BIO 2025
Ellen Frances Tuchman is a Southern California native, a child of Disney and Technicolor, living in Dallas for the past four decades. As a former textile major at California College of the Arts, the essence of fiber is a thru line in her work — from the heavily beaded ephemera layered into narrative assemblages, to her abstract paper quill paintings that evolved from the LA light and space movement. Finish Fetish, wonderment, even innocence, alove of pattern and color resides in these obsessively detailed mixed media paintings.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is categorized as paintings, not for the substrate, but for the intent. Pigments of beads, sequins, acrylic, colored pencils, ribbons, nail polish, eye shadow, souvenirs and thread cavort — contradicting traditional expectations regarding fine art materials. Women’s needlework is elevated to high art with my contemporary take on the unrelenting stimuli in modern life.
Musings are channeled into abstract paper quill works explore the poetry of color, the marking of time (especially in the literal shift that occurs as you view the pieces from the side and then full frontally). I spin geometric modernism into a form that is assemblage, textiles, and drawing. It is something different; something delicate and fragile, and quite beautiful.
A different body of work are narrative paintings. They are a counterpoint to mass production with luscious patterning and surface embellishments, immediately throwing them into a conversation about the decorative, beauty, high-low art, women’s handwork, femininity and male potency. I explore thematic conceits and plays-on-words. Many pieces are intentionally sentimental, telling universal stories with paint, sewing, and much ornament. Ephemera and souvenirs weave associative paths between past and present. An idealized past battles pop culture. Beneath the pretty veneer and couture beading lays some hard truths.
My work is unique, a precursor to current surface, textile, and materialism trends seen in contemporary art. I am a featured artist in Texas Artists Now and represented in many public collections (Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum, Lancaster Hotel, Houston, Federal Reserve Branch Houston, Harris County Courthouse, Pasadena, TX).
Patricia Mora has said it better than I could:
“Tuchman’s work has often been described as pretty — and while it is colorful and deliciously, even performatively, complex — that particular adjective inflicts an unintended indignity of the sort denoted by the word mignon in French. While such pronouncements were meant as praise, they fail to encompass her arts’ true agency. Her work is searingly personal and a kind of reverie in the Romantic tradition. By that I mean she is sifting through the psychological scree of a lifetime and giving it a new form that functions as a kind of magic lantern of memory, loss, and melancholia.”
CURRICULUM VITAE
ELLEN FRANCES TUCHMAN
b. 1954, Los Angeles, CA
Lives and works in Dallas, TX and Redondo Beach, CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS **catalogue
2025 Déjà vu Revue, koelsch gallery, Houston **
2024 Koelsch 9 presents THE READING ROOM: 70 MILES NORTH OF SOMEWHERE/mr. softee or the tower project, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Texas
2022 THE LIBRARY: 70 MILES NORTH OF SOMEWHERE/mr. softee or the tower project, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas
2021 Make Room for Tomorrow, koelsch gallery, Houston
2019 The B-Side Redux, Cliff Gallery, Mountain View College, Dallas **
2018 R+R: reveries and responses, koelsch gallery, Houston **
2017 Count the Hours, Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas **
2012 The B-Side, koelsch gallery, Houston **
Houston Art Fair, FOCUS booth with koelsch gallery, Houston
2009 Out of My Mind, PanAmerican ArtProjects, Dallas **
Travelogue, koelsch gallery, Houston **
2007 Flights of Fancy, PanAmerican ArtProjects, Miami
2006 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles
2005 Chapel Chromatica, Lawndale Art Center, Houston
Vistarama, Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
2004 Chapel Chromatica, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (THE MAC), Dallas, TX
Translucence of Time, Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Remember When, Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
