Finlee Asher
B.F.A. in Art with a concentration in Painting
Hometown: Charlotte
Graduation Year: 2026
Tell us a little about yourself! How did you first get interested in art?
I always had an interest in drawing growing up, but it wasn’t something I really let myself pursue until after finishing high school, starting college, and realizing I didn’t know what I wanted to do. It was around COVID that I really decided to take art more seriously, and I began my first studio classes at Central Piedmont Community College.
What kind of career do you hope to have?
I hope to teach at a college or university one day, or even K-12. I love the academic environment and think that it would be a good way to balance life as an artist with my desire to keep learning.
What is your favorite thing about UNC Charlotte and the Department of Art & Art History?
My peers have been such a source of inspiration. Being in Senior Thesis 1 and 2, it has been a privilege to share a studio space with my other artists, all of us working towards a final show. It has been so valuable to have their feedback in addition to my professors’, and I think it’s something that makes the Department of Art & Art History particularly special.
Do you participate in any community activities or work in the Charlotte arts/design community?
In 2023, I began working as an intern for the Airy Knoll Arts Project, a nonprofit founded by the late Elizabeth Ross. I spent the summers of 2023-25 assisting with several week-long sessions composed of a range of ages, as well as serving as a studio assistant. I assisted with teaching younger students and really discovered my love for teaching through these experiences.
Do you have any scholarships?
I received the Roderick MacKillop Painting Merit Scholarship, which has been a boon to me in my final semester at UNC Charlotte. This scholarship has allowed me to pursue more creative avenues in my work, and allowed me to feel more free to explore different mediums as I continue the creation of my pieces for my upcoming Senior Thesis exhibition.
When you are not in class, studying, or working, what do you like to do for fun?
I like to hike, write, or play video games!