About the Artist
Kaia Thomas
Bio
(b. 1973 )
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, now residing in Arizona, Kaia Thomas is a visual artist working primarily in oils. Her theme is beauty, and it's her expressed perception of this beauty that is found to instill an emotional response in people viewing her art. Working on location and from life is one of the ways she explores that direct emotional response to her subjects and this in turn has influenced her studio work, reflecting that rawness of rendering in real time. She chooses to work with tools such as the palette knife or painting wedge which encourage a fresh and confident approach to painting that breathes movement and life into her work.
Kaia has participated in several fine art shows and painting events including the Bisbee Plein Air Festival in Arizona, Escalante Canyon Arts Festival in Utah, guest artist at the Maynard Dixon Country in Utah, juried into the Miniatures & More show at the Albuquerque Museum of Art in New Mexico, juried into the American Women Artists Annual Online Spring Show, was a finalist in the Southwest Art Magazine's Artistic Excellence competition, and was accepted into the In Full Sun: American Women Artist Illuminate The Haggin Museum, at the Haggin Museum in Stockton, CA. Her work has received top recognition, including 3 Best of Shows, and her work can be found in multiple public and private collections throughout the United States and abroad.
Artist Statement
"Painting is my passion, and what I aim for in my paintings is a sense of place. To somehow capture and convey that unspeakable and nameless beauty that provokes an emotional response in me. There is nothing more rewarding than when a viewer connects with a painting and feels a part of it. I find these inspirations everywhere, sometimes it will be the simplest, every day things that catch my eye. Nature has been, and always will be what excites me most as an artist. It is a deep well of inspiration to draw from."
Represented by:
• Belleza Fine Art Gallery Bisbee, AZ
• Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts Mt. Carmel, UT
Member Organizations:
• American Impressionist Society Associate Member
• American Women Artists Associate Member of Distinction
• Art League of Willcox
• San Pedro River Arts Council
Exhibitions:
Solo Shows:
•2017-2018 Featured Artist - Quarles Art Gallery - Benson, AZ
•2017 Solo Exhibition - Aridus Wine Company -Willcox, AZ
•2013 Featured Artist - 55 Main Gallery - Bisbee, AZ
Juried Shows:
•2018 American Women Artists - In Full Sun: American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum - Haggin Museum Stockton, CA
•2017 Arizona Plein Air Painters Members Show - Hosted by Scottsdale Artist' School
•2017 American Women Artists Spring Online Show
•2014 Miniatures & More Exhibition - Albuquerque Museum Foundation
•2013 American Women Artists Spring Online Show
Group and Invitational Shows:
•2022 “ABW 38th Annual Fine Art & Photography Show “ - Willcox, AZ
•2018 "SSV 21st International Miniature and Small Works Art Show" Wiilcox, AZ
•2017 "Maynard Dixon Country" Mount Carmel, UT.
•2017 "Bisbee Plein Air Festival" Bisbee, AZ
•2017 "ABW 34th Annual Fine Art & Photography Show" -Willcox, AZ
•2017 "Celebrate the Arts 8th Annual Fine Art & Photography Show" - Benson, AZ
•2017 "Sulphur Springs Valley 20th International Miniature & Small Works Fine Art Show"-Willcox, AZ
•2016 "Maynard Dixon Country" Mount Carmel, UT.
•2016 "33rd Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ
•2016 "Bisbee Plein Air Festival" Bisbee, AZ
.2016 "Miscellaneous Treasures Fine Art Show" Vincent's Fine Art Galleries, Bisbee, AZ
•2016 "Celebrate The Arts 7th Annual Fine Art Show" Cochise College, Benson, AZ
•2016 "Sulphur Springs 19th International Miniature and Small Works Art Show" Willcox, AZ
•2015 "Bisbee Plein Air Festival" Bisbee, AZ
•2015 "32nd Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ
•2015 "Celebrate The Arts 6th Annual Fine Art Show" Cochise College Benson, AZ
•2015 "Sulphur Springs Valley 18th National Miniature and Small Works Art Show" Willcox AZ
•2014 "Flower Anniversary Exhibition" - Heather Green Studios Bisbee, AZ
•2014 "Western Art Show" - Cochise College Benson, AZ
•2014 "En Plein Air!" - 55 Main Gallery Four Person Show, Bisbee, AZ
•2014 "31st Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ
•2014 "Celebrate The Arts 5th Annual Fine Art Show" Cochise College Benson, AZ
•2014 "Sulphur Springs Valley 17th National Miniature and Small Works Art Show" Willcox AZ
•2013 "Leather Anniversary Exhibition" Heather Green Studios Bisbee, AZ
•2013 "Escalante Canyons Art Festival Plein Air Competition" Escalante, UT
•2013 "3oth Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ
•2012 "Cotton Anniversary Exhibition" Heather Green Studios Bisbee, AZ
Recognition:
•2022 “Best of Show” “ABW 38th Annual Fine Art & Photography Show “ - Willcox, AZ Judges Lou Anne Sterbick-Nelson & Clement Scott
•2018 "1st Place" "Sulphur Springs Valley 20th International Miniature & Small Works Fine Art Show"- Judge Glenn Renell
•2017 Finalist - Southwest Art Magazine's Artistic Excellence Competition
•2017 "Best in Division"- "ABW 34th Annual Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ - Judges Julie Sasse & Joanne Stuhl
•2017 "Best in Show" - "Celebrate the Arts 8th Annual Fine Art & Photography Show" - Judge Charles Thomas
•2017 "1st Place" - "Sulphur Springs Valley 20th International Miniature & Small Works Fine Art Show"- Judge Gabor Svagrek
•2016 "Judge's Choice" - 33rd Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ - Judge Kim Kanoa Duffek
•2016 "Best of Show" and "Best Landscape" - Celebrate the Arts 7th Annual Fine Art Show - Judge Glenn Renell
•2016 "People's Choice" - "Sulphur Springs Valley 19th International Miniature & Small Works Fine Art Show"
•2015 "Judge's Choice" - Advanced - "32nd Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show" Willcox, AZ Judges Lisa McLoughlin and Greg Wallace
•2015 "Best Landscape" - Advanced/Professional - Celebrate The Arts 6th Annual Fine Art Show - Judge Monte Sarratt
•2014 "Best In Show" - 31st Annual Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show - Judges Glenn Renell & Clement Scott
•2014 "Best In Division" - Advanced/Professional" - Celebrate The Arts 5th Annual Fine Art Show - Judge Mano Sotelo
•2013 "Award of Merit" - Oil/Acrylic - Escalante Canyons Art Festival Plein Air Competition
•2013 "Rex Allen Award" - Western Art - Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show
Publications:
2019. Plein Air Magazine June/July Issue - “Rural Life”
•2018 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine May/June Issue - (Included in collector's Artist list)"America's Great Collectors - Marlene Whitlock"
•2017 Southwest Art Magazine December Issue - "Meet the Finalists"
•2013 Southwest Art Magazine October issue - "Art of Arizona"
•2013 Southwest Art Magazine August issue - "Women in Art"
Judging:
•2015 Art Guild of Eastern Arizona Art Show - Safford, AZ
•2014 Willcox Christmas Fine Art Show - Willcox, AZ
