Biography

 

 

                                                                                    


Shawn Ardoin is a passionate artist.  He is passionate about fish. He is passionate about the simple shapes of circles and squares. He is passionate about strong, rich, bold color. Combine these passions and the unique art of Shawn Ardoin comes to life on canvas. Having grown up around water in the Louisiana swamps and along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Ardoin has always been intrigued by marine life and the shapes of nature.

During his studies at university, he became interested in two-dimensional designs and expressions using pure and vibrant color. He began developing his style during these years, working with the abstract forms of circles and squares. Later, while working for Peace Corps and living in Southern Africa, Ardoin began associating colors and shapes with the feeling of tropical environments: warm, easy-going, and happy. From here his fish were born.

Ardoin's work is fun, stimulating and contemporary, displaying bright, bold palettes of color. His simple, symmetric designs awaken his audiences, inspiring a sense of freedom and genuine delight. Some are reminded of happy childhood innocence.  He takes the simplicity of using just one fish in its basic form, and then expands into the complexity of inter-twinning the fish. Although his work is abstract in nature, Ardoin’s art provides a sense of balance in a chaotic world.

His primary foundation is acrylic, sometimes incorporating a clever use of mixed media, which causes his work to explode with texture. Each material is used to enhance or represent a circle or a square. People don’t seem to tire of looking at Ardoin’s paintings.  They are dramatic compositions that demand constant attention. As Ardoin says of his approach to creating a painting, “I begin with the end. I envision the final composition as a solution to an equation. The solution is achieved when I have found a final balance and harmony of shapes and colors”. It is then he begins his next equation and creates anew.
 


-Ardyth Brock


 

EDUCATION
1993  Louisiana Tech University, B.S.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009  Galerie des Tropiques, Pape'ete, Tahiti (French Polynesia)


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012  Maui Hands, Makawao, Hawaii
2012  Galerie des Tropiques, Pape'ete Tahiti (French Polynesia)
2012  Hale'iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2012  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2012  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii
2011  Galerie des Tropiques, Pape'ete Tahiti (French Polynesia)
2011  Hana Coast Gallery, Hana, Hawaii
2011  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2011  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii

2011  Hale'iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2010  Galerie des Tropiques, Pape'ete Tahiti (French Polynesia)
2010  Hana Coast Gallery, Hana, Hawaii
2010  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2010  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii
2010  Hale'iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2009  "Art Maui 2009" Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts & 
         Cultural Center, Kahului, Hawaii
2009  "Fish Follies", Cordova Historical Museum, Cordova, Alaska
2009  Galerie des Tropiques, Pape'ete, Tahiti (French Polynesia)
2009  Hana Coast Gallery, Hana, Hawaii
2009  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2009  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii
2009  Hale'iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2008  "Fish Follies", Cordova Historical Museum, Cordova, Alaska
2008  Galerie des Tropiques, Pape'ete, Tahiti (French Polynesia)
2008  "Art Maui 2008", Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts &
         Cultural Center, Kahului, Hawaii
2008  Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, Annual Members Exhibition,
         Makawao, Hawaii
2008  Hana Coast Gallery, Hana, Hawaii
2008  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2008  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii
2008  Hale'iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2007  Hana Coast Gallery, Hana, Hawaii
2007  "Fish Follies", Cordova Historical Museum, Cordova,Alaska
2007  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2007  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii
2007  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2006  Maui Hands, Lahaina, Hawaii
2006  AHA “Contemporary Show”, Pauahi Tower Gallery,Honolulu,Hawaii
2006  Maui Hands, Paia, Hawaii
2006  AHA “Aloha Show”, Honolulu Hale, Honolulu, Hawaii
2006  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2005  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2004  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2004  “Geckos In Paradise”, Hawaii State Art Museum,Honolulu,Hawaii
2003  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2002  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii
2001  Hale’iwa Art Gallery, Hale'iwa, Hawaii

PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana
Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, Honolulu, Hawaii

SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Montpellier, France
Lidingo, Sweden
Tokyo, Japan 
Honolulu, Hawaii
Wellington, New Zealand
Hollywood, California
Alberta, Canada 
Southampton, Hampshire, England 
Osaka, Japan 
Chicago, Illinois 
Taipei, Taiwan 
Mountainview, California 
Seattle, Washington 
Beverly Hills, California 
Saco, Maine 
Sydney, Australia
Nashville, Tennessee 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
Manhatten Beach, California 
Vancouver, Canada
Bald Head Island, North Carolina 
Bridge of Weir, Scotland 
Kailua, Hawaii 
New Orleans, Louisiana 
San Diego, California 
Dubbe, Australia 
Houston, Texas 
Washington, D.C.
San Francisco, California
Hong Kong, China
Anchorage, Alaska 
Kihei, Hawaii 
San Jose, California 
San Antonio, Texas 
Calgary, Canada 
Annapolis, Maryland 
New York, New York