JUNE FEATURED ARTIST

 Join Iva for a reception on First Friday, June 6th from 6 to 8 p.m.  

    Iva Fendrick is the featured artist at the Bakersfield Art Center for the month of June 2025.  

    Over the years, Iva has worked in a variety of mediums and subject matter. These include portraits in pencil and pastels, nude figure studies, sculpture, figure figures, abstracts, and mixed media, and her latest art adventure, Plein Air. 

    She is the daughter of Vina Cross, who was one of the Bakersfield Art founding members.  Iva is also a fourth generation Kern county resident.
      Iva earned a bachelor's degree in art from California State University, Bakersfield, having also studied at Bakersfield College and the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles. She studied ceramics with Vic Bracke of Central California and at the Mendocino Art Center school of design in Los Angeles. 

    Iva taught in the Kern high school district, much of the time teaching ceramics.
     Artistic expression has always been part of her life, from drawing quick sketches to creating water features for that quiet garden spot. Iva feels that the “Artist Eye” is always at work. She says, “when I see the soft shadows on the rolling Hillsides, I long to capture that mood for others to enjoy. “

     Iva feels that we all need to reflect upon what gives us visual pleasure. Many of those creations are in the hands of private collectors and can be seen at BAA’s Art Center, 1607 19th St. 

    Over the years Iva has contributed to young students artistic endeavors, beginning with classes in  her home, conducting workshops, museum, and teaching in the Kern high school district. She subscribed to the well-known quote.“Science makes life possible, art makes life livable.“