About the Artist
Armand Cabrera
Romantic Realist
Armand Cabrera makes his home in Central Virginia. An award-winning, self-taught artist,
Armand is a full-time oil painter represented by galleries across the United States.
Armand has spent over 2 decades as a successful production artist in the computer games
and entertainment industry, creating conceptual designs and background art. His clients include LucasFilm Games, Disney, Electronic Arts, Virgin Entertainment, Zynga, Nickelodeon, Microsoft and Paramount Pictures.
Armand is also recognized in the fine art field of Imaginative Realism.
Armand has had over 22 One-Man Exhibitions, and his work is found in
notable corporate and private collections around the world.
He has been juried into the prestigious Laguna Plein Air Competition, Plein Air Easton,
California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibitions, Napa Valley Museum,
International Museum of Contemporary Masters "Salon International",
The Haggin Museum and many other national exhibitions.
Armand has been honored with top awards at many of these shows.
He teaches studio and plein air painting when his schedule permits.
Armand is often published in regional and internationally known art publications.
International Artist Magazine, American Art Collector, Art of the West, Art Business News,
The Piedmont Virginian, Elan Magazine, Plein Air and Southwest Art Magazines
EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS (Partial List)
2026
Armand won two awards at Plein Air New Bern 2026, best historical painting for his 12 x 16 oil painting, .Given Back to the Earth', of the Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, North Carolina
Armand was also awarded a second place for his 11 x 14 oil painting, 'Delivery Yard' in the 2 hour quick draw competition at Plein Air New Bern
Armand's 12 x 16 oil painting, 'Morning Mists' was juried into the National Impressionist Society's 2026 10th Annual Impressions: Small Works Showcase at J. Petter Galleries in Douglas, Michigan
2025
Armand completed his commissions for the new six million dollar Luray Caverns Welcome center. He painted two 84 x 42 inch paintings of prominent rock formations in the caverns. The project took six months and he painted inside the caverns producing five onsite studies from life before painting the larger studio works. All of his work is now part of the permanent collection.
"Sermons in Stone" 30 x 30 oil on linen received an honorable mention award at the 2025 American Impressionist Society National show.
"The Beech Grove" 20 x 24 oil on linen received an Award of Merit at Plein Air New Bern in North Carolina.
Armand has a feature article in the Jan/Feb issue of Modern Impressionist Magazine chronicling his career and approach to painting.
2024
Armand wrote a feature article for the Nov/Dec issue of Modern Impressionist Magazine titled "Painting Destinations: The Virginia Blue Ridge in Autumn" featuring 15 of his paintings.
Armand has an 8 page step by step demo of his 30 x 40 oil "McCormick Gap Overlook" in the Sept/Oct issue of Modern Impressionist Magazine.
"Approaching Rain" 11 x 14 oil commanded the highest auction price at the first Shenandoah National Park Trust Plein Air Art Auction at Quievremont Vineyards in Little Washington, VA
Armand received two best of awards at Plein Air Abingdon
"Wolf Hills Forge" 16 x 20 oil was awarded Best Quickdraw Plein Air Abingdon
"Morning" 11 x 14 oil was awarded Best of Show
"Sean Bolan's Pub" 20 x 16 oil was awarded 3rd place in the Quick Draw Harford Plein Air
"The Shaded Path" 12 x 16 oil was awarded Best Use of Light Harford Plein Air
"The Evenings Soliloquy", was selected as part of the FAV15% in the August 2024 Bold Brush Painting competition.
