ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Hollister’s artistic influences growing up in the “mid-century” 1950s and 60s and 70s, derive from the fabulous futuristic designers of that era, the beat poets, cinematographers, photographers, painters and sculptors. The direction of her work has evolved to include new processes that fully reflect her interest in architecture, sculpture, design, and the sensuous nature of form, all of which tend to evoke a pleasurable response. 

Art history takes on an important role in her work...from Marimekko fabric designs, to the exaggerated, sumptuous sculptural forms in her ceramics and glass castings - influenced by the photography of Edward Weston and Bill Brandt - to the organic and futuristic architecture of Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Eero Saarinen, to Swedish glass designers, and Japanese dress designers…all with the intent to raise thoughts about how the viewer relates to it, sparks a conversation in their own mind, and leads into interesting conversations with others.

ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY

A native of the Chicago and New York City areas, Hollister (Holly) was introduced to art, history and culture early in life, with personal influences including Hiroshi Yoshida woodblock prints, which her father collected during the Armistice of WWII, and the collected Swedish art glass and ceramics of her grandparents. An early love of Impressionism drew her into the history of the western trade routes with Asia and the influence of Japanese art on western European painting and printmaking. Living in Greece one summer, brought the beauty of sculptural forms and architecture into sharp and memorable focus. 

Holly studied fine arts at the California College of Arts and Crafts, received her BA in Art History from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, and MA in Education from California State University, Fresno. A painter by training, she worked by commission and taught art in the public schools (K-12) until 2009. She then decided to challenge herself with classes in ceramics at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) with Dede Schmidt, and visiting artist, Courtney Mattison, and began learning about glass there as well, with Ali Rogan. An active member of the Virginia Glass Guild since 2010, she continued her studies with Ali Rogan, and visiting artists Milon Townsend, Paul Marioni, and Susan Taylor Glasgow, as well as glass fusing at Tidewater Community College. She has also had the opportunity to take classes at the Chrysler Museum Perry Glass Studio with visiting artists Stacy Lynn Smith, Heather Hartle, and Margo Thigpen. She has received several awards at the Virginia Glass Guild Annual Shows from prominent curators, artists, and gallery directors. Several notable glass collectors have also added her work to their collections. Holly works in her Virginia Beach home studio.

EDUCATION:

Single Subject Art K-12 and Multiple Subject K-8, MA and Teaching Credential, California State University Fresno, 2002

BA in Art History, Skidmore College, 1975

Fine Arts, California College of Arts and Crafts, 1971-1972 (now California College of the Arts)

ACTIVITY IN THE ARTS:

  • Member, Glass Arts Society

  • Virginia Glass Guild Board Member: Recording Secretary, 2010-2016

  • Ceramics Studio Assistant, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 2010

  • Member, Potters Council

SHOWS:

  • Solo Exhibition - “Confluence, Culture and Conversation” - Vestibule 102, Perry Glass Studio, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, December 2, 2019 - January 5, 2020

  • Virginia Glass Guild Annual Juried Exhibition, Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center, Hampton, VA, 2009-2018

  • Glass Arts Society (GAS) - Virginia Glass Guild Show, Slover Library, Norfolk, VA, 2017

  • "Embracing Narrative: Artwork of the Washington Glass School and the Virginia Glass Guild", Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA, 2017 - Jurors: Diane Wright, Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass; Chrysler Art Museum and Sheila Giolitti, owner of Mayer Fine Art Gallery

  • "A Year in Review: Works from the MOCA Adult Studio School", Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 2009-2017

  • Hampton Arts League Open Members Exhibition, Hampton, VA, 2012-2017

  • Williamsburg Arts Month, Williamsburg, VA 2012

  • Gallery at Cristallo Art Center, Newport News, VA, 2011-2018

  • "Reflections in Glass" Peninsula Glass Guild Show, 2011

AWARDS:

  • Virginia Glass Guild Member’s Exhibition 2019: People’s Choice Award for “Curiouser and Curiouser”: Slover Library, Norfolk, VA

  • Virginia Glass Guild 30th Annual Juried Exhibition, 2017: Second Place for “A Spectrum of Mindful Beings” - Juror, Dr. Jutta-Annette Page, Executive Director of The Barry Art Museum, Norfolk, VA

  • Virginia Glass Guild 28th Annual Juried Exhibition, 2016: Honorable Mention for "Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Installation View of Ellsworth Kelly: A Retrospective (1996-1997) - Juror, Diane C. Wright, Curator of Glass, Chrysler Art Museum, Norfolk, VA

  • Virginia Glass Guild 27th Annual Juried Exhibition, 2014: Honorable Mention and People's Choice Award for "Hundertwasser Visits Whoville" - Juror, Michael Rogers, Professor, Glass Program, Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Crafts, Rochester, NY

STUDIES:

  • “Engraving Imagery and Adornment”, with Heather Hartle and Margot Jacobs Thigpen, Chrysler Museum of Art, Perry Glass Studio, Norfolk, Virginia, 2019

  • Powder Printing, with Staci Lynn Smith, Chrysler Museum of Art, Perry Glass Studio, 2017

  • It's Not a Chandelier, It's a Lighted Sculpture, with Susan Taylor Glasgow, 2017

  • Ceramics Master Class with Courtney Mattison, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 2016

  • FXII-Color Casting Magic with Milon Townsend, 2013 Glass Craft and Bead Expo, Las Vegas, NV

  • The Art of Fusing in Depth with Lisa Richardson-Bach, 2013 Glass Craft and Bead Expo, Las Vegas, NV

  • Ceramics III and IV, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 2009-present

  • Encaustics Workshop with Karen Eid, MOCA, 2013

  • Hot Casting and Mold Making, Master Class with Paul Marioni, Chrysler Museum of Art, Perry Glass Studio, Norfolk, VA, 2012

  • Glass Fusing and Casting with Ali Rogan, Cristallo Artisans, 2011; and MOCA, 2009-2012

  • Glass Fusing, Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, VA - Elizabeth Netts, 2011

  • Mold Making Master Class - Glass Casting with Milon Townsend, 2010

  • Ceramics III and IV with Dede Schmidt, MOCA, 2009-present

  • Monotypes with Michelle Barnes, MOCA, 2009

VISUAL ARTS TEACHING PROFESSION:

  • Art Teacher, Tallwood, Frank W. Cox, and Landstown High Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, 2005-2009

  • Art Teacher, Department Chair, Wilson Middle School, Chowchilla, CA, 2002-2005

  • Art Education Program Coordinator, Temple Beth Israel, Fresno, CA, 1994-2000

  • Art Specialist and Visual Arts Coordinator, Forkner Elementary School, Fresno Unified School District, 1990-1992