About the Artist
MARGARET LARLHAM
Abbreviated CV
MARGARET LARLHAM
I am in a landscape and the landscape is in me.
When painting what I see I “become” a tree in the landscape. My sound is breath and rustle of the pastel stick or brush on surface of paper or canvas.
I am interested in investigating more deeply the places familiar to me and also sharpening my responsiveness to the special character of new places I encounter along the way. I love the wild places of America, Africa and Europe.
Direct painting is critical. If I don’t go out to paint every day, wherever I am, I get a bit cranky with myself – so I try to avoid that for everyone’s peace of mind!
For larger studio paintings I use references of plein air sketches, photographs, and personal experiences.
Artist CV ( Brief)
margaretlarlham.com
Margaret is an Eminent Pastelist of the International Association of Pastel Societies.
Interested in both landscape and figurative subjects she regularly paints en plein air and in her garden studio. Her impressionistic style may derive from her former career as dancer, choreographer, theatre director at San Diego State University and even earlier at Natal University, Durban, South Africa.
Margaret Larlham’s pastel work has garnered national and international attention.
Website: http://margaretlarlham.com
Awards
2026 Degas Pastel Society, Award of Exceptional Merit Kipepeo, Tanzania
2026 CAC American Tapestry, First Place
2026 HM for Waiting for Emily, IAPS Masters Exhibition and Convention
2026 3rd Place Borrego Art Institute Plein Air Invitational
2026 AAPA 10th Annual, Award of Merit
2025 Best Pastel, Plein Air Salon, August, 2025 Bala Lake, Wales
2025 HM for both submissions to Oceanside Plein Air Festival
2025 Dick Blick Award at PSWC, Hilbert Museum.
2025 2nd Place, Reigning Cats and Dogs for Waiting For Emily
2025 Best Pastel, Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
2024 Pastel Society of America, Enduring Brilliance. New York. 2024
Climate Change, 20x16. Salmagundi Award
2024 Best Pastel, Plein Air Salon, October, Kipepeo Beach
2023 Pastel Society of Eastern Canada Pixel Pastel online exhibition,Awakening, receives 18th award
https://pastelsec.com/en/pixel-pastel-exhibition-2023/
2023 Pastel 100 Pastel Journal, 4th Place
2023 Hon Mention, Dakota, First Quarter Pastel Competition
2023 First Place, Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
2023 Artist Choice, Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
2022 Award of Exceptional Merit, Degas Pastel Society. Messaging Maiden
2022 Gold Award in Honour of Daniel Green, IAPS Master’s Circle webshow. Neptunes’ Place/La Jolla
2022 Gold Medal Award , IAPS Master’s Circle Convention show. Morning Glory
2022 Best of Show, Grand Canyon Conservancy, Celebration of Art, Plein Air
2022 First Prize/Quick Paint, and Award of Merit, Borrego Plein Air Invitational
2022 First prize in ASPAS, China, Taiwan online pastel competition for Renewal.
2021 Artist Choice Award, Sedona Plein Air Festival and HM for Ancestral
2021 First Place, Art &Nature, Laguna Plein Air Painters, Sunstruck
2021 Second Place, Chicago Pastel Painters Juried, Cactus Bloom
2021 Great American Award, Renaissance in Pastel, Connecticut Pastel Society, Aqua Green/Oceanside
2021 Third Place, Transitions, SDMAAG, Passing Through
2021 Second Place, and Barr Award, Wildlife in Art, Foothills, Canyon Cottontail/Keeping an Ear Out
2021 ASPAS Online First Place in Landscape for Hovering Breath
2021 Red Rock Pastel Society, Juror's Award. Glimmer
2021 Artist's Choice Award, Borrego Plein Air Invitational
2021 3rd Place, Borrego Plein Air Invitational, for Blushing Mountain
2020 Pastel Society of Eastern Canada, Les pastelists International, 14th Prize Cape of Good Hope
2020 Degas Pastel Society, Award of Exceptional Merit, Bells at Sunrise, Florence
2020 Sedona Plein Ar Invitational, Honorable Mention, Cactus Mardigras
2020 Connecticut Pastel Society, Honor Award, Belle
2020 Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada, Diane Townsend Award for Reverie
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PREMIO / PRIX / AWARD - ARTEMIRANDA |
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"BURNING BUSH" 2020 Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational, Third Place, Sainted Cholla. |
2020 Artist's and Illustrators Magazine Award at The 2020 Pastel Society exhibition at Mall Galleries London, U.K.
Seeds of Change
2019 First Prize, Les Pastellistes, Montreal, Pastel Society of Eastern Canada. Thames River Boat
2019 Dick Blick Award, Pastel Painters of Chicago National Exhibition. Desert Mood.
2019 Bronze Award, Masters Circle Exhibition, International Association of Pastel Societies Exhibition, Albuquerque. Daniel Paused
2019 February and March Boldbrush FAV 15% for Canyon Cauldron and Desert Parthenon
2019 1st Place in Fallbrook Plein Air Festival
2019 Honorable Mention San Diego Museum of Art Artist Guild Beethoven exhibition at Lyceum San Diego,
2019 Honorable Mention San Diego Museum of Art Artist Guild,Mission Trails Exhibition.
2019 Borrego Plein Air Invitational 2019, Honorable Mention.
2019 UART and Pan Pastel award from Arizona Pastel Artist Association National show in Sedona, for Kranskop/Tugela River.
2018 Pastel Guild of Europe, Online Exhibition, Second place in Landscape, (Wild Notations, Palo Verde) and second place in Figures (Fake News) and First place in Landscape (Fever Tree)
2018 Artist’s Magazine 2018, 3rd Place, Abstract/Experimental
Category for Fever Tree
2018 Renaissance of Pastel, Connecticut Pastel Society, Guerrila Purchase Award.
2018 Arizona Pastel Society National, 2nd prize, and Peoples Choice (Gleeful Spray)
Fav 15% Boldbrush March, September
2018 1st Place, Borrego Plein Air Invitational (Palo Verde Wash)
2018 SOCALPAPA Spring show, Hon Ment. (The Lookout)
2017 SOCALPAPA Sense of Beauty, 3rd Place (Last Look at Himmelpfort Lake)
2017 Wildlife in Art 2017, Brian Barr Special Award
2017 Pastel Society of San Diego, Honorable Mention
2017 Atheneum Music & Arts Library Annual Juried Exhibition, Hon Ment.
2017 Arizona Pastel Artists, Purchase Award
2016 SOCALPAPA Juried Show, 1st place
2016 Masters Circle / International Association of Pastel Societies
2016 Pastel Society of New Mexico, Dick Blick Purchase Award
2016 Degas Pastel Society *
2016 Pastel Society of San Diego, Canyon Path #4,Third Place
2015 Artist Magazine Finalist 32nd Annual Competition
2015 Pastel Journal November Feature in Jamie Markle’s Critique Corner
2014 First Prize. San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild Annual Plein Air.
2014 Pastel Society of America, Enduring Brilliance, Holbein Award for Quest
2014 Pastel Society of San Diego Annual Juried Exhibition, Third Place
2013 First Prize, Pastel Society of San Diego Annual Juried Exhibition (Cisco Kid)
2013 Third Place, Torrey Pines Plein Air Competition for (Estuary Mist)
2013 San Diego Art Institute International, Tall Award (Imagine, Portrait of Emily)
2012 First Place, Plein Air Exhibition, SDAI
2012 Pastel Society of New Mexico, Sponsorship Awards (Portrait of Emily)
2012 Most Outstanding Pastel in the October 2012 Online Boldbrush Competition (Ann-Charlotte’s Lake)*
2012 Outstanding Pastel, Wide Open Show, Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Association,
Plein Air Invitationals
October 2025 Laguna Invitational /Plein Air Painters Association
September 2025 Select Artist?Oceanside Plein Air Invitational
February 2025 Paint Maui
March 2025 19th Annual Borrego Springs Invitational
November 2024 Zion Plein Air Invitational
https://zionpark.org/pleinairartists2024/
September 2024 Plein Air Invitational, Grand Canyon Conservancy
https://www.grandcanyon.org/protect-grand-canyon/experiences-and-events/celebration-of-art
