Prima Materia Institute

Born in Moscow, Russia, to a family of professional artists. Received her Masters in Fine Art from Moscow University. Teaches teens and adults to draw and paint in San Diego, California in 1994. Founder of Prima Materia Art Institute. Curator of portfolios and art exhibitions. Trained docents at Timken Art Museum. Member of the Contemporary Arts Committee.

Shelby Marzoni works both in acrylics and oils, and occasionally combines acrylic
and mixed media. Although beach scenes are an important part of her repertoire,
Shelby is passionate about portraying human subjects in novel ways. Musicians,
famous and not-yet famous, are a favorite theme. Her current ongoing project is
a series called “Kind of A Drag” which explores the variety of ways humans
choose to adorn and portray themselves on special occasions and in everyday
life.

Shelby was trained as an art instructor by Olya Losina of Prima Materia
Institute in 2017. Her teaching experience includes “paint-and-wine” events and
several years’ experience teaching art to junior high and high school students in
an afterschool program. Since 2016, she has taught a weekly acrylic painting
class at the Imperial Beach Senior Center, and she has an independent teaching
practice in which she provides more advanced and personalized instruction and
coaching.
She studied acrylic painting at Prima Materia with Olya Losina, and currently
takes private oil classes with Margaret Chiaro. Her painting titled “Spring Creek
Elementary, 1960” was included in the 2013 Athenaeum exhibition. She shows
frequently at Kate Ashton Gallery at Art on 30th and currently has two paintings
at Imperial Beach City Hall. In 2013 she received a People’s Choice Award at On
the Edge Gallery in La Mesa and a subsequent solo exhibition. Her paintings
have been shown at several San Diego County libraries, including a recent solo
show at the IB Branch. Several of her “rock-and-roll” themed portraits have been
on display at Rock and Roll San Diego and Chula Vista Music Academy.
Emerald C Gallery in Coronado also has shown her work, and she has
participated in the Coronado Art Walk. Her paintings have also been shown in
various cafes and breweries around San Diego, including a recent solo exhibition
at Hess Brewery OB. Shelby is a member of the Chula Vista Art Guild and South
Bayfront Artists and has shown in group exhibitions with both groups.

A representative catalog of Shelby’s work can be seen on her website at
www.amoebagallery.net.