Halley Zien was born and raised in New York City. Her involvement in the arts began at an early age and spanned many disciplines. She studied classical piano at The Julliard School pre-college division, and Ballet at the school of American Ballet. She received a BA in English Literature from Vassar College where she took classes in painting and sculpture throughout her four years. She has exhibited with Bravin Lee Programs, and a selection of Collages and Drawings are currently part of the Flatfile collection at Pierogi2000 Gallery.
Response to solo show 2007
"I love NYC, but I find it disorienting, fierce, and terrifying, and
for me, Halley's paintings really capture that. Sometimes the faces---it's interesting that she's very careful never to show anyone's eyes in the collage clippings---seemed like the id/the judgment of God/the less-than-beautiful true nature of humanity erupting to the surface; and sometimes they seemed to me to be almost a kind of celebration: weird, joyful, frenzied, Bacchic (especially the dancers). But they always made an impression on me..."
-Ben Beckley
for me, Halley's paintings really capture that. Sometimes the faces---it's interesting that she's very careful never to show anyone's eyes in the collage clippings---seemed like the id/the judgment of God/the less-than-beautiful true nature of humanity erupting to the surface; and sometimes they seemed to me to be almost a kind of celebration: weird, joyful, frenzied, Bacchic (especially the dancers). But they always made an impression on me..."
-Ben Beckley
