Kyle Staver

Kyle Staver is a New York-based artist and educator currently teaching at The New York Studio School, with recent visiting artist engagements at Western Connecticut State University (2021), Maryland Institute College of Art, University of Indiana, Chautauqua, and Vermont Studio Center.

Her education includes a BFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1976) and an MFA from Yale University (1987).

Staver's practice centers on narrative painting, relief sculpture, drawing, and printmaking that reinterprets myths, legends, and fairy tales through a feminist lens. Her vibrant figurative works consistently feature strong female protagonists exploring themes of identity, power, and transformation, while bridging classical traditions with contemporary sensibilities. The artist employs rich oil techniques on diverse supports including panel, canvas, and paper to create visually arresting narratives.

Her recent body of work demonstrates continued evolution in mythological reinterpretation, with increasing emphasis on female agency across diverse narrative traditions. The artworks span monumental paintings, intricate reliefs, and intimate works on paper, showcasing technical mastery across multiple mediums while maintaining cohesive thematic exploration of cultural storytelling.

Staver's significant recognition includes:

• Guggenheim Fellowship (2015)
• American Academy of Arts & Letters Purchase Prize (2015)
• College Art Association Artist Award for Distinguished Body of Work (2019)
• Louis Comfort Tiffany Award (2003)
• ArtPrize for Painting (2013)
• Benjamin Altman Figure Prize (1996, 1998)

Her work is held in major public collections including the National Academy of Design, American Academy of Arts and Letters, and National Arts Club. Staver maintains an active exhibition schedule with recent solo shows at Nino Mier Gallery (Los Angeles), Half Gallery (New York), and Zürcher Gallery (Brussels), demonstrating sustained relevance in contemporary art discourse.