Colleen Sommers was born and raised in the wild and beautiful fields of Michigan. She called Austin, Texas, home for over 30 years and currently resides in San Antonio, Texas.

Sommers has been building and making things since she was seven years old. She began painting in the late 80s and enjoyed a successful career, participating in art fairs and gallery shows worldwide. While living in  Austin, Texas, she devoted herself to creating community, co-founding the “Austin Women’s Art Project” and teaching children and adult art classes in her home studio. Taking a hiatus from working as a full-time artist in 2006, she returned to the studio in 2023. Sommers is currently enrolled at UTSA, finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her early years, in the wild and beautiful fields of Michigan, have had a lasting impact, influencing her popular abstract landscapes, which reference the bird's-eye view of fields below. While she enjoys painting, her current focus is on creating sculptures, primarily woven vessels, containing palm fronds from her yard and recycled soda cans, cardboard, and plastic collected from friends and family.

Working in several different mediums with different materials has always been appealing to me and continues to inspire my mark making, knot tying, and nail pounding habits. My current body of work consists of vessels, trinkets, and fetishes. I use discarded recycled items along with leftover construction debris, regular craft supplies, and fine art materials. I  like combining cereal boxes, cardboard, foam, soda and beer cans, single-use plastic, and palm fronds from my yard. I use brad nails, embroidery thread, and sometimes super glue to weave and secure the work to itself. 

Beyond all other identities, I am a forager. I have spent my life wandering the edges of bodies of water, open fields, and thick forests. Since early childhood, I have collected, sorted, and stored pods of all shapes and sizes. This integrated pastime speaks to how I see the world and how I process my ideas, and what artwork I produce related to this part of my identity. It is not premeditated. I make something and am surprised and inspired to make more. The elongated, pointed pod shape has appeared in my paintings and sculptures throughout the years, along with other vessel shapes, including the iconic “house” outline. Metaphorically, the pod or vessel houses the seeds of new life and by it’s own virtue is full of power. The potential for growth is always at hand, and as a creator, this metaphor is not lost on me. 

Collecting and weaving bits of life, born of nature and consumerism both is an interesting way of making sense of who I have grown into and what our world is currently experiencing. As a 62-year-old artist, I consider these questions daily. Is anything sacred? Do things last? Is anything important anymore? How do I or the collective “we” sustain and protect our space as individual thinkers and makers? To stay focused and driven to create is a huge endeavour in our current times. 

CV

COLLEEN SOMMERS

Artist ⁕ Project Manager ⁕ Consultant

SUMMARY

I am a multi-talented artist advocating for the artist in all of us! I have a broad base of knowledge and skills. In the studio I use these skills to work in multiple mediums. With others I use this knowledge to help them achieve success with their projects and goals.

EDUCATION

2025 

Bachelor of Fine Arts, School of Art at University of Texas at San Antonio

2021-2023

Alamo Colleges 

Core Curriculum

Design

1990’s

Austin Community College

Building Construction Management 

Furniture Building 

Art 

French

1980’s 

Grand Rapids Community College

Photography 

Drawing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

August 2023 - Present

UTSA-SW School of Art Pace Community Programs

Work Study and Studio Technician Ceramics & Small Metals Department

June 2024 - August 2024

Internship UTSA - SW School of Art Pace Community Program 

Studio Technician Ceramics

November 2019 -  Present

Personal Assistant/Project Management/Private Chef

December 2013 - November 2019

Estate Manager/Gardener - Private Estate, West Lake Hills, Texas

October 2008 - August 2012

Owner/Operator/Head Baker - Pie Fixes Everything, Austin, Texas

October 1987 - May 2006

Studio Artist - Red House Studios, Austin, Texas

EXHIBITIONS

Breast Cancer Resource Center-Art Bra 2004-2008

Little City Coffee Solo Show 2006

First Night Austin 2005

Dougherty Arts Center Julia C. Butridge Gallery 2005

• Contained  A two women show

Dougherty Arts Center Julia C. Butridge Gallery 2004

• A Woman Formed  A two woman show

Austin Women’s Art Project 1997-2000

ARTWORKS Miniatures 1987-1990

AWARDS

Presidents List UTSA 2023-2025