Contemporary abstract artist featured at Phillips Gallery
Their Story by Pamela Beer, 20” x 20” oil and cold wax on cradled birch panel.
An exhibit featuring the work of contemporary abstract artist Pamela Beer is on display at Phillips Gallery.
The Where You Belong exhibit opens with a reception on April 4 from 5-7 p.m. An artist talk is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
“In my work, I seek to capture the unseen — emotions, memories, and the quiet essence of belonging," says artist Pamela Beer. "Where You Belong is a reflection on the places, both real and imagined, that ground us."
Beer's process begins with instinctual marks and layers of oil and cold wax, embracing the tension between wild expression and deliberate refinement.
"Through scraping, layering, and revealing hidden depths, each painting unfolds as a journey — one that mirrors our search for home, connection, and inner peace," Beer said from her studio in Bigfork.
This series of works invites viewers to step into layered landscapes of color and texture, where boundaries blur and emotions surface. Just as the process of building up and revealing layers in Beers’ paintings echoes the passage of time and experience, these works are an invitation to contemplate where we find solace, identity, and belonging.
Beer’s artistic journey began over 35 years ago as a creative outlet for stress relief, first exploring watercolors before transitioning to acrylics. However, it wasn’t until 2013 — after leaving a corporate career— that she fully committed to art as her profession. In her dedicated practice, she developed a distinct visual language, shifting from representational art to expressive abstraction. A pivotal moment in her career came in 2018-2019 when she embraced oil and cold wax medium, a discovery that transformed her approach and deepened her connection to the creative process.
The Where You Belong exhibit remains on view through April 26 at Phillips Gallery in the Kalispell Center Mall.