Ualani Davis is a Native Hawaiian artist and art educator from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi who often works with photography and mixed-media to investigate facets of identity, ancestry, and culture. As an indigenous artist, she is especially fascinated by photography’s historical influence on the creation and spread of indigenous identity amongst the rest of the world. Ualani uses her artistic practice as a way to visually explore and express her experience as a Native Hawaiian, contemporary artist, teacher, daughter, and woman.
Ualani received a BFA from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa and a MA in Art Education from Boston University. She currently teaches high school photography at Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama in the Visual Arts Department.
Education
| MA | 2018 | Boston University, College of Fine Arts, Master of Arts in Art Education. |
| BFA | 2012 | University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Art and Art History (focus in Photography), cum laude |
Exhibitions
| 2025 | “Kuʻu Pua i Kohelepelepe.” Koko Crater Botanical Garden, Wahi Pana Project, Honolulu, HI. On display through 2028. Link: https://wahipana.com/art/koko-crater/ “Contemporary Photography in Hawai‘i 2025.” Pacific New Media, Downtown Art Center, Honolulu, HI. February 6 – 21, 2025. (Juried by Ann Jastrab, Group Show) Link: https://pnmlab.com/2025/02/14/contemporary-photography-in-hawaii-2025/ “Dark Slide.” The Commons Gallery, The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI. January 19– February 16, 2025. (Curated by Yola Monakhov Stockton, Group Show) Link: https://hawaii.edu/art/dark-slide-photography/ |
| 2024 | “Hoʻi i ka Piko.” Treehouse Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, HI. September 7 – October 31, 2024. Link: https://treehouse-shop.com/pages/ho%CA%BBi-i-ka-piko-by-ualani-davis “Float On.” Hōʻikeākea Gallery, Leeward Community College, Honolulu, HI. January 13 – March 23, 2024. (Curated by Phil Jung, Group Show). Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/leewardcc/albums/72177720316242741/ |
| 2023 | “I ka ʻŌlelo ke Ola: There is Life in Language.” Mayorʻs Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA), Honolulu Hale, Honolulu, HI. February 24, March 17, 2023. (Curated Group Show) Link: https://honolulumoca.org/i-ka-ʻolelo-ke-ola-there-is-life-in-languagepresented-by-the-mayors-office-of-culture-and-the-artsfebruary-24-march-17-2023/ |
| 2022 | “Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2022.” Pacific New Media, Honolulu, HI. (Juried Online show) Link: https://pnmlab.com/2022/08/31/contemporary-photography-in-hawaii-2022/ “#8x8_ShangriLa_22.” Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture, & Design, Honolulu, HI. January 6 – March 26, 2022. (Curated Group Show). Link: https://www.shangrilahawaii.org/visit/exhibitions/8x8_shangrila_22/ |
| 2018 | “Tourists: Looking at/Looking As by the Analog Sunshine Recorders” Aupuni Space, Honolulu, HI. (Group) link: https://tropiczine.com/Tourist-looking-at-looking-as |
| 2016 | “POV: Part 2.” Kaimuki Public Library, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “POV: Part 1.” Kaimuki Public Library, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “The Lab: Experiments in Photography” Maoli Arts Month, The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu, HI. (Curated Group Show) “To Mt. Trail.” Analog Sunshine Recorders, The Pig & the Lady, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Chinatown: Photographs by the Analog Sunshine Recorders.” Manifest, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “CONTACT.” Nā Mea Hawaiʻi and Maoli Arts Alliance (MAʻA), Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI. (Juried). “88th Annual Exhibition.” Honolulu Printmakers, Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) “Make.” Kit & Ace, Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI. (Solo) |
| 2015 | “Locally Applied Solutions.” Hawai’i Pacific University Art Gallery, Kaneohe, HI. (Group) “Positions.” Mission Social Hall & Cafe, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Contempo #ArtShop.” Honolulu Museum of Art – Spalding House, Honolulu, HI. (Group) |
| 2014 | “In, Of, or About Fiber.” Hawai‘i Craftsmen, Honolulu Museum of Art School Gallery, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) “Cyanotypes.” Honolulu Museum of Art – Spalding House, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “CONTACT.” Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) “Seen It Made It.” Honolulu Museum of Art – Spalding House, Honolulu, HI. (Group) |
