About
:: ABOUT ::
Artist Statement
About Kristen's work and themes behind it.
My Love for the Desert
Turning inspiration from nature into artwork.
Studio Tour - coming soon!
Exhibit & Commentary Videos
Get to know the art through the eyes of gallery curators.
Kate Ashton, owner of Ashton Gallery and art mentor at Art on 30th in San Diego, CA, gives commentary to "A Place In The Sun," which won first place in the "75 & Sunny" regional exhibit.
"The Power of Small Things" National Exhibit 2019 at the Port Angeles Fine Art Center. My artworks selected for this show are featured at the :42 minute mark.
Kate Ashton, owner of Ashton Gallery and art mentor at Art on 30th in San Diego, CA, gives commentary to "Standing in the Shadows of Love."
Kate Ashton, owner of Ashton Gallery and art mentor at Art on 30th in San Diego, CA, gives commentary to "Overjoyed."
Artist Bio
About the Artist
Kristen Guest is an award-winning and published abstract expressionism artist as well as a certified art instructor in San Diego, California. She studied Art Education at Middle Tennessee State University because it seemed to be the most natural path: she loved art and she loved helping others.
Currently, Kristen works out of her studio at the Bernardo Winery and teaches abstract painting classes at Art on 30th, an art center located in the North Park’s vibrant arts and culture district. She creates work for designers, exhibitions, and online galleries and is best known for using various muted hues and a wide variety of drawing materials, giving her work a “fresh,” expressive feeling.
Kristen is represented at Ashton Gallery in San Diego, CA as a member of the gallery's Professional Artist Program. Kristen’s abstracts have been selected and featured on the homepage of online galleries Saatchi and Artfinder, as well as featured in various Editor/Staff Pick highlights, including "Ones to Watch 2020." She has been juried into local San Diego exhibits, prestigious regional exhibits at the Athenaeum in La Jolla, CA, and national exhibits in Washington DC, San Diego, CA, and Port Angeles, WA. Several of her works can be found in the instructional painting book, "Abstract Painting" For Today's Contemporary Artist" by Kate Ashton.
Representation
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Ashton Gallery
Professional Artists' Program
San Diego, CA
ashtonartgallery.com
Online Galleries
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Artfinder
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Fine Art America
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Saatchi Art
Publications
Education
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M.F.A. coursework in Media Design
Full Sail University
Aug 2016 - Jan 2017
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B.S. in Art Education
Middle Tennessee State University
Aug 2000 - May 2007
Experience
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Art on 30th
Staff, Instructor & Resident Artist
Feb 2017 - Present
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The Art Stash
Class Instructor
Jan 2017 - Mar 2018
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TakeLessons.com
Private Lesson Instructor
Aug 2016 - May 2017
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Inspire SD Studio
Event Instructor
Apr 2014 - Feb 2015
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MilSpouse Meetup.com Group
Art Coordinator
Workshop Instructor
Mar 2009 - Feb 2010
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Paper Source
Chicago, IL & Carlsbad, CA
Staff
Workshop Instructor
Mar 2008 - Feb 2010
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Smyrna High School
Interim Instructor
Aug 2007 - Dec 2007
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The Art House
Resident Artist & Instructor
Aug 2004 - May 2006
Recognition
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Honorable Mention
“Summertime"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego
Aug - Sept 2021
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Honorable Mention
“Celebration"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego
Jul - Aug 2021
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Honorable Mention
“Full Circle"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego
Jun - Jul 2021
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“Staff Picks"
Artfinder.com
September 2020
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Handpicked to show at
The Other Art Fair's
"Los Angeles Online Studios"
SaatchiArt.com
April 2020
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“Artist of the Month"
Artfinder.com
March 2020
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"Ones to Watch 2020"
with artwork featured in page header
Artfinder.com
January 2020
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First Place
“75 & Sunny”
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego
Jul - Aug 2019
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Juror's Choice
“Double Trouble”
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego
Jun - Jul 2019
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Featured in a staff-curated collection
SaatchiArt.com
May 2019
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Honorable Mention
“Going Green”
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego
Jul - Aug 2018
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First Place Winner for Tennessee House of Representatives (District #70) with 1 Year Exhibit in the Washington D.C. Lincoln Tunnel
National Artist Competition
1997 - 1998
Solo Exhibits
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Resident Artist Showcase
BW Tasting Room, San Diego, CA
Apr 2021
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"Pedals for the People" Benefit
Ashton Gallery, San Diego, CA
Sept 2019
Group Exhibits
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"Tuxedo"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
Apr 2021 - May 2021
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"#Obsessed"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
Mar 2021 - Apr 2021
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"Multiplicity"
Juried Online Show
Jen Tough Gallery
Online
Dec 2020 - Jan 2021
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"Wintergreen"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
December 2020
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"Small Works"
Juried Online Show
Jen Tough Gallery
Online
December 2020
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"Surf City Virtual Arts Fest"
Juried Online Marketplace
Huntington Beach City
Online
Nov - Dec 2020
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"Inspired"
Member Annual Show
Huntington Beach Art Center
Huntington Beach, CA
Nov - Dec 2020
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"Natural Worlds"
Juried Online Show
Jen Tough Gallery
Online
Oct - Nov 2020
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"Flora & Fauna"
Juried Online Show
Jen Tough Gallery
Online
October 2020
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"Quarantine Aquamarine"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
Aug - Sep 2020
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"The Many Faces of Red"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
Jan - Feb 2020
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“Centered on the Center”
Annual Regional Show
Huntington Beach Art Center
Huntington Beach, CA
Jan - Feb 2020
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"The Power of Small Things”
Juried National Show
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
Port Angeles, WA
Aug - Sep 2019
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“28th Annual Juried Exhibition”
Juried Regional Show
Athenaeum Art Center
La Jolla, CA
Jul - Aug 2019
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"Creamsicle"
Juried Regional Show
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
Jan - Feb 2019
