BELLINGHAM, WA, November 13, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Colleen Hoffenbacker has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Hoffenbacker is a distinguished artist recognized for her innovative approach to classical painting and her expertise in AI-assisted and floral oil painting. Since 2002, she has maintained an independent studio practice under Colleen Hoffenbacker Fine Art, developing a methodology that merges classical atelier techniques with enhanced digital tools. Working from her home studio, she creates oil paintings of natural forms that begin as digitally augmented, AI-mediated imagery. Through observational memory, compositional inflection, and painterly modulation, each piece evolves toward layered material resolution. Her professional responsibilities include preparing artworks for gallery exhibitions and publication, private instruction, cultivating relationships with collectors, curators, and institutions, and pursuing ongoing education to deepen both her artistic practice and entrepreneurial skills.

A significant milestone in Ms. Hoffenbacker's career occurred in 2023, when she became the first painter to be granted United States copyright for her hand-painted, AI-assisted artworks. This achievement marked a pivotal moment in the recognition of AI-collaborative art within the fine arts community. Her work has been featured in an interview article by the Center for Art Law and highlighted in several international art publications, further establishing her as a leader in her field.

Ms. Hoffenbacker's artistic journey began at an early age. At 6 years old, one of her pieces was selected for exhibition at a children's art museum, foreshadowing her lifelong dedication to the arts. She initially pursued a career as a graphic artist before dedicating herself to traditional painting with studies at the Academy of Classical Design. Her expertise in AI-collaborative and floral oil paintings is widely recognized, and she is praised for achieving a high level of mastery in these areas.

Her professional affiliations reflect her commitment to advancing women in the arts. She has been a member of Allied Artists of America Inc since 2023 and Women Painters of Washington in Seattle since 2017, and she has held the designation of associate member with distinction with American Women Artists since 2016. These organizations have provided support and professional development that Ms. Hoffenbacker credits as instrumental to her success.

Among her most notable accomplishments, Ms. Hoffenbacker takes particular pride in having one of her paintings selected for the Polaris Mission of the Lunar Codex. Personally invited by Samuel Peralta, Canadian physicist and founder of the project, she will have her artwork launched aboard the Astrobotic Griffin Mission One to the moon. This initiative aims to preserve global heritage, and Ms. Hoffenbacker is honored to contribute to this historic endeavor.

Ms. Hoffenbacker's academic background includes a Master of Arts in education from Western Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in fine and studio arts from Western Washington University. Her education has provided a strong foundation for both her artistic practice and professional achievements, supported by formal academic training, professional mentorship, and decades of study with master artists including Daniel Gerhartz, Ray Roberts, Phil Starke, Jeffrey Mims, Sadie Valeri, and David Leffel, as well as top illustrators from New Masters Academy.

Throughout her career, Ms. Hoffenbacker has received numerous awards and honors. In 2025, she earned the First Place Award at the Artsy & Artnet Competition at Teravarna Gallery in Los Angeles, as well as honorable mentions at From My Point of View at Cordata Gallery in Bellingham and the 9th Flower International at Teravarna Gallery. She was named a finalist at Timeless at Cross Currents Gallery and received an additional honorable mention from The Art List in Delray Beach. In 2024, she was recognized with an honorable mention from Allied Artists of America in New York, the Talent Prize at the 8th Flower International at Teravarna, and further honorable mentions from Circle Foundation for the Arts in Lyon and Blue Space Gallery in North Carolina. That same year, she was honored with a Selected Artist Award by Artsin Square in Toronto. She also received special mention by Victoria J. Fry in Create! Magazine #41 in Philadelphia in 2023 and was awarded second place at the Spring Juried Show by American Women Artists in Queensbury in 2016.

Ms. Hoffenbacker's commitment to civic engagement is demonstrated through her support of The Nature Conservancy, reflecting her dedication to environmental causes alongside her artistic pursuits. Her personal interests include kayaking, hiking, skiing, biking, and exploring the Puget Sound region and natural areas of the Pacific Northwest with her spouse.

Looking ahead, Ms. Hoffenbacker envisions placing her paintings, each bearing distinctive copyright status, within a museum or cultural institution that recognizes the historical significance of this moment in visual culture. Created amid shifting boundaries of authorship shaped by AI, her work offers a material record of human agency and artistic innovation. By situating her practice within this evolving discourse, she invites institutions to consider the long-term cultural and archival value of acquiring works that reflect both legal precedent and painterly resolution. She hopes her work contributes to a future-forward world shaped by care, creativity, evolving mediums, and a belief in the enduring power of beauty.

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