B A C K G R O U N D
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. Master of Fine Arts, 2008 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI. Bachelor of Fine Arts Illustration (with Honors), 2005 Independent Study: Studio Painting/Mixed Media in Italy, France, Spain, RISD Winter-session 2004 France Art History and Painting Course: Various places in France, RISD Winter-session 2003 Silkscreen Course. Honolulu Museum School. 2017
R E P R E S E N T A T I O N
Halele’a Gallery, Kauai, HI ( Poipu and Hanalei) www.haleleagallery.com
R E S I D E N C Y
Vermont Studio Center 2011. Santa Fe Art Institute 2014. Chalk Hill Artist Residency 2017. Moloka’i Artist Residency May 2019.
E X H I B I T I O N
Honolulu New Painting Invitational. University of Hawai’i Mānoa campus Art Gallery 2023 Vu Galleries online auction. 2020 (Fundraiser for Orchid Foundation) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NYC. 2019. permanent display Hawaii State Art Museum x Mori. Two Woman exhibition. research with Bishop Museum. 2018-current O’ahu. Japanese Chamber of Commerce Commitment to Excellence. Honolulu Museum School. Oahu 2018 Symphony of Hawaiian Birds. Stop Motion Animation. Blaisdell Concert Hall. Oahu. 208-current Rapid ‘Ōhi’a Death Benefit Donation. Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry Program and the Lyons Estate. Big Island. May 2018 National Association of Women Artists. 2018 Winter Small Works Exhibition. NYC, NY "Surround" Solo Exhibition. Pegge Hopper Gallery. Oct-Nov 2016
Collaborative Portrait Project RISD. Artist: Susan Bickford. RISD Oct. 2015
Possessions: Prized and Otherwise. Attleboro Arts Museum, Mass. June 2015.
Water. Michigan Tech University. 2015
Santa Fe Residency solo show: Halelea Gallery, Hawaii
Santa Fe Art Institute exhibit and lecture: SFAI140
Hawaii Pacific University Faculty exhibit. Spring 2013/2014
Contempo. Honolulu Art Museum Benefit. 2013.
Amalgamate . Find Art. 39-Hotel/Flux Magazine. Chinatown, HI. 2012
Emerging Artist Group Exhibit. Koa Gallery, KCC, Honlolulu. May-June 2012
Hawaii Pacific University Faculty Exhibit. Spring 2012
Solo Exhibit. Spalding House Cafe. Honolulu Museum of Art. April-Jun 2012
Chai Studios. Honolulu, Hawaii Nov-Jan 2011
Town. Honolulu, Hawaii. June-July 2011
Vermont Studio Residency. July 2011
Shore Institute of Contemporary Art, 7th International Juried Exhibition, New Jersey2010
Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, RI Summer 2010
Speak Easy Gallery, Window Solo-Exhibit. Boonton, NJ Summer 2010
Ramapo College, Solo Exhibition. Mahwah, NJ. Spring/Summer 2010
Passaic Community College, Solo Exhibition. Paterson, NJ. Pending 2010
Lana Santorelli Gallery, “Re-awakening” Nature Exhibit. Chelsea, NYC March 2010
Perth Amboy Arts Center, “Many Faces of Eden” Perth Amboy, NJ March 2010
Solo Exhibit: Barn Theater, Montville, NJ Jan 2010
Measured: Solo Faculty Exhibit. Masten Gallery, County College of Morris. Nov-Dec 2009
Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts: Mid Atlantic Juried Exhibition 2009
P R E S S
RISDxyz Magazine. several publications
Artist Homes and Studios. Ashley Rooney. Schiffer Publishing. 2014.
Dining Out Magazine. Kauai, HI. Back cover for Halele’a Gallery. 2012-Current
Honolulu Magazine. Emerging Artist article. May 2012.
100 Mid Atlantic Artists. Ashley Rooney. Schiffer Publishing. Table Top book, 2-page spread 2011
Artist Spotlight. Neighbor News. Full page article. Oct 28, 2009
Newspaper. “Local Artist Paints Governor Corzine’s Christmas Card” Daily Record, December 17, 2006
A W A R D
Dedalus Foundation Full Scholarship. Vermont Studio Center, 4 week residency October 2010 (Forgoed)
Grants and Work study: Vermont Studio Center, 4 week residency July 2011 (one month)
FIRST PLACE: Trent Burleson Juried Art Show, Illustration Gallery, Providence, RI. - 2004
4TH PLACE: Art in Harmony National Coca Cola Art Competition, NYC, NY. – May, 2001. Coca Cola Commercial, Hollywood, Cal. Feb. 2002.
Mary Gill Art Scholarship and Exhibit: Morris Museum of Art, Morristown, NJ – May, 2001
T E A C H I N G
Adjunct Professor – Introduction to Visual Arts – Hawaii Pacific University Fall 2010 – Winter 2014 (left to focus upon studio career)
2-D Design , Art Start, Drawing 1, Color Theory (substitute) County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ - 2008-2010
S T A T E M E N T
“When Munindraji, a vipassana meditation teacher, was asked why he practiced, his response was, 'So I will see the tiny purple flowers by the side of the road as I walk to town each day.” With an undefended heart, we can fall in love with life over and over every day. We can become children of wonder, grateful to be walking on earth, grateful to belong with each other and to all of creation. We can find our true refuge in every moment, in every breath” - Tara Brach, Buddhist teacher.
My practice as an artist reflects how I aspire to live my life, one that nurtures nature and the wellbeing in life. I believe where our energy goes our attention flows. Choosing to put my energy towards these elements constructs gratitude for each moment. Navigating my physical and mental environments through the process of art making has become a journey of learning and self-awareness. Mark-making, similar to meditation, is a means for me to cultivate mindfulness, strengthen inner peace and explore self-expression. Often the dance that is choreographed between painting and drawing is one of being present, slowing down, observing, and listening. The process of creating my work constantly flows between fluidity and control. Im interested in how ideas arrive and how a painting develops over time. Much like life, I do not have a clear image of what the final piece will look like which causes me to be present with the journey. Everyday encounters and objects will merge between figurative and the literal. Whether it is a specific location, a conversation, a particular plant, or piece of literature, each will contribute to the complexity of the piece. The history within the layers of painting and drawing is a dialogue about time, growth, and life; exposing an environment that takes on meaning within and beyond plant or ocean matter. The diaristic approach to my work continually re-defines beauty and reveals elements of nature often overlooked. I believe our life unfolds with our intentions and as a result I choose to nourish that which brings joy. My paintings are nourishing, universal, explorative, and engaging. They invite the viewer to pause, reflect upon that what gives life and loose themselves within my constructed environment.