EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Painting and Drawing, 1998, Central Washington University
Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, 1988, University of Washington
Study Abroad, Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughn, Ireland, Abstract Painting, Summer 2009
TEACHING
Heritage University:
1994-2015 Professor of Visual Art
2004-2015 Chair, Fine Arts Department
Yakima Valley Community College:
1999-2002 Adjunct Faculty, Art
Central Washington University:
1999 - Adjunct Faculty, Art - Beginning and Intermediate Ceramics
1997 -1998 - Teaching Assistant Watercolor and 2D Design (instructor of record)
AWARDS & HONORS
2021 Nancy Messner Memorial Award, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA
2020 Gold Award, Annual Juried Exhibit, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA
2016 Yakima Valley Museum, Artist Residency Grant 2017-2018
Lillian and Muriel Adams Memorial Award, CWAE
2015 Professor Emeritus of Visual Art, Heritage University
2013 Lillian and Muriel Adams Memorial Award, CWAE
2012 Muriel Adams Memorial Award, CWAE
2011 Honorable Mention CWAE
2010 Bahai Faith Award for Racial Unity CWAE
Allied Arts of Yakima Award CWAE
2008 Heritage University Distinguished Professor
2007 Special Award Northwind Alliance
Heritage University Award for Excellence in Research
2006 Ceramic Sculpture Award Allied Arts
2004 Best of Show Allied Arts of Richland
Excellence in Ceramic Award Allied Arts of Yakima
2003 Allied Arts Award CWAE
2001 Christy Zamora Award Allied Arts of Richland
Idelle Hultgren Memorial Award Allied Arts of Richland
Silver Award Allied Arts of Richland
2000 Larson Gallery Award Allied Arts of Yakima
1999 Collectors Award Allied Arts of Yakima
1998 Directors Choice Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Larson Gallery
1997 Holtzinger Award Allied Arts Yakima
1996 Tayer Award Allied Arts of Yakima
1995 Originality in a Non-Geometric Sculpture CWAE
1993 Battelle Northwest Purchase Award Allied Arts of Richland
Arts in Education Award Allied Arts Council Yakima
1992 Eileen Fleming Memorial Award Allied Arts of Richland
EXHIBITS
2022 Conversations with the Wind: Sculpture and Painting by Carolyn Nelson, Virginia S. Hislop Gallery,
Heritage University, Toppenish, WA
WPW Exhibit, Museum of Art and Culture, Moses Lake, WA
The Potter's Touch, Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA
Images of the Sage Steppe, Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA
Intersections, Women Painters of Washington, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA
Central Washington Artist Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA
2021 Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Annual Juried Exhibit, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA
2020 Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
Divergent Voices: Women Empowered, Yakima Valley Museum, Yakima, WA
Annual Juried Exhibit, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA
Central Washington Artist Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA
2019 Conflicting Realities, solo exhibit, Robert Graves Gallery, Wenatchee, WA
Fracture, juried exhibit, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
Sculpting the Valley III, invitation, Boxx Gallery, Tieton
2018 Acclimating, Kirkland Art Center, curated by J. Gordon
Northwest Ceramic Artists, Robert Graves Gallery, Invitational, Wenatchee
Between Memory and Imagination, Residency Exhibit, Yakima Valley Museum
Sculpting the Valley II, invitation, Boxx Gallery, Tieton
Images of the Sage-Steppe, Boxx Gallery, juried, Tieton
Nasty Women, Makerspace Gallery, invitation, Yakima
2017 Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton
Current Connections with Barb Smith Gilbert, Boxx Gallery, Tieton
Sculpting the Valley, invitation, Makers Space and Seasons, Yakima, WA.
Larson Gallery Studio Tour, Yakima, WA.
