Alums showcase their art on Instagram

It’s been almost 10 years since Instagram was launched and almost seven years since the Alumnae Association joined the platform. While our intent is primarily to share beautiful photos of campus to “lure you home,” we also love learning about alums through their own Instagram accounts. Here we share images from a half-dozen alums who use the platform not only to showcase their artistic talents but also to promote a business in the arts. Are you an artist on Instagram? Tag us! @mhcalums


@TLDuryea, TL Duryea ’94

TL is an artist and creator of the Sheroes painting series and founder of the Duryea Project. Her portrait of Shirley Chisholm was featured in the fall 2019 Alumnae Quarterly.

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Autumn Peltier, is a water rights activist and member of the Wikwemikong First Nation and an internationally recognized advocate for clean water. She’s only 14 years old and has already spent almost half her life fighting for water rights. In April, 2019 Peltier was named the chief water commissioner by the Anishinabek Nation. In September 2019, Peltier was nominated for an International Children's Peace Prize. She was also invited to speak at the United Nation Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit in New York, in 2019 and 2018. The future is Now and it is Female. Please feel free to share so that people can learn about her important work and contribution to the environmental movement. The original is sold but there are prints available on the website, link in bio #thefutureisfemale #activist #waterrights #feminist #firstnation #environmentalist #resist

A post shared by TL Duryea (@tlduryea) on


@claudiapalmiraa, Claudia Acunto Palmira ’95

Based in Rome, Claudia owns a digital design studio, leading art, web and graphic design projects for many clients. She also is an artist working in mixed media and digital collages.

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Wave #romanwallseries #artisteye #designereye #streetart #foundart #colorwatcher #graphicdesign #webdesign

A post shared by Claudia Palmira (@claudiapalmiraa) on


@savareseh2o, Lynn Ashby-Savarese ’78

Lynn is a fine arts photographer based in New York City. She manages two Instagram accounts for her work. This one is exclusively for images of water.  

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White froth on dark blue sea.

A post shared by Lynn Savarese (@savareseh2o) on


@sleepycier, Cierson Zambo ’19

Cierson is a trans+queer artist, whose work includes performance, installation, painting, printmaking, paper and fiber arts.

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Amazing pic by @ben_sambrook from my latest performance piece ♥️ loved this one, working on a video soon

A post shared by Cierson Zambo (@sleepycier) on


@emilyjdesign, Emily Cameron Brewster ’04

Emily is a self-described scientist turned designer and mom, whose work includes custom rings and personalized gifts.

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Thanks for the kind words! ★★★★★ "The ring is exactly what I was looking to buy. A friend had just sent me the quote that is written inside the ring. I loved the delicate flowers depicted on the band and when I enlarged the picture to see the inscription-I knew I had to get this particular ring. It was shipped in a timely manner with care instructions too. Very pleased with purchase and have shown the ring to numerous friends. Highly recommend!" Diane

A post shared by Emily Jane Designs (@emilyjdesign) on


@marikapaz, Marika Malkerson Summers ’09

Marika is a self-taught artist and illustrator, whose art explores the relationships among animals, humans and nature.

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Slumbering little burro through the darkest dark on the longest night ? one of six coasters for the Salut 4 show at @nucleusportland all prices are only $60, I love this show because it’s a wonderful way for original art to be affordable ?Opens tomorrow!

A post shared by Marika Paz Illustration (@marikapaz) on

This article appeared as “On the Grid” in the winter 2020 issue of the Alumnae Quarterly.


Are you an artist?
Email your submission to us at quarterly@mtholyoke.edu.

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