Alison Beste is an award-winning artist and educator based in Honolulu, HI. She received her MFA in Visual Art from Lesley University College of Art and Design (formerly known as the Art Institute of Boston) and her BA in Art from the College of William and Mary.
After twenty years in the classroom, Alison transitioned to educational leadership as the Director of Curricular Innovation at La Pietra: Hawai’i School for Girls. In this role, she invigorates teaching practices, builds student engagement, and supports teachers in their professional journeys.
Before this role, Alison taught photography and design at Mid-Pacific Institute and Assets School. She has also taught for National Geographic Student Expeditions, leading educational, cross-cultural travel experiences in London (2015) and Australia (2016, 2017). Outside the school setting, Alison shares the power of image-making with adults through photo-based community workshops for Pacific Media Arts and the Honolulu Museum of Art School. She has been a guest speaker for numerous institutions, including the Honolulu Museum of Art, Hawai’i State Art Museum, Hawai'i Pacific University, University of Hawai'i, Schools of the Future Conference, Pacific New Media, Molokai Arts Center, Hawai'i Photographic Society, and Eyes of Hawai'i.
Alison’s photographs have been exhibited and won awards in Hawai'i and nationally. Her body of work, "Oil Tanker Sunsets," was featured at the 2015 Artists of Hawai‘i exhibition at the Honolulu Museum of Art. She continues to explore the boundaries between the built and natural world within the landscape of Hawai‘i.
Please click here to view a PDF of my CV.