Born in Rockford, Illinois, 1951 Zoa Ace creates figurative oil paintings that explore human relationships through theatrical narratives infused with symbolic animals and whimsical elements. Born in 1951 in Illinois and based in Colorado since the late 1970s, Ace employs a distinctive style blending surrealism with pop culture references and nostalgic imagery. Her compositions feature vibrant color palettes and detailed storytelling, often presenting doll-faced figures in dream-like tableaux. Ace gained recognition in the 1980s, exhibiting at Denver galleries while maintaining connections to the Chicago art scene. Her career expanded nationally in the 1990s, including representation in New York and participation in the State Department's Art in Embassies program. A member of Denver's co-op gallery movement, particularly ZIP 37, Ace has exhibited extensively across Colorado. Her work resides in permanent collections including the Denver Art Museum and Children's Hospital Colorado. View Complete Artist Biography → Artist Statement: "My work is figurative and deals primarily with human relationships. I typically use animals and theatrical settings symbolically to accentuate certain characteristics and situations. I enjoy the classical beauty of oil on canvas." CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO Kaiser Permanente, Denver, CO Children's Hospital, Denver, CO El Pomar Foundation (The Broadmoor), Colorado Springs, CO Megabank, Englewood, CO SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2021 "Viral Influence" juried show, Arvada Center for the Arts; Arvada, CO 2020 Annual Miniature Show, Abend Gallery; Denver, CO Fine Art Market, Arvada Art Center; Arvada, CO 2019 Abend Gallery 5 x 5 Project; Denver, CO fooLPRoof contemporary art, "Artilicious"; Denver, CO fooLPRoof contemporary art, "Pulchritudinous"; Denver, CO fooLPRoof contemporary art, "Cold Play"; Denver, CO "Art in the Every Day Community Quilt Project"; Univ. of Hawaii Maui Campus 2018 "Made in Colorado", Emmanuel Gallery (juror Olga Viso); Denver, CO ZIP 37 Solo Show; Denver, CO Abend Gallery Annual Miniatures Show; Denver, CO Fine Art Market, Arvada Center for the Arts; Arvada, CO "Art in the Everyday Community Quilt Project"; Volcano Village, HI fooLPRoof Gallery Inaugural Exhibit; Denver, CO 2017 Pirate contemporary art, Outsider Show; Lakewood, CO ZIP 37 Gallery Solo Show; Denver, CO Abend Gallery, Annual Miniature Show; Denver, CO Fine Art Market, Arvada Center for the Arts; Arvada, CO The Buffalo Exchange solo show; Denver, CO 2016 Abend Gallery's 26th Annual Miniatures Show; Denver, CO "I'm OK So Far", J.R. Kortman Center for Design; Rockford, IL History of Art in Boulder County invitational, The Firehouse Gallery; Longmont, CO Fine Art Market; Arvada, CO The Dairy Art Center juried show; Boulder, CO ZIP 37 Gallery solo show; Denver, CO 2015 Narrative Show; Abend Gallery, Denver, CO ZIP 37 Solo Exhibit; Denver, CO Abend Gallery's 25th Annual Miniatures Show; Denver, CO 2014 Gallery at the DCPA (Denver Ctr for the Performing Arts); Denver, CO Artists at Play, Republic Plaza; Denver, CO Ace, Friday, Recchia; Abend Gallery, Denver, CO ZIP 37 Solo Exhibit; Denver, CO Abend Gallery 24th Annual Miniatures Show; Denver, CO Arvada Fine Art Market; Arvada, CO 2013 ZIP 37 Solo Exhibit; Denver, CO Abend Galleery 23rd Annual Miniatures Show; Denver, CO Arvada Fine Art Market; Arvada, CO 2012 JUROR for "Visions & Viewpoints" National Art Competition; Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO POP DRAG/ a Celebration of Pop Art inspired Drag Performance; TRACKS, Denver, CO Abend 22nd Annual Miniatures Show; Abend Gallery, Denver, CO Fine Art Market; Arvada Art Center, Arvada, CO Own Your Own Exhibit; Sangre de Cristo Art Center, Pueblo, CO Solo Show, ZIP 37 Gallery; Denver, CO Gallery Leonardo; Leadville, CO 2011 3 Person Exhibit, Abend Gallery; Denver, CO Solo Show, ZIP 37 Gallery; Denver, CO Gallery Leonardo; Leadville, CO Fine Art Market; Arvada Art Center, Arvada, CO Own Your Own Exhibit; Sangre de Cristo Art Center, Pueblo, CO 2010 Solo Show, ZIP 37 Gallery; Denver, CO Gallery Leonardo; Leadville, CO All Gallery Exhibit, Abend Gallery; Denver, CO Arvada Fine Art Market; Arvada, CO Sangre de Cristo Art Center, group exhibit; Pueblo, CO Spark Gallery Invitational (curated by Dana Cain); Santa Fe Arts District; Denver, CO 2000-2009 Denver Art Museum Contemporaries; Bollywood Invitational, Denver, CO (2009) J.R. Kortman Center for Design, "Wonderland Revisited", Rockford, IL (2008) The Dairy Art Center, "Dual Visions", Boulder, CO (2008) Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, two-person show, Pueblo, CO (2007) Denver Public Library Group Exhibition, Denver, CO (2006) Picasso Exhibit Invitational, Loveland Art Museum, Loveland, CO (2005) All Colorado Art Show, Curtis Art Center, Greenwood Village, CO (2005) Juror's Award, Curtis Art Center, Greenwood Village, CO (2003) "The Spirit of Women," 21st Century Gallery, Denver, CO (2002) Mosko Miller Fine Art, New York City (2001) "Past Revisited," Loveland Art Museum, Loveland, CO (2000) Call and Response: Contemporary Colorado Artists, Mizel Arts Center, Denver, CO (2000) 1990-1999 J. R. Kortman Center for Design, Rockford, IL (1998) "Persona," Republic Plaza Bldg., Denver, CO (1998) "Out and About," A Gallery at the Hudson, New York City, NY (1998) U.S. Embassy, Vienna, Austria (1997) Michele Mosko Miller Fine Art, New York City, NY (1996) SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, & Functional Art) Exhibit, Miami, FL (1995) SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, & Functional Art) Exhibit, Chicago, IL (1994) Michele Mosko Miller Fine Art, New York City, NY (1993) Loveland Art Museum and Gallery, Loveland, CO (1992) Tri Beca Gallery, New York (1991) Monteverde Gallery Taos, NM (1990) 1980-1989 Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO (1989) National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC (1988) University of Colorado, Women by Women, Denver, CO (1987) Hudson Valley '86 (juror Holly Solomon), Poughkeepsie, NY (1986) 47th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting (juror James Demetrion of the Hirshhorn Museum), Palm Beach, FL (1986) Gallery Karl Oskar, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MO (1984) International Art Expo, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL (1984) Fifteenth Street Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Denver, CO (1981) EDUCATION Studied art with a focus on art history in college before moving to Colorado in the late 1970s.