive works on paper. Masterworks Institute for Works on Paper represented this work from 2005 - 2008 in San Francisco. This work was exhibited in both San Francisco and New York.

This work on paper project was a reflection on domestic life. The paintings were created with watercolor/ink using kitchen dollies as stencils. Patter Hellstrom created this while in transition from the East Coast to finding her new home on the West Coast in San Francisco.

The City Mandala project was one where graphite rubbings of manhole covers were made on the New York City streets. The different designs speak to the diversity of Manhattan neighborhoods. The works were altered in the studio with watercolor, ink and additional graphite. These works were made after Patter Hellstrom had lived in the New York area for 7 years based on the idea that it takes 7 years to replace all the cells in ones' body. This project is about becoming connected to a place.

!996 - 2002 Mounments was an extensive project which explored the contributions of our founding mothers. Patter Hellstrom visited New York, New Jersey, Washington DC and Philadelphia creating rubbings on paper of those historic sites that honor heroic American women for their leadership and courage. The graphite rubbings were then incorporated into works on canvas and over painted with acrylic paint. Supported by the Geraldine Dodge foundation, at the left see piece from installation in Federal Hall on Wall Street NYC.

This personal body of work created in response to the 9/11 WTC attacks speaks to loss of life. Lost Souls, made up of 5000 circles – each representing a life lost based on the original expected death toll. Multi media works include – watercolor, ink, quink, graphite and colored pencil. The imagery is drawn from a target and an opened heart form. At the time of the attacks the Target Heart series was underway. That work mixes western and eastern materials, symbolism and techniques.

The 1999 Mandala series was shown in China and NYC in 2000/01 respectively. The structure of these paintings was the basis for Patter Hellstrom's 2003 FLOWER MANDALA installation project commissioned by JPMorgan Chase (see on this site under installation work). The Mandala is often seen as a spiritual tool. Used in this case it represents healing journey.