LYA FINSTON
lyafinston@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2024-Present MFA Candidate in Printmaking,
Secondary Emphasis in Cinema
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2022-2024 MA in Printmaking
Secondary Emphasis in Cinema
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2014-2018 BFA in Studio Art & German Studies
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
My Shadow's Shadow, Levitt Gallery,
Art Building West, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2022
Honey from the Stone,
Holmes Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
2018
A New Way to Fall Asleep,
Storage Gallery, Oberlin, OH
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
99th Annual International Competition (online)
The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA
Palimpsest
Gallery 1308, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, WI
2024
Hunt of the Unicorn
Hoofprint Gallery, Chicago, IL
If Walls Could Talk,
Baron Gallery, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Wedges, Heels, Flats
Fifth Floor Gallery, Visual Arts Building
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Old Wives Tales,
Southern Graphics Council International
Conference, Providence, RI
2023
Uncultured
Ana Mendieta Gallery, Visual Arts Building,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
UIowa Print Open Portfolio
David Krut Gallery, New York, NY
UIowa Print Open Portfolio
Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop,
New York, NY
Short Short: Jewish Short Film Festival,
Havurah, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan,
New York, NY
Reclaimed & Recycled
Public Space One, Iowa City, IA
Dispatches from the Fourth Floor
5th Floor Gallery, Visual Arts Building,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Open Air Media Festival
Public Space One, Iowa City, IA
2022
Let it Grow
Co-Prosperity, Chicago, IL
Kiss Pressure
Ana Mendieta Gallery, Visual Arts Building,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Window Show
The Gallery at Greenly Center,
Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA
The Tag Collective,
The Art Grind, Danville, PA
PSAD International Juried Print Biennial,
Paducah School of Art and Design, Paducah, KY
Four Rivers Print Biennial,
Southern Illinois University,
Carbondale, IL
Print Austin: PrintExpo,
The Hand Magazine, Museum of Human
Achievement, Austin, TX
2021
Mid America Print Council Juried Members’ Exhibition
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Tongue in Cheek
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Chicago, IL
Moving On
University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LO
Eternal Ephemera,
Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
Field Notes,
Samek Museum of Art
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
2020
The Rite to Unfounded Fear
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Call to the Wilds
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
What’s So Funny?
Wonsook Kim Center for Visual Arts,
Illinois State University, Normal, IL
2019
The Nook
Agitator Cooperative Gallery, Chicago, IL
Chicago Printers Guild 10th Anniversary Exhibition
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
Prints United: Member Exhibition
Spudnik Press Cooperative, Chicago, IL
Selected Works
Happy Gallery, Chicago, IL
7th Annual Bridgeport Art Center Competition Exhibition
Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL
37th Bradley International Print & Drawing Exhibition
The Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, Peoria, IL
Make it Work: Print Shop Posters
Southern Graphics Council International Conference
University of North Texas, Dallas, TX
45th Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition
Frontline Arts, Branchburg, NJ
2018
Time Being
Baron Gallery, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2017
4U Exhibition
Zygote Press, Cleveland, OH
Halftime Show
Fisher Gallery, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2016
They Are The Now: NEO Student Art Show
SPACES, Cleveland, OH
GRANTS, AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
2024
MFA Summer Fellowship
Graduate College,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2022-2023
Leola Bergmann Fellowship
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Lee R. Chesney, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
University of I owa, Iowa City, IA
Len Everett Fund for Excellence Scholarship
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2020
Artist-in-Residence
Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
2019
Studio Fellowship
Spudnik Press, Chicago, IL
2018
Student Travel Grant
Mid America Print Council
Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Merit Scholarship
Ox-Bow School of Art, Saugatuck, MI
LECTURES & PANELS
2024
Artist Talk
Cornell College, Mt Vernon, IA
Artist Talk
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
New York, NY
2022
Artist Talk & Screenprinting Demonstration
Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA
2021
Panel Organizer & Moderator
Prints and their Makers, Movers & Shakers:
Diversity in Collaborative Printmaking
Mid America Print Council
Artist Talk
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
2020
Artist Talk
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2018
Travel Grant Presentation
Mid America Print Council Conference
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023-Present
Instructor of Record
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2021-2022
Teaching Assistant & Print Shop Technician
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Film Projectionist
Campus Theater, Lewisburg, PA
2018-2021
Circulation Assistant
Ryerson & Burnham Library
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Publishing Apprentice
Hoofprint, Chicago, IL
2018-2019
Gallery Assistant
LH Selman Ltd., Chicago, IL
2016-2018
TA & Print Lab Monitor
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Circulation Assistant
Clarence Ward Art Library,
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Museum Docent
Allen Memorial Art Museum,
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2017-2018
Private Homeschool Art Teacher
Oberlin, OH
2017
Intern
Hoofprint, Chicago, IL
Gallery Attendant
Baron Gallery
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2016
Intern, Frontline Arts, Branchburg, NJ
2015
Gallery Attendant
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit, NJ
Intern
Chelsea Restoration Associates
New York, NY
Intern
Stonedog Studios,
Asbury Park NJ
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023
Co-president, Iowa Print Group
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Shadow Puppeteer, Haag Cykell
Nonfiction Writing House
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Shadow Puppeteer, Haag Cykell
Open Air Media Festival,
Public Space One, Iowa City, IA
2021
Secretary
Mid America Print Council
Member Engagement Committee Co-Chair,
Mid America Print Council
Collaborative Printer for Eddy Lopez
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
2018
Co-President
YeoPress Student Printmaking Collective
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2017
Installation Assistant,
Rashid Johnson’s Shea Wall
Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, OH
WORKSHOPS, DEMOS & PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
2023
The Human Copy Machine performance,
Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance Symposium,
Central Library, Spokane, WA
The Human Copy Machine performance,
Sculpture & Intermedia Open House,
Visual Arts Building, University of Iowa,
Iowa City, IA
2022
The Human Copy Machine performance
Southern Graphics Council International Conference
Kent State University, Kent, OH
Watercolor Monotype Workshop,
Geisinger Surgery Institute Wellness Day,
Pine Barn Inn, Danville, PA
2021
Frankenprints: Relief-Printed Exquisite Corpse
Visual Arts Open House, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
2020
Quaratine’s Best Home Videos:
Stop-Motion Animation Workshop,
Spudnik Press, Chicago, IL
Linoleum Block Printing Workshop
Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
2019
Stone Lithography Demo Assistant
Grabadolandia, Instituto Gráfico de Chicago
Hoofprint, Chicago, IL
2018
Stone Lithography Demo Assistant
Grabadolandia, Instituto Gráfico de Chicago
Hoofprint, Chicago, IL
Exhibit Tours & Relief Demo,
A Century of Women in Prints: 1917-2017,
Allen Memorial Art Museum,
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
2017
Observational Drawing Workshops for Bio Students,
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
PUBLICATIONS
2023
Verklempt! Magazine, Issue ב, Havurah, New York, NY
2022
Gashmuis Magazine, Vol 1
2021
The Hand Magazine, Issue 32, Prairie Village, KA
2020
Mid America Print Council Journal, Vol 28/29
2019
Art in Print, Vol 9, No 4, Chicago, IL
COLLECTIONS
Marais Press Print Collection
University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA
Norlin Special Collections
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO