Phyllis Tracy Malinow’s artistry is a departure from tradition transcending time and space. There’s mystery in her work reflecting and paying homage not only to the works of European masters Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Ferdinand Leger, Marc Chagall, Henri Rousseau, William Blake, Francis Bacon, German Expressionists Kathe Kollwitz,Max Beckmann but the Mexican muralists, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco as well. Through her unfettered imagination, inspired use of color and form, she tells stories that seem universal yet rooted in ancient past. They convey visual vitality and freshness as new as tomorrow. 

Her artwork is unconventional, original, textural, imaginative vision. She paints with texture whether on canvas, woodblock prints/paper or mixed media rice paper sculpture; all reflecting color, story content, form and expression as in her oil paintings on canvas. She has developed a technique of using art materials, i.e., chine colle (rice papers), pastels, caran d’ache, gouache and delicate materials, i.e., (pastels sealing them into her art when printing on paper from a woodblock.) Phyllis’ art bent of oil painting drives a painterly expression to canvas, woodblock prints/paper, sculpture with a personal voice full of life. Colorful, visual language is fabric of her being as she creates a vivid visual world.

By invitation in 1993, Malinow exhibited her oil paintings in a one-woman show at the Poliforum Cultural Siqueiros in Mexico City. This institution was named in honor of Mexican artist, David Alfaro Siqueiros and was a perfect setting for Malinow’s highly individual contribution to art. Her exhibition was well received by the art community and media leading to successful showings of her art in New York and internationally. Phyllis also participated in an exhibition of American Art through the Art in Embassies Program c/o the U.S. Department of State at the U.S. Ambassadorial Residence in Niamey, Niger, Africa for three years.

Many patrons have commented on Phyllis’ pulse of theatricality in her art, making it exciting, provocative, and yet still aesthetically appealing even spiritual. This undoubtedly owes much to her background working in professional theatre with a premium set and lighting designer on some of American theatre’s most successful, critically acclaimed Broadway productions. Perhaps the greatest influence was her mentor, Anthony Palumbo. His guiding force was instrumental in bringing together the extraordinary elements of her innate talent, theatrical bent, and commitment in telling metaphysical tales visually, making her work so compelling. Phyllis also credits her father, a W.P.A. artist, master paperhanger for imbuing her work with a connection when Americans pulled together during the Great Depression.

In sharing her thoughts, “It is extremely rewarding having my art exhibited in the United States and around the world, as I did in Mexico, Africa and Japan. I am impassioned to paint, create mixed media woodblock mono prints, works on paper and mixed media rice paper sculpture. Allegoric Expression is how life translates. Form, movement, color, story excite me as a visual artist. I reach out through Art, as a forum to communicate the human experience. Hopefully, my art will touch and stimulate the viewer.”

“Paradise” by Phyllis Tracy Malinow photograph representing Gallery’35 group exhibition.

MURRAY HILL LIFE, 2020