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My Art Story

After moving from Billings, MT, to Astoria, OR, in May 2020, my focus and energy have shifted to reflect the area, primarily forests, surrounding me. Seldom without my camera, I frequently walk through the woods. Their enriching beauty, pristine air, and the small features of all the life they support, provide a rejuvenating, reassuring, and communicative practice that prompts any number of creative ideas to gel. I transform my photographs into small shapes, each its own distinct module of color. On the canvas these tiny blocks of light and color and shadow become a unique representation of a space. Standing close to the painting the viewer will see shapes, but from across a room its details cohere like a photograph. Forests maintain a mystique while conveying an embracing presence. This is what I strive to capture on canvas.

What's Happening...

Look for my newest painting, "Her Strong Will," at the December Artwalk, 12/14/24 at ARTstoria Gallery, 1168 Commercial Street #205.

Dillon_Her Strong Will.jpg

A Firefly Fable has been selected for Yellowstone Art Museum's 57th Annual Auction. Opening night is February 7 and the auction gala will be held March 8, 2025. Billings, Montana

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Lean In has been selected for Missoula Art Museum's 50th annual (Solid Gold) art auction, opening January 9 with the gala to be held February 8, 2025. Missoula, Montana

Dillon_A Firefly Fable.jpg

Past Exhibits and Upcoming Shows

2024

•  Umpqua Valley Arts Annual Members Show, Roseburg, OR, 11/1/25-12/20/24

•  Word & Image Exhibit, Hoffman Center for the Arts, Manzanita, OR, 10/5-10/26/24

•  "Haven," Juried Group Show, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA 8/15-9/22/24

•  Open Studio Artists' Exhibit, Astoria Visual Artists Gallery, 1000 Duane St., July 13-August 4

•  Open Studio Tour at ARTstoria Gallery 1168 Commercial Street #205 July 27 & 28 

•  Earth Within Girls juried exhibit and auction, "Women, a Force of Nature," Missoula MT ending May 31

•  "In the Moment," Juried Group Show, Cannon Beach Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR 3/29-4/28

•  Exhibition, Feb. 3 Opening Reception, Hoffman Center for the Arts Exhibit, 594 Laneda Avenue, Manzanita, OR
•  Yellowstone Art Museum 56th Annual Auction, Juried, Billings, MT, 2/2-3/2/2024
•  Arts Thrive, Art Exhibition & Benefit, Juried, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM 3/17-4/14/2024
•  Missoula Art Museum's Annual Auction, Juried, Missoula, MT, Jan. 5-Feb. 3, 2024

•  Astoria 2nd Saturday Art Walk @ ARTstoria, 1168 Commercial Street #205, Every Month. See website for times.

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2023
•  Astoria 2nd Saturday Art Walk @ ARTstoria, 1168 Commercial Street #205, Every Month 1-7 P.M.
•  American Landscapes, Circle Gallery @ Maryland Federation of Arts, (Juried), August 30-September 23
•  Delectable: The Art of the Edible, Spiva Center For the Arts, (Juried), Joplin, MO, Aug. 19-Oct. 7
•  'Scapes Exhibition, d'Art Center, (Juried), Norfolk, VA, Aug. 5-Sept. 2 Awarded 2nd Place in juried show
•  Artworks Northwest Biennial, (Juried), Umpqua Valley Arts, Roseberg, OR, June 9-August 18
•  Astoria 2nd Saturday Art Walk @ AVA (Astoria Visual Artists) Gallery, 1000 Duane St, Feb. 11-March 4
•  Missoula Art Museum's Annual Benefit Auction. Missoula, MT, (Juried) Painting: "Expectations"
•  Yellowstone Art Museum's 55th Annual Auction. Billings, MT, (Juried), Painting: "Wanderlust"


2022
•  Astoria 2nd Saturday Art Walk @ ARTstoria, 1168 Commercial Street #205, Every Month 1-7 P.M.
•  AVA (Astoria Visual Arts) Members Exhibit, throughout October, Fri & Sat 10-4, 1000 Duane Street
• "Backroads," Juried Group Show, Vestige Concept Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, July 9-Aug. 7
• 2022 Yellowstone Art Museum 54th Annual Auction, Billings, MT, Final Auction Bids March 5
• 2022 Missoula Art Museum Annual Benefit Auction, Missoula, MT, Final Auction Bids Feb. 5

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2021
•  Astoria 2nd Saturday Art Walk @ ARTstoria, 1168 Commercial Street #205, Every Month 12-8 P.M.

