Bio
Kristi Pfister is a lifelong New Yorker having lived, so far, in three of its five boroughs. Pfister developed an appreciation for the subway's extensive mosaics and tile work as she commuted to high school in Brooklyn each day. This inspired her to create public projects and studio based artwork with materials such as marble, tesserae, glass, film, fabric and ceramics. Pfister’s process begins with researching an idea, which she then visually explores using various artistic mediums. Ideas include ancient architecture and its evolution from the sacred to the secular, and blue and white Dutch Delftware motifs in terms of sky, sea, and topography. Pfister’s work has been shown in museums, galleries, and public spaces throughout NYC and the region. She is a graduate of Barnard College and Pratt Institute. Pfister is a strong advocate for Arts Education with an extensive career teaching art at all levels, from college to early childhood. Pfister has created numerous community based public art projects, and has worked as a teaching artist with arts organizations and cultural institutions throughout New York City.(Photo credit: Willie Chu)
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KRISTI PFISTER
kristipfister1@gmail.com
www.kristipfisterartist.com
Instagram: @kristipfisterart
EDUCATION
Pratt Institute, MS, Art and Design Education
Barnard College, Columbia University, BA, Visual Art
Art Students League, Full time program, Merit Scholarship for Painting
Courses of Study:
Ravenna Mosaic School - Intensive Mosaic Course 2024, Ravenna, Italy
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Painting on Glass 2014, Seattle, Washington
West Dean College of Art- Mosaicmaking Couse 2008, West Dean, England
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 RADICAL ACTION: Tracing Dorothy Day, Manhattan College, Bronx, NY
2022-2023 Dorothy Day Mosaics: Iconography of An Activist, Rutan-Becket House Gallery, Conference House Park, SI, NY
2021 Leave No Trace, series of outdoor pop-up exhibits in NYC Public Parks, Sept-Oct, 2021
2018 Columns & Caryatids, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor Cultural Ctr, SI, NY
2016 Sweetgum, Wagner College Art Gallery, SI, NY
2012 Tiles and Skies, Wagner College Art Gallery, SI, NY
2005 Surveyors, Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island June Fest, SI, NY
2002 Descenders, Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, SI, NY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 El Barrio’s Artspace PS 109, New York, NY, Women Celebrate Women
2022 Bethany Arts Community, Ossining, NY, IMPACT 2022: Art that Bears Witness
2021 Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, SI, NY, Don’t Shut Up
2021 Noble Maritime Collection, SI, NY Arc of Twenty Years
2021 Don’t Shut Up virtual online exhibit, www.dontshutup2021.com
2017 Ceres Gallery, NY, NY Women Under Siege
2017 Design Trust for Public Spaces Future Culture, Staten Island Arts Gallery, SI, NY, Flyway Home
2015 Lenape Gallery, Conference House Park, SI, NY Native Ensemble
2015 Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, SI, NY Fluid: Essential for Life
2010 Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, , Snug Harbor Cultural Center, SI, NY HUGE un HUGE
2009 Staten Island Museum, SI, NY Contact -1609
2009 Art Lab Gallery, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, SI, NY Landscapes
2008 Art by the Ferry, SI, NY
2008 Pearl Street Gallery, Chelsea, Mass. Landing Salt
2007 Staten Island Museum, SI, NY Mosaic as Craft
2006 Noble Maritime Collection, SI, NY Salt Mountain
2006 St. Joseph’s College Gallery, Brooklyn, NY When Women Pursue Justice
2006 Bread and Roses Gallery, NY, NY When Women Pursue Justice
2005 Staten Island Museum SI, NY Biennial
2005 Tattfoo Gallery, SI, NY Miniature Works Invitational
2005 Vlepo Gallery, SI, NY Juried Small Works
2003 Soho 20 Chelsea, NY, NY Invitational
2003 Faber Park and Pool, SI, NY Birdbath Project
2001 New Century Gallery, NY, NY Studio in a School Artists at Work
PUBLIC ART
North Shore Art Trail-New York State, Flyway, with co-artist Diane Matyas, in progress, 2024
New York Foundation for the Arts - City Artist Corps Grant, Leave No Trace, 2021
