In my lifetime, I have witnessed a world of extreme change which saw great destruction and rebirth: world war, a terrible holocaust, the displacement of millions of people, and the loss of my loved ones are part of this experience. The United States gave me the opportunity to search for growth, equality, and self-awareness. I ask myself: How can I unite in my own being these opposite forces? How can I give meaning, truth, and authenticity to myself and the world around me? I try to do this through my art.


My paintings are always in process. They are "action paintings". In them, I sense and feel the flow of life as an inner experience and vision. Just as nature and life cannot be frozen, my paintings affirm the vital energy, dynamism, magic, and mystery of my world. I seek to capture a sense of constant motion and restlessness through the use of form, color, composition, and texture.
Painting for me is an absolute necessity, expressing personal needs, a constant struggle, and a never-ending search to portray the reaffirmation of life.

-Helen Ciesla Covensky

Trained at Wayne State University in the Art Department, 1957-1963; 1968-1971
Detroit Artist Market, 1969
Michigan Artist Exhibition, Detroit Institute of Art, 1970-1971
Lim Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel; Painting in Permanent Collection of the Museum, 1971
Acquired, 1971
Painted, Paris, 1972
London Arts Gallery, 1971-1973
Pyramid Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1973
University of Michigan Commons Gallery, One Woman Show, 1973
One of 10 Artists selected by Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Council of the Arts, and National Humanities Foundation to prepare a print for a portfolio to be distributed to the leading museums, community centers, and foundations; 1974
One of three artists selected by the bicentennial commission to exhibit her print as part of the bicentennial celebration in the State of Michigan, 1975
Affiliated Livingston-Learmonth gallery in New York, 1975


One Group Exhibitions:

1971
Exhibition
Helen Covensky
Lim Gallery
Tel Aviv, Israel

1973
An Exhibition of Paintings
North Campus Commons Gallery
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

1975
Helen Covensky
London Arts Gallery
Detroit, Michigan

1976
Helen Covensky
Recent Paintings and Works on Paper
Livingston-Learmonth Gallery
New York, New York

1977
Helen Covensky
New Paintings
London Arts Gallery
Detroit, Michigan

Selected Group Exhibitions

1970/71
58th Exhibition for Michigan Artists
The Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit, Michigan (Brochure)

1973
Women Artists: An Exhibition of Women Artists Whose Works Are in Public or Corporate Collections
Pyramid Gallery
Ann Arbor, Michigan

1976
Michigan Collects Michigan Art
Pontiac Creative Arts Center
Pontiac, Michigan (Catalogue)

1978
At Cranbrook: The Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Collection
Cranbook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Brochure)

1980
Artists from Michigan: Painting, Sculpture, Works on Paper, Performance
International Institute Exhibition
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan

Collections


Charfoos, Christensen, Gilbert & Archer; Detroit, Michigan
City National Bank, Detroit, Michigan
The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan
Ford Foundation, New York, New York
Lansing General Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates, Inc.; Detroit, Michigan
Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel
20th Century Fox, Los Angeles, California
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

For inquiries regarding Helen Ciesla Covensky's paintings, please contact:

Aviva Kempner, 5005 Linnean Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 202.244.1347 akempner@aol.com