I am an Artist and Art Teacher. After growing up in western Pennsylvania, where I earned my undergraduate and graduate art degrees, as well as where I started my art and teaching career, I then spent a few years living and teaching in Houston. My little family and I happily moved to the Pacific Northwest and are now living in Olympia, Washington, where we plan to start our permaculture homestead farming life (Stay tuned for an outdoor art school on our future farm!). I am a working Painter, a middle school Art Teacher, and I love what I do.

I paint for the pure joy of it, embracing a whimsical and colorful approach inspired by my experiences with and personal photographs of Nature. Though trained in realism, over three decades of studying and exploring painting has developed my abstracted and expressive style. I hope my artwork can bring joy to others, too.

I obtained my M.F.A. and M.A. degrees in Painting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2014 and 2017 and my Bachelors of Science in Art Education degree from California University of Pennsylvania in 2012. As a 3-state, K-12 Certified Visual Arts Teacher and qualified Painting Professor, I have taught over 1000 art students across the country, kindergarten through college and adult ages. My personal artwork has been exhibited nationwide, including NYC galleries with award-winning pieces.

ARTIST CV:

ASHLEY SOLARZ, M.F.A., B.S.Ed.
Visual Artist & Art Teacher
Email: ashleyesolarz@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Certified Teacher. Visual Arts (K-12). Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania.
Bachelor of Science in Education (Art K-12). California University of Pennsylvania. California, PA. Summa Cum Laude. May 2012.
Master of Arts. Painting. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Indiana, PA. Summa Cum Laude. August 2014.
Master of Fine Arts. Painting and Drawing. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Indiana, PA. Summa Cum Laude. May 2017.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Visual Art Instructor. Owner and Founder of Art Unschool, LLC. 2022-present.
Visual Art Teacher. Yelm Middle School. Yelm, WA. 2025-present.
Elementary DLC Paraeducator. LP Brown Elementary School. Olympia, WA. 2025.
Park Aide. Washington State Parks. Peace Arch Historical State Park. Blaine, WA. 2024.
Youth Initiatives and School Liaison. Mercy Housing, Inc. Bellingham, WA. 2023-2024.
Virtual Art Professor. Tzohar Seminary for Chassidus and the Arts. 2019-2022.
Visual Art Teacher. Tomball Memorial High School. Houston, TX. 2021-2022.
Visual Art Teacher. West Field High School. Houston, TX. 2020-2021.
Women’s Painting Instructor. Tzohar Seminary for Chassidus and the Arts. Pittsburgh, PA. 2020.
Art Challenge Teacher. Grades 3-9. Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA. 2019-2020.
Art Teacher. Grades K-12. Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA. 2018-2020.
Art Teacher. Grades K-5. A.L. Wilson Elementary School. Fairchance, PA. 2017-2018.
Museum Assistant. Graduate Assistantship. The University Museum. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015-2016.
Painting Workshop Co-Teacher. En Plein Air Painting. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015.
Figure Drawing Co-Teacher. Art Intensive Figure Drawing Workshop. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015.
Figure Drawing Model Coordinator. Graduate Assistantship. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015.
Studio Assistant. Graduate Assistantship. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2014-2015.
Gallery Assistant. Graduate Assistantship. Kipp and Annex Galleries. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2014.
Teaching Assistant. Graduate Assistantship. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2013.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Houston Area Alliance for Black School Educators Outstanding Teacher. Teacher of the Year for Westfield High School Ninth Grade Center Campus. Houston, TX. 2021.
Artist Talk with Chrissie Iles, Whitney Museum Curator. 30 Under 30. Viridian Artists. Chelsea, New York City, NY. 2018.
Director’s Choice. 30 Under 30. Viridian Artists. Chelsea, New York City, NY. 2018.
Honorable Mention. Object Empathy. Annex Gallery. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2017.
The Best of Show Prize. Creative Coexistence. The Grey Space. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2016.
Graduate Student Scholarship. School of Graduate Studies and Research. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015.

