meet the artist
statement
ARTIST STATEMENT
Megan Segre
megansegre.com | @megansegre
Megan Segre is an American visual artist based in London. Segre explores how art and social issues are co-mingled to create a visual language of compassion and empathy.
Segre’s studio practice examines the human condition. She shapes and stitches forms together exploring how materiality communicates emotions. Her sculptural work embodies memories, offers warmth and comfort, and reveals the depth of human care needed to sustain ourselves. Using clay, insulation foam, paper and textiles, Segre explores the contradictions of our modern existence. Her latest work explores the benefits and horrors of industrialization, the strength and fragility of humanity, and the ephemerality and impermanence of materials. Segre seeks to encourage and inspire viewers to reach beyond their comfort zone and recognize humanity as a way to understand others with larger needs than their own.
Artists Magdalena Abakanowicz’s, Eva Hesse’s, and Louise Bourgeois’ unrelenting curiosities and courageous approaches to art making has inspired her ‘to do, to undo, and redo” both in her art and social practice. Segre’s social practice includes mending as a part of building community within marginalized groups. Segre’s work does not offer solutions but aims to present pathways to deeper understandings and compassion.
Megan Segre
_______________________________________________________________________
West London Art Factory, 153 Dukes Road, London W3 0SL
Website: megansegre.com
Instagram: @megansegre
EDUCATION
MFA Sculpture 2018 - Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, USA
AA Studio Arts 2015 - Santa Rosa Jr. College, CA, Deans Highest Honours USA
BA Political Science 1982 - University of California at Los Angeles, CA, USA
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibition
June 2023 - Strength and Fragility, The Presidio, San Francisco, CA
Group Exhibitions
June 2025 - Ieri e Oggi, Lab Galleria, CaffeDelCorsoArt, Cividate Camuno, Italy
May 2025 - Critical Edge Collective 5, The HandBag Factory, London UK
June 2024 - Heatherly Art School Exhibition, London, UK
April 2020 - Facing Contemporary Issues, On-Line Exhibition Art Ambassador
November 2019 - Fresh Art, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA, US
November 2019 - Art & Activism, San Francisco Women’s Artist Gallery, CA US
August 2019 - Alumni Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, PA, US
August 2018 – Far from Home, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, PA, US
June 2018 – Come Play, PAFA Broad St. Gallery, PA, US
June 2017 - Pre-Judices, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Exhibition, PA
March 2016 - Petaluma Arts Centre Members Exhibition, Petaluma, CA, US
January 2016 - You Have a Voice, Third Street Village Gallery, San Francisco
January 2015 – Small Work, Big Deal, Sebastopol Arts Centre, Sebastopol, CA
December 2015 – Petaluma Arts Centre Members Exhibition, Petaluma, CA US
Spring 2015 – CCACA Ceramics Exhibition, University of Davis, Davis, CA, US
Spring 2015 - Santa Rosa Jr. College Student Exhibition, Santa Rosa, CA, US
October 2009 - Repo, Sonoma Arts Guild, Sonoma, CA, US
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2019 - The Common Thread, CA Institute of Integral Studies, SF, CA, US
2018 - Art Away from Home, The Swim Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2001-2004 - Art Rewards the Student, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, CA, US
RESIDENCIES
Rural Residency for Contemporary Art, Cividate Camuno, Italy June 2025
WORKSHOPS
A collaborative project with Ukrainian artist Kristina Gaidamaka to raise awareness about the war in Ukraine. (https://www.megansegre.com/projects)
OPEN STUDIO
West London Art Factory, UK - 2021-23
Art Span, Open Studio, US - 2017, 2019
San Francisco Mission, Open Studio, US - 2016
AWARDS
PAFA O’Neill/Ruben Graduate Thesis Award 2018, PA US
PAFA Kathleen ‘Bunkey’ Frame Memorial Community Award 2018, PA US
Santa Rosa Junior College Art Merit Scholarship 2015,, Santa Rosa, US
Santa Rosa Junior College Riley Street Art Award 2015, Santa Rosa, US
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Proximity Arts Student Blog, Asst. Editor/Writer, PA, US - 2016-2017
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA), Sonoma, US - 2001-2011
-Founder and Chair of Student ARTS Program serving nearly 1,000 students. Responsibilities included: Managing committee of 12, hiring professional artists, developing arts curriculum for children aged 10-18, fundraising of $135,000, and coordinating 50 volunteers.
-SVMA Board Member 2001-04
-SVMA Advisory Committee Member 2005-08
-SVMA Docent 2001-11
Di Rosa Contemporary Museum of Art, Napa, US - 2009-2011
-Worked as Education Intern and promoted art education opportunities for Bay Area educators, recruited teens for Peer-to-Peer docent program and conducted Visual Thinking Strategy training seminars for docents.
-Di Rosa Contemporary Museum of Art Docent - 2009-2011
Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Sonoma, US 2005-2006
-Founder and Co-Chair of Love Our Libraries. Raised $250,000 for school libraries. Held Grant Writing Seminars for middle school and high school teachers.
cv
press
releases
2023
June 20, 2023
Megan Segre “Strength and Fragility” Opens at Tides Converge, San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — Artist Megan Segre opened her latest gallery showing at The Tides Converge, The Presidio, 1012 Torney Avenue, San Francisco. Segre’s exhibition is in The Seed Gallery and is open now through 8/31/2023, M-F, 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and by appointment.
Segre’s “Strength and Fragility” exhibition illuminates misinformation, misperceptions and realities surrounding issues and challenges of the unhoused. Through exploring how art and social issues are commingled, Segre creates a visual language that presents the issue of homelessness with compassion and empathy.
Segre stated, “Through viewing and exploring my “Strength and Fragility” exhibition, I hope to establish a one-to-one connection with each person and help them develop an even deeper sensitivity to and awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness.”
Segre combines her two passions, fine art and social activism, into one poignant and direct artistic endeavor through “Strength and Fragility.” As a community activist in San Francisco and London, Segre has worked with the unhoused through sewing groups that provide mending services for the growing homeless population. Currently she is working with asylum seekers and other marginalized communities in London. Segre reflects her personal translation and understanding of societal needs through her work. Segre’s use of dissimilar materials present and question their own physicality and investigate how we are all connected.
To read more about Megan Segre visit www.MeganSegre.com.
Media: Kathlene Simmons, KathleneSimmons@att.net, 1-214-263-3687
social practice
My work creates a visual language
that focuses on
social issues
with compassion and empathy. Sculpted, stitched and woven together my art evokes emotions such as fragility, resilience, and loneliness while exploring how regeneration and reconstruction are possible. I seek to both reveal and hide the fragility of human existence.
Relocated from San Fancisco to London,
I investigate social issues and especially
homelessness
from a deeply personal and public perspective.
Having witnessed the homelessness of a close family member has influenced who I am as a person
and who I have become as an artist.
other experience
Assistant Editor and writer for Proximity Arts September 2016-May 2017
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Sonoma, CA, 2001-2011
S.V.M.A. Board Member from 2001-2004. Founded and Chaired The Arts Rewards the Students Program,
a district-wide, multi-cultural diversity art program for the Sonoma Valley Unified School District
serving eight schools and nearly 1,000 students.
Di Rosa Contemporary Museum of Art, Napa, CA, 2009-2011
Served in the Education Department at the Di Rosa from 2009-2010. Promoted educational opportunities
and Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) training for Bay Area educators and docents.