Ariel C. Wilson is an interdisciplinary artist and educator currently living and working in West Virginia, where she is teaching photography as visiting faculty at Marshall University. Wilson holds an MFA in Photography from the University of New Mexico and a BA in Studio Arts from Willamette University. Through sculptural prints, optical sculptures, and installation, Wilson’s work investigates the experience of sight: questioning its assumed relationship with knowledge and utilizing visual uncertainty to create space for wonder, pleasure, and productive confusion. In addition to Marshall University, she has taught in the Photography and Foundations areas at the University of New Mexico and in the School of Art and Design at Kathmandu University in Nepal. She has been selected to present work at the Society of Photographic Educators (SPE) regional and national conferences and received residencies from Bikalpa Art Center (Kathmandu, Nepal) and Vermont Studio Center. Her work has been exhibited internationally and in twelve cities across the United States.
E D U C A T I O N
MFA, Art Studio, Photography, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
BA (with Honors), Studio Art, cum laude, Willamette University, Salem, OR
S E L E C T R E C E N T E X H I B I T I O N S
2018 To See From Somewhere, COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS DOWNTOWN STUDIO, University of New
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (Upcoming Solo Exhibition, May 2018)
Here Now: 24th Annual Juried Graduate Exhibition, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ART
MUSEUM, ABQ, NM (Juried by Mary Statzer)
2017 I swear I saw this, COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS DOWNTOWN STUDIO, University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM (Three-person: with Kristen Roles & Amy Johnson. Curated by Lara Goldmann)
2016 For the Sake of Keeping, JOHN SOMMERS GALLERY, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
(Two-person exhibition)
2017 SPE Tahoe CoLab Juried Exhibition, MCNAMARA GALLERY, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
(Juried by Elizabeth Allen & Hamidah Glasgow)
Center Forward, THE CENTER FOR FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY, Fort Collins, CO (Juried by
Hamidah Glasgow)
We are in mysterious contact with the powers besieging us…, 516 Arts, ABQ, NM (Juried by
Candice Hopkins) (Catalog)
Luck of the Draw, FOUNDRY ART CENTRE, St. Charles, MO (Juried by Grant Hargate)
Someone to Ride the River With, COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS DOWNTOWN STUDIO, University of
New Mexico, ABQ, NM; HARRY WOOD GALLERY, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ; LIONEL
RAMBACH GALLERY, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2016 What is There That We Cannot See, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ART MUSEUM, ABQ, NM
(Juried by Courtney Fink)
Emerging Vision, COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER, Denver, CO (Juried by Samantha
Johnston)
2015 At First Sight, COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS DOWNTOWN STUDIO, Albuquerque, NM
Landscapes, THE CENTER FOR FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY, Fort Collins, CO (Juried by Chantel Paul)
2014 Artists in Residence Exhibition, BIKALPA ART CENTER, Kathmandu, Nepal (Collaboration with
Sarita Dangol)
Understanding Gender, IMAGE ARK GALLERY, Kathmandu, Nepal (Invited by Ragini Upadhyay &
Marie-Ange Sylvain)
2013 False Starts, THE GRUNEWALD GUILD, Leavenworth, WA
18th Annual Recent Graduates Exhibition, BLACKFISH GALLERY, Portland, OR
Senior Art Show, HALLIE FORD MUSEUM OF ART, Willamette University, Salem, OR
2012 Curiouser and Curiouser, THE HINGE GALLERY, Saint Louis, MO
A W A R D S / G R A N T S / R E S I D E N C I E S
2017 Heinecken Scholarship, PHOTO-AREA FACULTY NOMINATED, University of New Mexico, NM
Doctoral Conference Presentation Award, OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES, University of New
Mexico, NM
Regional Conference Travel Award, SPE SOUTHWEST/WEST CHAPTERS
Phyllis Muth Scholarship for Fine Arts, DEPARTMENT OF ART & ART HISTORY, University of New
Mexico, NM
Workshop Scholarship, ANDERSON RANCH ART CENTER, Snowmass, CO
2016 Clyde A. & Elizabeth R. Hill Endowed Scholarship, DEPARTMENT OF ART & ART HISTORY,
University of New Mexico, NM
2015 Juror’s Honorable Mention, CENTER FOR FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY, Fort Collins, CO
2014 Residency, BIKALPA ART CENTER, Kathmandu, Nepal
2013 Joy Lorraine Hayhurst Award, DEPARTMENT OF ART, Willamette University, Salem, OR
2012 Liberal Arts Research Collaborative Grant, MELON FOUNDATION & WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY,
Salem, OR (With Alexandra Opie)
2011 Esther Wright Huffman Art Scholarship, DEPARTMENT OF ART, Willamette University, Salem, OR
2011 Workshop Scholarship, ANDERSON RANCH ART CENTER, Snowmass, CO
L E C T U R E S
2019 Image-Maker Presentation, SPE NationalConference, Cleveland, OH (Upcoming, Spring 2018)
2017 Image-Maker Presentation, SPE Southwest/West Chapters Conference, Lake Tahoe, CA
Visiting Artist Lecture, Department of Art, Student Summer Creative Grants Lecture Series,
Willamette University, OR
Visiting Artist Lecture, University of New Mexico, Photographing People, Albuquerque, NM
2016 Visiting Artist Lecture, Honors College, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Artist Presentation, University of New Mexico Art Museum, Meeting of the Minds, Albuquerque,
NM
2015 Artist Presentation, College of Fine Arts Downtown Studio, At First Sight Talks, Albuquerque, NM
Visiting Artist Lecture, University of New Mexico, ARTS 187: Intro to Photography, Albuquerque,
NM
2013 Artist Presentation, Grunewald Guild, Plain, WA
Artist Presentation, Student Scholarship Recognition Day, Willamette University, Salem, OR
2012 Artist Presentation: Nervous State Series, Willamette University, Salem, OR