ESTHER HI'ILANI CANDARI
Esther Hi’ilani Candari is primarily a figurative 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 an BFA from BYU-H, an MFA from Liberty University, and has studied at the New York Academy of Art. In addition to her studio work she teaches art courses for Southern Virginia University, manages programming for Writ & Vision Gallery, serves as the art editor for Wayfare magazine, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Dialogue Foundation. Currently, she lives in Utah County with her husband, two rescue dogs, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants.
Let's work together
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION:
Masters of Fine Arts
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
EXPERIENCE:
January 2023 - Present
Art Editor
Wayfare Magazine, Faith Matters Foundation
April 2022 - Present
Director of Programming
Writ and Vision Gallery, Provo, Utah
September 2021 - September 2022
Curriculum Developer
Sentient Academy, Provo, Utah
August 2019 - Present
Adjunct Art Faculty
Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, Virginia
February 2022 - Present
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
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
RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS, & AFFILIATIONS:
2022 - Present
Portrait Society of America
2016 - Present
Honor Society Member
Phi Kappa Phi
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
EXHIBITIONS:
2022
$100 Show
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT
God's Grace
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
Alternativity
Writ and Vision, Provo, Utah
$1000 Show
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
People Are My Favorite (Portrait Society)
Anthony's Fine Art, SLC, Utah
Women Out West
Sears Museum, St. George, Utah
I AM - Center for Latter-Day Saint Arts
Conference Center, SLC, Utah
Business Card Show
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
BIPOC Women
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
300 Plates
Utah Art Access, 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
A New Page
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
2021
God's Grace
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
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
Business Card Show
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
Rogue
Sears Art Museum, St. George, Utah
300 Plates
Utah Art Access, Online
A Girl's Guide to Heavenly Mother - An Exhibition
Writ and Vision, Provo, Utah
All Shapes and Sizes
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
2020
Spring Salon Fall Edition
Springville Museum, Springville, Utah
Business Card Show
JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
Barren: Solo MFA Show
Liberty University, Online
2019
Buena Vista Arts Council Holiday Exhibition
BVAC Center, Buena Vista, Virginia
Certain Women - Zion Art Society Invitational
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
Certain Women - Zion Art Society Invitational
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
Zeta Chi Juried Art Show
Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, Virginia
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
African American History Month Exhibit
Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Liberty University, Virginia
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
Risen: Figure Painting Easter Exhibit
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
2016
Explorations - Advanced Painting Group Exhibit
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
Vulnerable: A solo sculpture show
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
Reflections: Figure Painting Self Portrait Exhibit
Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Laie, Hawai'i
PRESENTATIONS:
2022
Mixology for Artists
Vision X Conference
Virtual
2020
Patterns in Diversity
Sunstone Conference
Salt Lake City, Utah
2017
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
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
PUBLICATIONS & NOTABLE COLLECTIONS:
2022
The Beauty and Burden of Time
Collection of the Bradburn Family
Custom Illustrations
"Bedtime Stories for Girls of Destiny" by Raleigh Wilkinson
Cedar Fort Publications, American Fork, Utah
Imua
Collection of Salt Lake City Community College
2020
All I Ask
The Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
Makua
The Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
Christo
"Hear Him"
Covenant Publications, Salt Lake City, Utah
Questions and Conversations About Art At Church
Exponent II, Online Publication, Salt Lake City, Utah
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
2017
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