What is my work about?
My work employs alternating modes of abstraction and observation to explore how individual experience can limit and expand perception. I draw phenomena that is beyond our vision, in particular astronomical images. Constructing the drawings through a slow process of observing and mark making highlight the idiosyncratic choices made in the process and the work?s subjectivity. Tensions between craft and science, past and present, and touch and image are important to the work. I am interested in the attempt to observe something that remains out of reach, and ultimately, how this pursuit reflects back on the observer, herself.
Artist Statement
My work employs alternating modes of abstraction and observation to explore how individual experience can limit and expand our perception. My work connects the field of art to a wideranging theoretical and scientific exploration of the interaction between the edges of empirical knowledge and the capacity for discovery and wonder.
My creative research draws upon astronomical images created by time-lapse exposures, spectroscopes, and computer-enhanced photographs. I collect these images from books and on the Internet, and often use the photographs that appear more abstract as starting points for work. I am interested in how these ambiguous appearing images reveal information to us. I extract shapes, lines, colors and patterns that serve as starting points for compositional strategies. It is important to note that my research of the night sky occurs in my studio through found images, and not outside. This is a mediated relationship with nature, not a romantic experience of looking directly at the night sky. The hand-made quality of my work is amplified through the process; space, surface and color are invented through a range of marks. Rather than acting as an illustration of the found photos, the work becomes a record of my personal observation of motion, space, and time; an attempt to draw phenomena that is beyond our vision.
I am indebted to the history and forms of early modernism, particularly the history of abstraction. The figure/ ground relationship remains tenuous in my work; it’s an abstraction that is not too far from its source but whose discovery is not contingent on the source being revealed. I create tensions in my work between past and present, touch and image, science and craft.
The process of making this work is an exploration into both formal and material concerns that are analogous to the attitude of awe of observing outer space. I am interested in the attempt to observe something that remains out of reach, and ultimately, how this pursuit reflects back on the observer, herself.
CV
Education
2000
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
1998
MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1996
Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD
1995
BA, Connecticut College, New London, CT
Solo Exhibitions
2013
New Collage, Lula Café, Chicago, IL
2010
12 x 12, New Artists, New Work, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
The bottom of photos that look up at the sky and other observations, Julius Caesar, Chicago, IL
2007
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, IL
New Work, Illinois State University, Gallery 2, Bloomington, IL
A new drawing for Philip’s Living Room, VONZWECK, Chicago, IL
2005
New Work, Shane Campbell Gallery, Oak Park, IL
2003
Skywatching, Gahlberg Gallery, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL (catalogue)
Selected Group Exhibitions + Projects
2014
Inside Space, curated by Anne Harris, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, Il
Blurring the Line, works from the collection of Lenore Pereira and Rich Niles, Mills College Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
Le fantôme de la nature, curated by Caroline Picard, La Box, Bourges, France (catalogue)
Ghost Nature, curated by Caroline Picard, Gallery 400, UIC, Chicago, IL
2013
The Power of Ten, curated by Dan Devening, Three Walls, Chicago, IL
Art Matter, Design Cloud, Chicago, IL
Shit is Real, Devening Projects and Editions, Chicago, IL
2012
The Mind’s I, participant in a project by Anne Harris, Julius Caesar Gallery, Chicago, IL
Project 0012, curated by Edra Soto, Journey’s End, Cape Elizabeth, ME
Field Static, curated by Devin King, Caroline Picard, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL (catalogue)
Where My Cones At? curated by Ryan Travis Christian, Double Break, San Diego, CA
2011
Pulp, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
Chain Letter, Sampson Projects, Boston, MA
A Project by Philip von Zweck, Invisible Exports, NADA, Hudson, NY
