Select Professional Accomplishments
Education
2014 MFA, Interdisciplinary Studio Art, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
2014 MA, Visual and Critical Studies, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
2007 BFA, (High Honors), Painting, Art History minor, University of Michigan, Flint, MI.
2007 BA, (High Honors), English with specialization in Writing, University of Michigan, Flint, MI.
Group Exhibitions
2025 Our Living Record, Revolve Gallery, Asheville, NC.
2025 Asheville Strong: Celebrating Art and Community After Hurricane Helene, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC.
2023 Biennial Faculty Exhibition, Tucker Cooke Gallery of Owen Hall, University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC.
2023 Contain Your Fear, Revolve Gallery, Asheville, NC.
2023 Biennial Faculty Art Exhibition, S. Tucker Cooke Gallery UNC Asheville, Asheville, NC.
2023 Contain Your Fear, Dayton Society of Artists, Dayton, OH.
2022 Contain Your Fear, Toe River Arts Galleries, Spruce Pine, NC.
2022 Push It Forward 5, SOMA Arts Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA.
2021 Survivor Art Show, Revolve Gallery, Asheville, NC.
2021 Contain Your Fear, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL.
2021 Fresh Produce, Toe River Arts Galleries, Spruce Pine, NC.
2019 Push it Forward 4, Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco CA.
2018 CCA Staff Exhibition, Hubbell Street Galleries, San Francisco, CA.
2018 Push it Forward 3, Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
2017 Thinking Out Loud | CCA First Year Program, College Ave Gallery, Oakland, CA.
2016 Posters for Imaginary Events, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland CA.
2015 LEXhibition @ The Center, San Francisco LGBT Community Center, San Francisco, CA.
2014 CCA MFA SHOW, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
2014 Synthesis: Student Innovations in Printmaking at CCA, Oliver Art Center, Oakland, CA.
2013 Underneath it All, ISE Cultural Foundation, New York City, NY.
2013 Underneath it All, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit, MA.
2013 Underneath it All, Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ.
2012 Underneath it All, Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2012 Now Knowing, Cara y Cabezas Contemporary, Kansas City, MS.
2011 In the Round, an installation and performance, Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI.
2011 Kinsey Institute Juried Show, Indiana University SOFA Gallery, Bloomington, IN.
2010 New Work, Court Street Gallery, Saginaw, MI.
2010 Anatomy and Figure, Gallery 194, Lapeer, MI.
2010 A Group Show of Individuals, Anode Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2010 Mothers, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2008 Petty Treasons: Betraying the Standard, Red Ink Flint, Flint, MI.
2008 Greater Michigan Art Exhibition, Alden B. Dow Center for the Arts, Midland, MI.
2007 REACT: Perceiving the Female Figure, Red Ink Flint, Flint, MI.
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Forest BLOOMS, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC.
2024 Forest Feels, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC.
2014 Dog Show, Expo, Shane Co., Lexington Club, San Francisco, CA.
2011 Always Already Other, Feelmore510 Adult Gallery, Oakland, CA.
2009 5/8” Seam Allowance, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL.
2009 Dramatis Personae, Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI.
2007 The Becoming, UCEN Gallery at the University of Michigan, Flint, MI.
Select Teaching Experience, Higher Ed
2023 Art 331: 3D Design (Fall), University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC.
2022 Art 111: Art Appreciation (Spring) AB-Technical Community College, Asheville, NC.
2022 Art 122: 3D Design (Spring) AB-Technical Community College, Asheville, NC.
2021 Art 122: 3D Design (Fall) AB-Technical Community College, Asheville, NC.
2017 English 101: Sound, Texture, Image: Writing Off the Page (Spring) San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA.
2016 Critical Studies 390: Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium (Fall) San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA.
2016 English 100: Composition A: Seeing/Saying (Fall) San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA.
2014 ART 551: Resources and Strategies for Art and Learning (Summer) San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA.
2014 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Sculpture 204: Metal Techniques for Sculpture (Spring) California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
2013 Graduate Teaching Assistant, M.ARCH 623: Architecture Research Seminar (Fall) California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
2012 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Visual Studies 220: Intro to Visual Studies, Eye Openers (Fall) California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
2012 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Visual Studies 108: Intro to Modern Arts (Fall) California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
Select Teaching Experience, Youth
2021 - Present STEAM Instructor, Program Coordinator, Lead Curriculum Developer, University of North Carolina Asheville STEAM Studio, Asheville, NC.
