Phyllis Staplers’ paintings are nationally recognized for their reductive compositions and flattened forms of animals and plants. Her activism for animal welfare has informed her work with an intensity recognized by museum curators, reviewers and collectors alike. New American Paintings , Art and Antiques , American Art Collector and Southwest Art are just some of the publications her images have appeared in. Jurors who have selected her work for exhibitions include Lucy Lippard, Hamza Walker, Lisa Sette, Susan Fisher Sterling, Jan Ernst Adlmann and Gwen Chanzit . Terrance Lindall exhibited her work in the Paradise Lost show at the WAH Center in Brooklyn. And her work also traveled to Seoul, Korea in the Circular Exhibit at Hun Gallery in Chelsea in 2008. Always a champion of the underdog, her recent work has focused on endangered or extinct species including Tasmanian tigers, fossas, polar bears and wooly mammoths. By placing her subjects in a monochromatic negative space she represents a symbolic protective force field around them. Albuquerque Tribune critic T.D. Mobley-Martinez described her painting of a missing dog as “floating in a Dijon nowhere”. Mobley-Martinez continues, “Using an iconographic imagery and arrangement you might see in Eastern art, this work hints at a range of social and emotional issues from the disposable nature of nature to the yearning to be loved.” A graduate of the University of Georgia, Staplers’ lifelong residency in the south ended with a move to New Mexico in 1996. She currently resides in Durango, Colorado. EDUCATIONGeorgia State University, 1984University of Georgia, BFA, 1977Georgia Southern University, 1974/75 SOLO EXHIBITIONSSorrel Sky Gallery, Durango, CO, "True Myths", 2018Sorrel Sky Gallery, Durango, CO, 2013Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM, "Freak of Nature", 2011Ellis Crane Gallery, Durango, CO, 2005The Arvada Center, Arvada, CO, “Sheltered”, 2005Red Canyon Gallery, Durango, CO, 1999/2000Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX, “Un/Familiar”, 1999Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC, “Lost Sheep”, 1998 Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA, “No More Sacrifices”, 1997Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA, “Animalism: The Nature of the Beast”, 1995 INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, "Elements of Nature", two artist show, 2015University of Georgia, Athens, curator; Robert Croker, "Between Rock and an Art Place", 2014 air sweet air GALLERY, St. Paul, MN, curator; Cheryl Wilgren Clyne, “just like honey”, 2012Bridge Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, 2008Sycamore Place Gallery, Decatur, GA, “Art School Redux”, two artist show, 2007The Arvada Center, Arvada, CO, curator; Jerry Gilmore, “Dog and Pony Show”, 2006SCA Gallery, Pomona, CA, “Pleasurework”, 2004Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, “Stapler, Fromm, Wilson, Kjelgaard”, 2000Swan Coach House, Atlanta, “Fins, Feathers & Fur: Animal Imagery in Contemporary Southern Art”, 2000Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, “Undergraduate Alumni Exhibition”, 2000Galerie Timothy Tew, Atlanta, GA, “Well Bred”, 1999516 Magnifico Artspace, Albuquerque, NM, 1999Carriage Works Gallery, Georgia Council for the Arts, Atlanta, “Artists in Residence”, 1994Center of the Earth Gallery, Charlotte, NC, “5+6”, 1994 JURIED EXHIBITIONSHun Gallery, NYC, NY and Ho Gallery, Seoul, Korea,“The Circular Exhibition/New York & Seoul”, 2008Juror: Ji hun LeeWilliamsburg Center for the Arts and Humanities, Brooklyn, NY, “Paradise Lost”, 2008juror: Terrance LindallMuseum of Contemporary Art, Fort Collins, CO, “Rocky Mountain Biennial”, 2004 juror: Jan Ernst AdlmannBoulder Museum of Contemporary Art, CO, Benefit Art Auction, 2003Albuquerque Museum of Art, NM, “Why Albuquerque? An Inquiry into Art and Place”, 1999jurors: Dennis High, Lisa Sette, Hamza WalkerLewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM, “Women Artists in the Land of Enchantment”, 1999sponsored by the National Museum of Women in the Artsjurors: MaLin Wilson, Susan Fisher Sterling, Lucy Lippard Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO, “Rocky