2016 In Search of Meaning, Juried, Vachon Gallery, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Small Works, Juried Exhibit, Gallery North, Edmonds, WA
Visual Impressions, Juried Exhibit, Ryan James Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Totem, Invitational Exhibit, Confluence Gallery, Twisp, WA
Larson Gallery Members Exhibit, Yakima, WA
Storytellers, Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA
Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery
2014 Feminine Voices in Clay, Invitational Exhibit, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
Annual Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
2013 Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)
Windows Alive, Yakima Arts Commission, Sept.-Dec. Cheryl Hahn, curator
On the Walls, Fourth Street Theatre, featured artist, 2013-2014, Carol Hassen, curator
Invitational, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Allied Arts Center, Yakima
Light, The Seasons Performance Hall, Yakima, WA., Laurie Kanyer, curator
2012 Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA
4th Contemporary Clay Biennial, National Juried Exhibit, The Art Center, Grand Junction, CO
Carolyn Nelson and Elaine Green, Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, Pasco, WA
From the Ground Up: Regional Ceramic Survey, Larson Gallery, YVCC, Yakima, WA
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)
50th Anniversary Invitational, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima
2011 Annual Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
56th Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)
2010 Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA
Tacoma Community College Juried Exhibit, The Gallery, Tacoma Community College
Women Artists: Where We Are Now, Larson Gallery, YVCC, Yakima
Members Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)
2009 Carolyn Nelson, solo exhibit, Art Stop Gallery, Tacoma, WA
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)
Members Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
June Fest, Invitational Artists Exhibit, Yakima
Larson Gallery Tour of Artist’s Studios, Yakima
2008 Annual Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
WCA Juried Ceramic Exhibit, Art Stop Gallery, Tacoma, WA
Christmas Exhibit, Simon Gallery, Yakima
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Junefest, Chalet Mall, Yakima
Larson Gallery Members Exhibit, Yakima
Masks, Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima
2007 Vessels 2007, National Juried Ceramic Exhibit, Claymakers, Durham, NC
Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA
Transitions, solo exhibit, Oak Hollow Gallery, Yakima, WA
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Christmas Exhibit, Simon Edwards Gallery
Harvest, Juried WPA Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Inspirations of Eastern Washington, Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima
2006 Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA
Travelers, Solo Exhibit, Changing Woman Gallery, Pioneer Square, Seattle,
Exploring Place: Regional Women Artists, Esvelt Gallery, CBC, Pasco, WA
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Ridges: Then and Now, Group Invitational, Lewis Gallery
Vitrify, (WPA Group Exhibit) Highline Community College, Seattle
Allied Arts of Yakima Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, award
Washington Potters Association 2006 NCECA juried exhibit at NWCC, Seattle
Figuratively Speaking, Larson Gallery (work selected for poster)
2005 Chase Gallery All-Media Juried Show, Spokane, WA
Simon Edwards Gallery Christmas Exhibit, Yakima
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery,
Allied Arts of Yakima Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Larson Gallery Tour of Artist’s Studios
Carolyn Nelson and Terry Mullen, Yakima Cellars Winery
Fired Up, Regional Ceramic Exhibit, Oak Hollow Gallery, Yakima
2004 2016 Carousel French Cuisine, ongoing solo exhibit, paintings and drawings
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, award
Allied Arts of Yakima Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Annual Multi-Media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award
Heritage University Faculty Exhibit, Yakima Campus
2003 Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, award
Collaborations, Lewis Gallery with Terry Mullen and Dr. Loren Schmidt
Allied Arts Annual Juried Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Connecting Traditions, Heritage College Faculty Exhibit, Allied Arts Gallery
2002 Carolyn Nelson: New Paintings - New Clay, Solo Exhibit, Oak Hollow Gallery, Yakima
Regional Women Artists, Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima, WA
Allied Arts Open Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA
Summer Celebration Juried Exhibition, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA
Award Winners of 2001, Lewis Gallery, Yakima
2001 Ceramics 2001, National Juried Exhibition, The Guilford Center, Guilford, Connecticut
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery
Words and Images, Invitational, Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Allied Arts Juried Show, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award
Summer Celebration Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award
