Education
B.S. Computer Science, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Self-taught artist
Exhibitions
Geometrically Speaking II, curated by Angela Bryant, Group Exhibition with Jerome Acks, Melody Sarantini, Samantha Bittman, Tom Burtonwood, Sam Jaffe and others, Chicago, IL, 2011
Chicago Artists Month Exhibition, Las Manos Gallery, Group Exhibition, Chicago, IL, 2011
The Paper Exhibition, Las Manos Gallery, Group Exhibition, Chicago, IL, 2011
Geometrically Composed, Las Manos Gallery, Group Exhibition, Chicago, IL, 2010
New Work, Heaven Gallery, Three Person Exhibition, Chicago, IL, 2010
War Machines, Swell Gallery, West Dundee, IL Group Exhibition, 2010
New Noyes, Noyes Art Center, Evanston, IL, 2010
The Evidence Against Us, Las Manos Gallery, Chicago, IL 2010
The Conference Room Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Group Exhibition 2008
Joseph Frasca Works on Paper Exhibition – ATC Gallery Gallery, Chicago IL 2008
Art Part(l)y, Re-S.E.E.-ycle, Artist Collective Group show, Evanston, IL – 2008
Textaport, Caro d'Offay Gallery, Chicago – 2008
ATC Select, Critic's Choice – Guest Critic Paul Klein, ATC Gallery, Chicago IL – 2007
Textaport Caro d'Offay Gallery, Chicago IL – 2007
Art5, Faculty and Staff of the Art Institute of Chicago, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2007
Curator’s Choice Exhibition, Around the Coyote Gallery, Chicago, IL 2007
Subtle Combat, Two person show with Burtonwood and Holmes, Around the Coyote Gallery, Chicago IL 2007
Colorist Chess, Caro d'Offay Gallery, Chicago IL 2006
Collaboraction, Sketchbook 6, Chicago (group exhibition) 2006
Miniatures and Multiples, Around the Coyote Gallery, Chicago, IL 2005
Curator’s Choice Exhibition, Around the Coyote Gallery, Chicago, IL 2005
Collections
United Airlines, Chicago, IL
Collection of Tom Skilling
Press / Articles
Klein, Paul, Art Letter, Nov 17, 2011, http://www.artletter.com/2011/11/a-bountiful-weekend-of-art.html
McFarlan, Emily, Review, in Courier-News/Sun-Times, June, 2010
Chicago Journal, Apr 2007
News Star, Apr 2007
Newcity Chicago, Jan 2007
Chicago Sun Times, Aug 2006
Newcity Chicago, Dec 2005
Associations / Honors
Resident artist, The Ragdale Foundation, 2008
Art Institute of Chicago, Departmental Specialist, Medieval through Modern European Painting and Sculpture, 2006-present
"Dialogue" critique group with Sarah Krepp, artist and Professor Emerita, Painting Program, School of Art and Design, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign IL (UIUC), 2009-Present
Intuit: The Center for Outsider and Intuitive Art, Program Director of Collections and Exhibitions – 2010-Present
Biography
I come from a technology background, studying computer science at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and then developing business software for more than a decade. I also come from a multi-racial and multi-cultural environment, which I feel has planted me in a lot of “in-between” situations that have been both challenging and hugely educational. It seemed to help develop a taste for critical thinking about deeply held beliefs and basic assumptions about one’s place or why things are. In a lot of ways I believe my systematizing tendencies, my impulse to make, and my desire to question are all feeding the art I am engaged with today.
My early interest in software development stemmed from its malleability as a medium of creativity. I liked how computers gave me an ability to create things that worked, operated and had a bit of a life of their own, but also could have an expressive quality. From childhood I wrote my own games, music programs and digital “painting” software just for fun. I also enjoyed painting, drawing and art in more traditional media, though back then of course I didn’t have much understanding of the art world and its concerns.
During my time developing software as an adult, I began to take great interest in wider concerns. I read philosophy, art criticism, art history, economics, political economy, cultural criticism, art magazines and watched a lot of independent film. I would “assign” myself reading material based on interesting ideas that branched from what I had read prior, and also with a curiosity for critical alternatives, never wanting to feel too embedded in any one point of view. I felt a need for more expression than just making things that worked.
I thought at first I would return to my roots of making games, but I ultimately didn’t feel it would be stimulating enough for someone at my stage in life. I briefly looked into becoming an economist, thinking the life of the mind was the thing for me, and that this offered a blend of theory and real-world relevance. But I was ultimately drawn to art for its combination of ideas, hands-on doing and its potential impact. And it was fun. It let me explore whatever I wanted. So, it began to seem like making art would allow me to do everything I cared about. I have since surrounded myself with art and art-making almost every day of my life, whether its working at the Art Institute, being part of a group of practicing artists, having shows around Chicago and of course spending time in the studio.