Meet the Artist

Artist Statement

I enjoy pulling inspiration from my favorite vacation destinations (Palm Springs and Hawaii) and combining it with Mid-Century Modern design for my creative choices; translating the beauty and atmospheric feeling of these places into lively marks, vibrant color, and rhythmic movement.

The designs may seem minimalistic in nature but many pieces when viewed in-person have a complex and nuanced palette of saturated hues. In the case of these particular artworks, the viewer will experience what is called Optical Color Mixing, where the color you perceive happens in your eye—not from me mixing colors together but because I intentionally layered luminous pigments on top of each other. It's a fun effect I find deeply satisfying and will discover while doing color studies before I start a new series.

Though I use reference photos that I’ve taken from my travels for inspiration in the studio, I don't always focus on creating a loose rendition of a photo. Often, I will instead deconstruct the image in a very abstract way.

I’ll borrow the colors I see, find a silhouette from a small section and turn it into a more prominent shape. The list goes on. All that gets infused into my art though it may seem like a messed up Mr. Potato Head to some. That’s the abstracting part: re-arranging things in a way that’s unique to my point of view and that’s pleasing to me.

Good news with abstract art: it’s easy to appreciate. You don’t need a special understanding or degree to enjoy it. If you like looking at it, for any reason at all, that’s all there is to it! Regardless of what my intentions and inspirations are, I simply hope that you enjoy ‘the looking’ and can soak in its uplifting, playful spirit.

Artist Bio

Kristen Guest is an award-winning and published full-time artist and art instructor in Southern California. She graduated from art school at Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Art Education, that focused on painting, book arts and printmaking, and has been teaching realism painting since 2004 and abstract painting since 2018. Kristen currently works in three mediums: acrylic, oil, and colored pencil.

Kristen lives in Poway, CA where she works out of her home studio and showcases her work locally inside of Studio 6 at Art on 30th, an art center in the North Park district of San Diego, CA. Art on 30th is also where she is a Mentoring Artist and the Director of Education. Kristen recently became a Teaching Artist for R&F Paints and shares her love and knowledge of their Pigment Stick product line.

Her work is currently represented through Janssen Artspace in Palm Springs CA, and has been on exhibit with Ashton Gallery in San Diego CA, Sandstone Gallery in Laguna Beach CA, Borrego Art Institute in Borrego Springs CA, The Athenaeum Arts & Music Library in La Jolla CA, Huntington Beach Art Center in Huntington Beach CA, Arc Gallery in San Francisco CA, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center in Port Angeles WA, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago IL, Jen Tough Gallery on Artsy, and Saatchi's The Other Art Fair Online Studios Los Angeles.

  • Education

    2016–2017
    M.F.A. graduate work
    Media Design
    Full Sail University
    Winter Park, FL

    2000–2007
    Bachelor's of Science
    Art Education
    Middle Tennessee State University
    Murfreesboro, TN

  • Representation

    Ashton Gallery
    4434 30th Street
    San Diego, CA

    Janssen Artspace
    255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
    Palm Springs, CA


    Online: Saatchi and Artfinder

  • Publications

    Joy National Exhibition
    by Arc Gallery
    Published 2024
    Available on Amazon.com

    Blackout National Exhibition
    by Ashton Gallery
    Published 2023
    Available on Blurb.com

    Hi Ho Silver National Exhibition
    by Ashton Gallery
    Published 2021
    Available on Blurb.com


    Abstract Painting: For Today's Abstract Artists
    by Kate Ashton
    Published 2019
    Available on Amazon.com

  • Solo Exhibitions

    2025

    Making an Entrance: The Iconic Doors of Palm Springs
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    2024

    Cocktails + Cabanas
    Sandstone Contemporary Gallery
    Laguna Beach, CA

    Palm Trees
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    2023

    The Golden Land
    Borrego Art Institute
    Borrego Springs, CA

    Island Time
    Oasis Institute
    San Diego, CA

    Java Jitters
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    2021

    Resident Artist Showcase
    Bernardo Winery's Tasting Room
    San Diego, CA

    2019

    Pedals for the People: A Benefit for San Diego Bicycle Coalition
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

  • Group Exhibitions & Awards

    2024

    Small Wonder
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Joy National Exhibition
    Arc Gallery
    San Francisco, CA

    Flora & Fauna
    Borrego Art Gallery
    Borrego Springs, CA

    Ultramarine
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Out of the Blue
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA
    Gallery's Choice Award

    Barnyard
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    Double Vision
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Confetti
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    Kaleidoscope
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Fresh
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    Retrospect
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Red Hot
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA


    2023

    Small Wonder
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Small Works Members’ Exhibit
    Woman Made Gallery
    Chicago, IL

    Blackout National Show
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    Utopia
    Janssen Artspace
    Palm Springs, CA

    Autumn Glory
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    Viva Magenta
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    All Mixed Up
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA
    Juror's Choice Award

    A World of Its Own
    Jen Tough Gallery, Artsy.com

    Beach Party
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA
    Gallery's Choice Award

    Color International Exhibit
    Teravarna
    Los Angeles, CA
    Honorable Mention Award

    4 Square
    Ashton Gallery
    San Diego, CA

    The Space in Between
    Jen Tough Gallery, Artsy.com

    Righteous Red
    Ashton Gallery, San Diego, CA

    ...for older exhibits, see the full list on my printable CV using the button above this section

  • Experience

    2024–Present
    R&F Paints
    Teaching Artist

    2017–Present 
    Art on 30th
    Mentor & Director of Education

    2016–2018
    The Art Stash
    Art Instructor

    2016–2017
    Lessons.com 
    Private Art Instructor

    2014–2015
    Inspire SD Studio
    Art Instructor

    2009–2010
    Military Spouses of San Diego
    Art Coordinator & Art Instructor

    2008–2010
    Paper Source
    Book Arts Workshop Instructor


    2007
    Smyrna High School
    Interim Art Instructor

    2004–2006
    The Art House
    Resident Artist & Art Instructor