While her career as a professional sculptor began over twenty years ago, much of the recognition she has achieved comes from a body of work created after moving to the Southwest in 1985. It reflects her introduction to the native peoples of the area such as Navajo, Apache, Hopi, and Pueblo, as well as the wildlife and unique rock art. In the narrative tradition of American Art of the West, her work succeeds in capturing authentic aspects of the past and interpreting historic figures with convincing realism. Star York's interest in people, animals and the environment is global, although the source of inspiration for a significant part of her work continues to come from Native American cultures. Another portion of her inspiration comes from raising and training quarter horses which is manifested in her series of sculptures depicting horses. Their portrayal in her hands is spirited, articulate, and lyrical; evidence of the empathy she feels toward her subjects.

Each sculpture is a part of a narrative. Beneath the storytelling surface are figures animated by individuality and personality, derived in part from Star's remarkable talent for expressing the thought of her subject. This sensitivity in representation combined with her attention to detail contribute to an underlying message of oneness with the natural world which is in much of her work. From the balance and quiet strength reflected in a subtle gesture or expression to the metaphor extended in time and space, Star is able to give even her stationary figures a palpable sense of place. By engaging this full range of sensibilities, the viewer in turn receives a more satisfying aesthetic experience.

While she has found the Western idiom to be versatile, powerful and true for many of her feelings and ideas, Star York's willingness to experiment with tradition and her need to continue territorial investigations sometimes compels her to step outside the genre that has brought her success. By choosing to follow unfamiliar paths in a personal search for meaning, she secures the integrity of her artistic career.

“The Sculptured figures are so inviting and York so unassuming that before long, you have entered into a pact with her and have become involved in her vision”    ~ New Mexico Magazine, May 1993

Born:          April, 1952

Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art 1975. University of Maryland, Baltimore Institute of Art, Corcoran, Washington, DC

1976-1978  Taught Metal Design and Fabrication at Prince Georges Community College in Upper Marlboro, MD

Exhibitions

Western Community College in Silver City, NM  Lecture and Workshop 2016

Annual Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Museum Art from the other half of the West

Invitational Exhibition, Wickenburg, AZ, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

 An honorary Artist: selected by The Millicent Rogers Museum Taos NM 2013

 Turquiose Gala   Millicent Rogers Museum   Taos NM   2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015,2016

Power of the Horse Exhibition     Phippen Museum    Prescott AZ 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

 Haley Historical Museum and Library Show and Sale   2015, 2016

 Mountain Oyster Club Museum of the Horse Show and Sale    Tucson, AZ 2015

 AWA Prevailing Winds Exhibition   Booth Western Heritage and Art Museum   Cartersville, GA  2014

Horsescapes  Show    Factory 5 Gallery, Albuquerque, NM   2010

Horse and Pony Show, Brandon Michael Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM 2010

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Heart of the West” Fort Lewis, TX 2008, 2009

Trappings of the American West Show, Santa Fe, NM 2004

Sky Arbor Wild Live Exhibit, 2003

Koshare Museum, La Junta, CO 2002

Cowboy Artist of America Museum, Romancing the West, 2002 Phoenix, AZ

American Women Artist, from 1999-2012

Trail of Painted Ponies Show and Exhibition, Founder of and painted several horses for this

Non-profit organization, Santa Fe, NM 1999 - 2001

Horse Power, Traveling Exhibition, Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, 2000

Horse Power, Traveling Exhibition, Zaplin-Lampert Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, 1999

One Woman Show, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, 1998

Two Person Show, Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, 1998

Zaplin-Lampert Sculpture Garden:  Monuments, Santa Fe, NM, 1997

National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY, 1996

Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT, 1996

 The Classic Art Show, Albuquerque, NM, 1996 - 1992

 Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ "Woman & The West", 1994 - 1991

Nita Haley Library & Museum, Western Art Show, 1993, 1992, 1989

Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM 1991-1993 & 1996

Invitational “Wild West” Show, Dewey Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, 1989

Canton Museum, Canton, OH  1985

 Pioneer Museum, Colorado Springs, CO, 1986

Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Hereford, TX, 1985 description

Selected Collections

“Range Duty” Desert Caballeros Western Heritage Museum in Wickenburg AZ 

Sculpting Maria Martinez (master pueblo potter) for the annual Millicent Rogers Museum Turquoise Ball, Taos, NM

“Range Duty”, Life Size (Rancher with Branding Fire) Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX  

“Distant Thunder”, Monument (Apache Indian woman with child) UNM Cancer Center,  Albuquerque, NM

“Blessing Way” Monument, ( Navajo Medicine Woman) Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO

“Dreamcatcher” Monument, ( Apache Indian woman with child) Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City, OK       

“Magic of the Hunt”, Monument (of a charging bison for the First National Bank), Fremont, IN 

“This Fragile Life”, Monument (of an Amazonian Indian girl), Miami Zoo in Miami, FL

“Earth Medicine” (Anasazi Diorama) Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC

2014 Honorary Artist “Prevailing Winds” at Booth Western Heritage and Art Museum

2013 An Honorary Artist, The Millicent Rogers Museum Taos, NM

2012  2012 Honored Artist for Art Smart, Santa Fe, NM

 2009  Artist Choice Award, National Cowgirls Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, TX

 2001    30 Stars of 30 Years Southwest Art, best in 3 decades of Southwest Art

1994  Best of Show, The Classic Art Show, Albuquerque, NM

1990  Western Artist of the Year, Collectors Society, Minneapolis, MN

1989  Judges Merit, Minneapolis Western & Wildlife Art Exhibition, MN

1987  Council of American Artists Society Award, Catherine Lorillard Art Club, New York, NY

1987  Best of Show, Traditional Western Art Show, Gallup, NM

1986  Buckaroo Heritage Award, Indian Heritage Award, Western Art Roundup, NV

1982  First Place, Miniature Painters, Gravers, Sculptors Society of Washington, DC

1981  Second Place, Miniature Painters, Gravers, Sculptors Society of Washington, DC

1980  First Place, National Sculpture Society, New York, NY

1979  First Place, Miniature Painters, Gravers, Sculptors Society of Washington, DC

Selected Articles & Publications

My World a visit with Star Liana York, Southwest Art, by Bonnie Gangelhoff, February 2014

Star Liana York, Southwest Art, by Anne Hopper Vickstrom August 2013

Star Liana York, Cowboys & Indians, by Allyn Hulteng, June 2012

Telling Moments, Southwest Art, by Gussie Fauntleroy, July 2009

Bronze Storyteller, Western Art Collector, May 2008

The Enduring Western Spirit, Focus/Santa Fe, by Francisco Arechiga August/September 2007

 Passion about Art and Life, Wildlife Art, by Tony Varro July/August 2007

The Studio, Art of the West, by Barbara Coyner March /April 2007

Star Liana York and Jeffery Lee Brock  . . . “Merging Art and Life, June2007

Horse Power in Life and Art, Cover Artist for the Equine Image, Feb/Mar. 2000

Star Liana York:  Bridging the Gap, Art of the West, March/April 1999

Cover the West: Cover Artist of the SW Art Magazine 1997

Leading the West:  100 Contemporary Painters and Sculptors by Don Hagerty, September, 1997

Visions of the West through the Work of Six Sculptors, Inform Art, Summer, 1997

Sculptor Inspired by Nature..., Arizona Republic, July, 1997

New Land Gives New Spirit to Star York, New Mexican, May, 1996

Unfamiliar Paths, Southwest Art Magazine, February, 1995

Sculpture in New Mexico, Art & Antiques, July/August, 1991

No Clichés Here, Art of the West, May/June, 1989