Denise Treizman
Denise Treizman is a Chilean-Israeli artist based in Miami, Florida. She creates sculptures and installations combining found objects, ready-made materials, ceramics, weavings, and lights.
Treizman has had solo exhibitions at the Coral Springs Museum of Art (2024), Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago (2024), University Galleries of Illinois State University (2021), Proto Gomez Gallery (2021 | New York, NY), Cuchifritos Gallery (2016 | New York, NY) and Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space (2016 | Bronx, NY) amongst others. She has exhibited across the US and internationally, including group exhibitions at L'SPACE Gallery (2023 | New York, NY), Mahara + Co (2023 | Miami, FL), Praise Shadows Gallery (2022 | Brookline, MA), Hybrid Art Festival (2017 & 2018 | Madrid, Spain) and at the Bronx Museum for the Arts AIM Biennial (2015 | Bronx, NY). Her work was extensively presented at the Orlando Museum of Art for the 2023 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art.
As a fellow at the Bronx Museum AIM program, Treizman created an interactive public artwork commissioned by the NYC Parks Alliance (2016 | Randall’s Island, NY). She was awarded a studio residency at the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts Studio Program in New York City, where she developed her work between 2015 and 2019. Treizman has completed artist residencies at Mass MOCA (2017 & 2016 | North Adams, MA), NARS Foundation International Artists Residency (2015 | Brooklyn, NY), Triangle Workshop (2015 | Salem, NY), ACRE Residency (2015 | Steuben, MI), Ox-Bow Residency (2014 | Saugatuck, MI) and Vermont Studio Center (2013 | Johnson, VT) where she was honored with the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Fellowship. In 2024, she was awarded the Helen M. Salzberg Visiting Artist Fellowship at Palm Beach State College and the South Florida Cultural Consortium Award (Miami-Dade).
Treizman earned an MFA from the School of Visual Arts (2013 | New York, NY) and is currently a studio resident at Laundromat Art Space in Miami, Florida. Having lived in many densely populated cities over the years—Santiago, London, San Francisco, New York City, Haifa, and now Miami—her practice has stemmed from and benefited from throwaway culture.
Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice?
Denise Treizman: Color plays a huge role in my practice—it's integral not only to the materials I use but also to the emotional impact of my work. I think of myself as much as a painter and an artist working in space, and my choice of color is a key element in both dimensions. My work is exuberant, and much of that energy comes from the brightness and boldness of my palette. The materials I’m drawn to—plastics, rubber, toys, pool noodles—are already vivid and colorful, and I amplify their inherent vibrancy by combining them in dynamic ways. I believe much of the joy that people experience when engaging with my work comes from this playful, uplifting use of color. It’s not just about visual appeal; it’s about creating a mood, sparking energy, and inviting viewers to connect with the work in a lighthearted, nostalgic way.
Collect Bean: How do you approach the balance between experimentation and consistency in your art?
Denise Treizman: As an artist who works with a wide range of materials and mediums, experimentation is an integral part of my practice. It's what keeps me excited and engaged—there’s always something new to explore. For instance, I find it difficult to focus on a single series of works at a time; I tend to juggle multiple projects, and each one feeds into the others, often in unexpected ways. That said, I’ve reached a point where I feel very confident in my artistic voice. My experimentation now feels natural and intrinsic to the process, so even though I’m constantly trying new things, my work always feels consistent with who I am as an artist. The balance between experimentation and consistency isn’t a conflict for me; it’s a seamless integration that allows both to coexist and support each other.
Collect Bean: How do you balance your practice with your daily life?
Denise Treizman: It’s definitely challenging! I’m a mother of two young children, ages 3 and 5, so balancing everything is always a bit of a hustle. I remember the days back in New York when my studio was all I had to focus on. I’d go in on weekends and holidays—and it only took me 10 minutes to get there. But now, things are different. My studio isn’t close to home, so I spend a lot of time driving back and forth. I also want to stay healthy and make time to exercise, but it’s tough to fit everything in. There are days when I struggle with guilt for coming home late or anxiety about not accomplishing everything I want to during my "free time." Over time, I’ve had to accept that some days, I just can’t get everything done—and that’s okay.
Collect Bean: How do you incorporate feedback or criticism into your artistic process?
Denise Treizman: I value hearing how others respond to my work—it’s an essential part of the process. While criticism can be hard to take, I believe it's crucial to remain open to it, as it’s a valuable tool for growth. The best feedback often comes from fellow artists who are honest with you. The artist friends I want to have are exactly the ones who will tell me when something is not working. But for that honesty to happen, it’s important that they know you are receptive to constructive criticism. This is why I prioritize being part of a supportive community, surrounding myself with artists whose work I admire and whose feedback I trust.
Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?
Denise Treizman: Whimsical, Resilient, Nostalgic. In no particular order.
