Photo by Lyndsay Greenwood Photography

ABOUT

With an eye for the odd, Amber Solberg is an illustrator, artist, craftsperson & instructor. Hailing from the prairies, she headed east to the ocean and now splits her time between Alberta and Nova Scotia. 
 

Since receiving a Visual Arts Diploma from Red Deer College (AB) and an Interdispiclinary BFA from NSCAD University (NS),  she's evolved her practice to revolve around nature, conscious creation and storytelling. That, and that humour is her jam (although not what she'd want on toast). 

With watercolours, ink, and embroidery thread, she makes work that spans from the technical to the expressive, all with an underlying creativity. To do good is a large part of her work, whether it's creating opportunities to encourage others or to fundraise for various organizations. The classes she teaches give voice to her various interests: from monsters to atmosphere, from world marvels to making stories. 

EDUCATION

• 2018   Hand-Lettering with Kristen de Palma, with NSCAD Extended Studies     (Halifax, NS)

• 2017    Screenprinting with Maria Doering, with NSCAD Extended Studies           (Halifax, NS)

• 2013    NSCAD University, Bachelor of Fine Art, Interdisciplinary degree              (Halifax, NS)

• 2009  Red Deer College, Visual Art Diploma                                                               (Red Deer, AB)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• 2016   Birds of Nova Scotia, The Nook on Gottigen Cafe                                           (Halifax, NS)

• 2015   Birds of Central Alberta, Ellis Bird Farm                                                             (Lacombe, AB)

• 2014   Wandering: Experiences/Anxieties of a Recent Grad, Microgallery              (Halifax, NS)

• 2012   We Make Our Own Myths, Anna Leonowens Gallery                                     (Halifax, NS)

• 2011    Art In the Yard, Bentley Community Square                                                     (Bentley, AB)

SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS

• 2019   Off the Wall, Dart Gallery

• 2019    Nocturne Art At Night: Penny Lane HFX Mural                                             (Halifax, NS)

• 2019    Nocturne Art At Night: Heroes & Villains , Argyle Gallery                           (Halifax, NS)

• 2018    Put a Bird On It, Dart Gallery                                                                             (Dartmouth, NS)

• 2018    Hygge, Argyle Fine Art                                                                                         (Halifax, NS)

• 2017    10th Annual Art Under $100, Art Spot                                                             (Calgary, AB)

• 2017    Rørpost, The Discovery Centre                                                                           (Halifax, NS)

• 2017    Maritime Convention Artists, Plan B                                                                  (Halifax, NS)

• 2016    Pre-Shrunk 2016, Argyle Fine Art Gallery                                                       (Halifax, NS)

• 2015    David Suzuki, Hot Art Wet City Gallery                                                            (Vancouver, BC)

• 2015    Silver and Gold, Eyelevel Gallery                                                                         (Halifax, NS )

• 2014    Nightshift, Nocturne Art at Night                                                                      (Halifax, NS)

• 2014    The Owls Are Not What They Seem, The Dart Gallery                                  (Dartmouth, NS )

• 2014    Cat Person Dog Person, Argyle Fine Art Gallery                                            (Halifax, NS )

• 2013     Silver and Gold, Eyelevel Gallery                                                                        (Halifax, NS)

• 2013     Nightshift, Nocturne Art at Night                                                                     (Halifax, NS)

• 2013     NSCAD Grad Exhibit, Anna Leonowens Gallery                                            (Halifax, NS)

• 2013     Khyber CXXV, The Khyber Centre for the Arts                                              (Halifax, NS)

• 2012     Final Vinyl, Craig Gallery                                                                                      (Halifax, NS)

• 2012     Book-Art Exhibition, Blue Heron Books                                                           (Uxbridge, ON)

• 2012     Pre-Shrunk 2012 , Argyle Fine Art Gallery                                                      (Halifax, NS)

• 2010    Cabbages and Kings, Red Deer College                                                            (Red Deer,AB)

SELECT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2019    Illustrator for Surviving Parenthood by Dr. Ayala Gorodzinsky                       (Halifax, NS)

• 2019    Poster design for Sled Island Music Festival                                                     (Calgary, AB)

• 2018    Book illustration for The Healing Compass                                                       (Benalto, AB)

• 2017    Digital imagery design for publishing company, Scale Quail                           (Halifax, NS)

• 2017    Meatballs illustrated comic review article, The Coast newspaper                   (Halifax, NS) 

• 2017    Chalkboard design and signage for Darrell's Restaurant                                  (Halifax, NS)

• 2017    Illustration design for “Re-Sip-Rocate”, a campaign through Alt-C            (cross-Canada )

• 2017    Logo rebranding for the Cross-Eyed Giraffe cafe                                            (Bentley, AB)

• 2016    Logo design for The Stud Muffins, Alberta-based burlesque troupe             (Edmonton, AB)

• 2016    Illustration of You Matter by Lisa Desgagne, a self-care book                        (Calgary, AB)

• 2015    Poster illustration for the Festival D'Homme Orchestre                                 (Montreal, QC )

• 2015    Logo design for The Velvet Cupcakes, a burlesque troupe                              (Edmonton, AB)

• 2015    Article illustrator for Discorder magazine                                                           (Vancouver, BC)

• 2015    Logo design for Double Take Doughnuts, a sister-team snack company     (Edmonton, AB)