2022 Invited participant Grand Canyon Conservancy, Art Festival
2018 - 2023 Invited participant in Borrego Art Institute, Plein Air Festival
2021 Sedona Plein Air Invitational
2020 Featured Artist, Oceanside Museum Inaugural Plein Air Festival
2022 California Art Club 111th Gold Medal, Radiance
2022 Pastel Society of Colorado, Mile High Exhibit,
2022 Arizona Pastel Society at Phippen Museum, Keeping an Ear Out
2022 The Pastel Society, UK. Mall Galleries. Jackrabbits Castle, and Aquagreen
2021 IAPS 38th Master's Circle Division Juried, Chicago
2021 ASPAS, Virtual
2020/2021 Borrego Springs Art Institute Plein Air Invitational
2020 ASPAS Bienial, Oviedo. Burning Bush
2020 UK Society of Pastel Artists International.
2019 IAPS Webshow. Fragile Cliff
2019 Pastel Soc of North Carolina
2019 IAPS Master’s Circle Convention show. Daniel Paused.
2019 Oceanside Museum of Art, Artists Alliance, Creative License at Sparks Gallery, San Diego and Botanic Gardens Exhibition.
2019 Borrego Springs Art Institute Plein Air Invitational
2019 Pastel Society of SouthEast Texas
2018 3rd China (Suzhou) Biennial International Pastel Exhibition
(Belle)
2018 Pastel Society of America, Enduring Brilliance, New York
(Palo Verde Wash)
2018 Degas Pastel Society, (Gleeful Spray, Threads)
2018 Connecticut Pastel Society, Renaissance of Pastel (The Kop)
2018 IAPS 30th, Tacoma Washington (Cloths of Heaven)
2017 Richeson Portrait and Figure 2017
2017 PSA Enduring Brilliance, September 2017
2017 IAPS Masters Circle Exhibition, June 2017
2017 Degas Pastel Society
2017 Oceanside Museum of Art, Artist Alliance Juried Exhibition.
2016 IAPS web show, “ Chia” and “Buckwheat Rust”*
2016 Richeson 75, Animals, Birds, Wildlife
2016 Pastel Society of America / Enduring Brilliance “ Chaparral Mallow”
2016 IAPS 28th Juried, Salmagundi Club New York, “Face”
2016 San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild Annual
2015 IAPS Online
2015 IAPS 26th Juried
2015 San Diego Centennial Art of the Park (Marston House)
2015 San Diego Dreaming
2015 San Diego Museum of Art Artists Centennial Show in collaborationwith Oceanside Museum of Art
2014 San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild Illuminations Juried
2014 Solo show Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2014 Made in San Diego
2014 SDAI SoCal/Baja Norte Juried
2013 Reflections, San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild
2013 CAC Landscapes of the West
2013 National Exhibition Pastel Society of New Mexico
2013 National Society of Artists, Texas
2013 San Diego Pastel Society
2013 San Diego Art Institute International Exhibition
2013 Charles Reiffel Tribute. International Plein Air, San Diego Museum of Art Artist Guild. Feb 2013 (Luminous Way)
2012 International Association of Pastel Society’s 2012 Web Show, Luminous Way
2012 Pastel Society of New Mexico, National Pastel Painting Exhibition
2012 Pastel Society of the South West, National Exhibition
2012 Richeson Online Pastel 2012 Competition Finalist
2012 Richeson, Landscape, Seascape and Architecture Exhibition,
Solo Exhibitions
2021 ADRIFT : Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2018 BREATH + LIGHT: Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2016 BRIAR WHISPER: Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2015 PRESENCE, Solo, Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2012 FLOW, Solo, Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2012 TRAILS, Solo Exhibition of Landscapes in pastel and Oil, Mission Trails Preserve, Visitors Centre Gallery.
Group Exhibitions
2017-2020 Borrego Art Institute, Plein Air Invitational
2020Sedona Plein Air Invitational
2017 Flughtpunte, Berlin-Brandenberg plein Air Exhibition, Neustrelitz Germany
2015 From Life... Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2015 Art in the Park at Mission Trails Visitors Centre
2003 – 2015 Annual Plein Air Group Show, Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
2013 - 2014 Randy Higbee Gallery 6x6
Publication Features
2025 Artists Magazine
2024 Plein Air Magazine
2023 Pastel Journal, Fall issue Immersed in the Everyday feature by Ruth Rogers
2022 Beautiful Landscape Painting by Michael Chesney Johnson
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Landscape-Painting-Outdoors-Mastering/dp/1684620457