2003 Chapel Chromatica, Four Walls, Fort Worth, TX
Installation at Travis Tower, Houston, TX
Memento Mori, C. G. Jung Center, Houston, TX
2002 Chronometry, North Harris College, Houston, TX (lecture)
2001 The Four Seasons, Irving Arts Center, Irving, TX **traveled to Galveston Art Center, Galveston, TX (January 2002)
The Four Seasons, Four Walls, Fort Worth, TX
1996 Sentimental Journey, Hebrew Home for the Aged, Riverdale, NY
1995 One Urban Man, Two Suburban Women, Marie Park, Dallas, TX
1993 Gardens and Fairy Tales, Artisana/Gallery 2526, Dallas, TX.
1992 Recent Works, Hickory Street Annex, Dallas, TX
1982 Karl Bornstein Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1981 Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
1980 Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Color Shifts, Inter-Society Color Council conference :Color Impact/color as communication, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Symphony in Fiber, Art League RI, Pawtucket, RI
2024 Materials Matter, Umpqua Valley, Arts, Rosenberg, OR
2022 Materials Hard and Soft, Denton Arts Council, Denton, TX curator: Tanya Aguiñiga
2021 The Art of Paper, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Spring, TX
2020 Stripes: Slivers, bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2018 ears of buddha: mystical power, koelsch haus gallery, Houston, TX
2013 Idle Hands, Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Collage: Now, Then & Again, Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX
2011 Obsessive Worlds, The Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX; traveled to Alexandria Art Museum, Alexandria, LA (catalogue)
2007 Bookworks, Galveston Art Center, Galveston, TX
2006 Biennial Southwest, The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Assistance League of Houston CELEBRATES TEXAS ART 2006, Houston, TX
2005 Layered, Stacked, Assembled, Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington, TX
Galerie Sho, Tokyo, Japan
palm beach3 contemporary art fair, Pan American Gallery booth, Palm Beach, FL
San Francisco International Art Fair, Koelsch Gallery booth, San Francisco, CA
2004 OBJECTification, The Gallery at the University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, curator: Nicholas Wood (brochure with essay by Charissa N. Terranova)
AAF Contemporary Art Fair, Koelsch Gallery booth 203 New York, NY
Contemporary Feminism, Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
Pan American Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
scope- la, Koelsch Gallery, room 201, Los Angeles, CA
100 Drawings, University of Dallas, Haggerty Gallery, Irving, TX
Material Possibilities, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
RED, Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, CA
Choice Art, for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Sotheby's, New York, NY
2003 Fragments, University of Dallas, Haggerty Gallery, Irving, TX
Juror’s Choice: The 2003 Member’s Show, Women and Their Work, Austin, TX
Mark Making: A Drawing Show, Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington, TX
way cool, Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
2001 Juror’s Choice: The 2002 Member’s Show, Women and Their Work, Austin, TX
Women Image: Image of Women, The Gallery at Dodds Hall, University of New Haven, CT
CraftHouston 2002: Texas, The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX, curator: Kenneth Trapp (catalogue; traveled to the Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, South Texas Institute for the Arts, Corpus Christi and the Galveston Art Center)
Dumbo and Beyond, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX, curator: Marjorie Moore
Pink Perspectives, Studio 107, Austin, TX, curator: Catherine Dossin (catalogue)
Notions, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC), Dallas, TX
Patrons, Lovers and Other Romantics, Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, CA
2000 Joyce Scott and Friends Revisited: Pushing the Boundaries of Beadwork, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Material World, Marta Hewett Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Beadwork in America, Haydon Gallery, Lincoln, NE (traveled to Hastings College; catalogue)
1999 Masquerade, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
Art in the Metroplex 1999, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, juror: Clint Willour
A Fresh Look at Texas Art: The MAC’s Irregular, Now and Then, Art-World Honcho Juried Exhibition, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX, juror: Terrie Sultan
Critic’s Choice: Dallas Visual Art Center at the African American Art Museum, Dallas, TX, juror: James Surls
1998 Self Portraits: Up Close and Personal, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
Mirror, Mirror, Contemporary Art Center, Fort Worth, TX
1997 Celebration, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival, Contemporary Art Center, Fort Worth, TX, juror: Charles Wylie
National Works on Paper, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, juror: Barry Whistler
1996 Hope, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
1995 Basket/Case, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
1994 A Show of Hands, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
The Exquisite Corpse, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC), Dallas, TX
1993 Small Treasures, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
1992 Tempus Fugit, Edith Baker Gallery, Dallas, TX
1991 A Visual Discourse, Peregrine Gallery, Dallas, TX
Time Is Relative, Beverly Gordon Gallery, Dallas, TX
Silent Stories, Peregrine Gallery, Dallas, TX
1990 How I See Who I Am, Beverly Gordon Gallery, Dallas, TX
1989 A Family of Artists, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX, curator: Suzanne Weaver
Family Icons, Peregrine Gallery, Dallas, TX
1987 Precious, Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York, NY, curator: Thomas Sokolowski
1986 Celebrating Women, Jewish Hospital, W.U.M.C., St. Louis, MO (catalogue)
1984 Precious, Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA, curator: Thomas Sokolowski (catalogue)
The Decorative Continues, Pam Adler Gallery, New York, NY, curator: Susan Putterman
1983 Textures, Welton, Becket Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Interpretations Of the Feminine, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
1981 Artist's Books, Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
Starry Night, Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
Elegant Night, Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA, curator: Tressa Miller (catalogue)
Graphics Plus, Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Ithaca, NY (catalogue)
Futura Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Gold, Dancer, Fitzgerald, Sample, Inc., New York, NY
1980 Glitter, Kathryn Markel Gallery, New York, NY
Other Media, Florida International University, Miami, FL (catalogue)
PAPER: A Group Exhibition of Changing Uses and Concepts, Gallery 10, Ltd., Washington D.C.
