Born in Los Angeles and widely traveled, Galen spent most of her life in New England where she felt a deep connection to her roots, the land, and centuries-old architecture.
A childhood trip to Europe was the start of her enduring love of travel and fascination with ancient civilizations. Along with an affinity for the ancient world, Galen feels the gravitational pull of contemporary urban life–its grit, noise and neon graffiti and an unshakable connection to the mid-century Abstract Expressionists. In her own way she says she synthesizes these influences to create work that is complex, and uniquely hers. Galen’s work has been exhibited and collected widely in the U.S. and in Europe, China, Canada, and the UK. She was featured in New American Paintings (vol. 86) and was nominated for a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. Past residencies and fellowships include the Millay Colony, MASS MoCA, Vermont Studio Center, Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, and Da Wang Culture Highland. Galen’s home and studio are in North Adams, Massachusetts, in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains.