Vesta Kirby paints in acrylic, watercolor and sumi'e ink. Her drawings are in graphite and charcoal. Natural phenomenon inspires her work which evolved through in depth studies of painting and the history of art for many years, including an extended period in Europe; Paris, Bern and Greece. After traveling through the Middle East she lived in India and the Far East. While in Japan she studied sumi'e and calligraphy brush painting with Japanese Masters in Kyoto.

Her paintings are included in private, public, museum and corporate collections. She participates in numerous juried exhibitions, group shows and solo exhibits, and is a member of the San Francisco Museum of Art Artists Gallery.

Ms. Kirby currently teaches art and painting at UC Berkeley Extension, the College of San Mateo, and Friends of Sharon Art Studio. Her previous teaching experience includes the San Francisco Art Institute Extension and Academy of Art College.

She teaches painting privately in her studio at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco.

Vesta's experience includes a successful career as a corporate interior designer in the States and abroad. During this time she worked with a number of architectural firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects in New York City. She continues interior consultation for color and materials.

Degrees and Fellowships

MFA John F. Kennedy University, Arts & Consciousness in Studio Arts, Berkeley, CA

BFA New School, Parsons School of Design, New York City, majoring in Interior Architecture.

Art Students League, New York City, she studied painting and drawing.

2004 resident at Djerassi Resident Artists Program, exhibited in their Open House. Awarded the 2004 Djerassi Resident Artists Program Honorary Fellowship.

2002 resident at Capepine Foundation for the Arts, Capepine, Newfoundland, Canada