SELECT RELATED EXPERIENCE

• 2019   Project manager for Penny Lane HFX mural                                                      (Halifax, NS)

• 2018   Painting performer at the Canada-wide Corona Sunset Party                       (Halifax, NS)

• 2018   Live art entertainer at Dart Nights, The Dart Gallery                                       (Dartmouth, NS)

• 2017    Workshop coordinator with Trainyard General Store                                       (Dartmouth, NS)

• 2017    Youth workshop leader with the Discovery Centre                                           (Halifax, NS)
               & NSCAD Extended Studies 

• 2017    Workshop coordinator at Downtown Dartmouth's                                           (Dartmouth, NS)
                summer community events

• 2017    Featured guest at the Spring Geequinox art market                                         (Halifax, NS) 

• 2017    Drawing instructor for the Lacombe Art Guild society                                     (Lacombe, AB) 

• 2016- C. Program coordinator for youth classes, NSCAD Extended Studies          (Halifax, NS)

• 2016-C. Yearly participant in NSCAD's Artist for a Day festival                                 (HRM, NS)

• 2016    Art workshop coordinator for the HFX Pop Explosion festival                         (Halifax, NS)

• 2016    Event guest at The Discovery Centre for “Mom's a Superhero” event           (Halifax, NS)

• 2016    Drawing instructor with Alberta Art & Drafting Supplies                                  (Red Deer, AB)

• 2015-C. Self-taught event coordinator, making work as I travel includes:
                          DIY Postcards (Berlin Circus Hostel, Berlin DE)
                          Facepainting event (OH ME OH MY cafe, Liverpool UK)
                          Bookbinding workshop (Cow & Co. Cafe, Liverpool UK)
                          Still Life Drawing workshop (Cafe Grande, Edinburgh, UK)
                          Bookbinding for Beginners (Edinburgh Trade School, Edinburgh, UK)
                          About Face! (Edinburgh Trade Schoo,l Edinburgh UK)
                          Portraiture (Cafe Grande, Edinburgh UK)
                          Sketch with Friends (Nice FR)

• 2015    Featured art guest at Leaf Cafe, part of LightNight Art Festival                      (Liverpool, UK)

• 2014-C. Art instructor with Halifax Trade School                                                            (Halifax, NS)

• 2013-C. Adult and youth art class instructor with NSCAD Extended Studies           (Halifax, NS)

• 2012-2014 Summer Youth Art Camp assistant, NSCAD Extended Studies              (Halifax, NS)

• 2012     On-site manager of the Seeds Gallery waterfront kiosk                                     (Halifax, NS)

• 2011-2013 Gallery assistant at Seeds Gallery, part of NSCAD University                   (Halifax, NS)

• 2011-2013 Saturday Youth Art Class assistant, NSCAD Extended Studies                 (Halifax, NS)

• 2010-2011 Post-secondary art history tutor at Red Deer College                                 (Red Deer, AB)

• 2010   Saturday art assistant to the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery                            (Red Deer, AB)

PUBLICATIONS & PUBLIC MENTIONS

• 2019   Surviving Parenthood by Dr. Ayala Gorodzinsky (ISBN 9780228502777)

• 2019    "Halifax Beautification Project is Defaced by Graffiti", CTV News, Aug 15 5:19pm

• 2019     "New Mural Brightens up Blowers Street", The Chronicle Herald, July 27

• 2018     “Shop This: Cursive Pins”, The Coast Shoptalk feature, Nov 15

• 2018     The Healing Compass, by Angie Schickerowski (ISBN 9781985405424)

• 2017    “A Profound Call to Serve”, Understorey Magazine, issue 11

• 2017    “Review: Meatballs” article by Tara Thorne, The Coast, August 10

• 2017     Interview by Caora Mackenzie, The Signal podcast, January 13

• 2016    "Dartmouth Comic Arts Festival is the Big Draw in Comics", The Coast, August 11

• 2016    “Interview with Amber Solberg” by Sarah Poko, Periscope TV, July

• 2016    “Trade School” segment with Accessible Media Inc., June 24

• 2016     The Knicknackery, issue 4, New York NY

• 2016    You Matter, by Lisa Desgagne (ISBN 9780995068506)

• 2016    "Capturing Still Life", The Red Deer Advocate newspaper, January 28.

• 2015    “Big Joy Barber & Salon” article, Discorder magazine, November 2

• 2015    " DIY Postcards @ The Circus Berlin", The Berlin Circus Hostel, July 28.

• 2015     "Suzuki Awesomeness", Vancouver Is Awesome, March 17

• 2014     "Trade School'ers Come for the Skills", University News, Kings College

• 2013-2015 Old Heart, a weekly comic strip printed in the Dalhousie Gazette, Halifax

• 2013     NSCAD Exhibition Graduation Catalogue

• 2012    Seeds Waterfront Kiosk Development, NSCAD News, June 26

RESIDENCIES

• 2018    MTC Subsidized Studio Space with Visual Arts Nova Scotia                                  (Halifax, NS) 

AWARDS/ SCHOLARSHIPS

• 2014    Behance Portfolio Award, E3C Halifax

• 2012    Alex and Christie Hunt Award, NSCAD University

• 2009   Campus Management Green Scholarship, Red Deer College

• 2009   Norma E. McNamara Scholarship, Red Deer College

• 2008   Jason Lang Memorial Scholarship, Red Deer College

• 2005   Alexander Rutherford Scholarship, Red Deer College