SOLO ART EXHIBITIONS
Fine Art Salon Show. Spring Cottage Gallery. Houston, TX. 2020.
Come Get It Before It’s Hot. Art Burning Performance. Private Home. Indiana, PA. 2019.
What We Call Home. The Artist’s Hand. Indiana, PA. 2018.
Broken Kingdom: An Analysis of the Cultural Shifts Amongst the Diné People Upon European Contact. MFA Thesis Exhibition. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2017.
Home/Land, Miller Gallery. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015.
Silence Guides Our Minds. MA Thesis Exhibition. Annex Gallery. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2014.

GROUP ART EXHIBITIONS
Guest Artist Exhibition. Forthcoming. The Whidbey Art Gallery. Langley, WA. 2025.
Distant/Memory. International Virtual Exhibition. Visionary Projects. New York City, NY. 2022.
Scenic-2022. International Virtual Exhibition. Exhibizone. Ontario, Canada. 2022.
Visual Art Teacher Exhibition. Tomball Memorial High School. Houston, TX. 2021.
Art by Taurean National Art Tour. National Virtual Exhibition. Columbia, MD. 2020.
Painting In The 21st Century. International. Site: Brooklyn. Brooklyn, NY. Juried By: Steven Henry Madoff. 2018.
30 Under 30. Viridian Artists. National. Chelsea, New York City, NY. Juried By: Chrissie Iles, Whitney Museum Curator. 2018.
Grab-A-Grad. Student Art Association Collaboration. Miller Gallery. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2017.
Object Empathy. Annex Gallery. IUP. Indiana, PA. Curators: Professor Sharon Massey and Professor BA Harrington. 2017.
Creative Coexistence. The Grey Space. IUP. Indiana, PA. Curator: Asmaa Alshehri. 2016.
Spring Juried Exhibition. The Bottleworks Gallery. Johnstown, PA. Curator: Adam Welch. 2015.
White Walls Art Auction. Graduate Art Association. University Museum. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015 .The Salon. EU of PA. Edinboro, PA. Curator: Claira Heitzenrater. 2015.
Ignorance is not Innocence. Kipp and Annex Galleries. IUP. Indiana, PA. Curator: Kayla Bennett. 2014.
Red. Kipp Gallery. IUP. Theatre Department Show. Indiana, PA. 2014.
Subterranean Reality. UnSmoke Systems Artspace. Pittsburgh, PA. Curator: J. Kozlowski. 2014.
Panorama. RAW Natural Born Artists. Club Zoo. Pittsburgh, PA. 2014.
Non-Traditional Painting. Miller Gallery. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2013.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESS
“Artistonish - Issue #24.” Biafarin Inc. International Magazine. Ontario, Canada. 2022.
“Art From Youth Across Nation Brings Light Back to Tree of Life Synagogue Complex.” Pittsburgh Post Gazette Newspaper. Pittsburgh, PA. 2019.
“#HeartsTogether: The Art of Rebuilding.: New Light Congregation. Pittsburgh, PA.  2019.
“Painting In The 21st Century.” International Press Release. Site: Brooklyn. Brooklyn, NY. 2018.
“30 Under 30.” National Press Release. Viridian Artists. Chelsea, NYC, NY. 2018.
“30 Under 30.” International Exhibition Announcement. Artsy. 2018.
“Broken Kingdom: An Analysis of Cultural Shifts Amongst the Dine People Upon European Contact.” IUP Knowledge Repository. Dissertation and Thesis Collection. Indiana, PA. 2017.
“Art Grads’ Thesis Exhibitions Now on Display.” Interview. The Penn Newspaper. Indiana, PA. 2017.
“2017 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibitions.” University Museum Newsletter. Indiana, PA. 2017.
“XX: Female Artists of the University Museum’s Collection.” Video Interview. Indiana, PA. 2016.
“Summer Exhibitions: XX.” University Museum Newsletter. Indiana, PA. 2016.
“2014 MA Thesis Exhibitions.” Lively Arts Newsletter. Indiana, PA. 2014.
Panorama. Video Interview. RAW Natural Born Artists. Pittsburgh, PA. 2014.

CURATORIAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE & COMMUNITY ART PROJECTS
Interpretive Rock Painting Project. Peace Arch Historical State Park. Blaine, WA. 2024.
Collaborative Youth Rock Painting Project. Western Washington University Gallery. Bellingham, WA. 2024.
#ourstayhomedrawing. COVID-19 Quarantine Social Media Art Project. 2020.
Tree of Life Mural. Painting Gift to ToL Synagogue from Hillel Art Students. Pittsburgh, PA. 2019.
Traveler’s Prayer Drawings. ToL First Responders Gift from Hillel Art Students. Pittsburgh, PA. 2019.
XX. Exhibition of Female Artists from the University Museum’s Collection. University Museum. Co-Curator with Jennifer Blalock. Indiana, PA. 2016.
Teaching the Eye to Hear. Visual and Musical Performance. Cogswell Hall. Co-Curator with Dr. Stanley Chepaitis and Professor Nathan Heuer. Indiana, PA. 2016.
Words and Objectivity. Curatorial Workshop with International Artist. Kipp Gallery. Co-Curator with Chris McGinnis, Mireia Sentis, and Art Grad Students. Indiana, PA. 2016.
Second Annual White Walls Art Auction. Graduate Art Association Fundraiser. Disobedient Spirits. Co-Curator with Rachel Precht. Homer City, PA. 2016.
Different Eyes. Another Box. Collaborative Graduate Student Exhibition. Miller Gallery. IUP. Co-Curator with Rachel Precht. Indiana, PA. 2016.

CURATOR’S ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE
A Passion for Painting. University Museum. IUP. Curator: Bill Double. Indiana, PA. 2017.
Gilded Age to Great War. University Museum. IUP. Curator: Bill Double. Indiana, PA. 2016.
Bartram’s Boxes Remix. University Museum. IUP. Curator: BA Harrington. Indiana, PA. 2016.
Walk Through Latin America. University Museum. IUP. Curator: Lisa McCann. Indiana, PA. 2015.
The Mountain and the Bumblebee. Space Gallery. Curator: Chris McGinnis. Pittsburgh, PA. 2015.
West North South. Annex Gallery. IUP. Curators: IUP Art Graduate Students. Indiana, PA. 2015.
Songs, Sonnets, and Stolen Lines. Kipp Gallery. IUP. Curator: Chris McGinnis. Indiana, PA. 2014.
Changing Time. Annex Gallery. IUP. Curator: Chris McGinnis. Indiana, PA. 2014.
Muslim/American, American/Muslim. Annex Gallery. IUP. Curator: Chris McGinnis. Indiana, PA. 2014.

VOLUNTEER AND ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Gay Straight Alliance Club. Grades 9-12. Tomball Memorial High School. Houston, TX. 2021.
National Art Honors Society. Grades 9-12. Tomball Memorial High School. Houston, TX. 2021.
Guitar Club. Grades 9-12. Tomball Memorial High School. Houston, TX. 2021.
Art Club. Grades K-8. Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA. 2018-2020.
Graduate Art Student Representative. University Museum Board of Directors. IUP. 2015-2017.
College of Fine Arts Student Representative. College Advisory Board Conference. IUP. 2017.
Thesis Field Study Work. Navajo Cultural Research. Tuba City, AZ. 2016.
Sole Organizer. Graduate Art Association Fundraiser. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2016
Global Service-Learning Volunteer. Amizade. Navajo Nation. Tuba City, AZ. 2016.
President. Graduate Art Association. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2015-2016.
Secretary. Graduate Art Association. IUP. Indiana, PA. 2014-2015.

*All work done before October 2023 was under my maiden name Ashley Bouton.