About

Photo by Kyra Schmidt

Photo by Kyra Schmidt

BIO

Ana Morales is based in Roanoke, Virginia and works primarily with mixed media. She holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA from James Madison University, where she studied studio art and art education. She works at LeisureMedia360 in Roanoke as the art director for publications including the Roanoker Magazine and the Virginia Travel Guide. Morales has exhibited her work locally and nationally.

ARTIST STATEMENT

For many years, my work has largely been informed by my life as a type 1 diabetic. I’m interested in art-making as an opportunity to play and experiment and I think this stems from a lifetime of having to adhere to rules and routines for the sake of my health and well-being. Over the years, I have discovered artistic processes that mimic my daily life with diabetes—processes that explore repetition and routine, control, order, and risk. While my early work is quite literal, my more recent work explores the broader idea of illness versus wellness and the day-to-day fluctuations of my mental health.

CV

EDUCATION

2016
Master of Fine Arts, Studio Art, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.

2013
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Art: Painting and Drawing, Art Education Licensure, Cum Laude, James Madison University. Harrisonburg, Virginia.

SELECT EXHIBITIONS

2024
All She Surveys Group Show, Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke VA
Celebration of Roanoke’s BIPOC Artists Group Show, Riverdale Village, Roanoke VA

2023
Transparency Group Show, Art on 1st, Roanoke VA
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
Inside Out Group Show, Art on 1st, Roanoke VA

2021
Myabetic Diabetes Art Show, Virtual, Santa Monica CA
The Show, VALLT Gallery, Roanoke VA
Outside the Frame, Virtual Concert by Alma Ensemble, The Spot on Kirk, Roanoke VA

2019
Carilion Clinic Patient Art Show, Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke VA
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
Body of Work Group Show, Milwaukee Institute of Art + Design, Milwaukee WI
Juried Biennial Exhibition, Roanoke College, Salem VA

2018
The Influence of Women, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke VA
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
Eclectica Group Show, Aurora Studio Center, Roanoke VA
DIS-EASE Solo Show, Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville VA

2017
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center. Roanoke VA
ArtMADE Pop-Up Show, Aurora Studio Center, Roanoke VA
Research in the Abstract, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke VA
Juried Biennial ExhibitionRoanoke College, Salem VA
ArtMADE Pop-Up Show, Aurora Studio Center, Roanoke VA

2016
Annual League of Roanoke Artists ShowcaseJefferson Center, Roanoke VA
Low-Residency MFA Show, Sullivan Galleries, SAIC, Chicago IL

2015
The Gallery U Group Show, The Alternative Gallery, Allentown PA
Against the Grains Group Show, Salem Museum, Salem VA
Interwoven Group Show, Throop Studio, Chicago IL
Precision and Reach, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke VA
Artist of the Month, Cups Coffee and Tea, Roanoke VA
Edna Curry / John Bower 1st Annual Exhibition, The Bower Art Center, Bedford VA
Juried Biennial Exhibition, Roanoke College, Salem VA

2014
Medical Avatar: The Health Time Machine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke VA
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
The Art of Science Spring 2014 Exhibition, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke VA

2013
Fall 2013 Art Exhibition, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke VA
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
Solo Exhibition, Wine-Riner Gallery, Larkin Arts, Harrisonburg VA

2012
Featured Artist, Duo Clothing Store, Harrisonburg VA
Group Show, ArtWorks Gallery, James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA
Annual League of Roanoke Artists Showcase, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition, ArtWorks Gallery, James Madison University Harrisonburg VA

AWARDS AND HONORS

2023
Third Place in Mixed Media. Annual LRA Showcase. Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA

2018
Honorable Mention. Annual LRA Showcase. Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA

2017
Second Place in Mixed Media. Annual LRA Showcase. Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA

2015
Second Place. Juried Biennial Exhibition. Roanoke College, Salem VA

2013
National League of American Pen Women of the Roanoke Valley Award. Annual LRA Showcase. Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA

2012
Junior Art Achievement Award in Art Education. James Madison University, Roanoke VA

2009
Gold Key Award. Scholastic Art Awards. Pulaski VA
Silver Key Award. Scholastic Art Awards. Pulaski VA
Best of Show. Dessert with the Arts. Northside High School, Roanoke VA
First Place. Dessert with the Arts. Northside High School, Roanoke VA
Festival in the Park Art Scholarship. Roanoke VA

2008
Second Place. Dessert with the Arts. Northside High School, Roanoke VA
Laban Johnson Art Scholarship. Roanoke VA
First Place in Visual Arts. Reflections. Northside High School, Roanoke VA

PUBLICATIONS

2024
”Iconic Recreations,” The Roanoker Magazine, Jan/Feb 2024 Issue

2023
Artemis Journal, Volume XXV
”Meet Ana Morales,” Canvas Rebel
”Diabetes Life in Art,” DiabetesMine DDate ExChange, June 2023

2022
Artemis Journal, Volume XXIV
”Diabetes & Creativity with Artist Ana Morales,” Embracing Diabetes Podcast, Episode 2

2021
Lurch Magazine, Issue 1: Bunny
Ashley Fellers. “Roanoke According to…Ana Morales,” The Roanoker Blog

2020
Artemis Journal, Volume XXVII
”Make the Most” Video, The Making Foundation
Tendai Machingaidze, MD. “No Quick Fix: My Week in Primary Care,” Nuvance Health and the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Global Health eMagazine

2013
Martha Miller Johnson. “Diabetes Art Day,” Diabetic Living Magazine

2012
Catherine Price. “The Sweet Arts,” The Diabetes Experience
Amy Mercer. “Holiday Gift Guide,” The Diabetes Experience

2011
Tracey Nelthercott. “Teamwork: Banding Together to Tackle Diabetes,” Diabetes Forecast Magazine
Amy Mercer. “A Smart and Creative Woman with Diabetes,” The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes

 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

The League of Roanoke Artists
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators