Christa Malay works with watercolor, oil paint, and pastels, as well as etching, monotypes, and silk screen techniques, to create art that is collected regionally, nationally and internationally. She was instrumental in creating the Lopez Artist Guild and establishing the annual Lopez Island Studio Tour two decades ago. Her contribution to Pacific Northwest landscape art was honored by a year-long exhibition at the Washington State Governor’s Mansion in 2010.

For the past thirty years, the names Christa Malay and MARTIN & MALAY STUDIOS have been synonymous with Pacific Northwest serigraphy. Artist partners Malay and Martin designed and hand-printed limited editions of collectible promotional artwork for festivals and resorts across western North America.

Her studio and gallery are open to the public.

 

“I became interested in painting the landscape one day in late childhood, when I noticed how the colors of the green trees faded to blue, the railroad tracks appeared to meet in the distance, and small roads curved to create cool shadows. I spent long summer days in my family garden plot, where low fences, gates and pathways connected a rambling patchwork of city gardeners. My memory of climbing into the metal water barrel after a hot day of garden work is vivid even now. The cool earthy smell and the reflection of my face on the water’s surface gave me a profound feeling of peace and abundance. When I create art, I draw from these early memories.”

 

Education

1998 – 2018 Zinc plate etching collaboration with Island International Artists and Black Raven Press, Guemes Island, Washington

1981 Applied Visual Arts & Graphic Design Program, Outstanding Student Scholarship; graduated cum laude, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, Washington

 

Selected Solo Exhibitions

Gallery 10 Fine Art, Lopez Island, Washington, 1999 - 2007 

Galeria La Manzanilla, La Manzanilla, Mexico, 2006

Darvill Gallery, Eastsound, Washington, 2006

Crow Valley Pottery and Gallery, Orcas Island, Washington, 2001 - 2003

Logan Gallery, Friday Harbor, Washington, 2001

Valley Bronze Gallery, Cannon Beach, Oregon, 2000 
Childers/Proctor Gallery, Langley, Washington, 1995
Nelson/Rovzar Gallery, Kirkland, Washington, 1995
Paperworks Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1994

 

Selected Group Exhibitions

Whatcom Museum of History & Art, Bellingham, Washington, 2008
Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, Washington, 1999 - 2007
San Juan Islands Museum of Art & Sculpture Park, Friday Harbor, Washington, 2005

 

Public and Collaborative Projects and Shows

Light, Space & Time Online Art Gallery, 2019

A.I.R. Gallery Annual Postcard Show and Fundraiser, Brooklyn, New York, 2015 - 2017

Washington State Governor's Mansion, featured artist, 2010 - 2011

Lopez Artist Guild, Lopez Island, Washington, 2005 - present

National Museum of Women in the Arts, archives, Washington, D.C., 2003

Established Christa Malay Studio & Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington, 2002
Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, Lopez Island, Washington, 1999 - present
Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce, Tour de Lopez promotion, 1998 - present
Created Martin and Malay Studios, with fellow artist Corwin Martin, Lopez Island, Washington, 1987
Limited edition serigraphy, North America, 1986 – 1993
Freelance illustration, graphic design commissions, Pacific Northwest, 1981 - 1986

Community educator; drawing and watercolor techniques, Washington State, 1977; 1983 - 1985

​

Honors and Awards

2001 Skagit Art Association, Best of Show, Artist of the Month, Mount Vernon, Washington

1999 Pacific Rim International Art Exposition, Booth Award, Seattle, Washington

1998 Southeastern Pastel Society, International Open Juried Exhibition, Lilburn, Georgia

1997 Manhattan Arts International Exhibition, Showcase Award, New York, New York

1995 Northwest Pastel Society, 10th Annual Exhibition, Bellingham, Washington

1995 Pastel Society of Oregon, 9th Annual Exhibition, Roseburg, Oregon

1994 Stockton National Print and Drawing Exhibition, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California

1989 National Watercolor Society, 69th Annual Exhibition, San Pedro, California

 

Selected Bibliography

International Artist Book Publications, Volume 1, “100 Ways to Paint Seascapes, Rivers and Lakes,” 2004

International Artist Magazine, showcase of master pastel artworks, 2003

Manhattan Arts International, 6th Annual Artist Showcase Award Winner, 1997