1979 Land-City-Seascapes, Parsons/Dreyfuss Gallery, New York, NY
Barbara Fiedler Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Gladstone/Villani Gallery, New York, NY
1978 Gold, Art Lending Service, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
The Line, Parsons/Dreyfuss Gallery, New York, NY
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2010 ON A WAVE and HOT SPOT, DLA Piper, LLC, Houston, TX
2010 HONOR OUR PAST; BUILD OUR FUTURE, John P. Harris Courthouse Annex, Pasadena, TX
2008 CIELOMARE and TERRABELLA, Greenberg Traurig, Houston, TX
2007 STONELEIGH HOTEL HISTORY and ELVIS AT THE STONELEIGH, Stoneleigh Hotel, Dallas, TX
2007 BRIDGEWAY AT 15 YEARS, Bridgeway Capital Management, Houston, TX
2006 THE HOGLUNDS, Hoglund Foundation, Dallas, TX
2005 HOUSTON, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Houston Branch, Houston, TX
AWARDS AND HONORS
2008 finalist, Hunting Art Prize, Houston, TX
1982 Ariana Foundation for the Arts, New York, NY
1981 New York State Council for the Arts (CAPS)
EVENTS AND LECTURES
2025 Lecture, Temerlin Advertising Institute, Meadows School of the Arts, SMU, Dallas, TX
2024 Gallery talk for “The Reading Room”, filmed, LSC-Kingwood, TX
2004 Lecture, University of Texas at Arlington, art department, Arlington, TX
Lectures, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX
2003 Lecture, University of North Texas, fibre department, Denton, TX
2002 Studio visit sponsored by The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (THE MAC), Dallas, TX
2000 Studio visit sponsored by the Museum of Arts and Design (American Craft Museum), NY
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025 FIBER ART NOW, Fiber Reimagined III, summer issue
2019 Sarradet, William. Ellen Frances Tuchman
Mora, Patricia. “Ellen Tuchman’s “The B-Side” – Learning to Bear Witness
2018 Israel, Nancy Cohen. “Hope for the Future, Embellished with the Past: Ellen Frances Tuchman’s Reveries”
2011 Obsessive Worlds, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX
2010 Texas Artists Today, Anspon, Catherine D., Marquand Books, Inc., p.241-244
2007 Willhour, Clint. Up Close and Personal, catalogue essay, PanAmerican ArtProjects
2004 Dambrot, Shana Nys. Coagula Art Journal,“These Boots are Made for Art-Walking”,Aug
Sachson, Gail. Park Cities People Newspaper, January 8
MacCash, Doug. The Times-Picayune, “Sugar & Spice”, January 16
Dallas Morning News, Guide p.57 (photo), January 16
Bookhart, D. Eric. Gambit Weekly, “Beauty vs. Prettiness”, January 27
2003 New American Paintings, volume 48, Western Edition, Open Studios Press
Johnson, Patricia C. ArtHouston, Houston Chronicle, July 19
Montgomery, Marian Ann. Catalogue for Quilt Mania, essay by Tracee Robertson
McKey, Nola. CraftHouston at HCCC, Texas Highways, August
Anspon, Catherine. Review of Memento Mori, ArtLies, issue 39
Compton, JR. Dallas Arts Revue, January 11
2002 Sprague, Suzanne. Interview on KERA 90.1 radio, Dallas, TX, September 27
Willour, Clint. An Obsession with Compulsion, ArtLies, issue 35
Waters, Amanda. The 1960 Sun, North Harris hosts guest artist, Chronometry, October 9
Barnes, Michael. Austin-American Statesman, June 8
FIBERARTS, Jan/Feb issue, p. 64 (photo)
