Artist Statement & Biography
“Taking oneself too seriously is a dangerous endeavor that robs us of considerable joy. There is a certain kind of person that defines themselves by what they don't like. I prefer to define myself by what I do. Joy is a crucial element of the human experience. It can and should be the domain of art, and it is an incredible gift to be able to bring a little bit of laughter and some beauty into people's lives. Thus, elements of wonder and humor have become definitive components of my work. I strive to push the boundaries between photography and other art forms to communicate the inherent vibrancy of the world around us.”
An award-winning artist, Amy studied Fine Art Photography at the University of New Mexico. Unable to see a way to make a living at it at a young age, she went on to earn a BA in Psychology and ultimately a PhD in Ecology. She has now come full circle, working as an artist full time. Amy's process is a fusion of original photography and digital techniques (no AI!) to create playful, iconic images from the imagination. Her bold, vibrant, fantastical, and undeniably fun mixed digital media collages evoke a sense of wonder and irreverence. Best known for her “After Oz” series, Amy’s new media collages depict scenes and tell stories with a distinctive vision and quirky sense of humor. Having evolved with the photography genre from black and white wet media to the digital age, Amy has been motivated to define herself without apology as an artist with a distinct vision.
Amy's work is widely collected locally and internationally and is held in public collections, including the permanent collections of the City of Albuquerque and the state of New Mexico. She has been named a “Local Treasure” by the Albuquerque Art Business Association (AABA) and had work featured in museums and national art shows. Her work has also been featured in a variety of publications, donned book covers, and just made people laugh. As a way of giving back to the art community, she founded Ghostwolf Gallery in Albuquerque Old Town, a contemporary gallery that highlights the work of local artists with a truly unique vision. She also volunteers as the President of the AABA, and is a past VP of the Corrales Society of Artists. Amy lives and works in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband Stefan and her two rescue dogs. You can find her work online at amymditto.art or see it in person at Ghostwolf Gallery in Old Town Albuquerque.
You can purchase of her work via this website or call 505.933.9698
Curriculum vitae
professional
2016-present Artist/Owner/Curator Ghostwolf Gallery
2023 Jury Committee Corrales Society of Artists
2022-present President Albuquerque Art Business Association
2020-2022 Vice President Albuquerque Art Business Association
2015-2017 Vice President Corrales Society of Artists
2013-present Social Media Manager Corrales Society of Artists
2016-2019 Santa Fe Artists Market
2010-present Co-owner Aperture Photography
awards
2019 2019 “Local Treasure” award from the Albuquerque Art Business Association
2017 Winner’s Showcase, “Red Head #2: The Flapper”, Color it Red 2017, Shadow
2016 Winner’s Showcase, “Red Head #2: The Flapper”, Color it Red 2016, Red Dog News
2016 Winner’s Showcase, “Immaculate Perception”, Color it Red 2016, Red Dog News
2016-2017 Branding artist for the Placitas Artists’ Series
2016 Branding artist for the Corrales Art & Studio Tour
2016 Best Digital Artist, New Mexico Arts & Crafts Festival
2015 Honorable mention, Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival Poster Art, Sunshine Artist Magazine
2015 Poster & T-shirt Artist, 27th Annual Balloon Fiesta Show, Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival
2015 Best Digital Artist, New Mexico Arts & Crafts Festival
2015 First Place “Dia de los Moo-uertos”; “Temptation” & “Local Geometry” winner’s showcase gallery- Color it Red, Red Dog News
2014 Best Booth New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo
2014 Juror’s Choice “Meanwhile, Back in Kansas” & winner’s circle “Dead Head”- Color it Red, Red Dog News & Matrix Fine Art
2013 Honorable mention “Intensity”- Color it Red, (Red Dog News)
2013 Honorable mention “Solace” abq ARTS 6th Annual Editor’s Choice Photo Contest
2012 Honorable mention “Straw Horse”- 21st Annual Fall American Photography Competition at the Hubbard Museum of the American West
2011 Second Place “Where There’s Smoke”- IMAGE New Mexico
one-man shows
2023 Popejoy Hall Benefactor’s Lounge, During Hamilton & Aladdin, Albuquerque, NM
2017 March-May: Popejoy Hall Benefactor’s Lounge, Albuquerque, NM
2016 June/July: “On & Around The Route” (Recognizing 90th Anniversary of the Mother Road), Loma Colorado Main Library, Rio Rancho, NM
2016 March: Popejoy Hall Benefactor’s Lounge, Albuquerque, NM
2013 December 2013: O’Niell’s Irish Pub– Artist of the Month
select juried exhibitions
2022 "VIVID: A Sampling of Today's Albuquerque Art Scene" - Attleboro Arts Museum, Attleboro, MA
2022 “Anniversary Exhibition #1”- NM Cancer Center
2019 “Movers & Shakers: Artists Who Teach, Lead, & Inspire”- NM Cancer Center
2015 March/April: Black & White Group Exhibition- New Mexico Art League
2014-2016 Placitas Artists’ Series
2011; 2014 IMAGE NM
2013-2023 Corrales Art & Studio Tour
2012; 2013; 2014 In Sight NM
2012 In the Mind’s Eye: Albuquerque Photographers Gallery
2011-2014; 2017 December: Annual New Mexico Photographic Art Show
2012-2013 Fall/Spring: 21st Annual Fall American Photography Exhibition at the Hubbard Museum of the American West
published work
2021 May/June edition Shadow & Light Magazine, Showcase Portfolio, "An Evolution in the Making"
2021 March/April edition Shadow & Light Magazine , “Stormchaser”, showcase image
2017 March/April edition Shadow & Light Magazine, Showcase Portfolio "After Oz"
2015 Spring edition Malpais Review, front & back cover art “San Francisco Skyline” & “Meanwhile, Back in Kansas”
2015 Local Flavor Magazine “Winter on Canvas” featuring “Solace”
2015 May/June edition Shadow & Light Magazine , “Local Geometry”, showcase image
2014 September/October edition Shadow & Light Magazine “Meanwhile, Back in Kansas”, showcase image
2014 2014 Calendar CSA/New Mexico Artists’ Market. Featured artist “Dark & Stormy Night”- June. “Solace” honorable mention, back cover
2013 July/August edition abq Arts 6th Annual Editor’s Choice Photo Contest: “Solace”, honorable mention
2012 Volume IV: Diffusion Magazine, Muse Showcase, “Blue Chamisa #5”
public collections
State of New Mexico permanent collection, Lieutenant governor's office; "Wisdom of the Four" (special edition)
City of Albuquerque Art In Public Places; “Wisdom of the Four”
Fred Luna Multi-generational Center, Los Lunas, New Mexico; “El Rey”
Tularosa Senior Center, Tularosa, New Mexico; “Dia de los Moo-uertos”
Roswell, NM "JOY" Center "Black Dahlia" (artist proof)
private collections
Works held in private collections across the United States & Europe.
judging experience & mentoring:
2023 Juror Annual NM Photographic Art Show
2017-present Juror and curator "Women's Work", "WILD", "Superfunkadelic" annual juried exhibitions- Ghostwolf Gallery
2019 Judge, Pictures of the Year, Enchanted Lens Camera Club
2019 Judge, Encantada Annual Juried Exhibition Sponsored by the Rio Grande Art Association
2017, 2023 Student Mentor, Albuquerque Public Schools
2015 Juror, ANMPAS
2015 Judge, Patterns & Textures for the Enchanted Lens Camera Club
2013-2015;2017 Juror, Annual METRO Photography Competition for Albuquerque High School Students
2013 Juror, The Way I See It, Annual Juried Show at The Albuquerque Photographers’ Gallery