Sandra Benhaim

Sandra Benhaim has always been interested in art and in the visual – since a very young age. Maybe this interest was sparked by her childhood visits to her father's Philadelphia sign-making shop and seeing his beautifully rendered sign "sketches," with their crisply delineated letters and images in vibrant hues. Another inspiration must have been her late uncle's accomplished pastel self-portrait that hung in the family living room. Perhaps this is what led to Sandra's early interest in making representational artwork, particularly portraits, as well as landscapes and still life scenes. Pursuing her dreams, Sandra won a full scholarship to the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. In addition to her B.A in fine arts, Sandra later returned to Tyler and got an M.Ed. degree.

Lately, Sandra has created purely abstract images that express her passion for nature. She also makes collage paintings and works in oil and oil paint stick on wood panels and canvas. The world around Sandra provides nearly all the inspiration she needs. In trying to express her enthusiasm for nature and all its splendor of color and variety, she employs layers of juxtaposed color to create a visual energy that fascinates her.

Sandra's work is about "place" and is landscape-inspired, but it is not a representation of a specific location. Viewers of her artwork are welcome to enter these places through imagination, memory, and reverie.