Cissy Hamilton is a Kentucky native who began to draw at an early age and went on to earn a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design. Growing up in the Bluegrass, horses were a favorite subject. This interest has continued with depictions of various equine events. After careers in graphic design and art education, she paints full time in Lexington, Ky. Primarily working in oil, she is proficient in acrylic, pastel and a variety of drawing tools. As a member of the Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass, she paints varied Kentucky locales and participates in Plein Air competitions where she has won awards. Her work is in collections across the country.
Her paintings and drawings can be seen at Artists Attic Studios and Gallery, Studio D in Lexington, Ky.
She also has work at Shaker Village in Harrodsburg, Ky. and The Brown Hotel in Louisville.
Exhibits, Awards and Plein Air Events
2025
Coming Home, Artists Attic Member Show, May-June
Ashland Impressions, Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass Annual Show, Artists Attic, Jan-Feb
2024
5th annual All Member Online Exhibit," Crowning Moment" American Impressionist Society , Nov.
Paint the Small Town, Mt Sterling, Ky
4th annual Associate Member Online Exhibit,"Battle for the Lead" American Impressionist Society , May.
2023
4th annual All Member Online Exhibit , "A Classic Start" American Impressionist Society , Nov. 2023
Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass, Artists Attic, Lexington, Ky
2022
Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass, Artists Attic, Lexington, Ky
Paint the Town, Community Gallery@ Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Lexington, Ky.
2021
Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass, Artists Attic, Lexington, Ky
Paint the Town, Community Gallery@ Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Lexington, Ky.
Paint the Small Town, Mt Sterling, Ky
Louisville Visual Art's Plein Art Paint Out , Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Louisville, Ky.
2020
St. Joseph East Solo Exhibit, Lexington, Ky.
Lexarts Here/Now Exhibit, Artsplace. Breeders' Cup Plein Air Event, Lexington, Ky
Louisville Visual Art's Plein Art Paint Out , Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Sept 20, Louisville, Ky.
3rd place award
Paint the Smalltown, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Studio Members Show, Artists Attic, Lexington, Ky.
2019
Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass Group Show, Central Library Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
Paint the Smalltown, Mt. Sterling, Ky. 1st Place Award and People's Choice Award
Figuratively Speaking, Three Artist Show, Artists' Attic, Lexington, Ky.
2018
Paint the Smalltown, Mt. Sterling Ky. 3rd Place Award
Feeling Blue, Community Gallery @ Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Lexington, Ky.
Paint the Town, Artsplace Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
In and Around the Bluegrass, Artists Attic Member Exhibit, Lexington, Ky.
2017
Go Figure, Artists Attic Members Show, Lexington, Ky.
Paint the Town, Artsplace Gallery, Lexington, Ky. People's Choice Award
Paul Sawyer Commemorative Show, Bluegrass Plein Air Painters, Frankfort, Ky.
Not Big, Rezny Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
Gridworks Revisited, New Editions Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
2016
Fresh Kentucky Landscapes, Bluegrass Plein Air Painters Group Show, Lexington, Ky.
Four Artists Show, Art in the Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington, Ky.
Paint the Town, Artsplace Gallery, Lexington Ky.
It's Still Life, Artists Attic Members Show, Lexington, Ky.
2015
Equine Paintings, New Editions Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
Paint the Town, Artsplace Gallery, Lexington Ky.
And They're Off, Juried Exhibit, Polvino Art Center, Nicholasville, Ky.
Music Scenes, Juried Kentucky Arts Council traveling exhibit, Ky Crafted Market, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, Ky.
Fall Open Juried Exhibition, American Academy of Equine Art, Lexington, Ky.
2014
Fall Open Juried Exhibition, American Academy of Equine Art, Lexington, Ky.
Shades of Blue and Grey, The Horse in the Civil War,AAEA, Lexington, Ky.
Award for Best Depiction of Artillery Subject
Bluegrass Plein Air Painters Group Show, Central Library Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
Flowers, Figures and Fillies, three artist show, Artists Attic Gallery, Lexington, Ky.
Spring Group Show, Artists Attic Gallery, Lexington Ky.
2013
Spring Group Show, Artists Attic Gallery, Lexington Ky.
Figure Exhibition, Gallery B, Lexington Ky.
Special Projects
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72, Lexarts Bookbench Project 2018
Schooled Horse, life size fiberglass horse for Alltech pavilion at WEG 2010
Schooled Horse Alphabet, Poster. designed, illustrated and sold equine alphabet poster of the World Equestrian Games 2010-present
Lost in the Rainforest, life size fiberglass horse for Horsemania 2000
Sister Cities, Lexarts Door Project, Ballatro Gallery 2001
Thoroughbet, Designed, illustrated and sold equine alphabet poster, Thoroughbred Record Magazine, 1982-1989