EDUCATION
1996 -2000 BFA, Summa Com Laude, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
1997 Summer Study, Aix en Provence, France.
1994-96 Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Common Threads, Two Person Show, Mahler Fine Art, Raleigh, NC
2019 Like Sound Through Water, Anchorlight, Raleigh NC
2016 Natural Forms & Figures, Reynolds Gallery, Texas A&M University, TX
2013 Forms & Figures, Imperial Centre for Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mount, NC
2011 Southern Weeds, Artspace Upfront Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2008 Beautiful Vessels, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2008 Alia E. El-Bermani, Recent Work, Da Vinci Gallery, LA City College, Los Angeles, CA
2007 The Un-Acquired: Recent Paintings & Drawings, Mt San Jacinto College Fine Art Gallery, San Jacinto, CA
2006 Perceptions of Beauty, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2002 Private Moments, DNFA Gallery, Pasadena, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Presence: A Figurative Art Survey, GreenHill Center, Greensboro, NC
2022 Vestige: Artists Creating Through Grief, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, TN
2021 Process, Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
2020 Drawing Discourse, Holder Gallery, UNC Asheville, NC
2019 Figurative Drawing & Painting Exhibition, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
2019 Full Palette, Salmagundi Club & Florence Academy US, New York, NY
2018 Women Painting Women 2018, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, TN
2018 Holiday Exhibition, East Oaks Studios
2018 ARC Salon, Salmaguni Club, NY, NY; Sotheby’s Los Angeles, & Museu Europeu d’Art Modern MEAM, Barcelona, Spain
2017 Women As Warrior, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2017 Summer of Love, Albin Polsek Museum, Orlando, FL
2017 Exquisite Abandon: Contemporary Mini Works, LCAD Gallery, CA
2016 Contemporary Figuration, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2015 100 Grand, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2015 Celebrating Art of Women By Women, Haynes Galleries, Thomaston, ME
2015 NC Self Portraits, Greenhill Center, Greensboro, NC
2015 Human Nature, Nicole’s Art Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2014 Losing Your Head, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2014 WPW Fifth Anniversary, Principle Gallery, Charleston, NC
2014 30th Anniversary Exhibit, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2014 Loved & Observed, Hersh Fine Art, Glen Cove, NY
2014 Celebrating the Portrait as Art, Haynes Galleries, Nashville, TN
2014 The Still Life, Mundane to Sublime, Haynes Galleries, Nashville, TN
2013 A Treasure Trove of Small Things, Haynes Galleries, Nashville, TN
2013 WPW:(R)evolution, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2013 A Place of One’s Own, Haynes Galleries, Nashville, TN
2013 Connections, Frankie Weems Art Gallery, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
2012 Small Works, Haynes Gallery, Nashville, TN
2012 Converge: Where Classical & Contemporary Art Collide, Curated by Allison Malafronte, 25CPW Gallery, New York, NY
2012 Home Work, Green Hill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC
2012 The Expedition & Beyond, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2011 100 Grand, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2011 A Woman’s Place, Exploring the Female Identity, Greenville Museum of Art, Greenville, NC
2010 Winter Show, Greenhill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC
2010 100 Grand, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2010 Women Painting Women, Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
2010 Winter Salon, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2010 People You May Know, Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC
2010 N.E.W., Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC, Juror: Steven Matijcio, Curator of Contemporary Art at SECCA; 2nd Place Prize
2010 Drawing Revisited, Green Hill Center for NC Arts, Greensboro, NC
2010 New Members Exhibition, ArtSpace, Raleigh, NC
2010 New Works, Gallery One, ArtSpace, Raleigh, NC
2010 Art for Haiti, Auction and Gala, hosted by Jerry’s Artarama to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s relief efforts in Haiti, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC
2010 For the Love of Art, 26th Annual Auction to benefit Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC
2010 Two Person Exhibition, Notion Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
2010 Figure Study, ArtSpace, Raleigh, NC
2010 Los Angeles Art Show, Los Angeles Convention Center, Sullivan Goss Gallery’s Booth G182
2010 Sketchbook Project Library and Touring Exhibition, Art House Gallery, New York, NY and other cities.
2009 100 Grand, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2009 Exchange Artist (December’s), Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC
2009 N.E.W., Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC, Juror: Ce Scott, Director of Residencies and Exhibitions at McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, NC.
