b. 1983
EDUCATION
2011 University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Drawing and Painting, MFA
2005 University of Arizona, Studio Art, BA (summa cum laude)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2012-present
Lecturer, Department of Art and Art History, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
2015-2020
Art Educator, Hawai'i State Art Museum, Honolulu, HI
2013
Lecturer, Windward Community College, Kaneohe, HI
2008-2018
Instructor, Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI
2007-2008
Instructor, Brio Fine Arts Center, Scottsdale, AZ
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
All is a Circle Within Me, San Juan Islands Museum of Art, Friday Harbor, WA (forthcoming)
2024
All is a Circle Within Me, Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT
Oddkin, Mid-Pacific Institute, Honolulu, HI
2023
Listening for a Heartbeat, Gallery 'Iolani, Kaneohe, HI
2022
Light Inside the Body, Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, Bozeman, MT
The Lilies How They Grow, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, CO
2021
The Lilies How They Grow, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Fond du Lac, WI
2019
The Lilies How They Grow, Honolulu Museum of Art at First Hawaiian Center, Honolulu, HI
2018
Noctuary, Commons Gallery, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
2015
Wilds, College of Southern Nevada Art Galleries, North Las Vegas, NV
2014
Wilds, Doris Ulmann Galleries, Berea College, Berea, KY
2012
Shadows to Shallows, Hawai'i Pacific University Art Gallery, Kaneohe, HI
2011
Between Two Waters: MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2021
Mirrors and Veils, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, Hamilton, OH
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Selections from the Collection: Recent Acquisitions, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
2024
Bitter/Sweet, Hō'ikeākea Gallery, Pearl City, HI
2023
Abstract Fragments, The Commons Gallery, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
Honolulu New Painting Invitational, The Art Gallery, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
Accession, Hawai'i State Art Museum, Honolulu, HI
2022
Towards the Spiritual, Marianne Oberg Foundation for Spiritual Art (virtual exhibition)
2018
The Body of Empathy, Ellis Hall, Hendrix College, Conway, AR
2017
In Memoriam, Manifest Gallery Creative Research and Drawing Center, Cincinnati, OH
2016
Interrupted, Coburn Gallery, Ashland University, Ashland, OH
2015
Artists of Hawai'i, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
13 Women, Pegge Hopper Gallery, Honolulu, HI
2012
Japanese Chamber of Commerce 34th Annual Commitment to Excellence Art Exhibition, Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, HI
2011
Japanese Chamber of Commerce 33rd Annual Commitment to Excellence Art Exhibition, Academy Art Center, Honolulu, HI
2010
Body/Mind, Y-Center for the Visual Arts, Honolulu, HI
Command-Option-Escape, The ARTS at Mark's Garage, Honolulu, HI
2009
Japanese Chamber of Commerce 31st Annual Commitment to Excellence Art Exhibit, Academy Art Center, Honolulu, HI
Art Upstairs: Emerging Hawai'i Artists (curated), Academy Art Center, Honolulu, HI
Reaching Out, Academy Art Center, Honolulu, HI
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS
2023
Chulitna Lodge Creativity Residency Fellowship, Port Alsworth, AK
2022
Marianne Oberg Foundation for Spiritual Art Grant
2020
Recognition Award, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
2019
Recognition Award, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
Recognition Award, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
Kalos Visual Art Prize, Honorable Mention, Ruminate Magazine, Fort Collins, CO
2017
Manifest Grand Jury Prize Finalist for Season 13, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati OH
2015
Melusine Award for Painting, Honolulu Museum of Art
Recognition Award, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
2011
2nd Place Two Dimensional Art, Japanese Chamber of Commerce 33rd Annual Commitment to Excellence Art Exhibition, Honolulu, HI
John Young Scholarship in the Arts, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
2010
Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Geraldine P. Clark Memorial Fellowship in Painting, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
H. John Heide Fellowship in Art, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
2009
Helen Gilbert-Bushnell Memorial Award in Painting, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
2005
Staff Choice Award, Scribendi Magazine, University of New Mexico
2004
Undergraduate Research Grant in Fine Arts, Honors College, University of Arizona
2001
Albert M. Haldeman Scholarship, College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona
RESIDENCIES
2023
Chulitna Lodge Creativity Residency Program, Port Alsworth, AK
2022
Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, OR