Design Trust for Public Spaces, Future Culture finalist: Bay Street Corridor proposal: Flyway Home, 2018
Artmakers, Inc., Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, When Women Pursue Justice – exterior wall mural, 1 of 13 lead artists, painted Dorothy Day in the form of protest poster - 13’ x 10’, and Shirley Chisholm portrait, 2005
Percent for Art, Public Art for Public Schools Sites for Students, interior marble mosaic, Aquehonga, PS 56R, Staten Island, NY, 2000
MTA Arts for Transit, Creative Stations, interior murals and mosaic frieze, Stillwell Avenue Subway Station, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY 8’ x 64’, on view from 1987- 2003
Staten Island Zoo, New York Foundation for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts, - 100 sq. feet of interior ceramic mosaics, regrants through the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island and the Staten Island Zoological Society, Zoo Mosaics , 1993-2000
New York Aquarium through the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, facade wall mural on Coney Island Boardwalk, Waterzone, 1988
NYC Department of General Services, Operation Greenthumb: Artists in the Gardens exterior mural, Coney Island, NY, Diggers, 1986
South Street Seaport Museum, NY, NY, Permanent interior ceramic mosaics- facilitated with ELL NYC Department of Education Summer School high school students, Maritime Mosaics, 2002
Staten Island Children’s Museum, interior wall murals, Waterscape, 2002
Coney Island Hospital, exterior mural for Physical Therapy Terrace, Brooklyn, NY, Beloved, 1989
Coney Island Hospital Community Health Center, exterior wall mural, Brooklyn, NY, Band Aid Frieze, 1988
Sideshows by the Seashore, Coney Island USA, exterior mosaic medallion, Brooklyn, NY, 1988
Prospect Park Zoo, Mosaic Medallions - with IS 27R Grade 8 students, Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, Brooklyn, NY, Ancient Stereotypes, 1994
Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island exterior wall mural, Time , 1995
West Brighton Local Development Corporation, exterior wall mural, Taylor Made, SI, NY, 1992
New York Lumber Co., exterior wall murals, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY – 1986, 1992
Parents as Arts Partners, Hungerford School for the Developmentally Disabled, interior mosaic: Independence, Acceptance, Knowledge, Respect, facilitated mosaic mural with students, faculty and parents, 2002
Dolphin Sightings Project, the word “Water” in the 32 languages spoken at PS 16, painted fiberglass dolphin, Water Words, PS 16R 5th graders , Exhibited on grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center, SI, NY, 2005
September 11th Fund, School Arts Rescue Initiative, The Four Elements – interior wall mosaics, PS 16R 4th graders, September 11th Fund School Arts Rescue Initiative-2003
Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, exterior wall mural, Time , 1995
West Brighton Local Development Corporation, exterior wall mural, Taylor Made, SI, NY, 1992
Staten Island Academy, exterior building mural, facilitated with 11th and 12th grade students, A Place to Do it All, 2014
Historic Richmondtown, New York State Council on the Arts regrant through Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, Freedom from Slavery mixed media scroll, collaboration with children at Trinity Lutheran School, grades 1-8, 1997
PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA
RADICAL ACTION Art Show Sheds Light on Dorothy Day’s Inner World, Manhattan College Press, 2023 https://manhattan.edu/news/archive/2023/11/dorothy-day-art.php
Columns & Caryatids Catalogue, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, 2018
The Tiles the Limit, Staten Island Advance, Michael Fressola, March 2012
On the Wall - Community Art in New York City, Four Decades of Community Murals in New York City, Authors: Janet Braun-Renitz and Jane Weissman, 2010, cited for two murals
When Women Pursue Justice, Bedford Stuyvesant Wall Mural, Catalogue and Video, 2006
When Women Pursue Justice, Bedford Stuyvesant Wall Mural, Video, 2006
Let There be Art, Staten Island Advance, June 6, 2003
New York 1 News Feature, June, 6 ,2003, Four Elements Mosaic Project
Video - Ripples of Loss, 2002, Visual Art with Children after 9/11
