Return to Homepage
Born in 1958 in Troy, NY, USA


1990-1993: A.A.S., Graphic Design, Sage College, Albany, NY

1976-1977, 1993-1994: University at Albany, Albany, NY
"Silence is a rare commodity in our fast-paced society. We live in a loud culture, filled with noises of all kinds, at all times of day. Seldom is there a gap between sounds; and, if anything, it seems that we're becoming more uncomfortable with quiet, not less. Perhaps silent places don't really exist, except in our imaginations and in images like those on this website and at my exhibitions. Occasionally, even I feel compelled to agree, especially when cars constantly roar by my studio window.

In defining the word "silent," Merriam-Webster OnLine mentioned two things that caught my attention. First was the Gothic meaning: "to cease, to grow calm." The other was an interpretation indicating that silence "implies a habit of saying no more than is needed." The former entry works for me because I feel a sense of calm in the silence. Whether getting up at 4 a.m. when everyone else is in bed, working alone in my studio, or laying awake listening to the quiet before sleeping, I live for moments where sound is virtually absent, or at least reduced to minimal levels. This silence is what I try to build into each painting, because I'm convinced it's valuable and worth sharing. It's here where we may find ourselves.

The latter phrase, about saying no more than needed, describes my approach to painting. What I choose to leave out of a picture is at least as important as what I put in. My art typically does not feature a lot of detail or decorative elements. I intend, rather, to describe memories, feelings, a sense of time and place, and my impression of the transformative nature of light. As much as I'm personally drawn to look at (and sometimes even savor) textures and patterns, I find their inclusion in my paintings only takes away from the clarity of its expression, and distracts me- as if it's a kind of visual "noise."

Clarity, I think, has the potential to result from encounters with silence. By eliminating audible distractions to the highest degree possible, we can focus better, and experience and interpret more fully, what we see, feel, and think. I often wonder what the collective effect our silent moments would have on our turbulent world. I know what it does for me personally, and my goal is to impart my resulting feelings to you, through these paintings. My hope is that the experience leads you to connect with the place in you that understands-and craves-silence. May you find it a place worth visiting often. "

David Arsenault, November 2004

Solo Exhibitions

  • 2005:
    Albany Center Galleries, Albany, NY, Ten Years

    William K. Sanford Library, Loudonville, NY, Time Standing Still

  • 2003:
    Kevin Butler Gallery, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, NY, The Art of Solitude

    Oakroom Artists Gallery, First Unitarian Society, Schenectady, NY, Silent Places

  • 2002: William K. Sanford Library, Loudonville, NY, Solitude 2002

  • 2001: PaintingsDIRECT.com, Featured Artist

  • 1999:
    Yates Gallery, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, One Point of View

    Rice Building, Troy, NY

  • 1998:
    Guilderland Public Library, Guilderland, NY, Views and Windows '98

    Shelnutt Gallery, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, Living in the Present

  • 1997: State Capitol Building, Albany, NY

  • 1996:
    LRC Gallery, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY, The Art of Solitude

    Chapel + Cultural Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, Inspirational Places

    Albany Public Library, Albany, NY, Lasting Impressions

  • 1995: Saratoga Public Library, Saratoga Springs, NY, Time & Light

Group Exhibitions
  • 2004:
    Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, VT, 48th National Fall Open Exhibition

    Blue Heron Gallery, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, MA

    Kevin Butler Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA

  • 2003:
    Gallery 100, Saratoga Springs, NY, Saratoga Scenes

    Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY, Painted Cities

  • 2002:
    Art Museum, University at Albany, NY, State Street Stories: 350 Years of Albany's Heritage

    Center Galleries, Albany, NY, Vacancy: Albany's Abandoned Buildings Through Artists' Eyes

  • 2001:
    Viridian Artists Gallery, New York, NY, 12th Annual National Juried Exhibition

    Cooperstown Art Association Gallery, Cooperstown, NY, 66th Annual National Exhibition

    The Arts Center Gallery, Saratoga County Arts Council, Saratoga Springs, NY, Landscape 2001

    Oakroom Artists Gallery, First Unitarian Society, Schenectady, NY

    Oakroom Artists Exhibit, William K. Sanford Library, Loudonville, NY

  • 2000:
    Fulton Street Gallery, Troy, NY, Marking the Millennium National Exhibition

    Aardvark Studios, Dallas, TX, Renaissance 2000

  • 1999:
    New York, NY, "Urban Visions," Manhattan Arts International

    Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York, NY, Metro Art

  • 1998:
    Ceres Gallery, New York, NY, Ceres Gallery 3rd Annual National Juried Exhibit

    Latham, NY, Keeler 1st Annual Juried Art Exhibition

  • 1997:
    Bowery Gallery, New York, NY, Bowey Gallery

    An Art Place Gallery, Chicago, IL, Art of Diversity III

  • 1996:
    Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, 19th Annual National Juried Non-Member Show

    Broadway Gallery, Albany, NY, "Landscape," Open Juried Competition

  • 1995:
    Memorial Hall, Newtonville, NY, 14th Annual Town of Colonie Juried Art Show

    Pruyn House, Newtonville, NY, Pruyn House 13th Annual Spring Exhibition

  • 1994: William K. Sanford Town Library, Latham, NY,
      Colonie Art League Annual Winter Exhibition

Public and Corporate Collections

  • Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY
  • STEP Tools Inc., Troy, NY
  • Financial Collection Agencies, Wayne, PA
  • Malta Drive-in, Malta, NY
  • L-Ken's Drive-in, Albany, NY

Selection of works from David Arsenault

Read the guestbook of David Arsenault

Sign the guestbook of David Arsenault

Selected Awards:

  • 2003: Award of Excellence, 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Manhattan Arts International

  • 2002: Best Visual Artist, Reader's Poll, Metroland Magazine

  • 2001:
    Winsor & Newton Award, 66th National Exhibit, Cooperstown Art Association Galleries

    2nd Prize, 12th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Viridian Artists Gallery

  • 2000:
    Finalist, The Encyclopedia of Living Artists, 12th Cover Competition

    2nd Prize, Marking the Millennium, Fulton Street Gallery

  • 1999:
    Award of Excellence, "Urban Visions," Manhattan Arts International

    Award of Excellence, Manhattan Arts, 7th Art Competition

    1st Prize, Pruyn House 17th Annual Juried Competition

  • 1998:
    Schenectady Museum Purchase, Mohawk-Hudson 62nd Regional Juried Competition

    3rd Prize, Keeler 1st Annual Jurued Art Competition

Selected publications:

  • 2004:
    "The How to Do It Better Guide" The Artist's Magazine, FW Publications: Cincinnati, OH, January.

    Manhattan Arts International, Artist of the Month, May

  • 2001: Costello, Daniel. "Art & Collecting: Collecting on the Cheap," The Wall Street Journal. May 11.
  • 2000:
    ManhattanArts.com, Artist of the Month, September.

    DigitalCity.com, Artist Profile

  • 1999: "Keep It Simple," The Artist's Magazine, FW Publications: Cincinnati, OH, February.

  • 1998: New Art International, Book Art Press: Woodstock, NY.

  • 1997: Shapiro, Carolyn. "From Troy to Soho: Local Artist Spreads His Wings," The Record, June 29, 1997.