2021 Pastel Journal, Winter. Authored Capturing the Character of Indigenous Plants
2018 Artist Magazine competition 3rd Place in Experimental Division.
2017 The Encyclopoedia of Pastel Techniques, Judy Martin
2016 The Drive Home published in Strokes of Genius: Expressive Texture
2015 Phi Kappa Phi Forum Article
2012 “Tangled Light”, (Pastel) publication in Strokes of Genius 4
2012 Rim Trail Hon Mention in Artist Magazine Online All Media Competition.
2011 Artistic Excellence, Hon. Mention for Santa Ysabel After Rain published in Southwest Art Magazine Dec 2011.
Links
http://www.iapspastel.org/iapshow_display.php
http://www.iapspastel.org/iapshow_display.php
http://www.pastelsnm.org/main_html/national_show_16.html
http://degaspastelsociety.org/exhibitions/16th-biennial-exhibition-catalog-awards/
http://faso.com/fineartviews/52809/october-2012-boldbrush-painting-contest-winners
margaretlarlham.com
Representation
Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
Art Associations
Signature Artist. Pastel Society of America.
Eminent Pastelist, International Association of Pastel Societies
Member of: Laguna Plein Air painters, SOCALPAPA, Pastel Society of San Diego, San Diego Museum of Art, Artists Guild, Pastel Society of America, Oil Painters of America
Board member: San Diego Pastel Society
EDUCATION
Master of Arts in Theatre, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
B.A. Honors in Theatre, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
Higher Diploma in Education, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
B.A. in Theatre and English, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
Additional Courses in painting and drawing undertaken:
History of Art and Architecture: Natal University
Painting. Natal Technikon, Durban, South Africa
Life Drawing. Art Student League, New York
English Watercolour. Bob Kilvert Studio, Woebley. UK.
Printmaking, Drawing and Painting at San Diego State University, School of Fine Art.
Workshops. Bill Hosner, Dawn Emerson, Margaret Dyer, Pastel,
Oil painting intensives: London Academy of Representational Art, (2015) Florence Academy of Representational Art, (2015, 2018)
Background
Born in Durban, South Africa, Margaret moved to San Diego with her husband, Peter, and children, Daniel and Emily in 1986. While waiting for legal residency in the United States she returned studies of art, in the Fine Art Department at SDSU. She began exhibiting paintings in local galleries soon thereafter, while working part-time for the Department of Theatre at SDSU, and later, for San Diego City Schools, Visual and Performing Arts Department.
Highlights of her career in the arts include being co-founder and choreographer of Barefoot Dance Company at University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 20 years as Playwright , Director in Theatre for Youth at San Diego State University, with a strong focus on diversity, a long standing relationship with San Diego art community and a featured presence at Santa Ysabel Art Gallery.
She is Professor Emerita of School of Theatre, Television, and Film, San Diego State University and full-time freelance artist.
Life Story (2020)
Margaret Larlham’s career as a college professor in South Africa and the USA focused on dance and theatre while constantly practicing and freelancing as a painter.
Growing up in a small farming town in South Africa, she was encouraged by her Mother to learn music, ballet and tap and art alongside her regular schooling. This blurring of the boundaries between the arts and a deep connection to nature has always sustained her
She met her husband Peter at the University of Natal, Durban. Both students of Speech and Drama at Natal University at the time, they later both became lecturers there. Margaret co-founded The Barefoot Dance Company at Natal University with colleague Jilian Hurst - one of the first contemporary university dance companies in South Africa.
The University life allowed many opportunities to study further, particularly in the USA taking winter session classes in modern dance (Graham, Nikolai, Limon, Brown) and life drawing at the Art Students League in New York in the 70’s, watercolor painting in England and later intensive figure painting London and Florence Academy of Art.
In 1986 following her husband’s appointment to the Department of Theatre at San Diego State University the family emigrated to the United States. She became an Artist-in-Residence and a VAPA resource person in the San Diego City schools for a number of years before being appointed to a newly created faculty position in Theatre for Youth at SDSU in 2000. She continued to teach movement and improvisation while directing, adapting and writing plays for young people till 2015.
As she continued to paint, local art galleries started showing her work. She is represented by Santa Ysabel Gallery. Her paintings have garnered many awards in juried pastel shows in the USA. This year - 2020, her work was honored internationally by awards at both The Pastel Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London and at ASPAS Bienal Internacional de Pintura Al Pastel in Oviedo, Spain.
These days, with her own studio built in her garden, she is able to paint full time and receive collectors privately to view her latest work. Plein air and direct painting remain critically important, rewarding and transformative to her process. The plein air invitationals in Berlin, Borrego Springs, Sedona are an enjoyable highlight.