2018 - 2019 Wood and Carpentry Instructor, Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA.
2015 - 2016 Middle School Collaborator, Brightworks School, San Francisco, CA.
2015 - 2016 Teaching Artist, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
Bibliography
2024 "Creative Inclusivity: Amanda Simons Ensures Creative Access for All" Ethan Mays. East Asheville Living. September 1.
2023 Discovery Education STEM Careers Coalition video series. Starting an After School Program, Preparing for an After School Session, Keeping Students Engaged, Fostering a Growth Mindset, Talking about Career Readiness.
2019 Girls Garage: How to use any tools, tackle and project, and build the world you want to see. Emily Pilloton. Final copy editor and safety advisor.
2015 “The Inward Turn.” Amanda N. Simons. Art Practical. December 3.
2014 “Ehren Tool: One Death is a Tragedy at Pro Arts.” Amanda N. Simons. Art Practical. October 19.
2014 “Rhonda Holberton: YOU BECAUSE FREE INSTANTLY NEW.” Amanda N. Simons. Art Practical. September 14.
2014 "Standouts from a California MFA Show Worth Seeing.” Ben Valentine. Hyperallergic, May 19, 2014.
2013 "Performance, Place, and Un-United States: Queer Marriage in Post-DOMA U.S." Amanda N. Simons. Sightlines Publication, California College of the Arts.
2013 “Amanda N. Simons on Marriage (In)Equality and the Media.” SFMoMA Open Space, May 26.
2007 African, Native, and Jewish American Literature and the Reshaping of Modernism. Alicia A. Kent. Palgrave Macmillan. Cover Art
Lectures and Workshops on Pedagogy
2024 “Going Against the Grain: What third graders can teach us about ergonomics, queer experience, and DEI initiatives in makerspaces.” Smith College, Northampton, MA. March 12.
2023 “Against the Grain: What third graders can teach us about ergonomics, queer experience, and DEI initiatives in makerspaces.” AICAD Conference, Cincinnati Ohio, November 8.
2023 “Against the Grain: What third graders can teach us about ergonomics, queer experience, and DEI initiatives in makerspaces.” Student Shop Managers Consortium Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA. July 13.
2023 “Against the Grain: What third graders can teach us about ergonomics, queer experience, and DEI initiatives in makerspaces.” UNC Asheville Queer Studies Conference, Ashevile NC. March 25.
2017 “How Can I Help? Language as the Culture of Tinkering” presentation and “What Tool Can You Make to Move an Object?” keynote workshop. Live Curious, Go Beyond Conference. American School Foundation of Monterrey, Monterrey, MX. February 17-18.
2015 Co-Designer, Facilitator, and Panelist. Tinkering School for Educators: a 3-Day Workshop and Seminar. San Francisco, CA. October 10-12.
2014 Guest Panelist. Discussion with local educators for course FINAR 604: Graduate Teaching Practicum. California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA., October 24.
2007 “Demystifying Spaces: Methods for Improving Writing in Art.” International Writing Center Association Conference. Houston, TX. April 12-14.
2006 “Demystifying Visual Analysis: Methods for Improving Writing in Art Appreciation.” 23rd National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. November 10-12.
Artist Talks
2019 “The Distance Between Two Things,” Slide Lecture, Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC. October 2.
2019 “Procedure,” Artist Talk and Q&A for Queer Art / Queer Times, California College of the Arts, May 8.
2015 Artist Talk. SC 240: History of Sculpture Theory and Methods. San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco CA. February 3.
2014 “Fail Until You Don’t.” SCULP 360: Sculpture History. California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA. October 29.
2009 “Little has Changed in 50 Years.” In conjunction with solo exhibition 5/8” Seam Allowance. Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL. September 24.
Grants and Awards
2025 Recipient, Arts AVL, Artist’s Support Grant
2025 Recipient, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Artist Get Ready Grant
2024 Recipient, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Impacted by Hurricane Helene
2024 Recipient, Craft Futures Grant, Center for Craft Asheville NC
2022 Recipient, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Artist Get Ready Grant
2016 Recipient, Pro Arts Commons Community Engagement Grant