Smaller Works Show, Manifest Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
Swimsuit Edition: A Visceral Body, curated by Lisa Majer, Swimming Pool Project Space, Chicago, IL
2010
Ah, Wilderness! Ebersmoore, Chicago, IL
Hand’s Tide, Regina Rex, Brooklyn, NY
New Icon, curated by Britton Bertran, Loyola Museum of Art, Chicago, IL (catalogue)
P’s & Q’s, curated by Shannon Stratton and Jeff Ward, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL (catalogue)
Quarterly Site #2: Over and Again, Twelve Galleries Project, Next Fair, Chicago, IL
2009
Streaking, Proof Gallery, Boston, MA
Pop Sizzle Hum, Tony Wight Gallery, Chicago, IL
Better to light a candle than curse in the dark, Gallery 400, Next Fair, Chicago, IL
“of or relating to the sky or visible heavens,” Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
2008
A Series of Flight Postcards, created by Leah Beeferman
Not Titled (exchange/ book) #2, created by Philip von Zweck
2007
Fifths, SWINGR, Vienna, Austria
Nada Art Fair, Shane Campbell Gallery, Miami, FL
If that was all I needed, I’d be fine, Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago, IL
2006
Figures in the Field, curated by Francesco Bonami, Julie Rodrigues, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Eric Bene, Carrie Gundersdorf, Noah Rorem, Shane Campbell Gallery, Oak Park, IL
Slowness, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL
Nada Art Fair, Shane Campbell Gallery, Miami, FL
MixArt, curated by Lisa Dorin, Dominic Molon, Stephanie Smith, Lorelei Stewart, James Hotel, Chicago, IL
2005
Richard Aldrich, Olivia Booth, Brian Fahlstrom, Carrie Gundersdorf, Daniel Hesidence, Candace Nycz,
Sterling Ruby, Marc Foxx Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Slow Down, curated by Howard Fonda, Matt Rich, University of Texas, Tyler, TX (catalogue)
Drawn Out, Gallery 400, UIC, Chicago, IL
Into the Midst, Mixture Contemporary Art, Houston, TX
2004
8 Artists, Acuna Hanson Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003
Catching Up with the Sun, curated by David Coyle, Howard Fonda, Klein Artworks, Chicago, IL
Good & Bad Things Come from Explosions, curated by Heather Hubbs, Lorelei Stewart, Anthenium, Chicago, IL
2002
The Make-Out, 12 x 12 project with Danielle Gustafson-Sundell, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Painting, Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin, curated by Shane Campbell, Green Bay, WI
Artadia Grant Recipients – Chicago, Gallery 312, Chicago, IL (catalogue)
Paper Products, curated by Dan Devening, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL (catalogue)
2001
Look; Paint, SPACES, Cleveland, OH
Carry on Drawing, curated by Avantika Bawa, Aqua Space, Savannah, GA
Serendipity, curated by Leslie Baum, Anna Kunz, Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000
Deluxe, Cermac River Building, Chicago, IL
Oil, Standard Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998
New Talent I, Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago, IL
Master of Fine Arts Thesis Show, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Selected Bibliography
2014
Picard, Caroline, Ghost Nature Catalogue Essay, Ghost Nature, published by Green Lantern Press
2012
Biles, Jeremy, “Review: Field Static,” New City, June
King, Devin and Picard, Caroline, “Field Static,” Field Static catalogue, published by Green Lantern Press
Bawa, Avantika, “Interview with Carrie Gundersdorf,” Supernature, www.drainmag.com, May
2011
“Carrie Gundersdorf: On Our Chicago Watchlist.” Artslant, December
Color plate included in On Marvelous Things Heard, by Gretchen E. Henderson, Green Lantern Press
Velez, Pedro, “Chicago 2010,” Artnet.com, January
2010
Picard, Caroline, “Carrie Gundersdorf’s 12×12,” Bad at Sports, October
Cahill, Zachary, “Critic’s Pick: Hand’s Tide, Regina Rex,” Artforum.com, September
Wenzel, Eric, “A Hardcore Commitment to Abstraction,” Artslant, August
Viera, Lauren, “Carrie Gundersdorf at Julius Caesar and MCA,” Chicago Tribune, August
Westin, Monica, “Review: 12×12, MCA,” Flavorpill.com. August
Grabner, Michelle, “Critic’s Pick: New Icon,” Artforum.com, July
Dew, Spencer, “Review: New Icon,” New City, June
Weinberg, Lauren, “Review: New Icon,” Time Out Chicago, June
Fox, Laura, “Review: New Icon,” Flavorpill.com, June
Bertran, Britton, “Show me your Icon,” New Icon catalogue essay
Gunn, Dan, “Frustrating and Metaphorical Relationships,” Artslant, March
Nichols, Thea Liberty, “Review: P’s and Q’s, HPAC,” New City, March
Stratton, Shannon and Ward, Jeff, “Surprisingly Friendly Formalism,” P’s and Q’s catalogue essay
2009
Waxman, Lori, “Summer beckons, so do group shows,” Chicago Tribune, July
Weber, Candice, “Review: “Pop Sizzle Hum” and “Single Channels,” Time Out Chicago, July