Award Winners of 2000, Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Regional Juried Exhibition, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award
Annual Student and Faculty Exhibit, Department of Visual Arts, YVCC
Larson Gallery Artist’s Studio Tour, Yakima
2000 Earth and Fire, Larson Gallery Regional Ceramic Exhibition, Yakima, WA
Beyond Decoration, Invitational Exhibition with Penn O. Shelton & Ron Gerton, Larson Gallery, Yakima,
17th Annual National Juried Exhibit, Gallery 76, Wenatchee, WA
Allied Arts Open Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA
Annual Student and Faculty Exhibit, Department of Visual Arts, YVCC
1999 Painted Ponies, Solo Exhibit, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
Interior Rhythms, Solo Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibition, Larson Gallery
Allied Arts Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award
National Juried Exhibit, Gallery 76, Wenatchee, WA
1998 Alternative Realities, MFA Thesis Exhibit, Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Ellensburg, WA
43rd Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, award
Allied Arts Open Juried Show, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA
Award Winners of 1997, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima
Watercolors, Ascension Fine Arts Gallery, Yakima
Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Symbols, Dreams and Visions, Ascension Fine Arts Gallery
1997 Allied Arts Open Juried Show, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award
Award Winners of 1996, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA
Eclectic Encounters, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA
41st Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA
1996 Allied Arts Open Juried Show, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award
1995 Multi-media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Louie Kollmeyer, Carolyn Nelson and Barbara Nickerson, Gallery One, Ellensburg
1994 Raku, Solo Exhibit, Chott Gallery, Yakima, WA
New Year’s Views, Gallery One, Ellensburg
1993 25th Anniversary Invitational, Gallery One, Ellensburg
Multi-media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award
Washington Potters Association Members Show, Northwest Crafts Center, Seattle
1992 Dal Porto and Nelson, Adam East Museum, Moses Lake, WA
Raku, Creations Gallery, solo exhibit, Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA
Multi-media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award
Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima
Delma Tayer and Carolyn Nelson, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
2018 Exhibition Catalog, Carolyn Nelson: Between Memory and Imagination, ISBN 978-1-5323-8543-8
Artist Lecture in conjunction with "Carolyn Nelson: Between Memory and Imagination"
2017 "Common Ground" Guest artist lecture, Heritage University
Presenting artist in conjunction with Sculpting the Valley, "Saggar Firing"
"Say Yes to Art", Pecha Kucha presentation for "I Heart Yakima"
Yakima Downtown Sculpture Art Walk Guide, International Sculpture Day
2013 “Heritage University 30 Years of Art”, Articles, publication of the Larson Gallery
IS Magazine, Summer 2013 issue, Ekphrastic poems and the works that inspired them.
2012 Panel presenter in conjunction with “From the Ground Up”
2009 Workshop Presenter, Larson Gallery Guild Summer Arts Program - “Raku and Other Low-Fire Surfaces”
2006 Presenting Artist, Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, with Exploring Place: Regional Women Artists
“Postmodern Collaboration”, Artscope, Art History Column, March Issue
2004 “Why Art History?” Artscope-Art History Column, November Issue
2003 Davis High School Focus Week, Art History Guest Lecturer
2000 January - Presenting Artist in conjunction with “Beyond Decoration”
REVIEWS & PROFILES
2018 Review: "Between Memory and Imagination", by David Lynx, Yakima Herald Republic, Sept 27
2017 Sculpture, Vol. 36 No 8, October, ISDay 2017 by Virginia Maksymowicz
2013 Larson Gallery Guild featured “website artist of the month" - February
2010 “Central Washington Artists, 2007-2010” Artist Archive Publication, profile
2009 "Artistically Speaking-A Profile of Carolyn Nelson," by Jean Crawford, ARTicles, Larson Gallery Quarterly
2008 Featured artist - Washington Clay Artists Association Publication, January Issue
2000 ARTicles: Larson Gallery Quarterly, April Issue, Review of “Beyond Decoration”
1999 KYVE Art Minutes - Featured Artist
JURY & CURATORIAL
2021 Juror, Images of the Sage-Steppe, Boxx Gallery
2015 Juror, ESD 105 Exhibit, JV World, Yakima
2014-15 Curator, Virginia Hislop Gallery, Heritage University (7 exhibits)
2009 Juror, ESD 105 Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima
2008 Juror, Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, Student Art Exhibit
Juror, Feast for the Eyes, Yakama Nation Museum Juried Exhibit
2007 Curator, Harvest, Washington State Ceramic Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery
2005 Juror, Doc Hastings High School Art Competition, Tri-Cities
2004 Juror, ESD105 Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima
COLLECTIONS
-Yakima Valley Museum
-Heritage University
- Battelle Northwest
-Carousel French Cuisine Restaurant
-Catholic Charities and Housing
- Drepung Loseling Monastery, in-exile-in-India, Atlanta, GA, USA headquarters
- Lillian Pitt Collection