Theresa grew up in New Jersey near the Palisades of the Hudson River. She started painting as a young child, deciding then to make art the focus of her life. A habit of continual study has led her to examine the lives, methods and materials of past masters who inspire her, and she has studied under modern master Scott Christensen, and attended workshops of David Dibble, Albert Handell, Michelle Held and Morgan Samuel Price. Through the years, Theresa has called many places home, from Canada to Florida while continuing to exhibit her work.  Another relocation in June 2023 brought her from the Florida Panhandle to western Arkansas, where she paints outdoors and in her studio. 

A deep connection to the spiritual and a conviction that all things are ultimately connected, leads Theresa to create oil paintings that represent the intimate bond she feels with her natural surroundings. She has exhibited with the Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society and the American Impressionist Society, and her paintings have appeared in Fine Art Connoisseur's Today's Masters feature, and Plein Air Magazine's Portfolio and Postcards From the Road features. Her work is collected privately and hangs in the Permanent Art Collection of the Federal Reserve Board Bank in New Orleans. Her coastal works have been the subject of three solo exhibitions.  Theresa was an adjunct instructor for the Continuing Education program at Pensacola State College from 2008 to 2018. She continues to teach workshops and private classes on request.

 

Exhibitions

2026

From the Mountains to the Sea- Solo exhibition- Arts on Main Galleries, Van Buren Arkansas, October 10- December 12

56th Annual River Road Show National Juried Competition- Louisiana State Archives Gallery-August 12-September 28

American Impressionist Society- 6th Annual Juried Associate Member Online Exhibition- Catalog available on AIS site

Arts on Main Annual Juried Competition- Arts on Main Galleries, Van Buren Arkansas. July 18- September 26. Awarded Jane Owen Director's Award

Art of the Heartland National Juried Exhibition- Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas. July 8-August 29.

Oil Painters of America- 35th National Juried Exhibition. Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs Colorado, May 29-August 29.

NOAPS- (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) Small Works: Best of America International Juried Exhibition. Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, Georgia. May 1-May 30.

American Impressionist Society- 10th Annual Small Works Showcase. J Petter Galleries, Douglas Mi. May 1-May 30.

10th Annual Small Works National Juried Exhibition- Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas, April 8 - May 30. Second place award

New Perspectives- Group exhibition of Mena Art Gallery members January 1-Feb 9, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas

Painting the Arkansas Parks- Juried traveling group exhibition of plein air works and studio paintings developed from them by members of Heart of America Artists Association. Exhibition at 12 venues between 2026 and 2028. 

Eureka Springs Plein Air Festival- May 5-9. Judge Morgan Samuel Price- Awarded Honorable Mention overall and Best Painting of the Day

 

2025

Paint Siloam Springs- plein air event and exhibition at Olive and Opal, Siloam Springs Arkansas, Oct 04-Dec 31. Second Place award

Art of the Heartland- National Juried Exhibition- Mena Art Gallery September 3- October 25, Third Place award

Southwest Artists National Exhibition of Small Works- Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas, May-June

TRAHC National Juried Annual Exhibition- Texarkana Regional Art and Humanities Council, Texarkana Texas, July-September 6

 

2024

Paint the Arkansas Parks-Buffalo River- plein air event November 1-3. Exhibit Nov 3. First place award

Exhibition of Plein Air Paintings- Siloam Springs Heart of America Plein Air, Opal and Olive Wine Bar and Gallery, Siloam Springs October 6 - December 31-second place award

Group Exhibition- ACHE Health and Wellness Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 24- December 13.

Art of the Heartland- Juried national exhibition, Mena Art Gallery, August 31-November 2. Third place award.

Southwest Artists National Exhibition of Small Works- Juried national exhibition, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas. May 3 -June 22 

Selected Members Show- 5 person exhibition of selected works from any point in the artists career, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas, January 1-20

 

2023

Farm to Forest- Juried plein air event Alexandria Art Museum, Alexandria Louisiana, October 13-16. 

Southwest Artists-Juried national exhibition- Art of the Heartland, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas, September 6- October 28. Two Honorable Mention Awards.

River Road Show- National juried exhibition, State Archives Gallery, Baton Rouge Louisiana, August 3 - September 25

Arts on Main-artists coalition members show- Arts on Main, Van Buren Arkansas

Southwest Artists 2023 National Small Works Show- Juried exhibition, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas, May 3- June 23, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas. First place award and honorable mention.

 

2022

Paint Grand Traverse-Juried plein air event, Crooked Tree Art Center, Traverse City Michigan, August 15-20. Online: Aug 23-Sept 17

Art of the Heartland- National juried exhibition, Mena Art Gallery, Mena Arkansas, August 31- October 29. Honorable Mention award.

National River Road Show- National juried exhibition, Louisiana State Archives Building, Baton Rouge Louisiana, August 3-September 29

Juried Members Show- Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama, March 4-April 30

Paint Pensacola- Plein Air event and exhibition. Quayside Gallery, Pensacola Florida April 9-29. Second Place award. 

