Pamela's Story

My work as a social practice artist started when my mom enrolled me in an adult art class as a 10-year-old. Decades later, my art expanded from individual paintings to include participatory art. Drawing on my own journey towards restoration, these responsive projects involve artists and non-artists and foster community through art, creativity, and storytelling.

By addressing social issues, such as letting go, bullying, sex trafficking, or PTSD, these collaborative art projects invite individuals and groups to become part of the solution. Each creative space initiates layers of healing as people engage with the artmaking and each other. Whether building community-based projects, creating commissioned art, speaking nationally, or promoting my new children’s book, my work inspires resilience and hope through the healing power of art.

 

Read Pamela’s story…

 

Would you like to book a creative project or bring awareness and healing to your community group?

PAMELA’S CV

Solo Exhibitions

  • 2024

    Red Jeans Redemption, Kirkhof Center, Grand Valley University; Allendale, MI.

  • 2022

    The Connections Project, Duke Gallery, Azusa Pacific University; Azusa, California.

  • 2021

    Yellow Ribbon on the Bridge, Eberhard Center, Grand Valley State University; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2019

    Cut Short, Village Arts Factory; Canton, Michigan.

  • 2017

    The Scarlet Cord, Manasseh Project #StopThisTraffic Conference, Meijer Gardens; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2016

    The Scarlet Cord, Mary Idema Pew Library, Grand Valley State University; Allendale, Michigan.

  • 2015

    Courage Ablaze, LookOut Gallery, Michigan State University; East Lansing, Michigan.

    The Scarlet Cord, Acton Institute; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    The Scarlet Cord, Roosevelt Row; Phoenix, Arizona.

    Courage Ablaze, Van Singel Fine Arts Center; Byron Center, Michigan.

  • 2014

    Courage Ablaze, Cornerstone University; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2013

    Healing Reflections, University Club; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2012

    Healing Reflections, The Hartley Center; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2011

    Healing Reflections, Bruce and Mary Leep Gallery; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2010

    Healing Reflections, Sky Walk Gallery, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin; Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

    Guest Artist Series, St Mary’s Health Care; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Group Exhibitions

  • 2024

    Under the Surface, ArtPrize, Veterans Memorial Park; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2023

    Sushi the Cat, ArtPrize, Courage and Soar; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “Healing in Arts,” Michigan Inventors Coalition Pitch Contest, Michigan State University; Lansing, Michigan. (Second Place)

  • 2022

    Dreams, ArtPrize, Veterans Memorial Park; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2021

    Yellow Ribbon, ArtPrize, Veterans Memorial Park; Grand Rapids, Michigan (A Kent County Veterans Services Commission).

    Healing Imprint, The Progress Gallery; Pomona, California.

  • 2020

    Red Jeans Redemption, Darling Art Gallery, Azusa Pacific University; Azusa Pacific, California.

  • 2018

    Broken Wings, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Public Museum; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 25 Finalist).

  • 2017

    Let Go, ArtPrize, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 25 Finalist).

  • 2016

    Hometown Hero II, Reflections of Generosity, Pentagon, Washington D.C.

    Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind, ArtPrize, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 25 Finalist).

  • 2015

    Hometown Hero, ArtPrize, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 20 Finalist and 3rd Place Winner).

  • 2014

    The Scarlet Cord, ArtPrize, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 25 Finalist).

  • 2013

    Wing and a Prayer, ArtPrize, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 50 Finalist).

    Sabina, Women’s Works, Northwest Area Arts Council; Woodstock, Illinois (First Place Award Winner).

  • 2012

    Courage Ablaze, ArtPrize, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel; Grand Rapids, Michigan (Top 100 Finalist).

    Love, Grand Valley State University Women’s Center; Allendale, Michigan.

  • 2011

    Braving the Wind, ArtPrize, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Stillness, 35th National Exhibition; Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Kenosha Public Museum; Kenosha, Wisconsin.

  • 2010

    Woman in Red, ArtPrize, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Companions, 110th Philadelphia Water Color Society International Exhibition; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • 2009

    Intent, National Juried Art Exhibition; Hilton Head, South Carolina.

    Companions, ArtPrize, Open Concepts Gallery; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Collaborations

  • 2024

    Red Jeans Redemption with Center for Health and Well-Being, Grand Valley State University; Allendale, MI.

