Education 2019-2021…………………………………….M.A. Studio Art Minnesota State University, Mankato 2002-2014……………………….......................BFA Painting and Drawing, University of Utah 2008………………………..…………………………...Weber State University, B.A. Candidate Business 1999……………………………..….Ricks College, B.A. Candidate Illustration and Graphic Design
Publication and Media Representation 2021……………………………………………………………………………...Artist Spotlight, .Mankato Magazine, May Issue 2021………………………“Art imitates life in Conkling exhibit” Variety Newspaper, Thursday March 18 2021
Teaching Opportunities 2020-2021……………Art 100-005/6 Elements and Principles of Art and Design, online general course at MSU Mankato
Residencies 2014………Recipient Undergraduate Rio Mesa Center Residency and Fellowship, University of Utah
Exhibitions 2021……………………”Novaturient”, Capstone Thesis Exhibition, Conkling Gallery, MSU Mankato, MN 2018………………………………………………...”Exegesis”, Solo Exhibition, Emy Frentz Gallery, Mankato, MN 2017…………………………………………………”National Park Inspired Art”, Group Exhibition, St. Anthony, ID 2015............................."Squared", Group Exhibition, Alpine Art and Frame, Salt Lake City, UT 2015....................."Box Show", Group Exhibition, Utah Artist's Hands Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT 2015......................"Contemplation", Solo Exhibition at the Ruth Vine Tyler Library, Midvale, UT 2014.......................Local Colors of Utah, Plein Air Competition and Exhibition, Sugarhouse, UT 2014............Midvale Harvest Days Art Show and Competition, Midvale Arts Council, Midvale, UT 2014..........................................2014 BFA/ALT Show, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 2014..............Perspective Realia: Ten Years of Urban Art, Finch Lane Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT 2013.............Midvale Harvest Days Art Show and Competition, Midvale Arts Council, Midvale, UT 2013..............1,000,000,000 Miles from the Sun, University of Utah Alt Show, Salt Lake City, UT
Public Works and Professional Loans 2014………............................Set painter for Midvale City Arts Council’s Production of Into the Woods, Midvale, UT 201……………………...………”Collective Momentum, 50’ x 8’ painted mural, University of Utah Hospital, NICU SLC, UT 2013…Falling into Place, professional loan, The Grand Theatre production La Cage Aux Folles, Salt Lake City, UT
Awards, Societies, and Leadership Opportunities 2020-21………………….Graduate Research Grant from Minnesota State University, Mankato 2020-21…………...Teaching Assistantship Recipient final year of Masters from MSU, Mankato. 2014-2015……………………...…..Rio Mesa Undergraduate Research Grant from the University of Utah 2014.....................Sixth Place, Remembering Mother, Utah State Fair Visual Arts Amateur Division 2014................................Honorable Mention, Local Colors of Utah Gallery Plein Air Competition 2014.........................Best of Show, Midvale City Harvest Days Visual Arts Show and Competition 2014…………………………………………………………University of BFA/Alt Show Committee Member 2014...........................Recipient CFA Emerging Leaders Award, Department of Art and Art History 2014..............President of Perspective REALIA (Research Engagement for Associative Learning in Arts) 2013...................Third Place in Midvale City’s Harvest Days Photography Exhibition and Competition 2013..................................................Secretary in the Painting and Drawing Student Association 2013...............................................................................Howard Clark Scholarship Nominee 2007-2008..........................................................Epsilon Rank and member of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Artist Statement from most recent exhibition "Novaturient"
John Muir famously said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” The yearning ache to visit and connect with natural wild landscapes is real. Through brush and pigment, I attempt to capture the mystery and wonder of wild landscapes that have inspired me to be a novaturient soul. The power of landscape is generally symbolic yet uniquely concrete. Studying the lessons that being in wild spaces offer, I find myself contemplating my mortality-- seeking to comprehend the universe and my place in it. By mimicking the naturalist who breaks down wild spaces into macro-focused observations, I translate my experience with landscape into relationships of line, shape, and color. It is an attempt to not only share my experiences with nature but also serves as an act of self-preservation. Through painting and drawing, I am exerting control over my reality instead of floating away into my anxieties. In a way, I am pulling the viewer in for closer observation only to have them lose themselves within the landscape and become grounded within the work.