About Tara Riley

Tara began her career as a designer of three dimensional products including theatrical costume design and fashion accessories. After her second child was born she gave up her art studio and design practice to prioritize raising creative children. Painting became her creative outlet while raising her family. Now an empty nester, she has returned her focus to making art full time.

Tara’s recent paintings are concerned with capturing the spirit of a moment she uses symbols of ephemeral to express the fleeting nature of our humanity. The new work combines semi abstract imagery and a variety of contemporary and traditional painting techniques to explore the vulnerabilty of living beings.

In fall of 2022 Tara revisited an interest in painting on silk. She combines skills learned while studying fiber art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and working as a designer of fashion accessories with her passion for painting and drawing. Tara loves the feeling of dye flowing when her brush touches the silk and knowing that the wearer feels joy in expressing their own creativity as they wrap up in a lovely piece of wearable art.

Tara’s work is in private collections throughout the USA, Mexico and Europe. Her largest piece, a street piano, is now part of a museum collection.

.Tara lives with her husband in Arlington Heights, Illinois. They have four adult children.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Master of Arts in Art Education, North Park University, Chicago Illinois.

 Affiliations:

Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists

Artist Association of Elk Grove Village

Arlington Heights Artists Guild

School of the Art Institute of Chicago Alumni Association

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