David Arsenault

I was born in upstate New York, and was first captivated by art in 1970 when I discovered a reproduction of Edward Hopper's painting Gas in a grade school library book. However, it wasn’t until the early ‘90s—more than twenty years later—that a professor in my graphic arts program reintroduced me to Hopper’s work and I felt decisively compelled to study painting. The early influence had it's effect to the degree that The Wall Street Journal once wrote that "Some of Mr. Arsenault’s paintings could pass for works by Edward Hopper.” I studied painting at the University at Albany (NY). Since I first began showing my work in 1994, I have had or participated in hundreds of local, regional, and national exhibitions: in New York City, Chicago, Vermont, Connecticut, throughout upstate New York, and of course in Massachusetts: Cape Ann, Cape Cod, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, Williamstown, and more. I have also served as an exhibition juror, conducted painting demonstrations and critiques, and published articles including in The Artist's Magazine. I am also a former co-director of the Schenectady New York Oakroom Artists, one of the oldest membership-by-invitation artist associations in the United States. My oil paintings, giclée prints, and reproductions are found in private and corporate collections across the United States and around the world. My wife and I relocated to the seaside town of Rockport, Massachusetts in November of 2014 with the goal of opening a gallery. On March 27, 2015 we opened The Art of David Arsenault on Bearskin Neck. I was juried into the renowned Rockport Art Association & Museum in early 2016. The Gallery moved to its next and final location at 8 Dock Square in Rockport on December 1, 2016. Last year I chose to close my gallery on December 24, 2024 after 10 successful seasons in order to focus specifically on my painting. You can follow me on Facebook at the page, The Art of David Arsenault, and on Instagram.

My goal is to present something that looks and feels as real to me as the world we live in BUT is filtered through my feelings, imagination, and memories. If it's done well, it serves as an opening with the same purpose: a very personal connection for you, the viewer. The painting surfaces are very "flat," with unremarkable brush strokes barely visible. Why? Because I don't want it to necessarily feel like a painting either, at least not texturally. With the exception of commission pieces, I'm usually very picky about what I paint. If I don't have a strong response, I typically won't make a painting.   And if you haven't recognized it, I'm exclusively a studio painter. Physiologically, emotionally, and spiritually, I don't enjoy the rush to completion of plein air painting. Perhaps it's because, like my mother before me, I perform every task in "first gear." But I really do enjoy the process of painting slowly--almost contemplatively. It's not still life, but rather "life, still." Quiet moments of solitude, presented for your consideration.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• The Art of David Arsenault Gallery, Rockport, MA

• “Saratoga Pieces & Summer Places,” Mimosa Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY

• “In the Mood,” Saratoga ArtsFest, Spring Street Gallery, Saratoga Springs, New York

• “In a New Light,” Clement Frame & Art, Troy, New York

• The Arkell Museum Community Gallery, Canajoharie, NY

• Guild Gallery, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady, New York

• “Ten Years: 1995-2005,” Albany Center Galleries, Albany, New York

• Kevin Butler Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

• “Moods and Memories,” Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Blue Mountain Lake, NY

• “Reality/Realism,” Chapel + Cultural Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

• “One Point of View,” Yates Gallery, Siena College, Loudonville, New York

• Senate Finance Committee, State Capitol Building, Albany, New York

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

• 4-Artist Show (name TBD) The Laffer Gallery, Schuylerville, NY (Apr-June 2025)

• “Through Hopper’s Lens” National Exhibition, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA

• Rockport Art Association & Museum National Exhibition, Rockport, MA (2022-2024)

• “The Great American Paint-In,” Gallery CERO, Longwood, FL

• Juried Artist Member Exhibitions, Rockport Art Association & Museum, MA (2016-present)

• “My Favorites: Highlighting the Director’s Choice,” The Harrison Gallery, Williamstown MA

• “The Annual Museum Gala,” Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY (2012, 2013 )

• Oakroom Artists Group Exhibition, Arkell Museum, Canajoharie, New York

• “Tomorrow’s Masters Today,” Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY

• Oakroom Artists Group Exhibition, Mimosa Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY

• “Director’s Choice,” Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY

• “Hopper Happens,” Edward Hopper House Art Center, Nyack, NY

• “Art Attitudes,”, Malta League of Arts, Round Lake, NY

• “2011 Art Collector’s Fair,” Albany Center Gallery, Albany, NY

• “Alma Mater 2011: Second Annual Sage Albany Alumni Exhibition,” Sage College, Albany, NY

• “Small Works Summer Salon,” Clement Art Gallery, Troy, NY

• Blue Heron Gallery, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

• Oakroom Artists Group Exhibition, Cooperstown Art Assocciation, Cooperstown, New York

• “Our Community,” Fulton Street Gallery, Troy, NY

• Oakroom Artists 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY

• Exhibition by Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region, Albany Inst. of History/Art, Albany, NY;

Juror: Ivan C. Carp, Director, O.K. Harris Gallery, New York, NY

• “Vacancy: Albany’s Abandoned Buildings Through Artists’ Eyes.” State Univ. Plaza, Albany, NY

• 48th National Fall Open Exhibition, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, Vermont

Juror: Janet Fish, internationally-renowned artist-2-

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (con’t.)

• “The Fence Show” Members Salon Exhibition, Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY

• “Saratoga Scenes,” Gallery 100, Saratoga Springs, NY

• “Painted City,” Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY

• 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Manhattan Arts International, New York, NY

• 2003 Eastern States Regional Exhibition, Local Color Gallery, Latham, New York

• Regional Invitational, Canajoharie Library & Art Gallery, Canajoharie, New York

• “Winter Show,” Charter Oak Gallery, Fairfield, CT

• “State Street Stories: 350 Years of Albany’s Heritage,” Art Museum, Univ. at Albany, NY

• Eleven-County Regional, Schoharie County Arts Council, Cobleskill, New York

• Twelfth National Juried Exhibition, Viridian Artists, New York, New York

Juror: Anne Lampe, Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York

• 66th Annual National Exhibition, Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, New York

• Landscape 2001, The Arts Center Gallery, Saratoga County. Arts Council, Saratoga Springs, NY

• Renaissance 2000, Aardvark Studios, Dallas, Texas

• Showcase 2000, Fletcher Gallery, Woodstock, New York

• Essential Art Regional Exhibition, Cooperstown Library & Art Gallery, Cooperstown, NY

• “Urban Visions,” Manhattan Arts International, New York, New York

• “Metro Art,” Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York, New York

• Ceres Gallery 3rd Annual National Juried Exhibit, New York, NY;

Juror: Jacquelyn Serwer, Chief Curator of the Nat’l Museum of Ame. Art, Smithsonian Inst.,

Washington, D.C.

• 5th National Juried Art Exhibition, Highland Cultural Center, Highland, New York

Juror: Jennifer Park, Lecturer, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York

• Bowery Gallery 7th Annual National Competition, Bowery Gallery, New York, New York

Juror: William Bailey, internationally renowned artist

• “Art of Diversity III,” National Juried Exhibition, An Art Place Gallery, Chicago, IL

• 19th Annual National Juried Non-member Show, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY

Massachusetts

USA