2018
Glacier National Park, National Park Service, West Glacier, MT
2015
Artists in the Schools Residency, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts in Partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art School, Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School, Honolulu, HI
Artists in the Schools Residency, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts in Partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art School, Queen Ka'ahumanu Elementary School , Honolulu, HI
2014
Artists in the Schools Residency, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts in Partnersh with the Honolulu Museum of Art School, Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School, Honolulu, HI
2013
Artists in the Schools Residency, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts in Partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art School, Kaimuki Middle School, Honolulu, HI
2012
Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Saratoga, WY
LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
2025
Artist Talk, San Juan Islands Museum of Art, Friday Harbor, WA (forthcoming)
2024
Artist Talk, Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT
Artist Talk, Mid-Pacific Institute, Honolulu, HI
2023
Artist Talk, Chulitna Lodge Creativity Residency Program, Port Alsworth, AK
Artist Talk, Gallery 'Iolani, Kaneohe, HI
2022
Artist Talk, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, OR
Artist Talk, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, CO
Artist Talk, Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, Bozeman, MT
2021
Artist Talk, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Fond du Lac, WI
2018
Artist Talk, Hawai'i State Art Museum, Honolulu, HI
Artist Talk, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, MT
2015
Artist Talk, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
Artist Talk, College of Southern Nevada, North Las Vegas, NV
2014
Artist Talk, Berea College, Berea, KY
Artist Talk, Kentucky School of Art, Louisville, KY
Artist Talk, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
2012
Artist Talk, Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Saratoga, WY
Drawing Workshop for Master of Education in Teaching Cohort, Institute for Teacher Education, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
COLLECTIONS
Honolulu Museum of Art
Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
Cantor Art Collection of Phoenix, Arizona
PUBLICATIONS
2012
“One Half Living for Two: Cross-Cultural Paradigms of Twinship and Twin Loss.” OMEGA Journal of Death and Dying. Baywood Publishing Company, Inc., Volume 64, Number 1, 2011-2012.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2022
“Mirrors and Veils Exhibit Looks at the Meaning of Being Human.” Journal News: Butler County’s Local News Now. January 2.
2021
The Woven Tale Press Magazine. Vol. IX #6. p 65-72.
2019
Charisma, James. “Emily Mcilroy’s Latest Art Exhibition at First Hawaiian Center: ‘The Lilies How They Grow’.” Honolulu Magazine. June 10, 2019.
Ruminate Magazine. Spring 2019. p 57-60
2018
McDaniel, Jay. “Whose Flesh is it Anyway? Theological Reflections while Strolling through the Body of Empathy Exhibition.” www.openhorizons.org/body-of-empathy-a-theological-appreciation-of-an-art-exhibit.html
2016
Cheng, Martha. "Sharing a Soul." FLUX Hawaii Magazine. Spring 2016. p 62-67
2015
Nelson, Shane. "Honolulu Museum of Art Unveils 'Artists of Hawaii Exhibit." Travel Weekly. July 20, 2015
Goldberg, David A.M. "Visual Artists Highlighted in Juried Exhibit." Honolulu Star Advertiser. July 12, 2015. p F1
Goldberg, David A.M. "Great Women of Art." Honolulu Star Advertiser. February 1, 2015
Griffith, Lesa. "A Sneak Peak Inside Honolulu Museum of Art's Competitive Summer Exhibit." Honolulu Magazine. January 2.
2011
Berger, John. "Healing Comes 'Between Two Waters.'" Honolulu Star Advertiser. September 11, 2011. p G2
2010
Stevens, Amanda. "First Exhibit at New Arts Loft." Honolulu Advertiser. May 2, 2010. p D3
Fujihara, Chad, ed. "Featured Artist: Emily McIlroy." Ka Lamakua: The Creative Element at UH Manoa. March 4, 2010
Morse, Marcia. "Class Creations: Diverse Hawai'i Graduate Exhibition Gives a Glimpse of What's to Come in Local Art." Honolulu Weekly. Vol. 20, no. 4, January 27-February 2, 2010.
Cook, Lynn. "Art Center Instructors Get Their Moment in the Spotlight." Honolulu Advertiser. January 17, 2010
2009
Morse, Marcia. “The Graduates." Honolulu Weekly. Vol. 19, no. 4, January 28-February 3, 2009. p 15
2007
Arizona Alumnus, University of Arizona, Spring 2007
2005
Scribendi, University of New Mexico, vol. 19, 2005
2003
Scribendi, University of New Mexico, vol. 17, 2003
Persona, University of Arizona, 2003
2002
Persona, University of Arizona, 2002
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Visual Art Consultant, Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
Visiting Critic, Hawai'i Watercolor Society