Lund, Karsten, “Review: “Pop Sizzle Hum,” Flavorpill.com, July
2007 Wenzel, Eric, “Review: Any sufficiently advanced technology…” Time Out Chicago, May
Myers, Terry R., Save the Last Dance for Me – One Work: Mary Heilmann, Afterall Press
2006
Nance, Kevin, “‘Figures’ a welcome glance of MCA Collection,” Chicago Sun-Times, February
Myers, Terry R., Slowness catalogue essay
2005
Hixson, Kathryn, “Review: Drawn Out, Gallery 400,” Art on Paper, September
Ferrrera, Annette, “Review: Drawn Out, Gallery 400,” Time Out Chicago, June
Myers, Terry R., “Review: Carrie Gundersdorf – New Work at Shane Campbell,” Art Review, April
2004
Hannum, Terence, Critic’s Pick Slide Talk, Art Chicago, May
2003
Hannum, Terence, “Review: Skywatching,” Bridge Magazine, October
Campbell, Shane, Skywatching catalogue essay
2002
Artner, Alan, “Paper exhibit breaks out into new dimension,” Chicago Tribune, March
Devening, Dan, Paper Products catalogue essay
2001
Grabner, Michelle, “Review: Serendipity Group Show,” New Art Examiner, November
1998
Grabner, Michelle, “Lake Breeze-Referential Abstraction in Chicago,” New Art Examiner, September
Visiting Artist + Speaking Appearances
2013
Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, MI, Artist Talk
Gallery 400, UIC, Chicago, IL, Panel Moderator
2012
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL, Lecture
University of Illinois, Chicago, Topics in Drawing Course, Artist Talk
Northern Illinois University, School of Art, Dekalb, IL, Lecture and Studio Visits
2011
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR, Gallery Talk
Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, Lecture
School of the Art Institute, Painting and Drawing Graduate Seminar, Chicago, IL, Visiting Critic
2010
Columbia College, Chicago, IL, Artist Talk
Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL, Artist Talk
Museum of Contemporary Art, 12 x 12 Gallery, Chicago, IL, Public Lecture
Museum of Contemporary Art, Summer Teacher Institute, Chicago, IL, Gallery Talk
2009
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, Lecture and Studio Visits
Gallery 400, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL – Talking Cure, Guest Artist to Group Discussion
Three Wallls, Chicago, IL, Artist Talk
Museum of Contemporary Art, Works in Progress, Chicago, IL
2008
Columbia College, Artist Talk
Savannah College of Art and Design, Guest Artist to Group Discussion
Columbia College, Art in Chicago Class, Artist Talk
2007
DePaul University, Gallery Talk
Illinois State University, Gallery Talk
2005
Painting Roundtable, Gallery 400, UIC, Chicago, IL, Panel Discussion
Interlink, Graduate Program, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Lecture and Studio Visits
2003
Columbia College, Chicago, IL, Advanced Drawing, Artist Talk
Illinois State University, Normal, IL, Gallery Talk
Illinois State University, Normal, IL, Advanced Painting, Artist Talk
2002
Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL, Panel Discussion
Marwen Foundation, Chicago, IL, Artist Talk
2001
University of Illinois, Chicago, Advanced Painting, Chicago, IL, Artist Talk and Studio Visits
Awards and Grants
2011: Nominee – Rome Prize, American Academy of Art
2008: Nominee – Richard H. Driehaus Award
2006: Nominee – Richard H. Driehaus Award
2002: Artadia Grant – Chicago
2000: Bingham Fellowship, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
CAAPS Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, IL
Curatorial Projects
2013
Observer Effect, co-curated with Lorelei Stewart, Gallery 400, University of Illinois, Chicago
Drawer’s Drawing, co-curated with Eric Lebofsky, Julius Caesar + Peregrine Program Gallery Spaces, Chicago, IL
2000 – 2004
deluxe projects space co-founded and co-directed by Carrie Gundersdorf, Danielle Gustafson-
Sundell, Adam Scott and Andrew Moore.
Current Position
2013 – current: Columbia University, Director of Academic Administration, Visual Arts, New York, NY
Teaching Experience
2014: Columbia University, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Painting Summer Intensive, New York, NY
2013: Ox-Bow School of Art, Faculty, Saugatuck, MI
2001 – 2013: School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Instructor, Painting and Drawing Department, Chicago, IL
2008: Northwestern University – Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Art, Theory and Practice, Evanston, IL
2007: Columbia College – Mentor, Pougialis Mentorship Program, Chicago, IL
2002: University of Illinois, Chicago – Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Art and Design, Chicago, IL
2001: School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Instructor, Early College Program, Chicago, IL