On June 18, 5:30 – 6:30pm, join us for an Artist Reception welcoming Artists Mia Schulte and Judith Smith to Harlequin! All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
Meet our Featured Artists for Million Dollar Quartet, Mia Schulte and Judith Smith. Their work will be shown in the State Theater Lobby throughout the production, from June 18 – July 26, 2026.
Meet Mia Schulte
Mia Schulte was born in Turkey and grew up in a family that traveled and lived in many countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. Her careers have ranged from corporate work in Washington, D.C., to art teacher, to full time artist. Mia moved to Washington 19 years ago, and currently resides in Olympia. Inspired by the natural beauty of the state, she incorporates the beauty of natural forms in her abstract compositions. Her work has been shown in over 50 exhibitions, including the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Seattle Design Center, Bellevue Community Art Museum, Tacoma Community College Gallery, as well as galleries and exhibitions in Seattle, Bellingham, Edmonds, Bellevue, and other cities throughout Washington and Oregon. She was selected to be in a show at the Prince Street Gallery in New York City. She is a member of Women Painters of Washington, and most recently her work was selected for the Hollywood Movie “AVA.”
Mia Schulte: Artist Statement
My art is a reflection of all of the influences in my life. I often think about a painting long before the image materializes. I look to nature for my forms and shapes, and look to my emotions/experiences for my image.
I work on the floor so that I can have a 360-degree view and feel closer to the work. I often apply multiple layers combining the various mediums such as acrylic, ink, pastel, charcoal, etc. The painting evolves with each new layer as I proceed to clarify the message/feeling that I want to express. I am interested in painting about my impressions of a place/experience, and thoughts about life in general.
Having studied and worked in various styles, I found that when I began working from memories, it was as if I had found home.
Meet Judith Smith
Judith’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Pittsburgh, and a graduate degree in Art as Applied to Medicine from the University of Toronto. She began her professional life as an artist in 1965, as the medical illustrator for McGill University. Subsequently, she enjoyed almost twenty years exploring all aspects of printmaking. Eventually health concerns caused her to abandon this medium and she turned to neon sculpture combined with found objects. Following a five year flirtation with electricity, Judith discovered the excitement of using pastels in various ways. In recent years she has added encaustic painting to her arsenal. Currently she is using her pastels to enhance an exploration of mixed media on canvas. The artist was born in Pennsylvania and currently resides in Thurston County in a 115 year old farmhouse along with her husband and standard poodle named Kafka.
Judith Smith: Artist Statement
Coming from a background in medical illustration, drawing has always been my strength. Pastels afford me the opportunity of drawing and painting at the same time. I love the direct involvement of pigment between hand and paper. For me, pastel is the only medium that truly captures and employs the electricity and intensity of color in painting. It is indeed “Magic Dust”! I use it now as an integral part of my mixed media work and also in my encaustic paintings.
“Whatever I choose as subject matter, my focus follows form and color, then line, and always beauty. I believe that beauty is inseparable from power and
content; these are important considerations in my work.”
