Chris Szczerba, Art in Public Places

Ballston Community Public Library

2 Lawmar Ln, Burnt Hills, NY 12027

January 2nd-February 27th, 2026

Artist Statement

 

Chris Szczerba discovered early that she was an artist. Her career began when she carved galloping horses into her mother's wooden wardrobe. She continued her early career by sculpting animals from chewing gum for her grade school classmates. She provided crayon drawings of pets and created architectural drawings for houses and barns.  She studied  line and form drawing in pencil, ink and charcoal.

Ms.Szczerba obtained a  Degree in Studio Art from SUNY Geneseo majoring in metalsmithing, minor in biology. Her love of animals led her to study and work as a Veterinary Technician. 

But art called again and Chris studied Medical Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology. It was there that she realized she had been seeing the world in black and white and exacting structures. It was time to investigate the power of color, emotion and the power of the stories that objects and beings hold. So Ms. Szczerba changed direction again. She earned a Master's in Library Science with a  focus in  Medicine and minor in Archives.

Ms. Szczerba also began new drawings with pastel and painting in watercolor. Observing, learning and creating have continued in a familiar direction. This has involved the complexity of flowers and trees and animals. Color can convey emotion and line has energy. Ms Szczerba believes that seeing is more than light on rods and cones. Because pastels are rich in hue and intensity  they convey the power of color in a special way.

Ms. Szczerba's work has been recognized locally and online. She continues to study art in several media. She continues to investigate the power of color, the effects of nature and the need to create.