Esther Hi’ilani Candari was born and, for the most part, raised on the beautiful eastern shore of Oahu, Hawai'i. She then went on to attend school there as well, receiving her BFA from BYU-H in 2017. Her upbringing in a rich multicultural environment and extensive travels throughout her life have taught her that as humans our deepest desires and dreams are communal, regardless of nationality, religion, or race. As an artist, Esther’s goal is to use her work to bring a more nuanced, multicultural, and empathy focused perspective of the gospel and others to the current cannon of religious artwork.
Her work has been exhibited, purchased, and published in cities across the country including New York, Chicago, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. She currently lives in Central Virginia with husband where she is wrapping up an MFA degree at Liberty University and teaching art at Southern Virginia University.
Let's work together
email: phone: 808.726.1006
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION:
Masters of Fine Arts , (Projected 2020)
Emphasis in Painting
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
Summer Undergraduate Residency, July 2017
New York Academy of Art, New York City, New York
Bachelors of Fine Arts, June 2017
Painting & Sculpture Emphasis, Photography Certificate
Brigham Young University Hawaii, Laie, Hawai'i
WORK EXPERIENCE:
August 2019 - Present
Adjunct Instructor of Art
Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, Virginia
February 2019 - July 2019
Assistant Registrar
The Fralin Museum of Art
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
November 2017 - July 2019
Artist in Residence
Center for Multicultural Enrichment
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
June 2017 - August 2017
Artist's Assistant
Joseph Brickey
Beaux-Arts Academy, Provo, Utah
August 2017 - March 2019
Graduate Assistant to the Director
Office of Equity and Inclusion
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
December 2016 - June 2017
Teaching & Lab Assistant for Beginning and Figurative Painting
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
January 2017 - May 2017
Art and Art History Instructor for Grades K-12
Harmony Educational Services
June 2015 - December 2016
Teaching & Lab Assistant for Figurative Sculpture
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
August 2016 - Present
Private Art Instructor
Kaneohe, Hawai'i
June 2012 - Present
Portrait and Event Photographer
Amherst, Virginia
RECOGNITIONS:
2017 - Present
Honor Society Member
Zeta Chi
2016 - Present
Honor Society Member
Phi Kappa Phi
2018
Institute of Classical Art and Architecture 1st Place Award
"Dialouge" Feature Artist Award
Jury Honorable Mention
"Certain Women: Statements of Purpose" Invitational Exhibit
Zion Art Society
Honorable Mention
Alliance of Covenant Artists
Fall Symposium of Fine Art and Faith
2018
Exhibition Finalist
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
11th Triennial International Art Competition
Top 40 Exhibition Finalist
XL Catlin Art Prize Exhibition
Peer Award Scholarship
Vision of the Arts Scholarship
2017
First Place for Fine Arts
Kula Manu Literary Journal Juried Art Competition
Department Merit Scholarship
Brigham Young University Hawai'i
2015-2016
University Honor Roll
Brigham Young University Hawai'i
2015
First Place for Cover Art
Kula Manu Literary Journal Juried Art Competition
Second Place for Fine Arts
Kula Manu Literary Journal Juried Art Competition
EXHIBITIONS:
2020
Makua
Heavenly Mother - Book Publication and Exhibition
Salt Lake City, Utah
2019
Kuleana
Certain Women - Zion Art Society Invitational
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
Caressa-Ann
Zeta Chi Juried Art Show
Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, Virginia
Ruth
Meditations on Belief - 11th Triennial International Art Competition
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
2018
All I Ask
XL Catlin Art Prize Exhibit
San Fransisco Art Institute, San Fransisco, California
Linda Warren Projects, Chicago, Illinois
New York Academy of Art, New York City, New York
Black Gold
African American History Month Exhibit
Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Liberty University, Virginia
2017
The Joyful Burden & A Study in Blackout
Summer Undergraduate Residency Curated Final Exhibit
New York Academy of Art, New York City, New York
Greater Than Rubies
Solo BFA Exhibition
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
He Is Risen
Figure Painting Easter Exhibit
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
2016
Albania" & All That is Gold
Explorations - Advanced Painting Group Exhibit
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
Vulnerable
Solo sculpture show
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
Self Reflections
Figure Painting Self Portrait Exhibit
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
PRESENTATIONS:
2019
Emmanuel
A life sculpting demo for "Soul: A Night of the Arts"
Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Liberty University, Virginia
2018
Quetzal
A sculpting demo for College For a Weekend
School of Studio and Digital Arts, Liberty University, Virginia
Tanesha
A life sculpting demo for "Soul: A Night of the Arts"
Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Liberty University, Virginia
2017
Be Not Afraid
A painting demo for College For a Weekend
School of Studio and Digital Arts, Liberty University, Virginia
An Alternative Approach to Feminism Through Art
Undergraduate Research Conference
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
2016
The Academics of Art
Undergraduate Research Conference
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
ASSISTANT WORK:
2018
Christus Mural
Monumental Oil on Canvas Mural
LDS Temple Visitor's Center, Rome, Italy
2016
The Royal Family
Permanent Sculpture
Waikiki International Marketplace, Honolulu Hawai'i
Portrait of King Siaosi Tupuo II of Tonga
Permanent Sculpture
Tonga Mission Centennial Memorial, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
PUBLICATIONS & COLLECTIONS:
2020
Makua
"A Girl's Guide to Heavenly Mother" by McArthur Krishna
Deseret Book Publishing, Salt Lake City, Utah
2018
All I Ask
Motherhood
Santa Clara Review, Literary Journal, Santa Clara University, California
Na Keiki
Private Collection, Provo, Utah
Okuras
Private Collection, Hilo, Hawai'i
2017
Mestiza
Private Collection, Long Island, NY
The Joyful Burden
Private Collection, Redhook, NY
Motherhood
Debbie
Sister Tanner
These Hands
Private Collections, Laie, Hawai'i
Enlightened
David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
2016
Lower Lights
Ka Pohaku
Colors of Courage
Painting Life
Kula Manu Literary Journal Competition, Brigham Young University Hawai'i
Ka Pohaku
Collection of John S. Tanner, President, Brigham Young University Hawai'i
2015
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?
Hawaii Ku'u Ipo
Sepia Samoa
Point of View
Kula Manu Literary Journal Competiton, Brigham Young University Hawai'i
2013
Wallflower
Life in Black and White
The Artist
Kula Manu Literary Journal Competition, Brigham Young University Hawai'i