Lynette Cook depicts urban landscapes of San Francisco’s Chinatown and surrounding regions. Her images — often, gritty scenes that we tend to look past — are painted with harmony, sensitivity, and occasionally even humor. There is poetry and beauty in the stark urban scenes that could be from any metropolitan area and often feature laundry blowing in the urban jungle breezes.

EDUCATION

1984 Master of Fine Arts, Drawing, California College of Arts and Crafts (now California College of the Arts)
1982 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Drawing & Painting, Mississippi University for Women. Magna Cum Laude
1981 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Mississippi University for Women. Magna Cum Laude

COLLECTIONS

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C.
City and County of San Francisco, 49 South Van Ness Building, San Francisco, CA
Downing Planetarium, Fresno, CA
Geneva Observatory, Versoix, Switzerland
Imagery Estate Winery, Glen Ellen, CA
Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS
St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO
SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA
Swissnex San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA

SELECTED COMMISSIONS

2017 Mural, Lyman Museum, Hilo, HI

2015 Art for Wine Label, Imagery Estate Winery, Glen Ellen, CA.

2003 Art for Donor T-Shirt, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA.

2002 Murals (3), Downing Planetarium, California State University, Fresno, CA.

1992 Art for NASA/SETI Turn-on Event, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA.

1987 Art for Planetarium Shows, St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO.

PRESS

2023 Bayes, Nora. "Lynette Cook: 1st Place Winner." Art & Color 365, May.

2021 Kolpas, Norman. "Down to Earth." Southwest Art, February.

2019 Cheng, DeWitt. "Fooling the Eye." Punch, May.

2017 Skalka, Michael. "Acrylic Shifts and Shimmers." The Artist's Magazine, November.

2014 Miller, Ron. "The Art of Space": Elephant Book Company.

2012 Wall, Mike. "Exoplanet Art: The Illustrations of Lynette Cook." space.com. December 11.

Perkins, Anika. "Cook's Space Art Helps Educate Others about Discoveries." Visions, Spring.

2011 Vergano, Dan. "Art Can be a Tool in Planetary Exploration." usatoday.com. Updated May 18.

2010 Freedman, Wayne. "Artist Turns Pixels Into Planets." ABC7News (KGO, San Francisco), July 5.

2008 Nickerson, Colin. "Portrait of the Stars." The Boston Globe. April 14.

2003 Woodmansee, Laura. "Women in Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier": Apogee Space Series 38.

Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020 "Tales of the City," Peninsula Museum of Art, Burlingame, CA

2016 "SHAD.O," Gallerie Citi, Burlingame, CA

"Catching Shadows," Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, CA

2012 “Inspirations,” Vargas Gallery, Mission College, Santa Clara, CA

2008 "The Search for a World Like Our Own: Imagine Earth 2.0," Swissnex San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

2001 “Extrasolar Planets,” California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA

2000 The Gallery at Villa Montalvo, Saratoga, CA

“Planetary Systems Discovered at Lick Observatory, and Other Celestial Imagery,” Lick Observatory,

Mt. Hamilton, CA

1998 Evergreen Galleries, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA

“Paintings of the Universe,” Faculty Club, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

“Art of the Universe,” Cogswell Polytechnical College, Sunnyvale, CA

1997 “Discovering the Universe,” Fireplace Gallery, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR

1996 UCSF Faculty/Alumni House, University of California, San Francisco, CA

SELECTED TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2023 Art in the Library: Charlotte Cook-Fuller and Lynette Cook, Napa County Library, Napa, CA (Upcoming)

2022 Twin Views of San Francisco, City of San Bruno Community Art Gallery, San Bruno, CA

2016 "Stereopticon: The San Francisco Bay Area by Charlotte C. Cook-Fuller and Lynette Cook," Stanford Art