• Astoria Visual Arts Annual Members Exhibition, Oct. 9-Nov. 7, 1000 Duane Street, Astoria
• Opening Show @ ARTstoria Gallery, 1168 Commercial Street, Astoria, OR, 2nd Saturday Art Walk, 08/14/2021
• 24th Annual Juried Art Auction & Exhibition, Paris Gibson Square, Great Falls, MT, 07/30-08/20/2021
• Arts Thrive Art Exhibition & Benefit, juried, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM 10/09-12/05/2021
• Spring to Life, juried group exhibit, 311 Gallery, 311 W Martin St. Raleigh, NC, May 7/28/21
• Into the Woods, juried group show, The Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA  3/31-4/25/2021
• Yellowstone Art Museum's 53rd Annual Exhibit & Auction, juried, Billings, MT 01/22-03/06/2021

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2020...Our pandemic year
  • Arts Thrive Art Exhibition & Benefit, juried, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM 10/26-12/06/2020
  • Yellowstone Art Museum's 52nd Annual Auction, juried, Billings, MT, 03/07/2020
  • Missoula Art Museum's 48th Annual Benefit Art Auction, juried, Missoula, MT, 02/01/2020
  • Winter Artwalk, Gallery Nine's Grand Finale, February 7, Gallery Nine, 2501 Montana Avenue, Billings, MT 

  2019
  • The Seeing of Sound, juried, VETS Memorial Auditorium Gallery, Providence, RI, 12/05/19-2/14/20
  • Holiday Artwalk, GALLERY NINE SALE!! December 6, Gallery Nine, 2501 Montana Ave., Billings, MT   
  • 29th Annual Arts Thrive Exhibition, Juried, Albuquerque Museum Foundation, Albuquerque, NM 10/19-12/09
   • Autumn Artwalk, October 9, FALL in Love With ART! Gallery Nine, 2501 Montana Ave., Billings, MT
   • Paris Gibson Square's 22nd Annual Auction, Juried, Great Falls, MT, 09/14/2019
   • Summer Artwalk, 08/02/19, "ROCK n' Roll! Paintings of Montana's Rivers & Creeks," Gallery Nine
   • "Art in B&W" Juried Exhibit, 3 Square Art, Fort Collins, CO, 05/10-05/30/2019.
  • Spring Artwalk, 06/07/19, "Find Your Happy Place" at Gallery Nine
  • 5 New Works available in Yellowstone Art Museum's Consignment Shop, 401 N. 27th St, Billings, MT
   • April Billings Artwalk, 04/05/19, "Garden Party, An Artists Collaboration," Gallery Nine
  • Yellowstone Art Museum's 51st Annual Auction, juried, Live & Silent Auction 03/09/2019
  • EXPO 38, juried, b.j. spoke gallery, Huntington, NY, 03/01-03/29/2019
  • Winter Artwalk, February 1, Gallery Nine, 2501 Montana Ave., Billings, MT​
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2018
   • "Present From the Past" exhibit, Art League Rhode Island, Providence, juried, 12/07/2018-3/07/2019
   • "The Art of Still Life" Exhibition, juried, 3 Square Gallery, Fort Collins, CO, 12/14/2018-01/18/2019
   • Billings Artwalk, December 7th, 2501 Montana Avenue, We Are Family exhibit  
   • "Apple on Antique Plate" received the Special Recognition Award, BWAC Gallery, NYC, October
   • The Affordable Art Show, BWAC Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, juried, through October 31
   • Billings Artwalk, Gallery Nine @ 2501 Montana Ave., Billings, MT, Every first Friday of each month
   • ISEA: International Society of Experimental Artists, Juried, Newport, OR, Work on display until Oct. 28
   • Artsy Shark, Featured Artist, July 17 https://www.artsyshark.com/2018/07/17/featured-artist-connie-Dillon/​
   •â€‹ Paris Gibson Square Museum Annual Art Auction, Juried, Great Falls, MT
   •â€‹ Maryland Federation of Art Landscape Exhibit, Juried, Annapolis, MD, Aug. 23-Sept. 22, 2018
   •â€‹ Summerfair, Yellowstone Art Museum booth, Billings, MT, July 13-15
   •â€‹ Yellowstone Art Museum's Consignment Gallery Featured Artist, July 2018
  • E3 Convergence Gallery, Missoula, MT, Group Exhibit May 4-26, "New Beginnings"
   •â€‹ Yellowstone Art Museum's Consignment Gallery Featured Artist, April-June 2018
   •â€‹ "Healing Nature" Cape Cod Museum of Art, Juried, Dennis, MA, March 29- May 27
   •â€‹ Yellowstone Art Museum's 50th Annual Auction, Juried, March 3
   • Zootown Arts Community Center Mini Gala Benefit, Juried​, February 24th (Missoula, MT)
   • Missoula Art Museum's 46th Annual Art Auction, Juried, February 3


