Cheryl McAlister
Acrylic, Chalk Pastel
Education
2000—2002
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, VT
MFA in Fine Arts
1979—1984
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
BFA Painting
Exhibitions
2026
Art in the Barn
Cushing Historical Society
Solo Exhibition — Threshold
Cushing, ME
July 10–12, 2026
2025
Maine Art Gallery
Made in Maine Annual Members Show
Wiscasset, ME
August 28–October 18, 2025
Red Barn Gallery
Guest Artist — Eleven works, designated exhibition area
St. George, ME
June 19–July 14, 2025
2024
Degas Pastel Society
20th Biennial National Exhibition
Online, New Orleans, LA
December 2–31, 2024
Cushing Historical Society, Arts in the Barn
Group Exhibition
Cushing, ME
August 19–31, 2024
Salt Pond Studio Gallery
Group Exhibition
Friendship, ME
July 19–31, 2024
2009
Maverick Square Mural Project
Community Mural
Sumner Street East Boston, MA
Teaching Experience
2001—2011
The New England Institute of Art
Brookline, MA
Associate Professor of Fine Arts
2001–2002
Keene State College
Keene, NH
Adjunct Professor
2000–2002
Franklin Pierce College
Rindge, NH
Adjunct Professor
1995–2000
Sharon Arts Center
Sharon, NH
Instructor
1985–1988
Guilford Handcrafts Center
Guilford, CT
Instructor
Awards and Honors
2008
Research Sabbatical
The New England Institute of Art
Brookline, MA
Reconstructivism Via Handcraft: Refocusing Artistic Practice Post Peak Oil, Post Climate Change, Post Economic Collapse
2006
Inabeth Miller Distinguished Faculty Award
The New England Institute of Art
Brookline, MA
1995
First Prize, Drawing
Juried Exhibition
Sharon Arts Center
Sharon, NH
Jury Service
2005–2007
Mindscapes: Art Gala for Depression Awareness
The Art Institute of New York City, in association with Barbara Mathes Gallery and The New England Institute of Art
New York, NY / Brookline, MA
2000
Art in the Park
Keene Art Association
Keene, NH
1997–1999
Gallery Artists Jury
Killian Gallery
Sharon, NH
Lectures and Presentations
2008
Departmental Presentation
Reconstructivism Via Handcraft
The New England Institute of Art
Brookline, MA
2007
Departmental Presentation
College Art Association Conference
The New England Institute of Art
Brookline, MA
Professional Affiliations
Ogunquit Art Association, Ogunquit, ME — Member since 2026
Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, ME — Member since 2025
Union of Maine Visual Artists — Member since 2024
Writing
"The Productive Paradox,"cherylmcalister.com and Substack, April 18, 2026
"Pentimento," cherylmcalister.com and Substack, April 6, 2026
"Four Painters Who Matter to Me,"cherylmcalister.com and Substack, March 31, 2026
"Finally Joy,"cherylmcalister.com, March 23, 2026
"The Difference Between Painting and Illustration," cherylmcalister.com and Substack, March 19, 2026
"AI and Human Creativity," cherylmcalister.com and Substack, June 8, 2025