August 2026

Sandra Riegel-Wilson creates deeply personal, intuitive abstract paintings that explore imperfection, rhythmic texture, and subtle shifts in color. Through these elements, she seeks to create a sacred space within each painting.

Sandra resides in Fairfield, Iowa and holds a BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MS in painting from Illinois State University. She recently retired from teaching art in the Ottumwa, Iowa school district.

Overview

This body of work marks a deliberate shift from my earlier practice, which centered on blacks, greys, and browns.  I set a goal of creating 100 paintings without using black.

The series also moves away from the human figure that once defined my work and returns instead to abstraction.

The paintings are made with acrylic on 8” x 8” wood panels. Some incorporate glass, cloth, and found objects.

Process

My process is intuitive, driven by the primal act of mark-making and a tactile exploration of materials. Each work evolves through direct engagement with the medium.

 Most of these paintings were made with my fingerprints rather than a paintbrush, a method that created a more intimate space between my body, the materials, and the work.   I strive to create paintings that hold a tension between the tangible and the ethereal.

Influences

I am influenced by memory and experience, including:

• the light and color of stained glass
• sacred objects and reliquaries
• historic textiles
• surfaces that reveal the patina of age

I am intrigued by how unconscious patterns surface and take form through painting, and by the transformative movement from chaos toward order. This intimate approach to artmaking fascinates me and continues to propel me forward.