Mountain National Water Media Exhibition”, 1995 SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONSHaen Gallery, Asheville, NC, "Springtide", 2016Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2014Sorrel Sky Gallery, Durango, CO, 2012-13Haen Gallery, Asheville, NC, “Wintertide”, 2010/11. "Summer Samplings", 2012Ellis Crane Gallery, Durango, CO, 2002/3/4/5/6Dartmouth Street Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 1998,1999, 2001Red Canyon Gallery, Durango, CO, 1999516 Magnifico Artspace, Albuquerque, NM, 1999Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, TX, 1998/99Center of the Earth Gallery, Charlotte, NC, 1998The Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples, FL, 1997Bradford Smock Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 1997 HONORS/PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIESArtspan.com, "Rebirth" online competition, Grand Prize Winner, 2018Juror, WPSAF, Winter Park, FL, 2015Acclaimed Artist Series, AIPP, NM, Finalist, 2011-2012The Artists Fellowship, Grant, 2011Honorable Mention, Museum of Contemporary Art, Fort Collins, CO, 2004Juror, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, 2004 and 2010Best in Show, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO, 2003Jury's Choice Award, Albuquerque Museum of Art, 1999Arts Education Review Board, Georgia Council for the Arts, 1996Residency, The Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 1995Advisory Board, Arts Festival of Atlanta, 1994-96Juror's Merit Award, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN, 1994Juror's Merit Award, Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, Lagrange, GA, 1992Artist in Residence, Georgia Council for the Arts, Atlanta, GA, 1992-95PUBLICATIONS/MEDIAAmanda N. Pitman, "Must-Know Artists", Santa Fean, June/July 2018Ashley Biggers, "Elements of Nature", SW Art Magazine, May 2015Elusivemu.se, The Daily Muse, "An Exclusive Interview with Phyllis Stapler", January 2015E.P.I.C Magazine, reproduction pg. 2, Jan-Feb, 2013, covers: Sept-Oct. 2014, Mar-April 2016, July-Aug 2017Stew Mosberg, "Animal Instinct", The Durango Telegraph, Jan. 27, 2011New American Paintings, 15 Years, 2009Steven Zevitas, juror, "Studio Visit Magazine", Open Studios Press, volume eight 2009Michael Klein, juror, “Studio Visit Magazine”, Open Studios Press, volume six 2009Brandon Donahue, "Paradise...found", Arts Perspective, cover, Winter 2009Jules Masterjohn, “Sympathetic Magic”, The Durango Telegraph, March 15, 2007 Jan Christensen Heller, juror, American Art Collector, Book 2, Volumes 2 & 3, 2006 & 2007“Start Your Collection”, SW Art Magazine, June, 2005Bonnie Gangelhoff, “Artists to Watch”, SW Art Magazine, June, 2004Bonnie Gangelhoff, “Best of the West-Colorado”, SW Art Magazine, September, 2003Susannah Wilson, “Atlanta’s Abundant Resources”, Art and Antiques, September, 2000 Charlie Langdon, “Mystery World”, The Durango Herald, July 21, 2000, review David Clemmer, “Community of Creativity”, Santa Fean, May, 2000 "Why Albuquerque? An inquiry into art and place", Albuquerque Museum catalog, 1999T.D. Mobley-Martinez, “A Juried Show that Works”, Albuquerque Tribune, Oct. 1, 1999, reviewKristin Bucher, “Best of the West–Texas”, SW Art Magazine, July, 1999Jeffrey Weiss, juror, New American Paintings, The Open Studios Press, Book XII, Sept, 1997 Jerry Cullum, “An Exotic Menagerie from Playful Painter”, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 25, 1997, reviewJerry Cullum, “Last Chance”, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 17, 1995Jane Kessler, “1994 Montgomery Biennial: Chiaroscuro–A Contemporary Study of Light and Dark”, catalogTom Patterson, “5+6 Equals an Anniversary Exhibit”, The Charlotte Observer, October 9, 1994, reviewAmy Jinkner-Lloyd, “Dream Weaver”, Creative Loafing, January, 1993, review Catherine Fox, “Enter Dream Land at Emory Gallery”, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 1, 1993, review SELECTED COLLECTIONSAlbuquerque Museum of ArtMint Museum Nations Bank Miwok CorporationHospice of MercyCandice Olson Shanan Campbell Abadie and Schill PC The Exetor GroupDonald NovakDavid FoulkWill HerringerJuan LoganSusan KlebanoffBeaty Reynolds