Meet Kristen
Kristen’s art is inspired by light, being in nature and the abundance of wildlife in the North Country of New Hampshire. She earned her MA in Art with concentrations in Painting and Photography from the University of Saint Francis in 2017. She spent over a decade pouring her creative energy into wedding and portrait photography. Over time, her passion for animals and love of the outdoors gradually drew her back to her first artistic love—oil painting.
Seeking access to the mountains and better winters for dog-sledding, she moved to the White Mountains of New Hampshire in 2023 with her husband, Pekingese named King Louis, and pack of Siberian Huskies. She quickly found herself immersed in the area’s wildlife and stunning natural scenery—much of it visible right from her own yard. That access to nature quickly became a key component in her work.
a self-portrait from elementary school
A “Goode Artis.”
For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with animals and making art. From a very early age I wanted to be an artist when I grew up.
I have a vivd memory of my babysitter drawing a portrait of a horse on a spare scrap of paper and thinking to myself, “I want to be able to draw like that.”
I spent my childhood carrying around a How to Draw Horses book, tracing the horses in it until I could draw them from memory.
In high school I took an AP Art History class where I fell in love with Baroque Art. The dramatic use of light and shadows in paintings from that period inspired me to pick up my first set of oil paints. From there I was hooked.
Today I feel most alive, most like “me” when I’m creating something in paint, with clay, or even with my camera. I’d like to think childhood Kristen would think it’s pretty cool she actually did grow up to be an “artis.”
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
2017 MA PHOTOGRAPHY & PAINTING | University of Saint Francis
2014 MS PSYCHOLOGY | University of Saint Francis
2012 BA PSYCHOLOGY | IUPUI
Recognition | Awards
2024 Finalist - 2025 Iditarod Design Art Contest
Publications
Bold Journey Magazine - “Meet Kristen Adams”
Exhibitions
2025 Tuckerman Ravine Show, The Three Sisters Gallery | Gorham, NH
2025 Randolph Art Show | Randolph, NH
2025 The Dog Show, The Three Sisters Gallery | Gorham, NH
2024 Randolph Art Show | Randolph, NH
2024 Tuckerman Ravine Show, The Three Sisters Gallery | Gorham, NH
2023 Randolph Art Show | Randolph, NH
2017 Graduate Thesis Exhibition | University of Saint Francis
2014 48th Annual Juried Penrod Arts Fair, Indianapolis, IN
2013 Oranje Juried Show | Indianapolis, IN
2012 Raw/ Holiday RAWK Juried Show | Indianapolis, IN
2012 Raw/ The BLEND Juried Show | Indianapolis, IN
Current Representation
Jackson Art Studio & Gallery | Jackson, NH
The Three Sisters Gallery | Gorham, NH
The Groggy Rabbit Studio | Gorham, NH
My husband and I were both born and raised in the cornfields of Indiana. On a whim we decided to move 1,000 miles across the country to be able to live in the mountains.
Curiosities
We have 10 Siberian Husky show/sled dogs that we travel around showing and competing in sled races with. (I wasn’t joking when I said I loved animals!)
My creative process is fueled by my obsession with matcha tea lattes with honey + cinnamon, true crime podcasts and fantasy fiction audio books.