Student Hosts Experimental Art Show

By FRANCES SHARPE | Editor-in-Chief

What happens when a college art major nearing graduation realizes she’ll need to find a way to actually make a living as an artist after she graduates?

For Palisadian Stephanie Segel, who will be receiving her diploma from NYU in May, that sudden realization led her to host an art show “Tracing Ghosts” at her family home in Rustic Canyon.

“This show is really an experiment,” Segel told the Palisadian-Post at the elegant soirée on Thursday, Jan. 7. “I’ve never done anything like this before and it’s a chance for me to understand what people like.”

The concept of experimentation was also reflected in Segel’s artwork, which represented a wide range of styles: charcoal drawings, acrylic paintings, manipulated photography and multimedia.

“Some pieces embody pensive, sobering minimalism while others exude playfulness,” noted former Palisadian Eric Mizrahi.

He was one of more than 100 guests who arrived to view Segel’s artwork displayed throughout the family’s home. The “Alfred Newman Estate,” a mid-century modern masterpiece built in 1948 by Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr. and formerly owned by actress Diane Keaton, provided an ideal backdrop for the artwork.

When Segel told her family over the holidays that she wanted to have a show, her mom Tina Segel and sister Kate Segel—who is an art student at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri—eagerly pitched in.

“This all came together really quickly,” Tina said. “The last 48 hours have been non-stop—we’ve been matting the artwork, framing and deciding which pieces to show.”

For Tina, the experience proved emotional too.

“I’m overwhelmed by her talent. There are a lot of pieces I had never seen before. And to help my daughter make her dream come true is just amazing,” Tina said while tearing up with pride.

Segel’s dad David Segel was equally proud of his daughter.

“I thought this was just going to be 10 or 15 of her friends coming, but when I realized it had gotten a lot bigger than that, I got in the car and drove home so I could be here,” said David, who was at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier that day.

Guests admired Segel’s eclectic mix of artwork and several inquired about making a purchase. Segel, who said she hadn’t really thought about pricing or selling her artwork, made at least one sale that night.

One piece that definitely wasn’t for sale was a painting hanging over the fireplace depicting a country English manor. Segel had just given it to her dad for Christmas.

“That’s our home in England where Segel grew up. It’s my favorite,” David said.

To view Segel’s artwork, visit: stephanielogansegel.com