Adare (they/them) is a classically trained portrait artist, disability rights activist, and founder of Kīpaipai Art Foundation. Adare’s portfolio is recognizable for its vibrancy, use of gold leaf, and focus on cultural diversity. As both a nonbinary and differently abled person with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Adare uses their portraits to shed light on social justice issues. Adare’s celebrated models include rockstars, authors, artists, indigenous rights advocates, and Queer icons who actively improve the world we all live in.
Adare began making art very young and has never stopped. In their twenties, their curiosity took them to both Europe and Asia for inspiration. They then attended the San Francisco Academy of Art, earning a full three-year scholarship at the Temescal Atelier for Classical Realism. Settling in Hawai‘i, they founded the Kīpaipai School of Art in 2007.
The school offers a curriculum focused on drawing and painting through programs, workshops, and private lessons, providing a space where students can connect traditional techniques in a simple and clear way, while learning to approach classical realism in a new light.
As both a non-binary and differently abled person, while working in a variety of media, Adare is best known for their portraits that shed light on social justice issues. Adare’s celebrated models include rockstars, authors, artists, indigenous rights advocates, and Queer icons who actively improve the world we all live in.
The artist Adare has exhibited widely, throughout both Hawai‘i and California. They are the author of two books and the founder and current director of the non-profit Kīpaipai Foundation and School of Art in Hawaiian Paradise Park. They serve on several community boards and committees, and further contribute many hours to various local charities.
