Biography
Hailing from the high desert of Eastern Oregon, Shanae Lavelle’s art captures both the rich beauty and stark realities of rural life. She explores how environments and social conditions shape individual lives, delving into themes of poverty, nature, technology, and mechanization. Shanae is particularly interested in how these elements influence the symbiotic relationship between people and their landscapes.
Her artistic journey began with watercolor illustration and comic book publishing, roles she embraced for nearly ten years. During this time, she collaborated with talented artists and writers from the Treasure Valley near Boise, Idaho, enriching the sequential storytelling community by providing opportunities for publication.
Shanae now focuses on watercolor illustrations and plein air painting, disciplines that allow her to capture fleeting landscapes and the often-overlooked connections between people and their surroundings. Her plein air work has received recognition at numerous competitive events, earning her consistent awards.
Currently, Shanae is channeling her creativity into developing a children’s book with a local author while continuing to engage in competitive plein air painting.
Artist Resume
Education
Collaborative Published Works
In the Media
Selected Exhibitions
2009
BFA College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho
20242018
2017
2016
2015
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2014
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2013
32 Cells: Artistic Reflections on the Old Idaho Penitentiary
Mystery House Comics Presents: 6x6 (Home)
Mystery House Comics Presents: 6x6 (Fortune)
Mystery House Comics Presents: 6x6 (Pretend)
Mystery House Comics Presents: 6x6 (Momentum)
Shivertown #4
Shivertown #3
Mystery House Comics Presents: 6x6 (Feral)
Shivertown #2
Tarzan and the Comics of Idaho #1
Shivertown #1
2024
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2023
2022
2016
Kelly Holm "What do we make of artificial intelligence?" Madison Magazine January 12, 2024 Link
Albert Frank Asker "Tarzan Moves to Idaho; A Comic History of the Gem State" IdaHome Magazine July, 2023 Link
Art That's Small at City Hall Exhibit Video. City of Eagle, Idaho. Link
Albert Frank Asker "Tarzan Loves Idaho" Idaho Magazine October, 2016. Link
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2024
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2023
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2022
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2021
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2018
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2017
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2016
2015
2011
4th Annual Watercolor Carson City. Carson City, Nevada. Best Panoramic View.
Art at the Museum Plein Air Competition. Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Honorable Mention.
University of Wisconsin Hospital Madison Art Guild Annual Salon. Madison, Wisconsin.
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Madison Modern Museum of Contemporary Art Gallery Night. Marquette Cafe. Madison, Wisconsin
3rd Annual Watercolor Carson City. Adam's Hub. Carson City, Nevada. Honorable Mention, and Plein Air Second Place. Juror: Keiko Tanabe.
Tales on the Wisconsin Trail. Middleton Public Library
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Small Works. Ground Floor Artists Gallery. Surprise, Arizona.
Objects of Desire. Cedarburg Art Museum. Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
2nd Annual Watercolor Carson City. Governor's Mansion. Carson City, Nevada. Third Place, Juror: Tom Howard.
Art That's Small at City Hall. Eagle City Hall. Eagle, Idaho. First place, Juror: Bonnie Zahn Griffith.
Sensation. Nampa Civic Center, Nampa, Idaho
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1st Annual Watercolor Carson City. Governor's Mansion. Carson City, Nevada. First Place. Juror: Kristi Grussendorf.
KIND Idaho. Gem Center for the Arts. Boise, Idaho
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Creature Feature. Evermore Prints. Boise, Idaho
32 Cells, Escape. Old Idaho Penitentiary. Boise, Idaho
Animal. The Owyhee Gallery. Boise, Idaho
Flora. The Owyhee Gallery. Boise, Idaho
Aquatic. The Owyhee Gallery. Boise, Idaho
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Freak Alley 2016. Freak Alley Gallery. Boise, Idaho
1st Annual ARTcade. Spacebar Gallery Boise, Idaho
Winter Show. Basement Gallery. Boise, Idaho
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