| 2013 | “Top 40.” Honolulu Museum of Art – Spalding House, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Pop Up, Stay Up.” 12th Ave Grill, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “35th Annual ‘Commitment to Excellence’ Art Exhibition.” Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) “Contemporary Photography in Hawaii 2013: the Fifth Annual Statewide Survey Exhibition.” Pacific New Media, Frame Arts Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) “Light.” Pauahi Tower, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Salon de Refuse.” Ektopia, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Favorite Photographs of 2012 Exhibition: Part 5.” Lenscratch, 1/1/2013. (Web-based) (http://www.lenscratch.com/2013/01/favorite-photographs-of-2012-exhibition_9147.html) |
| 2012 | “In, Of, or About Fiber.” Hawai‘i Craftsmen, Honolulu Museum of Art School Gallery, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) “Alternative Processes.” The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO. (Juried) “84th Annual Exhibition.” Honolulu Printmakers, Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI. (Juried) |
| 2011 | “To the Nines.” Honolulu Academy of Art, Spalding House Cafe, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Select Origins.” Hamilton Library, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI. (Solo) “Transform: BFA Exhibition 2011.” Art Gallery, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Come Together.” Peace Cafe, Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Pacific Rim and Basin Art.” Jacket2, 4/4/2011. (Web-based) (https://jacket2.org/galleries/pacific-rim-and-basin-art) |
| 2009 | “The Launch.” SOHO. Honolulu, HI. (Group) “Stimulus.” SOHO. Honolulu, HI. (Group) |
Honors and Awards
| 2013 | Selected Artist for Honolulu Printmaker’s 1st Annual Director’s Portfolio. |
| 2012 | Hawai‘i Craftsmen Honorable Mention for Kū‘ai Mai, Kū‘ai Aku, “In, Of, or About Fiber” Fiber Hawai‘i 2012 Exhibition. |
| 2011 | Outstanding Student Photographer, Department of Art and Art History, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. |
Artist Residencies
| 2013 | Orvis Artist-In-Residence, The Honolulu Museum of Art, April 13 – May 19, 2013. |
Articles/Interviews
| 2025 | “Twenty Kānaka Artists on Twenty-Five Years of Hawaiian Art.” Flux Magazine, 4/21/2025. (https://fluxhawaii.com/hawaiian-artists-kanaka-maoli/) |
| 2016 | Kanai, Maria, “Doors of Perception.” The Honolulu Star Advertiser, 5/8/2016, Honolulu, HI. (http://www.staradvertiser.com/features/photographers-provide-fresh-perspectives-on-hawaii-issues/ ) |
| 2014 | “Educating Educators: Ualani Davis and Andrea Charuk.” Honolulu Museum of Art Blog, November 2014, Honolulu, HI. (http://blog.honoluluacademy.org/educating-educators-ualani-davis-and-andrea-charuk/) |
| 2013 | “The Blanket Appeal of Giant Cyanotypes.” The Offsetter, May 2013, Honolulu, HI. (http://theoffsetter.com/the-blanket-appeal-of-giant-cyanotypes/ ) |
| 2012 | “Arts & Power: Past Present.” Modern Luxury Hawai‘i, Holiday 2012/Spring 2013, Honolulu, HI. |
TV/Radio Interview
| 2025 | “Wahi Pana: Storied Places heads to Hanauma Bay for one night only.” Interview with Billy V. Hawaiʻi News Now, 5/25/2025. (https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2025/05/20/wahi-pana-storied-places-heads-hanauma-bay-one-night-only/) |
| 2023 | “New art exhibit at Honolulu Hale celebrates Hawaiian Language Month.” Marklay, Chloe. KITV4 News, 2/26/2023. (https://www.kitv.com/news/new-art-exhibit-at-honolulu-hale-celebrates-hawaiian-language-month/article_f9554c4a-b5e3-11ed-bab0-13c3614a9dcb.html) |
| 2021 | “Student art on display at this yearʻs 101st Annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest.” Richardson, Mahealani. Hawaii News Now, 5/6/2021. (https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/05/06/student-art-display-st-annual-song-contest/ ) |
| 2016 | “MAMO Celebrates Cross-Fertilization.” Tanigawa, Noe. Hawaii Public Radio, 5/17/2016. (https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/mamo-celebrates-cross-fertilization) |
| 2013 | “Holiday Change Up: Shop Local Prints…and More!” Tanigawa, Noe. Hawaii Public Radio, 11/22/13. (http://hpr2.org/post/holiday-change-shop-local-printsand-more) “Art a la Carte.” KITV4 Morning News, 10/29/2013, 6:20 am. (http://www.kitv.com/news/thismorning/Art-a-la-Carte-Now-Hear-This/-/16414272/22692946/-/wbbll5/-/index.html?absolute=true) |
| 2011 | “Radio Tiny.” OC16 TV and radio K108, 4-22-11, 7:00-8:00 am. |
Public Presentations
| 2024 | “Aupuni Space Junior vol 2 | Artist Talk Story with Ualani Davis.” Arts & Letters Nu’uanu, Honolulu, HI. March 1, 2024. |
| 2023 | “Nature, Art, & Native Knowledge.” Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture, & Design, June 24, 2023. |
| 2017 | “Mo’o: Connections & Successions.” Midkiff Learning Center, October 20, 2017. |
| 2015 | “Honolulu Biennial Foundation Artist Portfolio Sharing Night.” Study Hall at the Modern Honolulu, July 2, 2015. “#ArtShop: Photo Shop.” Honolulu Museum of Art – Spalding House, June 25, 2015. |
| 2011 | “Pecha Kucha.” University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Art Gallery, May 3, 2011. |
Ualani Davis 