Biography
Born in Clifton, New Jersey, Marlene Lenker’s earliest art influence was watching clouds and seeking out patterns in marble and tiles. She also studied "the dance" and was a choreographer. She obtained an Associate of Arts degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and an MFA from Montclair State University. She has been a lecturer for "Artist In Residence, National Academy, NYC,” an instructor at the Fine Arts Department of Caldwell College and the East Coast Coordinator for the Society of Layerists in Multi-Media. She has always followed her own creative path. Art was simply a natural form of creativity and expression that pleased and fulfilled her. Lenker loves everything about art. "There are no rules. I create the mountains and then I climb them!" She works at her art every day, and does not feel complete without her studio time (she has dubbed her studio "The Sanctuary," and says it is a wonderful place, filled with light and energy.) Lenker describes herself as a "layerist.” "My painting is very much related to my journey in life; it is a process of continual discovery. We are like an onion, with many layers of feelings, emotion, learning," says the artist. "I try to convey those different layers through my work." Lenker also strives to communicate her sense of awe and peace, and her love of color and texture. She feels that viewers respond as much to the process as to the finished product, and the process is evident within her works - layers, glazes, transparencies, opaques, textures. Lenker’s work has shown in both solo and group exhibitions throughout the country. Her pieces are collected both publicly and privately, and have appeared in numerous publications.
