Stephanie Oplinger
My Story Curriculum Vitae
Stephanie Oplinger (b. 1989) is a multi-disciplinary artist from western Pennsylvania, specializing in painting, printmaking, and sculptural works that explore themes and connections between narrative images, feminine power, and divine mysteries. Across various mediums, Oplinger crafts evocative images embodying the strength and resilience of womanhood. Her work has been included in exhibitions held by The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Palmer Museum of Art, SPACE Gallery, Harlan Gallery, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Artist Image Resource, Hillman Library, and The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, winning notable awards from several of these organizations. Her work has been supported by PA’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Grant, Covid Recovery Grant, Bridgeway Capital individual and ACRE grants, and CERF+ Readiness Grant. Oplinger was awarded an artist residency at Nemacolin Resort (Farmington, PA) in 2025, and is an ongoing visiting teaching artist through Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art. She is a member of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Creative Corps. Oplinger received a BFA from California University of Pennsylvania (PennWest CalU) in 2022, and is currently an MFA Candidate in Sculpture at Penn State University.
I am driven by a profound dedication to unraveling and honoring the rich tapestry of the feminine experience. I firmly believe that the narratives we weave, both visually and verbally, shape our perceptions and interactions with one another. Through my artistic explorations, I attempt to navigate the intricate web of emotions, challenges, and victories that define womanhood. With my work, I strive to express a breaking out into feminine power as well as a continued reclamation of voice and autonomy.
— Stephanie Oplinger
Artist Statement
In my artistic work, I am driven by a profound dedication to unraveling and honoring the rich tapestry of the feminine experience. Through my explorations, I navigate the intricate web of emotions, challenges, and victories that define womanhood. I firmly believe that the narratives we weave, both visually and verbally, shape our perceptions and interactions with one another. My artistic journey is rooted in the ongoing mission of reshaping and reclaiming the historical portrayal of women in Western art.
I find immense joy in the diverse array of mediums at my disposal within painting, printmaking, sculptures. Regardless of the medium, my artistic endeavors converge on the endeavor to craft empowering images of women and to harness the power of the female gaze. With my work, I strive to express a breaking out into feminine power as well as a continued reclamation of voice and autonomy.
Among my latest works, I confront society’s relentless scrutiny of the female form and the damaging repercussions it inflicts upon the female psyche, and seek to create images to rectify those messages. Through soft body sculpture in pieces like “Beauty Fetish” and “Hijacked Beauty,” I unravel and criticize the cycle of self-objectification perpetuated by the media and the commodification of the female body. My monotype pieces “We Are Wild and Angry” and “Finding Grace” seek to explore and celebrate the complexities and diversities of feminine emotion, intuition, expressions, and experiences. My ceramic sculptures, such as my piece “Defiance,” “Genesis,” and “Eve” evoke images of ancient matriarchal figures, reminding us of the timeless essence of feminine wisdom and resilience.
Through my art, I invite viewers to embark on a journey of introspection and empowerment, to embrace the complexities of feminine emotion, intuition, and experience. With each work, I strive to ignite a conversation that transcends boundaries and empowers individuals to embrace their authentic selves.
Supported by a Creative Community
They say it takes a village to raise a child. I believe it takes a community to support an artist.
I am deeply grateful to the organizations, grantmakers, business development programs, and creative partners whose investment has helped me grow my artistic practice.
Their support has enabled new research, exhibitions, public projects, teaching opportunities, and the continued development of my work.
