Holden Willard (b. 1999) is a painter based in Portland, Maine. He graduated from the Montserrat College of art in 2021 and received a BFA in Painting. Holden is also a woodworker, and has four years of experience in conservation centric art framing. His paintings, drawings and prints are settled in a coming of age narrative in rural Maine. The work is mainly centered around direct observation of his various subjects.

In 2024 - 25’ he was included in “As We Are” - his first major showing, at the Portland Museum of Art

Education

Montserrat College of Art. Beverly, MA - Graduated 2021: Bachelor of Fine Art concentration in Painting

Current Employment:

Greenhut Galleries / Cove Street Arts - 146 Middle Street. Portland ME 04101: Art Framer, Preparator, Gallery Assistant - Hired June 24th, 2021

Group Exhibitions:

2020 Fresh Faces - Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, Boston MA

2021 The Nature of Things - Montserrat College of Art - BFA capstone group show, Beverly MA

2021 All Senior Show - Montserrat College of Art - group senior showcase - curated by Holden Willard and Jack Debusk, Beverly MA

2021 Reimagining the Real: Emery Center for the Arts, University of Farmington, Farmington ME

2021 Nor'easterly: Katzman Contemporary, Dover NH

2021 Salon: Kimball Jenkins School of Art, Concord NH

2022 Winterly: Cove Street Arts, Portland ME

2022 Art 2022: Harlow Gallery, Hallowell ME

2022 11th Annual Portland Biennial Show: Greenhut Gallery, Portland ME

2022 Big Print Show: Katzman Contemporary, Dover NH

2022 Between Two Cities: Drift Art House, Portsmouth NH

2022 No Time: Ticonic Gallery, Waterville Creates, Waterville ME

2022 Compendium: George Marshall Store Gallery, York ME

2022 You’re Invited: Alice Gauvin Gallery, Portland ME

2023 Winter Dreams of Spring: Cove Street Arts, Portland ME

2023 CMCA 2023 Biennial: Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland ME

2023 11th Annual Maine Biennial Show: Greenhut Gallery, Portland ME

2023 Summer Art Party: Katzman Contemporary, Dover NH

2023 Figure: Page Gallery, Camden ME

2024 / 2025 As We Are: Portland Museum of Art, Portland ME

Solo / Duo Shows:

2023 Andrew L. Shea & Holden Willard “Things Past” - Alice Gauvin Gallery, Portland ME

2025 Pictures of Home - Holden Willard - Notch 8 Gallery, Portland ME

Residencies:

2023 July - Hewnoaks: Lovell, ME

2024 December - Seguinland Institute MEAR Residency, in collaboration with Parsonage Gallery.

Publications:

2020 ARTIT - Voice of Artists / Issue 11- Portraits and Figures / Published July 2020 Pg. 36

2021 BooBoo Magazine / 1st Issue (A Multi - Media Contemporary Arts Magazine for Young and Emerging Artist in the Boston Area)

2022 Pulp Zine - International publication, online and in print

2022 Warm Milk Publishing, Volume 4. Warm Milk Creative - New York

2022 Maine Magazine - “Shifting Sequences” - 18 up & coming Maine Artists, September Ed.

2022 Noise Magazine - Issue 004 - New York City, NY/ Portland, ME

2023 Art Maze Magazine - Volume 32 / 33 - United Kingdom, International Release

Installation / Curation Work:

2019 Our Kitchen - North Shore Community Development Coalition, Salem, MA Group Installation during Fiesta De Arte, an event that

was apart of “IM|MIGRATION” (installation team: Sophia Re, Sophia Dunzelman, Gregory Pierce, and Holden Willard)

2020 tachypsychia - An anonymous installation curated and installed by Sophia Dunzelman and Holden Willard, Beverly, MA - during

Industry 3: Cell

2021 All Senior Show - Montserrat College of Art - main gallery (curated, and installed with Jack Debusk).

2023 / 2025 (currently) : Co-director of 82Parris / Portland, Maine 82 Parris Street. 04101

Achievements:

Visual & Performing Arts Award (2017) University of Maine. 2017

Cultural Center of Cape Cod “The Works” Juried Art Show - 1st place. 2019

Mills Pond Gallery “Transformations” Juried Art Show - 1st Place. 2019

Alumni Award 2019, Montserrat College of Art. 2019

Thomas Brassard Scholarship 2019, Montserrat College of Art. 2019

President's Recognition Award, Montserrat College of Art. 2019

Painting Capstone Award, Montserrat College of Art. 2021

All Senior Show - " The Bathers " 1st Place Award, Montserrat College of Art. 2021