I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, lived in Israel and now make my home in the United States.  Having lived in different countries and experienced a variety of cultures has broadened my perspective and enriched me both as a person and as an artist.  I constantly search for new mediums to express different aspects of my cultural background.

Encaustics and Mixed Media  have enabled me to embark upon endless paths of research and innovation.   Unlike many other abstract artists, my early training as a representational painter gave me a solid base of confidence to ravenously explore, learn and grow.

My intent is to create art that keeps feeding the eye and the spirit with newly discovered details; art that conveys the feeling I put into it and its evocative language.   Each glance upon each painting should feel engaging and continue to offer more, enticing the viewer to explore, seek and delight.

I am also passionate about working on behalf of animals, domestic and wild.

On 12/23 one of my paintings won an award from Upward Gallery.  As a result, I was interviewed for their quarterly magazine.  Here's the link:  https://upwardgallery.com/ad/interviews/bela-fidel-always-without-exception-i-express-my-self

RESUME

EXHIBITIONS

2024

Contemporary Art Exhibit - Desert Foothills Library Gallery                                          Camelback Gallery -Abstract with Red 2024 Art Exhibit - Silver Award                               Estrella Mountain Community College

2023                                                                                                                                                        Inside Perspectives - Shemer Art Center- Phoenix, AZ.                                                        Desert Foothills Library - Hidden in the Hills Showcase - Cave Creek, AZ                                Hot Show, Cool Art - Desert Foothills Art Gallery - Cave Creek, AZ                                    Arizona Artists Guild 12th Statewide Exhibit - Phoenix, AZ

2022                                                                                                                                                Portland on the Park - Phoenix, AZ                                                                                                   Desert Foothills Library - Cave Creek, AZ                                                                                        The Flinn Foundation - Phoenix, AZ                                                                                                 The San Diego Museum of Art                                                                                                Arizona Artist Guild - Spring Exhibit                                                                                         

2021                                                                                                                                                  Walter Art Gallery - "Revealing Resonance" - Phoenix - Solo Show
20th State-Wide Exhibit - Arizona Artist Guild                                                                             The Mood Room - ArtLink                                                                                                                  Arizona Commission on the Arts Grant                                                                                           Creation of on-line painting course for the Arizona Commission on the Arts

2020
North Dakota Museum of Art - Art in Isolation
“Small Works Annual Exhibit” - Sonoran Arts League Gallery - Cave Creek                   “Women by Women” - Desert Foothills Library - Cave Creek, AZ (3rd Place)                          "All Art Arizona 2020” - Art Intersection - Ryan Gallery
"Abstract Distraction” - Castelli Art Space.                                                                                     Portland on the Park - Phoenix

2019                                                                                                                                                      “Hot Art/Cool Show” - Desert Foothills Library - Cave Creek, AZ 
Eighth Statewide Juried Exhibit - Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix
“Contemporary Exhibit” - Desert Foothills Library, Cave Creek
“Artists’ Inspiration” - Herberger Theater - Phoenix
“Body of Work” - Arizona Artist Guild - Phoenix
“Color, Rhythm and Pattern” - WHAM Gallery - Surprise, AZ

2018                                                                                                                                              “Wildlife Art” - WHAM Gallery - Surprise, AZ
“Abstract Art Pop-Up” - Sonoran Arts League Art Gallery - Cave Creek, AZ
“Mixed Media Pop-Up” - Sonoran Arts League, Cave Creek
“Hot Art/Cool Show” - Desert Foothills Gallery - Cave Creek
“It’s a Dry Heat!” - Sonoran Arts League - Cave Creek
“Body of Work” - Arizona Artists Guild - Phoenix
“Interpretations” - WHAM Gallery - Surprise, AZ

2017
“Art and Science” - First Gallery - Phoenix
Art/Object Gallery - Carefree, AZ
Shemer Art Center and Museum - Phoenix
“In Partnership” - Holland Gallery of Fine Art - Scottsdale

2016
Vision Gallery - Chandler, AZ
Shemer Art Center and Museum - Phoenix
West Valley Art Museum - Peoria, AZ - Honorary Mention
Easy Street Galleria - Carefree, AZ

2015                                                                                                                                            
Herberger Theater Art Gallery - Phoenix
El Pedregal Art Gallery - Scottsdale
“Face Off!” - Holland Gallery of Fine Art - Scottsdale
Surprise City Hall - Surprise, AZ
“Three Women Show” - Holland Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale

2014                                                                                                                                                      West Valley Art Center - Surprise
Shemer Art Center and Museum - Phoenix
Olney Gallery at Trinity Cathedral - Phoenix

2013                                                                                                                                                Anthem Gallery - Anthem, AZ
Selected exhibits between 2012 and 2000:
Level 9 Gallery - Cave Creek
El Pedregal Gallery - Scottsdale
The Boulders Resort - Scottsdale - Featured Artist for 7 years
Jana’s Art Gallery - Carefree
Scottsdale Center for the Arts - Scottsdale
The Jewish Historical Society - Phoenix - Honorary Mention
Arizona Fine Art Expo - Scottsdale
Arthur Norby Gallery - Cave Creek
Rocky Mountain Biennial -
Mesa Arts Center - Mesa, AZ
Helen Vohl Gallery - Wickenburg, AZ
Museum of Contemporary Art - Fort Collins, CO
Abernassi Gallery - Carefree
Watersong Gallery - Scottsdale
Plus dozens of exhibits dating back to 1981

ONE-WOMAN SHOW
First Baptist Church of Scottsdale - 2014
Casa Grande Art Museum - Casa Grande, AZ - 2013
Anthem Gallery - Anthem, AZ - 2011
Brio Fine Arts Center - Scottsdale - 2006

TWO-WOMAN SHOW
Olney Gallery - Phoenix - 2019
MonOrchid Gallery - Phoenix - 2014
Anthem Gallery - 2012, 2014
Yavapai College Art Gallery - Prescott, AZ - 2011

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Sonoran Arts League - Juried Artist
Arizona Art Alliance - Juried Artist
Arizona Artist Guild - Juried Artist

AWARDS
LightSpacetime - “All Women 2019” - Special Recognition - 2019
“Artist Inspiration” - Herberger Theater - 2019
WHAM Gallery - “Color, Rhythm and Pattern Dynamics” - Third Place
LightSpacetime - “Patterns” - Special Recognition - 2018
Arizona Artist Guild - “Body of Work, Second Place” - 2018