Shannon Runquist
Shannon Runquist has long been one of my favorite local painters. I even put her artwork on my business cards. She’s got a great personality—sunny yet quirky. You can see her sense of humor in her paintings, especially when you pay attention to the titles (case in point—Off With Their Heads—A Recipe for Disaster).
Off With Their Heads
Runquist was born in Savannah and grew up on Saint Simons Island, Georgia. She studied landscape architecture at the University of Georgia and painting at the Florence Academy of Art and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Living in Atlanta, she did marketing and recruiting for an international consulting firm before moving to Charleston. After 16 years in the Lowcountry, she’s been deemed a legitimate local.
She’s a busy girl these days. Our interview had to be scheduled before her phone interview with National Public Radio. She’s been invited to participate in the Artists for the New Century exhibit at the Bennington Center for the Arts (June 9 – July 15) in Vermont. The editors of American Art Collector, Southwest Art and Fine Art Connoisseur handpicked 75 artists for this exhibit. She was one of the five Charleston artists invited, along with JB Boyd, Charles Williams, Mark Kelvin Horton, and Chris Groves.
Making Lemonade
Runquist is a perfect fit for Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association’s annual Palette & Palate Stroll (July 13), as the theme is Southern Art + Southern Food. Just days after, Runquist will travel to Cashiers, NC for the Plein Air Paint Out (July 15 – 21). “It’s my first multiple-day plein air event. I’m a little dizzy just thinking about it!” laughs Runquist, “But I’m very excited to be part of it—I hear they’re really great to the artists.”
A Recipe for Disaster
The local gallery showing her work, Horton Hayes Fine Art, also has a group show planned for November. Save the date as this is always a big month in the Charleston art scene. Runquist is married to a wonderful cardiologist, and has long been a great supporter of the American Heart Association. She is honored to be their Featured Artist for the 2013 Heart Ball (February 23, 2013). As she always makes the Heart Ball more fun, we are excited about that too!
Horton Hayes Fine Art
30 State Street
843.958.0014
hortonhayes.com
words: Stacy Huggins
Our Summer 2012 cover art, Summertime
Strawberry Shortcake
Big Blues
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