Spaces, Palo Alto, CA

2015   "Point, Counterpoint: San Francisco Through the Eyes of Charlotte Cook-Fuller and Lynette Cook,
          Evergreen Museum & Library, Baltimore, MD
            "Dress UP," Gallerie Citi, Burlingame, CA
1986   Strybing Arboretum; San Francisco, CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 "Best of America Small Works International Juried Exhibition," National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society,
Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO
          "Pushing Forward Reaching Back," American Women Artists, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC
          "Mystery & Mastery," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
2022 "Deck the Walls," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
          "Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition," Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI
          "Fascination," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
          "Associate Members Online Exhibition," National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Montgomery, TX
          "Best of America Small Works Exhibition," National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Beverly McNeil Gallery,
Birmingham, AL
           "Spring Online Juried Show," American Women Artists, Lodi, CA
           "Elevation," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Women's View 2022," Caldwell and Community Galleries, Redwood City, CA
2021   "Kaleidoscope," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Fall International Online Exhibition," National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Montgomery, TX
           "December Juried Show," State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY
           "Realism '21," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
            "America the Beautiful" (Online), Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO
           "Richeson75 Landscape, Seascape & Architecture 2021" (Online), Richeson School of Art & Gallery,
Kimberly, WI
           "Lifting the Sky," National Online Exhibition, American Women Artists, Lodi, CA
           "Vault II," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Spring Online Juried Show," American Women Artists, Lodi, CA
2020 "The de Young Open," de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA
"Look," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Something More," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Making Their Mark: American Women Artists," Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA
           "Richeson75 Landscape, Seascape & Architecture 2021," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           "11th Annual Open International Online Exhibition," International Society of Acrylic Painters
           "Women's View 2020," Caldwell Gallery, Redwood City, CA
           "Richeson75 Still Life & Floral 2020," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
2019   "BIG.TOP," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Salon at the Triton 2019 Statewide 2D Art Competition & Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
           "Looking West: An Exhibition Highlighting Works by American Women Artists," Steamboat Art
           Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
           "Full Spectrum," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
   "Bay Area Masters," Fine Arts Galleria, San Mateo County Fair, San Mateo, CA
           "Richeson75 Still Life & Floral 2019," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           "Urban Landscapes," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "6th Annual Juried Art Show," Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA
2018   "Salon at the Triton, 2D Art Competition & Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
           "Small Works II," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Small Works Holiday Show," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "University Art 2018 Open Exhibition," University Art, Redwood City, CA
           "Cityscapes," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Bay Area Women Artists," O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley, CA
           "Richeson75 Landscape, Seascape & Architecture 2018," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           "People and Places," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Streets of San Francisco," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Spring Showcase," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Urban Landscapes," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017 "BIG Exhibition of Small Works," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
"Small Works," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
"SO—," Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA
           "Cityscapes," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Urban Vistas," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Streets of San Francisco," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Steep Hills and Tall Buildings," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Salon at the Triton, 2017 Statewide 2D Competition & Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
           "Richeson75 Still Life & Floral 2017," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           "Local Streets," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2016 "Small Works," Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Fall National Juried Exhibition," Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
           "Richeson75 Still Life & Floral 2016," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           "Richeson75 Small Works 2016," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
2015   "Tiny," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
"Silicon Valley Small Art 15," Vargas Gallery, Mission College, Santa Clara, CA
           "Delicious," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Make It Work," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "City Streets," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Terrain," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Crocker-Kingsley Competition," Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA
           Gallery 85, San Jose, CA
   "Richeson Small Works 2015," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
2014   "Salon at the Triton 2014 Statewide 2D Competition & Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
           "Tiny," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "University Art 2014 Open Exhibition," University Art, Redwood City, CA
           "Art Silicon Valley/San Francisco" International Art Fair, San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo, CA
           "Delicious," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "City Streets," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           Collector, Berkeley, CA
           "Waves of the Current," Klein Gallery, Lafayette, CA
           Collector, San Francisco Airport, San Francisco, CA
           "Space Stories," Roll Up Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2013 "2013 Statewide Painting Competition and Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
           "Gems II," Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA
           "Debut Exhibition," Klein Gallery, Lafayette, CA
           "Silicon Valley Small Works II," Vargas Gallery, Mission College, Santa Clara, CA
           "Tiny," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Falkirk Annual Fall Juried Exhibition," Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
           "Nature's Many Splendors: Farms, Gardens, and Woodlands," Filoli, Woodside, CA
           Collector, Berkeley, CA
           “5th Annual 50/50,” Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA
           "University Art 2013 Open Exhibition," University Art, San Jose, CA
           "Summer National Exhibition," Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
           "City Streets," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Richeson Small Works 2013," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           “Breath of Spring,” Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
           "Delicious," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "The Guerilla Show 3," Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012   “Artistic Visions of the Golden Gate Bridge,” George Krevsky Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           “Introductions 2012,” ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Tiny," Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA
           "Holiday Art Show," Coastside Land Trust, Half Moon Bay, CA
           "First Annual Small Painting Exhibit," Rich Timmons Studio & Gallery, Doylestown, PA
           "Drawing on Nature," orangeland, San Francisco, CA
           "University Art 2012 Open Exhibition," University Art, San Jose, CA
           “4th Annual 50/50,” Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA
   “The First Really Big Show,” Oceana Art Gallery, Pacifica, CA
   “Bon Appétit,” Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
   “28th Annual Juried National Show,” North Valley Art League, Redding, CA
2011   “Silicon Valley Small Works,” Vargas Gallery, Mission College, Santa Clara, CA
           “3rd Annual 50/50,” Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA
           “Ode to California,” Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
           “2011 Alumni Invitational,” Eugenia Summer Gallery, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS
2009   “Paint the Parks 100,” PaintAmerica, Traveling Exhibit, Topeka, KS
2003   “Arts for the Parks Seventeenth Annual National Arts Competition,” Top 100 Tour, National Park Academy
              of the Arts, Jackson Hole, WY
2002   “Salute to the World Space Congress 2002 Exhibition,” The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake, Nassau
              Bay, TX
1999   “The Artist’s Universe,” Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
           “Distant Vistas,” Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
1997   “Illuminating Science,” Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, CA
           “Exploring the Art of Space,” Pasadena Civic Center, Pasadena, CA
           “Imagine the Universe,” Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL.
1996   “Arts for the Parks Tenth Annual National Arts Competition,” Top 100 Tour, National Park Academy of the
              Arts, Jackson Hole, WY
1994   “Spaceweek International Space Art Exhibit,” Space Center Houston; Houston, TX
           “Ancient Myths, Legends, and Future Dreams,” NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field, CA
1993   “Reflections of O'Keeffe,” Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
           “Free Hand: The Fine Art of Commercial Illustration,” Bedford Gallery; Walnut Creek, CA
1992   “Space Art: Probing The Outer Limits,” Cleveland Museum of Natural History; Cleveland, OH
           “Artists and the Universe,” NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field, CA
           “Art of the Cosmos,” Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History; New York, NY
1991   “Naturalists: Paintings and Drawings of Life,” Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University; Arcata, CA
1990   “Art in the Service of Science,” Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian; Washington, D.C.
           “Strybing Arboretum 50th Anniversary Exhibit,” Strybing Arboretum; San Francisco, CA
1989   “Guild of Natural Science Illustrators 1989 National Exhibition,” Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History,
              Santa Barbara, CA
1987   “Bridge Works,” sponsored by KPIX/Evening Magazine and Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, CA
           “California Species: Biological Art and Illustration,” The Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA
1986   “Scientific Illustration at the AAAS,” American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington,
              D.C.
           “GNSI Natural Science Illustration Exhibit,” Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian; Washington, D.C.
1985   “Silent Partings,” California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco, CA
1984   “California Species: Biological Art and Illustration,” The Oakland Museum; Oakland, CA