  2017
  •â€‹ Gallery Nine's BIG small Works Show, First Friday, December 1, 5-9 pm
  •â€‹ October Issue, Southwest Art magazine, "Ones To Collect"
  •â€‹ October 6, 5-9 pm, First Friday Gallery Party! 20-50% off sale. Gallery Nine @ 2501 Montana Avenue
  •â€‹ September 1-29: Pushing the Boundaries, Juried group exhibit, Historic Santa Fe Foundation,
     545 Canyon Road #2, Santa Fe, New Mexico
  •â€‹ Book cover art, "Sandstone," Anthology of Montana Writers
​  •â€‹ Let It Enfold You, juried group show, E3 Gallery, Missoula, MT: 3 works on display
  • BFF...Billings First Friday! Debut May 5. Gallery Nine  
  • Artful Women of MT, Billings Library, May 9, Guests: Cindy Lou Randall, Lori Blaylock & Sam Randall
  • Guest Speaker, Billings Art Association, April 22
​  • Attendee, Arts Business Summit, Santa Fe, New Mexico, April 7-9
​  • Host, Artful Women of MT, Billings Library, April 11, Guests: Anna Paige & Ashley Warren
​  â€‹• Paris Gibson Square 20th Annual Auction, April 8, (Great Falls, MT)​
• Host, Artful Women of MT, Billings Library, March 21, YPT Dina Brophy, Caitlin Hart & Craig Huisenga 
​  • FAM at the YAM, Class: Teaching kids to paint marbles, March 17th
​  • Yellowstone Art Museum, 49th Annual Auction, Juried, January 19-March 4 (Billings, MT)
  •â€‹ Zootown Arts Community Center Mini Gala Benefit, Juried​, March 11 (Missoula, MT)
  • Host, Artful Women of MT, Billings Library, Feb. 8, Guests: Danielle Egnew & Rebecca Douglas
​  • Host, Artful Women of MT, Billings Library, Jan. 10, Guest: Elisa Lorello


​   2016

  • E3 Convergence Gallery, "Sometime, Somewhere" Juried Group Show, January (Missoula, MT)

  • Yellowstone Art Museum 48th Annual Auction, January 21-March 5 (Billings, MT)

  • Zootown Arts Community Center Mini Gala Benefit Juried Auction (Missoula, MT) March 26

  • Paris Gibson Square Annual Auction, Juried, April 9 (Great Falls, MT)

  • Bitter Pill:  Montana Lives Affected by Rx Abuse, Billings Public Library, 510 N. Broadway, Billings, MT, 5/6-14 

  • Bitter Pill Exhibit: Zootown Arts Community Center, (Missoula, MT)

  • Bitter Pill Exhibit: Montana State Capitol Rotunda, Helena, MT, June 6-10

  • Bitter Pill Exhibit: Saving Lives – Innovative Solutions to the Opioid Crisis, Minneapolis, Minnesota​. 

  • Radius Gallery, The Changing Moment Juried Group Show, July 30-September 16. (Missoula, MT)

  • Publication: Montana Quarterly, Spring Issue

  • Book Cover Painting, ​The Things We Said Today by Lise McClendon

  • Fall ArtWalk on October 7

  • Christmas Artwalk December 2

  • Zootown Arts Community Center's Dead of the Dead Show, Juried Group Show, October

  • Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center Juried Group Exhibit, Games: From Marbles To Mindcraft, Dowell,           Maryland, Oct. 28, 2016-Jan. 12, 2017

  • Radius Gallery, 3rd Annual Holiday Show, Juried Group Show, November-December. (Missoula, MT)

  • E3 Convergence Gallery's Group Exhibit: White, December (Missoula, MT)

  • Summer of 2016--Traffic Signal Box Art, juried. Downtown @ Corner of 3rd & 30th.

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  Past Exhibits

  • Opened Gallery Nine, Connie Dillon Fine Art, May 2014 (Billings, MT)

  • Yellowstone Art Museum Annual Auction, Juried, 2012, 2013, 2014 (Billings, MT)

  • Main Street Gallery, Clifton Springs, NY, Small Works Show, Juried, November-December 2015

  • Radius Gallery, 'Scapes Exhibit, Juried Group Show, June 2015 (Missoula, MT)

  • Paris Gibson Square Annual Auction, Juried, April 2015 (Great Falls, MT)

  • Zootown Arts Community Center Mini Gala Benefit Juried Show (Missoula, MT): March 2013, 2014, 2015

  • Hockaday Museum Miniature Exhibit, Juried, 2014(Kalispell, MT)

  • Zootown Arts Community Center, Solo Exhibit, July 2014 (Missoula, MT)

  • The View Gallery, "Winter" Juried Show 2014 (Adirondacks, Old Forge, NY)

  • Icons of the West, Dana Gallery, Juried Show: 2012, 2014 (Missoula, MT)

  • Solo Exhibit, ArtWalk, Global Village, October 2013 (Billings, MT)

  • Publication: Book Cover Photo, The Divine Botany by Cara Chamberlain, Spring 2015

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Contact

I look forward to hearing from you!

503.298.8689

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