Sylvia Carsen (1932 - 2016)  

 

Sylvia Carsen studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.  She began her career as a commerical illustrator at WHBF-TV and J.J. Case Farm Implement Company, both in Rock Island, Illinois.  She also worked as an advertising artist for McFarland Advertising in San Francisco, Boon Advertising in Davenport, Iowa, and Weigen Illusion Graphics in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

Her career as a commercial illustrator really blossomed when she began producing art for school programs and test materials for American Guidance Service in Circle Pines, Minnesota, where she worked for the majority of her career.  She was also hired as a freelance artist creating key-lined catalogues and giftware for Coynes's Gift Ware in Minneapolis, Minnesota and designing lighted porcelain Christmas villages and holiday giftware for Seasonal Specialties, LLC, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

 

In 2016, Sylvia had a solo exhibition at Gallery 5004 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota and she also exhibited at the Ramsey Center for the Arts in Shoreview, Minesota; Robbin Gallery in Robbinsdale, Minnesota; Blaine City Hall in Blaine, Minnesota; and the Banfill Co-op Drawing Show in Cambridge, Minnesota. 

 

Sylvia said of her art, "My paintings are a reflection of my love for the world. If you look carefully, everything is beautiful.  I want to hold on to it."