South Street Seaport Education Brochure, 2003
Staten Island Advance, June 18, 2000, Telling a Story in Stone, Michael Fressola
Staten Island Zoo Brochure, 2002
Staten Island Advance, A Lasting Impression at PS 50, Nov. 23, 1999
New York Amsterdam News, Vol. 88 No. 28, July 10 -16, 1997, Staten Island Slave Freedom Day Remembered
Staten Island Advance, July 13, 1997, Patchwork of History
Council on the Arts and Humanities for SI, Sept./Oct. 1997, Art Disappears on Staten Island
Staten Island Advance, August 13, 1995, Beautiful Mosaics
Arts for Transit Catalogue, 1990
Arts for Transit Creative Stations Brochure, 1988
New York Times, July 16, 1988, Faded Funland Fears and Hopes
New York Times, August 17, 1986, Garden Art in Coney Island
Brooklyn Spectator, Solid “Surf’s Up’ 44 Foot Artistic Wave at Stillwell Station, September, 1987
New York Newsday, Communities Reap Pride from Art and Agriculture, Merle English, September 23, 1987
New York Daily News, They Thumb Ride into Art, August 4, 1986
Brooklyn Spectator, Artist Brightens Coney Island, Robert Lenham, August 27, 1986
New York Newsday, Waterzone, May 28, 1988
AWARDS
Diamond Award- Travel and Study Faculty Enrichment Award through Staten Island Academy:
2008, Mosaics of Roman Britain - Mosaicmaking Workshop at West Dean College of Art, Travel to Roman ruins throughout Southwest England
2011, Dutch Light - Painting in Delft and Friesland, Netherlands
2014, Seattle Glass - Painting on Glass Workshop, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle
Women in History Achievement in the Arts, New York State Legislative Award, 2002
Original Works Award, Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, 2002
Merit Scholarship for Painting, Art Students League, 1979-80
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
New York State Permanent Certification, Fine Art K-12
New York City Teaching License, Fine Art K-12
Staten Island Children’s Museum 2023 - present
Curriculum Consultant - design art workshop curriculum for class visits to museum and for in-school museum programs
Professional Development and training for Museum Educators and Staff
New York City Department of Aging 2023 - 2024
Artist in Residence, Senior Center 2023-2024
SU-CASA Visual Art Program 2023
New York City Department of Education 2022 - Present
New York City Department of Education Teaching Mentor to new Art Teachers
Staten Island Academy 2007 – 2020, Independent Pre K-12 College Preparatory School
Visual Arts Teacher – Grades PK- 12
Faculty Mentor to New Teachers, Academic Student Advisor, Set Design, Scenic Painting
Wagner College 2009 – 2020
Adjunct Professor of Visual Art
New York City Department of Education 2003 - 2007
Visual Arts Teacher - Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5, PS 16, Region 7
Arts Coordinator, PS 16 – Grant writing and facilitation, oversaw Project Arts budget, Supervised Arts Residencies and Arts Faculty
Facilitator for Professional Development: Teacher Training in the Visual Arts
Facilitator and participating Art Teacher for NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Visual Arts
Studio in a School Association 1993 – 2003
Teaching Artist: Long Term, Early Childhood, Special Programs
Professional Development Presentations and Workshops: Individual Schools, School Districts, Citywide
Artist and Teacher Mentor, Curriculum Development
South Street Seaport Museum 1998-2002
Educational Consultant: Developed Visual Arts curriculum for in school, after school, summer programs
Profssional Development and presentations for city-wide art workshops and conferences
Staten Island Museum 2003-2004
Professional Development for Classroom teachers – Mastering Visual Arts
Percent for Art 1999-2000
Sites for Students, PS 56, Permanent Lobby Marble Mosaic, year long Arts Residency with fourth graders
Project Arts: Visual Arts Residencies 1989-2001: PS 42, 45, 23, 50, 56
Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 2002, Teaching Artist
Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island 1991-1993, Founding Board Member
Elders Share the Arts 1990-1991, Senior Citizen Oral History Performance Project
Prentice & Chan, Ohlhausen, Architects & Planners, NY 1985-1987, Interior Design, Graphics