ESTHER HI'ILANI CANDARI
Esther Hi’ilani Candari is a multi-disciplinary artist who explores concepts such as multiracial identity, gender and the female gaze in the context of religion, and the connections between ecology, culture, and sense of place. Much of her work draws upon her experiences growing up in Hawai’i in an Asian American mixed-race household.
She has a BFA from BYU-H, an MFA from Liberty University, and has studied at the New York Academy of Art. Her work can be found in institutional collections including the Springville Museum of Art, the BYU Library, The Church History Museum in Salt Lake, and the Presidential collection at the University of Virginia.
In addition to her studio work, she owns and directs The Compass Gallery, serves as an art editor for Wayfare magazine, and serves on the Advisory Board for The Faith Matters Foundation. She lives in Utah County with her husband, two rescue dogs, three mice, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants.
Let's work together
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION:
Masters of Fine Arts
Emphasis in 2D Mediums
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
EXPERIENCE:
April 2022 - Present
Owner/Director
The Compass Gallery, Provo, Utah
January 2023 - Present
Art Editor
Wayfare Magazine, Faith Matters Foundation
September 2021 - September 2022
Curriculum Developer
Sentient Academy, Provo, Utah
August 2019 - June 2023
Adjunct Art Faculty
Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, Virginia
February 2022 - June 2023
Board of Directors Member
Dialouge Journal, Farmington, Utah
August 2020 - July 2021
Art Teacher
American Preparatory Academy, Draper, Utah
December 2019 - June 2020
Council Member
Buena Vista Arts Council, Buena Vista, Virginia
February 2019 - July 2019
Assistant Registrar
The Fralin Museum of Art
The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
June 2017 - August 2017
Artist's Assistant for Rome Mural Project
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
RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS, & AFFILIATIONS:
2023
People's Choice Award
International Art Competition
Church History Museum, Salt Lake, Utah
2022
Finalist
Portrait Society of America
Members Only Competition
Juror
Springville Museum
Spiritual and Religious Show
Juror
Salt Lake City Community College
President's Show
2020
Jury Honorable Mention and Show Poster Feature
Springville Museum
"Spring Salon: Fall Edition"
2019
Student Thesis Research Grant
Center for Research and Scholarship
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
Institute of Classical Art and Architecture 1st Place Award
"Dialogue" Feature Artist Award
Jury Honorable Mention
Zion Art Society
"Certain Women: Statements of Purpose" Invitational Exhibit
Honorable Mention
Alliance of Covenant Artists
Fall Symposium of Fine Art and Faith
Women of Color Art Scholarship
Exponent II
2018
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
NOTABLE EXHIBITIONS:
2025
Solo Exhibit
Illustrations from Isles of the Emberdark
The Compass Gallery, Provo, UT
Curator / Contributor
Fantastically Human
The Compass Gallery, Provo, UT
2024
Certain Women Invitational
JKR Gallery, Provo, UT
Spiritual and Religious Show
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
Springville Salon 100
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT
Springville Salon
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT
Mosaic of Christ
The Writ & Vision Gallery, Provo, UT
2023
Solo Exhibit
That We Might Be Whole
The Writ & Vision Gallery, Provo, UT
Spiritual and Religious Show
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
2022
$100 Show
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT
People Are My Favorite (Portrait Society)
Anthony's Fine Art, SLC, Utah
Spring Salon
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
A Chosen Vessel (Solo Show)
Writ and Vision, Provo, Utah
Kama'aina: Child of the Land (Solo Show)
Salt Lake Community College, SLC, Utah
All Are Alike Unto God: International Art Competition
Church History Museum, SLC, Utah
2021
Depictions of Divinity
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah,
Spiritual and Religious Art of Utah
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah,
Certain Women - Zion Art Society Invitational
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
Rogue
Sears Art Museum, St. George, Utah
A Girl's Guide to Heavenly Mother - An Exhibition
Writ and Vision, Provo, Utah
2020
Spring Salon Fall Edition
Springville Museum, Springville, Utah
Barren: Solo MFA Show
Liberty University, Online
2019
Certain Women - Zion Art Society Invitational
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
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
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
2017
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
2016
Vulnerable: A solo sculpture show
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
PUBLICATIONS & ACQUISITIONS BY NOTABLE COLLECTIONS:
2025
Illustrator
Isles of the Emberdark By Brandon Sanderson
Dragonsteel, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Curator/Producer
ARTbook: Old Testament Vol 1.
BCC Press, Utah
2024
Custom Illustrations
The Emotions of Jesus
Cedar Fort Publications, American Fork, Utah
Acquisition:
She Who Blooms Beyond Borders
University Collection, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Curator/Producer
ARTbook: D&C and Church History Vol 1.
BCC Press, Utah
Acquisition:
Drawing From Living Waters
Christ: Savior, Teacher
The Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
2023
Curator/Producer
ARTbook: Book of Mormon Vol 1.
BCC Press, Utah
Acquisition:
A Man of Sorrow
The Nuture of a Mother in The Wilderness
For my Children I Write
BYU Library Special Collections, Provo, Utah
Acquisition:
Like Unto Christ, Seek Them That Want
The Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
Acquisition:
My Blood, the Blood of My People
Baird Family Collection
2022
Custom Illustrations
Bedtime Stories for Girls of Destiny by Raleigh Wilkinson
Cedar Fort Publications, American Fork, Utah
Acquisition:
Imua
Collection of Salt Lake City Community College
2020
Acquisition:
All I Ask
The Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
Acquisition:
Makua
The Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
Makua
"A Girl's Guide to Heavenly Mother" by McArthur Krishna
Deseret Book Publishing, Salt Lake City, Utah
2017
Donation:
Enlightened
David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
2016
Donation:
Ka Pohaku
Collection of John S. Tanner, President, Brigham Young University Hawai'i
NOTABLE PRESENTATIONS:
2025
Art as Communion
Restore Conference
Faith Matters Foundation, Orem, Utah
2024
Humanities Center Guest Lecture
Brigham Young University
2023
Depicting Divinity
Debra H. Sowell Honors Humanities Lecture
Southern Virginia University
Painting Bridges
University Forum
Southern Virginia University
Picturing Zion
Restore Conference
Faith Matters Foundation, Salt Lake, Utah
2020
Patterns in Diversity
Sunstone Conference
Salt Lake City, Utah
ASSISTANT WORK:
2018
Christus Mural
Joseph Brickey
Monumental Oil on Canvas Mural
LDS Temple Visitor's Center, Rome, Italy
2016
The Royal Family
Asipeli Viliami Toluta'u
Permanent Sculpture
Waikiki International Marketplace, Honolulu Hawai'i
Portrait of King Siaosi Tupuo II of Tonga
Asipeli Viliami Toluta'u
Permanent Sculpture
Tonga Mission Centennial Memorial, Nuku'alofa, Tonga