2001 Tyson, Janet. Essay for The Four Seasons exhibition catalogue.
About Towne, Irving Community Television Network, interview aired week of October 24
Sime, Tom. Dallas Morning News, September 19, p.7 and p.12 (photo)
Out on the Town, D Magazine, September (photo) and November issues
2000 Beadwork In America, Haydon Art Gallery, Lincoln, NE
MacMillon, Kyle. Haydon Transcends the Typical with Beadwork, World-Herald, February 13
1997 Daniel, Mike. Celebrating with Edith Baker, Dallas Morning News, December 10
1995 Your Work, Bead & Button, August
1994 In the Spotlight: Ellen Frances Tuchman, Dallas-Fort Worth Design, 1994/1995 Issue
Greene, Marianna. Domestic Genius, Dallas Life Magazine, Dallas Morning News, April 24
1986 CELEBRATING WOMEN, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
1985 Sokolowski, Thomas. Precious, New York University, New York
1983 Moore, Louise. Artweek, March 12
Ballatore-Nelson, Sandy. Images and Issues, January/February
Metropolitan Home, May, cover and p.73, 74; (photos)
1982 Munchnic, Suzanne. Los Angeles Times, October
1981 Miller, Tressa. Elegant Night, Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA
Mackin, Jeanne, Ithaca Journal, August 27
Putterman, Susan. Ellen Frances Tuchman, Arts Magazine, May
1980 Forgey, Benjamin. Washington Star, January 13
Lewis, Jo Ann. Washington Star, January 5
SELECTED PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cockerell Dermapathology Lab, Dallas, TX
Container Corporation, Chicago, IL
Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Houston Branch, Houston, TX
Godwin-Ternbach Museum, CUNY, Queens College, NY
Harold Simmons Foundation, Dallas, TX
Hoglund Foundation, Dallas, TX
KPMG, Dallas, TX
RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc, Dallas, TX
Prudential Life Insurance, Newark, NJ
Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry, Miami Beach, FL
Southeast Banking Corporation, Miami, FL
The Lancaster Hotel, Houston, TX
The Stoneleigh Hotel, Dallas, TX
Wayne State Center for Special Education, Stanley, NY
SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Catherine Anspon, Houston, TX
Beverly and Bart Bentley, Houston, TX
Alexandra Bowes, San Francisco, CA
Barbara Bradfield, Dallas, TX
Phyllis and Sidney Bresler, Bethesda, MD
Lisa Hirschler Brown, Dallas, TX
Rebecca and Ken Bruder, Dallas, TX
Gracie Cavnar, Houston, TX
Serena and Tom Connelly, Dallas, TX
Carolyn Grant Fay estate, Houston,
Nancy and Tim Hanley, Dallas, TX
Robin and Trey Herndon, Dallas, TX
Cecily Horton, Houston, TX
Josie and Michael Jones, Houston, TX
Victoria and Marshal Lightman, Houston, TX
Ruthie and Jay Pack, Carmel, CA
Allen and Kelli Questrom, Aspen, CO
Laura Rosenstock, New York, NY
Ann Stautberg and Frank X. Tolbert, Houston, TX
Doris and Jack Weintraub estate, New York, NY
EDUCATION
BFA, 1976, California College of the Arts (formerly CCAC), Oakland, CA; major in textiles
CONTACT
eftstudio1@gmail.com ∙ http://www.ellenfrancestuchman.com ∙ @eftuchman
Represented by: koelsch gallery ∙ 1020 Peden Street, Houston ∙ 713-862-5744