 

2021

Plein Air Fairhope- Group exhibit of works created during week long Plein air Fairhope event, November 2-December 31, Eastern Shore Art Center

Southern Trails- solo exhibition of Gulf Coast and Northwest Florida landscapes, History Culture and Art Center, Apalachicola Florida April 3-30

American Impressionist Society- Associate Online Exhibition- juried group exhibition April -June

Juried Members Exhibition- juried group exhibition by members of the Eastern Shore Art Association, Fairhope Alabama March-May 

 

2020

American Impressionist Society 2020 Online Exhibition- August-September 

Plein Air Fairhope- Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama November 7-December 18

 

2019

Plein Air Fairhope- November 10- December 20 2019- Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama

Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition- October 10- November 11 2019- Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham Alabama

Okaloosa Public Arts Artist's Choice Exhibition - Sept 10 2019-September 2020- Honorable Mention Award

27th Emerald Coast National Juried Fine Arts Exhibition - Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville Florida,  August 17 to September 20 2019

Plein Air South Members Show - The Joe Center For the Arts, Port St Joe Florida May 12-June 21 2019 

Forgotten Coast Ambassador - Selected as one of six Florida's Finest to be a community plein air instructor and exhibitor during Forgotten Coast en Plein Air.  Joe Center for the Arts, Port St Joe Florida,  May 9-12, 2019- exhibit of current and former Florida's Finest plein air ambassadors at Forgotten Coast en plein air.

Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Quickdraw- People Choice Award open division.

The Best of Quickdraw-  A selection of the best paintings from the 2019 quickdraw competition at Forgotten Coast en plein air. Center for History, Culture and Art Apalachicola Florida May 5-12. People Choice Award open division.

Solo Exhibition- Carnegie Visual Arts Center Decatur Alabama -May 7-June 22, 2019

 

2018

Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition- McBride Gallery Annapolis Maryland, October-November 2018

Beachcombing: Impressions of the Gulf Coast- solo exhibition, Eastern Shore Art Center,Fairhope Alabama, June 1-July 28 2018

Oil Painters of America 2018 Salon Show Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils - Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City Michigan- June 22-September 1 2018

Emerald Coast National Juried Fine Arts Exhibition-Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville Florida -May 19 -June 22 2018 

MoPma Exhibition - Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola Florida, March 23-April 20 2018

 

2017

Seventh Annual Bagdad/Milton Plein Air Paint Out, Dragonfly Gallery Milton Florida, October 2017-1st Place Award

Cultural Arts Alliance Juried Members Show, Foster Gallery Sandestin Florida September-December 2017 - Award of Merit

Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, Saint Simons Island Georgia, Nov 17-Dec 16, 2017

Plein Air Magic 2017- Juried Plein Air Exhibit, Foster Gallery Miramar Beach Florida, July 20- September 4- Best of Show award 

American Impressionist Society-Impressions: Small Works Showcase, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa California, March 3-17, 2017

Southeast Regional Juried Fine Arts Exhibition- McIlroy  Gallery, Northwest Florida State College Mattie Kelly Arts Center January 21- March 3, 2017- Honorable Mention Award

 

2016

Sixth Annual Bagdad/Milton Plein Air Paint Out and Exhibit- Dragonfly Gallery Milton Florida October 2016-3rd place award

Plein Air Pensacola 13th Annual Show-exhibition of plein air paintings by Pensacola Plein Air Painters,Pensacola Florida Sept/Oct 2016

Capturing the Moment- exhibitions of plein air paintings by the Emerald Coast Painters, Miramir Beach Florida, July/August 2016

 

2010-2015

Fifth Annual Bagdad/ Milton Paintout- The Dragonfly Gallery, Milton Florida October 2015- first place award

Fourth Annual Bagdad Milton Plein Air Paint Out - The Dragonfly Gallery, Milton Florida 2014 - second place award

First City Juried Art Show- Quayside Gallery,Pensacola Florida 2014

Oil Painters of America First Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils- Petoskey Michigan 2013
Plein Air Painters of Pensacola Annual Show - The Wright Place Gallery, Pensacola Florida 2013,2011,2008,2004
Third Annual Bagdad Paintout and Exhibition- Dragonfly Gallery, Milton Florida 2013
First Annual Bagdad Paintout and Exhibition - Dragonfly Gallery, Milton Florida 2011- third place award
Pensacola Land and Sea Exhibition - Gallery Zaragossa, Pensacola Florida, May 2010
Eastern Shore Art Center Annual Show - Fairhope Alabama 2010

 

Media

The Decatur Daily-" Carnegie Exhibit Features Gulf Coast Paintings by Theresa Grillo Laird ", May 23 2019

Plein Air Magazine

  Portfolio feature Homegrown Inspiration, painting: Sitting Pretty- October/November 2026