"Thornton River Summer" 24 x 36 was selected as part of the FAV15% in the July Bold Brush Painting competition
"Daybreak" 40x30, was selected as part of the FAV15% in the July Bold Brush Painting competition
"Three Oranges" 12 x 16, was selected as part of the FAV15% in the May Bold Brush Painting competition
"Heavy Surf" 24 x 30, was selected as part of the FAV15% in the February Bold Brush Painting competition
"Inyo Mountains" 24 x 30 was selected as part of the FAV15% in the February Bold Brush Painting competition
2023
Armand's painting "Baguette and Red Pear", was selected as part of the FAV15% in the December 2023 BoldBrush Painting competition
Armand’s painting ‘Dawn’s Early Light’ won a finalist award in the Nov. Bold Brush Painting Competition
Armand's entry 'Coastal Hills" received a Randy Higbee Gallery award in the online 6 x 6 show
Armand’s painting "Looking East" won 3rd place award at Abingdon Plein Air
Armand was selected as a Feature artist at Blandy Plein Air, Virginia
Chosen as a participating artist for the inaugural Shenandoah Park Art in the Park
Armand’s painting "Coldwater Cabin" was selected as part of the January FAV 15% Bold Brush Painting Competition
Armand’s "Summer Stream" was selected as a Finalist for the February FAV 15% Bold Brush Painting Competition
Armand’s "Winter Sun" was selected as part of the March FAV 15% Bold Brush Painting Competition
Armand’s "Potomac River Gorge Evening: was selected as part of the April FAV 15% Bold Brush Painting Competition
Armand’s painting "California Summer" was selected as part of the August FAV 15% Bold Brush Painting Competition
2022
Armand's painting 'Golden Moments' won a Randy Higbee Gallery Award in the 6x6 show
Armand’s painting "Evening Quiet" 12x16 oil was selected as part of the FAV15% in the June 2022 Bold Brush Painting Competition of 2600 entries
One-man show of Imaginative Realism art for IlluxCon online for August
Juror for the 8th annual plein air event in Great Falls, Virginia
Curator for the Louisa Art Center Show September 2022
2021
Created cover art for the album "Close to Nearby" for Octarine Sky featuring Simon Phillip of Toto fame.
2019
One Man exhibition “Mid Atlantic Impressions” Art in the Valley Gallery Front Royal, Virginia
Track Illustrations and cover for the 6th Psychedelic Ensemble Album “Mother’s Rhymes”
Juried publication, Infected by Art, Volume 7, “Bound in Fire”
2018
One Man Exhibition of Paintings, The Cooley Gallery, Leesburg, Virginia
Art of the Piedmont Benefit, Middleburg Montessori School, Middleburg, Virginia
Time, Haven Art Gallery, Group Exhibition of Imaginative Realism, Northport, New York
Juried Group Show, Ikon Images Gallery, "Landscapes of the Other Realms", Canton, OH
IlluxCon, Juried Main Show Artist, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, Pennsylvania
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland
Juried publication, Infected by Art, Volume 6, “Lurker from the Darkness”
2017
IlluxCon, Juried Main Show Artist, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, Pennsylvania
Art of the Piedmont Benefit, Middleburg Montessori School, Middleburg, Virginia
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland
Garden Club of Virginia, Historic Garden Week, The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia
Boskone Fantastic Convention, Judges Choice Award, "Battle Council"
Juried publication, Infected by Art, Volume 5, “Caller in the Void”
2016
New York Botanical Garden Plein Air Invitational, Bronx, New York
RavenCon, Juried Artist Guest, Williamsburg, Virginia
IlluxCon, Juried Main Show Artist, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, Pennsylvania
Abend Gallery Contemporary Imaginative Realism Juried Exhibition, Inner Visions, Denver, CO
Juried publication, Infected by Art, Volume 4, “Call of Cthulhu”
2015
One Man Exhibition, Great Falls Gallery, Great Falls, Virginia
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland
Illuxcon 2015, Main Show Juried Artist, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Great Falls Plein Air Competition, Great Falls, Virginia, Competition Judge
Juried publication, Infected by Art, Volume 3, “Battle Council”
2014
Three Person Exhibition, Tirage Fine Art Gallery, Pasadena, California
Art of the Piedmont Benefit, Middleburg Montessori School, Middleburg, Virginia
Instructors Exhibition at The Bascom, Highlands, North Carolina
Group Exhibition Grand Opening, Roux & Cyr International Gallery, Portland, Maine
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland
IlluxCon 2014, Commissioned Artist & Main Show Juried Artist, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown
World Fantasy Convention, Juried Artist, Arlington, Virginia
Virginia Landscape Painters – 4 Person Exhibition, Broadway Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
Juried publication, Infected by Art, Volume 2, “Crystal Monolith”
2013
Western Vistas, Tirage Fine Art Gallery, Pasadena, California
Annual Small Works Exhibition, One Man Show, Warrenton, Virginia
Solo Exhibition, Interiors of Washington Gallery, Bethesda, Maryland
IlluxCon 2013, Main Show Juried Artist, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Summer Scenes, Tirage Fine Art Group Show, Pasadena, California
Holiday Small Works Exhibition, Palm Avenue Fine Art, Sarasota, Florida
Holiday Salon, Tirage Fine Art Gallery, Pasadena, California
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen
2012
One Man Exhibition: Paintings from Recent Travels, Woodberry Forest School, Orange, Virginia
Contemporary Masters, Artistic Eden III Juried Exhibition, Pasadena Museum of History
31st State Exhibition, Tirage Fine Art, Pasadena, California
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen
One Man Show: Small Works – Still Lifes & Flowers, Armand Cabrera Fine Art
2011
One Man Exhibition, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, Georgia
100th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, California Art Club, Pasadena Museum of California Art
One Man Exhibition, Seasons of the Piedmont, Barrel Oak Winery, Delaplane, Virginia
Solo Exhibition: Recent Work, Barrel Oak Fine Art Gallery, Middleburg, Virginia
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen
2010
4th Annual “Less is More” Miniature Show Invitational, Laguna Plein Air Painters Asso., California
Three Man Exhibition of Virginia Artists, Broadway Galleries, Fairfax, Virginia
Three Artist Show, Tirage Fine Art, Pasadena, California
One Man Exhibition, Piedmont Environmental Council Benefit, Middleburg, Virginia
Firnew Farms Holiday Exhibition & Benefit, River District Arts, Sperryville, Virginia
Art in Embassies, United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen
2009
Invitational Paint Out: In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran, Human History Museum, Zion, Utah
Contemporary Masters, Artistic Eden, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, California
One Man Exhibition: Painting the Piedmont, Berkley Gallery, Warrenton, Virginia
Zion National Park Centennial Art Exhibit: A Century of Sanctuary, St. George Art Museum, Utah
Hilton Head Art League National Juried Exhibition, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
2008
One Man Exhibition: The Chesapeake & Beyond, Mille Fleurs Fine Art, St. Michaels, Maryland
Salon International 2008, International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art
Plein Air Painters of the Southeast Group Exhibition, Anderson Fine Art, St. Simon’s Island, Georgia
Two Man Exhibition, Tirage Fine Art Gallery, Pasadena, California
Zion National Park Centennial Art Exhibit: A Century of Sanctuary, St. George Art Museum, Utah
10th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
23rd Annual Conservatory Art Classic, Bosque Conservatory, Clifton, Texas
Chesapeake Bay Heritage Gallery Opening, Featured Artist, Easton, Maryland
2007
9th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
One Man Exhibition, Old Tavern Gallery, Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia
Plein Air Competition & Arts Festival, Easton, Maryland, “Best Architectural Painting” Award
2nd Annual Havre de Grace Plein Air Competition, Havre de Grace, Maryland, “Best of Show” Award
2nd Annual Riverbend Plein Air Competition, Great Falls, Virginia, “Best of Show” Award
96th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, California
Joan Irvine Smith Museum Heritage Art Invitational Exhibition, Orange County, California
Contemporary Masters, Artistic Eden, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, California
New Oil Paintings, One Man Exhibition, Thos. Moser Gallery, San Francisco, California
8th Annual Paint Annapolis Invitational, Annapolis, Maryland
Hilton Head Art League National Juried Exhibition, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Plein Air Painters of the Southeast Group Exhibition, Richland Fine Art, Nashville, Tennessee
2006
Salon International 2006 Juried Exhibition, International Museum of Contemporary Masters,
Salon International Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, “Merit Award for Landscape”
95th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, California
54th Stockton Art League Exhibition, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California, “Best Traditional Oil Painting Award”
Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
5th Annual Sonoma Plein Air Invitational, Sonoma, California
One Man Exhibition: An Italian Vacation, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
18th Annual Marin/Scapes Invitational, Marin County, California
2005
National Arts for the Parks Competition, Jackson, Wyoming, Top Mini 100 Finalist
12th Annual Maritime Art Exhibit, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, Oregon, Award of Merit
Salon International 2005 Juried Exhibition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas “Judges Top 50 Award”
Pasadena Fields and Gardens, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, California
Northern Views: CA Painting in the Plein Air Tradition, Napa Valley Museum, Yountville, CA
Telluride 2005 Plein Air Invitational, Telluride, Colorado
Split Personalities, Tirage Fine Art, Pasadena, California
17th Annual Marin/Scapes Invitational, Marin County, California
Fourth Annual Sonoma Plein Air Invitational, Sonoma, California
2004
Solo Exhibition, J Whitney Gallery, Southington, Connecticut
Two Man Exhibition, Tirage Fine Art, Pasadena, California
11th Annual Carmel Art Festival, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Third Annual Sonoma Plein Air Invitational, Sonoma, California
94th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, California
16th Annual Marin/Scapes Invitational, Marin County, California
High Sierra Exhibition 2004, Red Bluff, California
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Miniature Show, Estes Park, Colorado, Award of Merit
2003
93rd Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, California
Solo Exhibition, FountainSide Fine Art Gallery, Wilmington, North Carolina
Napa Valley Museum, Plein Air Biennial 2003, Yountville, California, 2nd Place Award
Solo Exhibition, D.E. Craghead Fine Art, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Estes Park Plein Air Invitational, Estes Park, Colorado
15th Annual Marin/Scapes Invitational, Marin County, California
La Quinta Arts Foundation, 5th Annual Desert Plein Air, Palm Desert, California
Sonoma Plein Air 2003 Invitational, Sonoma, California
Smith Rock Plein Air Invitational, Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, Oregon
2002
National Arts for the Parks, Competition Finalist, Jackson, Wyoming
Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois
92nd Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, California Art Club, Pasadena Museum, California
Solo Exhibition, William Lester Gallery, Point Reyes, California
9th Annual Carmel Art Festival, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
Plein Air Painters in the Sierras Invitational, Sonora, California
2001
National Arts for the Parks, Jackson, Wyoming, Competition Finalist,
Vikingsholm at Tahoe Show, Emerald Bay, California, Sierra Award
OPA West/Northwest Mountain Juried Exhibition, Springville Museum, Utah
Solo Exhibition, William Lester Gallery, Point Reyes Station, California
Hudson Valley Art Association 70th Anniversary Exhibition, New York
Marin Open Space Benefit Show, Point Reyes Station, California
2000
National Arts for the Parks, Jackson, Wyoming, Competition Finalist,
Scapes Invitational Show, John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, California
Marin Open Space Benefit Show, Point Reyes Station, California
Five Artists, Five Styles, California Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
1999
Explora Museum of Albuquerque Invitational, New Mexico
National Juried Exhibition, Bosque Conservatory, Texas
Solo Exhibition, Rutherford Grove, Rutherford, California
Solo Exhibition, Freemark Abbey, Saint Helena, California
1998
Solo Exhibition, Freemark Abbey, Saint Helena, California
1997
Endangered Landscapes Show, Napa Valley, California
1996
National Oil Painters of America Show, Quast Galleries, Texas
National Draft Horse Show & Competition, Grass Valley, California, 3rd Place Award