2009 Fur + Feathers, Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC
2009 Pulp, Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC Juror: Nicole Welch, Curator of the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, 2nd Place Prize
2009 Figure Study, ArtSpace, Raleigh, NC
2008 The Art of the Human Canvas, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), Toronto, Canada
2008 Figure North, Figure South, The Loft Galeria, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2008 Endangered Species, Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery, Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica, CA Curator: Marian Winsyrg
2008 Committed to Ink, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2007 Summer Salon, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2007 Urban Myth, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2007 Los Angeles Art Show, Barker Hanger, Sullivan Goss, Santa Monica, CA
2006 LCAD at 45, Seven Degrees, Laguna Beach, CA
2005 Figure This III, Da Vinci Art Gallery, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA Curator: La Monte Westmoreland
2005 Faculty Exhibition, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
2005 Still Life, Still Here, Two Views, SCAPE, Corona Del Mar, CA
2005 American Labor, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2005 Postcard Invitational, Da Vinci Art Gallery, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA Curator: La Monte Westmoreland
2004 Alumni Exhibition, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
2004 Open Call, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Collector’s Choice, Ettinger & Reynolds Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2003 Postcard Invitational, Da Vinci Art Gallery, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA Curator: La Monte Westmoreland
2003 Art for Healing Auction, Diane Nelson Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
2003 Realism is Back, West Valley Art Museum, Surprise, AZ
2003 Artists Council 34th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA Juror: Gordon Fuglie; Prize Award
2003 The Figure in Paint & Pastel, Diane Nelson Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
2002 Art Auction XX, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2001 Artist’s Choice, Nathan J. Gallery, Dana Point, CA
2001 Art for Small Places, Hall Jaynes Studio, Dana Point, CA
2001 Collector’s Choice, Ettinger & Reynolds Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2001-02 Bugs, Anchorage Museum of History & Art, Anchorage, AK
2001 Inaugural Exhibition, Nathan J. Gallery, Dana Point, CA
2001 Centered on the Center, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA
2000 10th Annual Art Auction, Inner City Arts, Los Angeles, CA
2000 Lyme Academy of Art, Lyme, CT
2000 Fact Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2000 Ettinger & Reynolds Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2000 On Site at the Gate, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
2000 Woman Consuming/ Woman Consumed, MatrixArts, Sacramento, CA
1999 Nine After Four, Cruz LA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1999-96 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Ettinger & Reynolds Gallery, CA
1997 Visions of Provence, Ettinger & Reynolds Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
1997 American Student Exhibition, Aix en Provence, France
GRANTS & AWARDS
2024 Artist Support Grant, United Arts Council, Raleigh, NC
2023 Snapdragon Research Grant, VAE and AndyWarhol Foundation
2023 Wellspring Fellow, Cuttyhunk Island Artist Residency, Cuttyhunk, MA
2021 Artist Support Grant, United Arts Council, Raleigh, NC
2019 2nd Place Cash Award, Figurative Drawing & Painting Exhibition, Lore Degenstein Gallery Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
2018 Finalist, International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center
2015 Regional Artist Project Grant, United Arts Council, Raleigh, NC
2015 10th Merit Award, Portrait Society of America
2013 Merit Award, Portrait Society of America
2012 Regional Artist Project Grant, United Arts Council, Raleigh, NC
2011 Finalist in Figurative, International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center
2009 2nd Place Prize, Pulp, Visual Art Exchange Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2003 Windsor Newton Award, Artist Council, Palm Springs Desert Museum
1999 First Place: Fine Arts, Annual Juried Student Exhibition
1998 Plotkin Foundation Award
PUBLICATIONS
2023 Sarah Mills, Figure Painting by Alia El-Bermani, Create! Magazine Feb, 1 2023
2022 Charlotte Russell, More Similar than Different, Cary Living, May/ June 2022
2020 Peter Trippi, Contemporary Realist Artist in Lockdown, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, recorded May 15, 2020
2019 Lizzie McNairy, Artist Profile: Alia El-Bermani, Matrons & Mistresses, July
2019 Elisa Shoenberger, Celebrating Women in the Arts with the North Carolina Museum of Art, MuseumNext, March
2019 Interview Boston Voyager Magazine, March 25
2018 International Artist Magazine, vol 124, November
2018 John O’Hern, Through Her Eyes, American Art Collector, vol. 149, March
2018 Allison Malafronte, Interview: In the Studio, Newington Cropsey Cultural Center
2017 Interview on Savvy Painter Podcast
2016 Jay Brakefield, Radio Interview, Brazos Valley Beat KEOS 89.1fm 4/27/16
2015 John Seed, Video Interview at Mt. San Antonio College, CA. https://youtu.be/7FHEpVLfxvI
2015 Didi Menendez, Interview with Alia El-Bermani, Artslant & iArtistas, issue #17 8/8/15
2015 Jenny Andreasson, Most Organized Studio, Professional Artist Magazine
2015 Judy Takacs, Our Portraits Our Selves… Why so Serious?, Portrait Society Cecilia Beaux Forum Blog
2014 Face First, Extermities, and Losing Your Head at Manifest Gallery, AEQAI 12/2014
2014 John Sebastian, Alia El-Bermani,The New York Optimist, 9/17/2014
2014 Flora Armetta, Women, Loved and Observed, American Arts Quarterly
2014 Louise B. Hafesh, WPW: (R)evolution, The Artists Magazine, April
2013 Rochelle Belsito, Revolution, American Art Collector, vol. 95, 9/2013
2013 Terry Sullivan, The Importance of Being a Part of a Group Exhibition, Professional Artist Magazine, April/ May issue
2012 The Expedition & Beyond, American Art Collector, vol.78, 4/2012
2010 Cheryl Wilder, Painting to Create a Community, Architects and Artisans, 12/10
2010 Elizabeth W. Jackson, Defining Women, ArtSee Magazine, Nov/Dec issue
2010 David Ford, Radio Interview, Triad Arts Upclose, WFDD 88.5, 10/18
2010 Virginia Bridges, Making Faces, The News & Observer, 10/13
2010 Barclay McConnel, Get to Know People, The Durham News, News & Observer, 10/6
2010 Caitlin Moyles, People You Know Seeks to Illustrate Durham’s Diversity, The Chronicle, 10/6
2009 Larry Groff, Interview with Alia El-Bermani, Painting Perceptions Blog, http://paintingperceptions.com/?p=269, 6/1
2008 Josef Woodard, Bodies of Work, Santa Barbara News Press, 12/12
2008 Peter Frank, Animal Spirits, LA Weekly, 3/5
2008 Figure North, Figure South, Ambito, Puerto Vallarta, March
2007 Diane A. Rhodes, Pasadena Artist Showcases her work in San Jacionto, The Press Enterprise, 10/10/07
2006 Beth Taylor – Schott, Mirror Images, The Independent, 10/5
2006 Ted Mills, Beauty of the Modern Woman, Santa Barbara News Press 8/25
2002 Rick Gilbert, ArtWeek; October Issue
2002 Lydia Ringwald, El-Bermani Puts Thought into Art; Laguna News Post8/8
2000 Preparing for a Career in Art and Design, The Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & AFFILIATIONS
2024 Visiting Artist & Lecturer, University of Illinois, College of Fine & Applied Arts, Champagne Urbana, IL
2023 Cuttyhunk Island Artist Residency, Wellspring Fellowship, Cuttyhunk, MA
2022 Artist Talk with Clarence Heyward and Alia El-Bermani, GreenHill Center, Greensboro, NC
2021 Seeking Self, Moderator for Panel Discussion, NCMA Raleigh, NC
2020 Gouache Still Life Painting Workshop at Atelier Dojo, Austin, TX
2019 Seeing Our Selves, Self Portrait Workshop at NCMA, Raleigh, NC
2019 Double Take, Artist Lead Tour NCMA Women’s Weekend, Raleigh, NC
2018 Gouache Still Life Painting Workshop at NCMA, Raliegh, NC
2017 Founded Alia Fine Art Studios, Raleigh, NC
2017 Curator, Women Painting Women: In Earnest, Traveling Museum Exhibition, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, TN; J. Wayne Stark Galleries at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2017 Juror, 9th Annual Figurative Competition, Susquehanna University, PA
2017 Curator, Sight Unseen, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 Featured Speaker, AWA Symposium, Bennington Center for the Arts, VT
2016 Artist Lecture/ Demo Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2016 Artist Lecture, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
2015 Interview by John Seed at Mt. San Antonio College, CA. http://youtu.be/7FHEpVLfvl
2015 Portrait Demonstration, Fine Arts League of Cary, NC
2014- 2016 Workshop Instructor, Red Canvas Studios Apex, NC
2014 Face Off, Portrait Demonstration Artist, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
2014 Pay It Forward exhibition concept and statement, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2013 Artist Lecture, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
2012 Natural Object Still Life Workshop, Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, TN
2011 – Present Workshop Instructor, Artspace, Raleigh, NC
2011 Visiting Artist and Lecturer, Ravenscroft School, Raleigh, NC
2011 Artist Lecture, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 – 2012 Instructor, Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art (RICA), Raleigh, NC
2010 Artist Lecture, Green Hill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC
2010 Artist Lecture, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2010 Juror: Greenville Museum of Art, Greenville, NC
2009 Juror: ECU’s Rebel Magazine
2009 Artspace Artist Association member, Raleigh, NC
2003- 2005 Part-time Faculty, Laguna College of Art and Design, Drawing & Painting
2001- 02 Continuing Education Instructor, AISC, Figure Painting, Figure Drawing
2001 Curator, About Paint, A Group Exhibition on the Qualities, Characteristics
and Essence of Paint, Art Institute of Southern California
2000-01 Private Instructor
SELECTED PUBLIC/ CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
City of Raleigh Municipal Art Collection
NC State Bar Art Collection
Museu Europeu d’Art Modern (MEAM), Barcelona, Spain
Massachusetts Audubon Society, Marshfield, MA
Tufts University Medical School, Boston, MA