    The Artist’s Way with Cultivate GR; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Under the Surface with Noorthoek Academy; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Engraved with Mollies House and Fresno Pacific University; Fresno, California.

    Art Mystery Project with Care Fresno and Break the Barriers; Fresno, California.

  • 2023

    Hope Quilts with artist Kameko Madere and Girls Court of Michigan, 17th Circuit Court Family Division, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    The Mosaic Within with Mel Trotter Ministries, The B.O.B.; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2022

    We Drew a Circle with the Kent County Prosecutor’s Victim Witness Unit; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Butterfly Kaleidoscope with Pine Grove Learning Center; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2021

    Yellow Ribbon at SteelCase with Has Heart; Athens, Alabama

    Stories with Youth For Christ and MDV Housing, LLC; Kalamazoo, Michigan.

    Broken Wings with Manasseh Project; Grand Rapids, Michigan

  • 2020

    Let Go with the Kent County Prosecutor’s Victim Witness Unit; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Yellow Ribbon with Kent County Veteran Services and the veteran community; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Broken Wings No. 7 with Big Rapids Public Schools, Mecosta-Osceola Career Center, and Evergreen Terrace Assisted Living; Big Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2019

    Broken Wings No. 2 with Girls Court of Michigan, 17th Circuit Court Family Division, and PlexiCase Inc; Grand Rapids, Michigan,

    Broken Wings No. 3, 4, and 5 with Breton Woods Independent Living Facilities; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Wings of Hope with Pine Grove Learning Center; Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Frames Unlimited; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2017

    The Scarlet Cord installation with Saugatuck High School students; Saugatuck, Michigan.

  • 2016

    The Scarlet Cord Film with Judge Patricia Gardner; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2015

    The Scarlet Cord Film Premiere and Sex Trafficking Panel with Women At Risk International, Grand Rapids Public Museum; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    The Scarlet Cord installation with StreetLightUSA; Phoenix, Arizona.

  • 2014

    The Scarlet Cord installation with Women At Risk International; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    The Scarlet Cord Audio Collage with Shared Hope International; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

     

Awards

  • 2024

    Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency ArtPrize Grant Recipient

  • 2022

    Michigan Inventors Coalition 2nd Place Award

  • 2021

    Kent County (MI) Veterans Services Commission Award

  • 2018

    Grand Valley State University Office of Sustainability Award

    Village Arts Factory Commission Award; Canton, Michigan

  • 2015

    ArtPrize Top 20 and 3rd Place Awards; Grand Rapids, Michigan

  • 2013

    Women’s Works First Place Award, Northwest Area Arts Council; Woodstock, Illinois

Curatorial and Exhibition Design

  • 2024

    Art for Honor, founded and curated by Pamela Alderman, in collaboration with Kent County Veterans Services, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, and ArtPrize; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    The Art of Creativity, in collaboration with Healing in Arts, Ensana Thermal Hotel; Budapest, Hungary.

  • 2021-23

    Voices, founded and curated by Pamela Alderman, in collaboration with Kent County Veterans Services and Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Teaching Experience

  • 2021-24

    Kent County Veterans Services artist facilitator, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2017-23

    Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab co-facilitator, Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2019

    Holland Home artist facilitator; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2016

    Grand Rapids Museum School lyceum instructor; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Presentations

  • 2024

    “Sushi the Cat,” Tattered Cover, Stanley Marketplace; Aurora, Colorado.

    “The Art of Creative Care,” Creatives Unleashed Conference, Ensana Thermal Hotel; Budapest, Hungry.

    “The Art of Healing,” Fresno Pacific University; Fresno, California.

  • 2023

    “Three Straight Lines,” Anishinabe Kwe, Single Mom’s Retreat; Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada

    “Sushi the Cat,” Barnes & Noble Book Store; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “Voices,” ArtPrize, Veterans Memorial Park; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “Sushi the Cat,” Schuler Books; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “Art Mystery Fun,” MWR event, United States Coast Guard Base Kodiak; Kodiak, Alaska.

    “Art Mystery Fun,” MWR event, Naval Air Station Pensacola; Pensacola, Florida.

  • 2022

    “Yellow Ribbon Project,” Toyota Lunch and Learn event with Has Heart, Salinus, Michigan.

    “The Scarlet Cord: Awareness and Healing,” Empire High School; Vail, Arizona.