GRANTS

2016 The Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Inc., New York, NY

2014 Quick Grant, Creative Capacity Fund, Center for Cultural Innovation, San Francisco, CA

2013 Quick Grant (2), Creative Capacity Fund, Center for Cultural Innovation, San Francisco, CA
Capelli D’Angelo Foundation, Canton, CT
1999 Research Corporation, Tucson, AZ

SELECTED AWARDS

2023    Best Technique and Handling Award, "NOAPS Best of America Small Works Exhibition," National Oil
             and Acrylic Painters' Society, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO
2022 Best of Show, "Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition," Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI
           Signature First Place, "Spring Online Juried Show," American Women Artists, Lodi, CA
           Third Place, "NOAPS Best of America Small Works Exhibition," National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Beverly McNeil
            Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2021   Award of Excellence, "NOAPS Fall International Online Exhibition," National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Montgomery, TX
           Judge's Award, "December Juried Show," State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY
           Grand Prize, "Lifting the Sky," National Online Exhibition, American Women Artists, Lodi, CA
           First Place, "Richeson75 Online: Landscape, Seascape, & Architecture 2021," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
2020   Distinguished Achievement in Landscape, Seascape, or Cityscape Painting, "Making Their Mark: American Women Artists,"
           Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA
           First Place, "11th Annual Open International Online Exhibition," International Society of Acrylic Painters
           First Place, "Richeson75 Online: Landscape, Seascape, & Architecture 2020," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
2019   First Place, "Bay Area Masters," Fine Arts Galleria, San Mateo County Fair, San Mateo, CA
           Honorable Mention, "Salon at the Triton, 2D Art Competition & Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2018   First Place, "Richeson75 Landscape, Seascape & Architecture 2018," Richeson School of Art & Gallery,Kimberly, WI
2017   First Place, "2017 Artist's Magazine All-Media Competition," Artist's Magazine
           Honorable Mention, "Salon at the Triton," Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2016   Third Place, "Fall National Juried Exhibition," Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
           Second Place, "Richeson75 Still Life & Floral 2016," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           Top 100, "Artistic Excellence Competition," Southwest Art Magazine
           Honorable Mention, "2016 Artist's Magazine All-Media Online Competition," Artist's Magazine
2015   Top 100, "Artistic Excellence Competition," Southwest Art Magazine
2014 Best in Show-Second Place, "University Art 2014 Open Exhibition," University Art, Redwood City, CA
           Second Place, American Art Awards
2013 Honorable Mention, "2013 Statewide Painting Competition and Exhibition," Triton Museum of Art,
           Santa Clara, CA
           Best in Show, "Richeson Small Works 2013," Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
           Second Place, "Breath of Spring," Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2012   Second Place, "Bon Appétit," Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
1995 Winner, Spaceweek International Association's Poster Competition, Houston, TX
1992   Bronze Discovery Award, Art of California Magazine
1989   Juror, “California Species: Biological Art and Illustration,” The Oakland Museum; Oakland, CA
1987   First Place, "Bridge Works," sponsored by KPIX/Evening Magazine/Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, CA

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2001-Present   Artist/Illustrator, Self-Employed
2000-2001       Senior Illustrator, OneCosmos Network, San Francisco, CA
1984-2001       Freelance Artist, San Francisco, CA
1984-2000       Artist/Photographer, Morrison Planetarium, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA

California Academy of Sciences, Adult Education, San Francisco, CA

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Lectures and Workshops, Various Locations

Michaels Arts & Crafts, Daly City and Redwood City, CA

Peninsula Volunteers, Inc., Menlo Park, CA
Sequoia District Adult Education, Redwood City, CA
University Art, Redwood City, CA
University of California, Adult Education, Berkeley, CA
University of California, Science Illustration Program, Lectures and Workshop, Santa Cruz, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Women Artists

International Association of Astronomical Artists, Fellow

National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society