  Portfolio feature digital issue Ocean's Edge-painting: Under Shifting Skies, June/July 2026

  Portfolio feature Into the Woods, painting: Autumn on Blackwater Creek April/May 2026

  Portfolio feature Mountain High Valley Low, painting: Sun and Silence at Ghost Ranch, February/March issue 2023

  Portfolio feature National Parks, painting: The Stillness of Winter, February/March issue 2021

  Portfolio Feature Rivers Streams and Waterfalls, painting: Autumn on the River, June/July 2021

  Portfolio feature Sunrise/Sunset, painting: Moonrise of the Longest Night, October/ November 2020

  Portfolio feature digital edition- Seascapes-painting: San Simeon Evening, April 2019

  Portfolio feature digital edition-  Beaches and Coastlines - painting: The Peaceful Hour, August 2018

  Postcards From the Road feature-December 2018/January 2019, painting: A Soft Light

  Featured Art -Outdoor Painter, September 2018, January 2019, March 2023

Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

   Today's Masters feature Western Landscapes Painting: Serpentine Journey, September/October 2026

   Today's Masters feature Treasuring Our Green Spaces, painting: Summer Evening, June 2022                                                               

Pensacola Life Magazine - cover and article January 2014

Santa Rosa Insider - featured on WSRE television broadcast for paintings to benefit Deadman's Island Restoration Project, October 2008

 

Collections

Federal Reserve Board Bank Permanent Art Collection - New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Presentations and Teaching

Workshops at Arts on Main, Van Buren, Spring 2025- workshop Plein Air Painting, Summer 2023- Oh those Troublesome Greens, Working with a limited Palette, What's the Big Idea. Presentation: Packing and Prepping for Plein Air

 Weekly painting classes- Gulf Breeze Senior Center- fall 2022

Workshop- Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting and the Coastal Environment, Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama 2022

Workshop- From Inspiration to Finish- Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama 2021

Workshop- Finding Harmony with a Limited Palette- Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama 2021

Workshop- From Study to Studio- Cultural Arts Alliance, Santa Rosa Beach , Florida 2021

One on One online and in person mentoring 2017-2019, 2021-2022, 2025

Workshop- Creating Mood in A Landscape Painting, Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama, 2020

Plein Air Workshop- Carnegie Art Center, Decatur Alabama, April 2019

Plein Air workshop- September 2019- Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope Alabama

Florida's Finest- plein air teaching ambassador at Forgotten Coast en plein air, Apalachicola Florida 2019

Getting Started in Plein Air - art talk and demonstration, Gulf Breeze Art Association, 2014

Adjunct instructor at Pensacola State College teaching  Plein Air painting, color workshops, floral still life, and private  instruction from  2006-2021.

Instructor of workshops and private teaching since 2006

 

Juried Art Festivals

Art on the Border-ACHE building July 2024

Festival of the Arts- Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation- Destin Florida 2016

ArtsQuest - Sandestin Florida 2017 ,2016,2015,2014

Outdoor Art Show - Fairhope Alabama 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 Award of Excellence,2017,2015,2014,2012,2011
Grand Festival of Art - Fairhope Alabama 2011, 2010
Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts - Gulf Breeze Florida 2009.2008

 

Affiliations

Oil Painters of America

American Impressionist Society

National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society

Heart of America Artists' Association

Arts on Main artists coalition

Southwest Artists

 

Beginnings:

"Painting, like the rest of life, is a journey filled with glimpses of the less obvious truth if you take the time to look. What is truly there beyond the impressions of a first glance?

 

 This question filled my mind after an early painting experience. I was pre- school age and was sitting at a child size picnic table in my back yard on a glorious summer day. The scent of fresh laundry my mother was hanging, filled the air. In front of me was a "coloring" book with an image of an elephant already covered in a layer of black dots. There wasn’t much room to color between those black dots but I picked up a crayon and was about to begin when my mother set a brush and glass of  water beside me. "You need this." I touched a dripping brush to the picture and jumped back in startled amazement as a sea of viridian green, newly released from the black dots, raced across the page.

 

I was so intrigued by color hidden within black dots, that I started looking more closely at other things to see if there was another reality underneath. I scraped rocks to see if they held color under their dusty surface. I took pieces of bark off  tree trunks hoping to find hidden colors. I peeled the beige paint off the metal buttons of my shirt to see if the paint was masking other colors. When I didn’t find colors there, I dreamt dreams of buttons with layer upon layer of vivid colors. I knew I wanted to be an artist though I barely knew what that meant. I was still in elementary school when I began painting in oils.

 

Today I still paint in oils, and I’m still searching for what lies hidden within. What am I really seeing and what combination of line, brush stroke and color do I need, to reveal the true character within the seemingly ordinary? That is the journey I’m so fortunate to have been set upon. I invite you to enjoy the results".