Silas Shabelewska, photographed by Adolfo Doring 2006
“What resonates with me is the silence that emanates from the images …”. — silas shabelewska
Silas Shabelewska (b.1963, Monaco), Polish-French-American, lives & works in the USA.
In September 2011, Shabelewska revealed for the first time her early works from 1980’s, shot in and around Monaco in abandoned 19th Century villas: The Monte-Carlo series. The work was exhibited at the Soufer Gallery on Madison Avenue, New York.
In February 2014, ROADS AMERICA, Shabelewska’s take on Mark Rothko’s black paintings at The Menil Chapel in Texas, was featured along side 3 other artists at Soufer Gallery, for The Contemporary Industrial Landscape through the eyes of four international Photographers: Adolfo Doring, Andre von Morisse, Sergio Purtell, Silas Shabelewska, curated by Andre von Morisse, February 27 - April 12, 2014.
Past solo shows include: The Vermeer Series (Soufer Gallery, New York); Roads America (Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York); Roads: America (Gallery Kayafas, Boston); Roads: America (Briggs Robinson Gallery at Soho House New York); Silas Shabelewska (Patrick Verelst Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium) and PEACE & LOVE (Soufer Gallery, New York).
Her work has been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe, and has been reviewed and published in museum catalogues.
In parallel to her art career, Shabelewska worked as Director and Gallery Manager for relevant blue chip galleries in New York City from 2000 to 2014. In January 2014, Shabelewska created her own contemporary art gallery, ART 3 which she renamed in 2015, Silas von Morisse Gallery, named after her husband the Norwegian painter Andre von Morisse. The gallery celebrated its 10th year anniversary in January 2024. She lives and works in the USA.
Born and raised in Monaco (from Polish Architect parents), Shabelewska started to explore photography at 16 years old. In 1984, Shabelewska enrolled at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts where she majored in photography, Polaroid 20x24 and film & video. From 1985 to 1988, she enrolled at New York University Tisch School of the Arts (Film Production). From 1990 to 1995, Shabelewska created and produced in Paris, Monaco and Baltimore, Short Circuit, The Festival of American Short Films (In association with the American Center in Paris and the Consulate General of Monaco and Tourist Bureau of Cultural Affairs in New York and Monaco). She also wrote the Award Winning screenplay, Anna, soror… adapted from French writer Marguerite Yourcenar’s celebrated novel. In her career, Shabelewska photographed personalities like Leo Castelli and Helmut Newton. In 2007 and 2008, Shabelewska created the PEACE & LOVE series to celebrate the 50th year Anniversary of the PEACE Symbol. PEACE 5 was featured in O THE OPRAH MAGAZINE in June 2008, and LOVE 7 was exhibited at The Art of Caring a Look at Life Through Photography, curated by Dr Cynthia Goodman and organized by The New Orleans Museum of Art , 16 May 11 October 2009, The Cincinnati Museum Center 9 July 2010 – 19 September 2010, The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2 May 2011 – 25 September 2011, The Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, 22 October 2011 – 1 January 2012.
