Biography

Andrew Sjodin was born in 1981 in Pipestone, MN.  He grew up and attended high school in Forest Lake, MN.  After high school he attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN where he studied philosophy and mathematics.  While in his twenties Sjodin served in AmeriCorps for two years in Washington State, taught English in Thailand for one school year, and then moved to Homer, Alaska.  In 2008 while living in Alaska, Sjodin took a painting course from Asia Freeman.  In his final critique from Freeman she suggested that Sjodin pursue art more seriously, and that perhaps he should consider an MFA program.  A few months later Sjodin returned home to Minnesota.  

Having taken Freeman’s advice to heart Sjodin set out looking for an artistic training program that would be right for him.  He ended up stumbling across the atelier program model, which was unknown to him prior.  It was immediately apparent to Sjodin that this would be the correct path for him.  In 2010 he began his formal training as an artist, draftsman, and painter at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts in Minneapolis, MN.  Sjodin spent four years at The Atelier studying the drawing and painting methods of the old masters under Dale Redpath and Cyd Wicker.  In the fall of 2015 Sjodin began teaching part-time classes at The Atelier.  In 2018 he became an instructor with The Atelier’s full-time program.

Sjodin’s work combines a French Academic drawing foundation with an impressionistic approach to seeing and interpreting color.  Sjodin primarily creates still lifes and figurative pieces, working mainly in oils.  Much of his work is somber and quiet.  His compositions are simple and mindful, calling the viewer to slow down and dwell within the work and themself.  Through his work Sjodin strives to create an experience that is introspective, subtle, complex, and ultimately fulfilling for both himself and the viewer.

Sjodin currently lives and works out of his studio on a small farm in Isanti County, about 45 minutes north of the Twin Cities.  He continues to teach as a member of the full-time program teaching staff at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts.

Artist Statement:
“I am interested in the creation and experience of art as a gateway to honest self-reflection.  Honest self-reflection, I believe, is at the heart of a conscientious, intentional, and fulfilling life.”

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Exhibitions

2022         24th Annual Boston International Fine Art Show                                           

                      Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA

                   Annual Small Works Show

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   Five and Under

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

                   Art on the Edge: 16th Annual Juried Exhibit

                      The Edge Center for the Arts, Big Fork, MN                

                   Andrew Sjodin Spotlight: Recent Works

                       Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

                   Artists for The Atelier  

                      The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                   Art-A-Whirl

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   The Frame Remains the Same

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

                   L.A. Art Show

                      L.A. Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

2021          Annual Small Works Show

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   Annual Underground Art Show

                      The Leader Building, Cambridge, MN

                   Five and Under

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

                   Revival in Oil and Clay

                      The Grand Hand Gallery, St. Paul, MN

                   Artists for The Atelier

                      The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                   15th International ARC Salon

                       Art Renewal Center

                   4th Annual Juried Floral Show

                       Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   47th Annual Northern Lights International Online Juried Art Exhibition

                      White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, MN

2020        Annual Small Works Show

                       Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition

                        Fine Arts Building, Minnesota State Fair Grounds, St. Paul, MN

                   Annual Juried Floral Show

                        Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   Northrup King Nights

                        Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, Mn

2019         Group Exhibition 

                        Private Residence, St. Paul, MN

                   Artists for the Atelier 

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                   Annual Juried Floral Show

                        Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

                   Annual Juried Small Works Show

                        Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

2017          Kallos: The Order of Light Group Exhibition 

                        Rogue Buddha Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

                   Larson, Sjodin, Schweiger, Posey Group Exhibition 

                        Riverview Towers, Minneapolis, MN

2016         Larson, Sjodin, Schweiger, Posy Group Exhibition

                        Chindean Cafe, Minneapolis, MN

2014          Atelier Full-Time Student Show

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                   Riverview Towers Painter’s Process Exhibition

                        Riverview Towers, Minneapolis, MN

2013          Atelier Full-Time Student Show

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                   Riverview Towers Drawing Exhibition

                        Riverview Towers, Minneapolis MN

2012         Atelier Full-Time Student Show

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis MN

                  Riverview Towers Painting Exhibition

                        Riverview Towers, Minneapolis, MN

2011          Atelier Full-Time Student Show

                       The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

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Education

2014        Graduate, The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                        Trained under Dale Redpath, Cyd Wicker, Kim Monahan Dady, Laura                           Tundel, and Jeff Larson

2008       Kenia Peninsula Community College, Homer AK

                        Studied painting under Asia Freeman

2004       BA in Philosophy, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN

 

Teaching Experience

2018 -      Full-Time Program Instructor

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

2018         Portraiture Course  and Basic Drawing & Painting Course

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

2017         Basic Drawing Course
                        Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, MN

                  Portraiture Course and Basic Drawing & Painting Course

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

2016         Portraiture Course
                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

                  Basic Drawing Workshop and Basic Figure Drawing Workshop 

                        Homer Art & Frame Company, Homer, AK

2015         Portraiture Course

                        The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

2014        Oil Painting Workshop

                        Homer Art & Frame Company, Homer, AK

 

Awards

2022        Finalist, Figurative Category

                      16th Art Renewal Center International Salon

                  Semi-Finalist, Still Life Category

                      16th Art Renewal Center International Salon

2021         Finalist, Figurative Category

                      15th Art Renewal Center International Salon 

                  Finalist, Still Life Category

                       15th Art Renewal Center International Salon

2020       Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative Award

                       Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition

                 Ron Merchant Award for Oil Painting

                       Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition

2019        Master Framers Award                                                                                                                  Annual Juried Floral Show, Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN                                                                                                                                                                     Media

Subtlety and Nuance

     Upcoming Show Preview, American Art Collector magazine, July 2022

 

Short Documentary: The Artist Stool episode 003

     Go to the following site to view:

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKqmk2Z8GZ0