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.
Artist CV
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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
2024Cocktails + Cabanas
Sandstone Contemporary Gallery
Laguna Beach, CA
Palm Trees
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
2023The Golden Land
Borrego Art Institute
Borrego Springs, CA
Island Time
Oasis Institute
San Diego, CA
Java Jitters
Ashton Gallery
San Diego, CA
2021Resident Artist Showcase
Bernardo Winery's Tasting Room
San Diego, CA
2019Pedals 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
2023Small 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