Bio / Statement / CV

meghan oona pic


MEGHAN OONA CLIFFORD, MFA


BIO
Born on 7/7/77, Meghan Oona Clifford enjoyed a sense of magic early on. Art making quickly became her way to explore what it means to be human. Following dreams of enchanted forests to the West Coast, Clifford graduated from Evergreen State College with her BA in Interdisciplinary Art, then earned her MFA in New Genres from the San Francisco Art Institute.

Clifford exhibits work nationally and throughout California, including at the Museum of Northern California Art (MONCA), San Francisco Art Institute's Swell Gallery, and Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion. Her work has been featured by MTV, The Art People, The Utne Reader, iCanvas, Bored Panda, Content Magazine, Meditation Talks, and Women United Art Magazine. California's Center for Cultural Innovation has awarded three grants in support of Clifford's work. Her art is enjoyed by private collectors around the world.

She lives and works on six acres in Santa Cruz County, CA with her husband and two miracle babies. Every day they wake up and say "Good morning, we are blessed."

ARTIST STATEMENT
I am an interdisciplinary artist experienced in video, sound, animation, installation, eco interventions, textiles, and computer art. Painting is my true love and the foundation of my practice.

My work explores energy, transformation, and consciousness. I'm inspired by phenomena like neural pathways, the mother body, and improvisational music. With personal and ancestral history steeped in textile work, I like to think I'm painting the fabric of the universe.

I weave colors and forms together with a biomorphic, freestyle painting technique. I work with acrylic on canvas and paper, and I use animation to enhance the 2D work with hypnotic, mesmerizing energy.

I’m interested in illuminating and activating those little moments of enlightenment we all have - a sudden feeling of wholeness, a glimpse of awareness, a memory of our interconnection, or a release of emotional pain.


CURRICULUM VITAE

Meghan Oona Clifford, M.F.A.
b. 1977, Madison WI
Lives and works in Santa Cruz County, CA, USA
www.meghanoonaclifford.com | meghan.oona.clifford@gmail.com 

Education
2007   M.F.A., New Genres Art, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
2001   B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
1999   University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI

Selected Solo Shows
2022   Shining Our Light: Cosmic Portraits, Flower Bar, Santa Cruz, CA
2022   Seeds: The Fertile Void, (online), Santa Cruz, CA
2016   Star Dust: Moments of Enlightenment, Elevation 66, El Cerrito, CA
2014   The Elevated Art of Meghan Oona Clifford, Elevation 66, El Cerrito, CA
2012   Meghan Oona Clifford: The Illuminated Art of Flow, Black Faun Gallery, Eureka, CA
2010   For Love of Spirit: Celebrating Togetherness, Lipo Lounge, San Francisco, CA

Selected Group Shows
2024   In Flux, Museum of Northern California Art (MONCA), Chico, CA (upcoming)
2023   Aberrant Creativity, Texas A&M University, School of PerformanceVisualization and Fine Arts, College Station, TX
2023   What Remains, (online juried exhibition), Visionary Art Collective, New York, NY
2023   Uncertain Certainties, (online), Thrive Together Network, Vancouver, Canada
2023   Representations: collaboration of womxn affecting the future of art and technology, (online), Atlanta GA
2023   Procreate Project Archive, (online), London, United Kingdom 
2023   Kaleidoscope, (online juried exhibition), Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2022   Onward, Body and Space, (online juried exhibition), San Francisco Artists Alumni
2022   3rd Annual Powerful Little Things Exhibition, (online juried exhibition), Roaring Artist Gallery
2022   Lines, Shapes, & Objects, (online juried exhibition), Fusion Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2022   Let Me Tell You, (juried exhibition), Chris White Gallery, Wilmington, DE 
2022   Verdant Heart, (juried exhibition), Fe Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2010   Womb of Creation - An Exhibition of Women Visionaries, Tribe 13 Gallery, Ukiah, CA
2010   7th Annual Interdimensional Art Show, Madrone Studios, San Francisco, CA
2010   Suite Jesus, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009   Exit Strategy, Double Vision Dance Studio, San Francisco, CA 
2009   Push On, Tribeca @ The Omni Hotel, Newport News, VA
2009   Art Now’s Circle of Life Show, 1:AM Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009   Veni Vedi Vici, Club 6, San Francisco, CA
2008   Rise Up International Benefit Show, LA, CA
2007   MFA Vernissage, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
2006   Alternative Spaces, Swell Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
2005   Tribe 13’s Interdimensional Art Show, 108 Gallery, Seattle, WA 
2001   I Want Burning: Ecstatic Images and Poetry, The Family Tree Gallery, Olympia, WA

Grants and Awards
2023   Center for Cultural Innovation Quick Grant, Winter
2023   Center for Cultural Innovation Quick Grant, Spring
2023   Special Mention, Create Magazine’s Fresh Paint Exhibition, Juried by Margaret Winslow, Curator of Contemporary Art, Delaware Art Museum  
2022   Honorable Mention, 6th Open Juried Exhibition, Art Show International Gallery, LA, CA
2022   Center for Cultural Innovation Quick Grant
2005   Graduate Studies Grant, The San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA 

Residencies
2023   Residency in Animation Tech, Thrive Together Virtual Art Residency
2023   Thrive Together Network (TTN) February Virtual Art Residency
2022   Thrive Together Network (TTN) September Virtual Art Residency
2022   Artist/Mother Virtual Art Residency

Professional Organizations
Thrive Together Network
Artist/Mother Network

Selected Bibliography
2024   Artist, Mother, Proud & Serious, Volume II, Women United Art Magazine
2024   Women United Art Magazine, Issue VI
2023   Goddess Art Magazine, Issue 9
2022   Content Magazine, exhibition highlight
2022   Carve Out Time for Art, community highlight
2020   Find Inspiration with the Star Dust Coloring Book, PhanArt: Music, Art, and Community
2017   A Getaway to the Deeper Realms of the Soul - the Must-See Art Work of Meghan Oona, Meditation Talks
2013, 2017   We’Moon Calendar and Date Book
2013   Path to Bliss, The Art People / People Project Magazine
2011   Modern Mystics Inspire, Surrender to the Flow Magazine
2008   MTV’s Street Team

Publications as Author
2020   Star Dust Adult Coloring Book: Creative art therapy for inspiration, healing, and relaxation
2019   Reactivate Your Creative Power, e-book
2017   I Paint Visionary Art to Awaken Your Soul, Bored Panda, feature article
2014   All Praise: Seeing, To Become, photo book
2008   My eyes are your eyes, too: culture creation, modern mysticism, and beyondart book
2007   Your Eyes Are My Eyes, photo book

Selected Projects, Related Work, and Teaching Experience
2022   Seeds: The Fertile Void Artist Talk, (online)
2018-2022   The Creative Path Workshop, (online)
2019   You are Good Enough Workshop, (online)
2019   Activate Your Creativity - A Journey, (online)
2018   Rituals for Artists Workshop, (online)
2001-2010   moreTrees clothing company, founder and designer, Olympia, WA, San Diego, CA, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA
2003-04   Sylvan Wisdom Cooperative Art Gallery, Olympia, WA, volunteer member
2000, 2003-04   Liberty Arising Retreat Center, San Diego, CA, volunteer
2000-02   The Family Tree Artist Collective, Olympia, WA, director and curator
1990-95   Madison Children’s Museum, Madison, WI, volunteer