    “Voices,” Kent County Veterans Services ArtPrize Gala; Eberhard Center, Grand Valley State University; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2021

    The Yellow Ribbon Project at SteelCase with Has Heart; Athens, Alabama.

    “Art Mysteries,” CIVA Conference, St. David’s Episcopal Church; Austin, Texas.

    “An Artist’s Story,” Cornerstone University; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2020

    “Artist Without Borders,” Southwest Baptist University; Bolivar, Missouri.

  • 2019

    “Resilient Wings,” Girls Court of Michigan, 17th Circuit Court Family Division, Kent County Courthouse; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2018

    “The Scarlet Cord and Sex Trafficking Awareness,” Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant, Holiday Inn; Muskegon, Michigan.

  • 2017

    “The Scarlet Cord,” Manasseh Project #StopThisTraffic Conference, Meijer Gardens; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “Healing in Arts,” Noontime Series, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2016

    “Healing in Arts,” Q Commons, Ladies Literary Club of Calvin College; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “A Legacy of Hope,” Defense Suicide Prevention Office, Pentagon; Washington D.C.

    “Healing in Arts,” International Culture Care, Fuller Theological Seminary; Pasadena, California.

    “The Scarlet Cord and Sex Trafficking Awareness.” Kent County Courthouse; Grand Rapids, Michigan

  • 2015

    “Courage Ablaze: The Women and Children of Congo,” Residential College of Arts and Humanities, Michigan State University; East Lansing, Michigan.

    “The Scarlet Cord,” Acton Institute; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    “Healing in Arts,” International Culture Care Summit, Cairn University, Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

  • 2014

    “Courage Ablaze,” Grand Rapids Community College; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2013

    “Healing Power of Art,” Grand Rapids Public Museum; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Published Writings

  • 2024

    An Artist’s Journey: Fourteen Years with ArtPrize.” ArtPrize blog post, July 30, 2024.

  • 2023

    “Sushi the Cat.” Chapbook Press, 2023.

  • 2022

    “Commissioned.” CIVA Seen Journal, XX11, Summer, 2022.

  • 2021

    “Why My Friend Draws.” CIVA blog post, February 23, 2021.

  • 2020

    “Collective Art During COVID-19.” CIVA blog post, June 2, 2020.

  • 2009

    “The Living Triangle.” Campus Crusade for Christ, Military Ministry blog post, August 6, 2009.

    “Opportunity Knocks.” Campus Crusade for Christ, Military Ministry blog post, June 8, 2009.

  • 2008

    “The Impact of Yes.” Campus Crusade for Christ, Military Ministry blog post, May 26, 2008.

Collections

  • 2024

    Muskegon County Department of Veterans Affairs

    Mollie’s House; Fresno, California

  • 2023

    Kent County Courthouse; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Mel Trotter Ministries; Grand Rapids, Michigan

  • 2022

    Steve and Cynde Damstra private collection.

  • 2021

    Kent County Veterans Services; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2020

    Kent County Courthouse; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2019

    Kent County Courthouse; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Village Arts Factory; Canton, Michigan.

    The Montessori School; Kalamazoo, Michigan.

    Holland Home; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Silver Star Apartments; Kalamazoo, Michigan.

  • 2018

    Kent County Courthouse; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Wolverine Building Group; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Culture Care Inc.; Pasadena, California.

  • 2016

    Warriors Heart; San Antonio, Texas.

    Bethany Refugee and Immigrant Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2015

    Hope Network for Autism; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2014

    Ronald McDonald House Charities; Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • 2013

    D.A. Blodgett and St. John’s Home; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Children’s Hospital; Boston, Massachusetts.

  • 2012

    Lurie Children’s Hospital; Chicago, Illinois.

  • 2011

    American Mission Hospital; Manama, Bahrain.

    Children’s Hospital; Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Children’s Hospital; St. Paul, Minnesota.

    Seattle Children’s Hospital; Seattle, Washington.

  • 2010

    American Cancer Society Hope Lodge; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Children’s Hospital; Denver, Colorado.

    Children’s Hospital; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital; Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    Rady Children’s Hospital; San Diego, California.

    Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital; Cleveland, Ohio.

    The Heart and Vascular Center at Metro Health; Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • 2009

    Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; Grand Rapids, Michigan.