C. Meier (they/them/theirs)
Exhibitions Director

C. returned to their home state of Oregon from Chicago in 2020, and lives in Portland with their 18-year-old cat Pantoufle. They earned their MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago (2017) and BFA in Studio Art from Pacific Lutheran University (2004). Their art practice explores materiality, reveling in the hybridization of processes including drawing, painting, and photographic methods. Meier has exhibited nationally including Hyde Park Art Center, Mana Contemporary (Chicago), Filter Space, among others, and their work is part of the Permanent Collection of Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA). Meier’s experience with the photographic medium has been heavily influenced by their time spent in Chicago in roles including a Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) Curatorial Assistant (2015-2017), on staff as the MoCP’s Registrar/Collections Manager (2018-2021), as well as working with artist Barbara Kasten as her Studio Assistant (2019-2020). Professional highlights include co-curating the MoCP's 2017 exhibition re:collection and envisioning the gumball machine at Blue Sky.

M Prull (he/him/his)
Gallery Manager

Originally from Walla Walla, WA, M Prull moved to Portland to pursue a BA in Studio Art at Reed College (2019) and has stuck around ever since. He has immersed himself in the Pacific Northwest’s rich artistic community through professional opportunities in galleries and nonprofits, including at Converge 45, the Portland Art Dealers Association, and the Sheehan Gallery at Whitman College. His art practice explores the fluid boundaries between mind, body, spirit, and place as experienced through a queer and transgender lens. His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including Portland, OR and Venice, Italy. When not focusing on his art, he enjoys spending time with his dog, Маруся, and with the Columbia River.

Yuyang Zhang (he/him/his)
Exhibitions & Outreach Coordinator

Born in Wuhan, China, Yuyang is a multi-disciplinary artist living and working in Portland, Oregon. His painting, photographic, and multi-media works investigate personal and cultural identities. His studio practice primarily navigates the experience of the Chinese diasporas and social-political issues through pop culture references, internet landscape, and temporal iconography. Zhang is obsessed with Wanda Maximoff a.k.a the Scarlet Witch.

Zhang holds a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and an MFA in Visual Studies from Pacific Northwest College of Art. He has exhibited nationally and internationally, including in Portland, Oregon; Lafayette, Indiana, New Harmony, Indiana; Shenzhen, China; and Berlin, Germany. Zhang has been featured in publications, including Buckmxn Journal, BOOOOOOOM, The Drawers 2021, AINT-BAD, The Hand, and My View Only: A Monologue of Mobile Photography. Zhang’s work is part of the Regional Arts & Cultural Council 2022 Public Arts Collections.

Kristin Solomon (she/her/hers)
Executive Director

Kristin was born and raised in New York. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography from the School of Visual Arts and a Masters in Arts and Cultural Management from Pratt Institute, in New York City. A decade ago, she visited Portland on a cross-country road trip and loved it so much that she felt compelled to make it her home. She comes to Blue Sky with over 20 years experience in arts administration with a concentration in strategic planning, fundraising, and marketing. Kristin has worked for many art businesses and non-profit organizations throughout her career, wearing many hats. Her most recent roles were as the part-time Director of Blackfish Gallery, an artist-owned cooperative in the heart of the Pearl Arts District and Founder and Lead Principal of Arts and Cultural Management, offering guidance on creative business strategy to mission-based organizations and creative entrepreneurs. She helped many artists and non-profits find their unique creative edge and build sustainable business practices through one-on-one coaching sessions, workshops, retreats, and online courses through her virtual platform THINK WITH YOUR HEART INSTITUTE ONLINE. Kristin serves on the Boards of the Portland Art Dealers Association, Portland Open Studios, Creative Arts Community, and the Friends of Menucha Foundation. She lives in Portland with her blue heeler bestie, Sapphire.

Sapphire Brene Solomon (she/her/hers)
Gallery Greeter & Guard

Sapphire is a stumpy tail cattle dog aka: blue heeler with a strong back, soft front, and a wild heart. She was born deep in the heart of Texas where she spent her formative years as a working farm dog, herding animals and protecting the land. When her first owner became too sick to care for her, he surrendered her in tears to a local shelter. She was eventually rescued and brought to Oregon to find a new home and companion - our Executive Director Kristin. Kristin was told that she needed to give Sapphi a job, so she hired her to greet visitors, wrangle artists, and guard the artworks at Blue Sky. She loves her low key retirement job! Sapphire is on duty Wed - Fri 12 - 5PM.