Photo: Megan Karson
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am inspired by the practice of religious ritual, discarded material culture, and vernacular manifestations of belief. Through my work, I am interested in re-imagining traditional iconographies, narratives and symbolic codes within a contemporary context by questioning assumed boundaries that dictate what is perceived as sacred and profane. It is my aim to encourage new readings of traditional forms and inherited identities.
I am inspired by the practice of religious ritual, discarded material culture, and vernacular manifestations of belief. Through my work, I am interested in re-imagining traditional iconographies, narratives and symbolic codes within a contemporary context by questioning assumed boundaries that dictate what is perceived as sacred and profane. It is my aim to encourage new readings of traditional forms and inherited identities.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Holy Ground | Steeple of Light Gallery | Kansas City, MO | 2017
Charting Devotion | Kansas City Kansas Public Library | Kansas City, KS | 2016
Trip the Light Fantastic | UMKC Gallery of Art | Kansas City, MO | 2016
Rituals of Release | Grace Episcopal Cathedral | Topeka, KS | 2015
As Above, So Below | Plus Modern Design |Kansas City, MO | 2015
JURIED EXHIBITIONS
Balanced Response | Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA | 2023
Growth | Creative Citizen Studios & Associated Artists of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2023
Art of the State | State Museum of Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA | 2022-23
__alachian [ah-LATCH-en] | Three Rivers Arts Festival | Pittsburgh, PA | 2022
108th Annual Exhibition | Associated Artists of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2021
Into the Light | Associated Artists of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2021
Annual Hoyt Regional Juried Art Show | Hoyt Art Center | New Castle, PA | 2021
25th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Regional Exhibition | Best in Show | Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art | Ligonier, PA | 2020
Kansas City Flatfile & Digitalfile | H&R Block Artspace | Kansas City, MO | 2018
12 x 12 | Honorable Mention | Lawrence Arts Center | Lawrence, KS | 2017
Mudras | Leedy-Voulkos Art Center | Kansas City, MO | 2017
Shades of Blue: Contemporary Cyanotypes | Potter Art Gallery | St. Joseph, MO | 2016
UMKC Student Exhibition | UMKC Gallery of Art | Kansas City, MO | 2016
2015 Annual Diversity Art Exhibition | 1st Place in Photography | EXPO New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
UMKC Student Exhibition | UMKC Gallery of Art | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Between Me & Thee | Greenlease Gallery | Kansas City, MO | 2011
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
This Road Is the Heart Opening | Museum of Contemporary Religious Art | St. Louis, MO | 2022
Surface to Source | Museum of Contemporary Religious Art | St. Louis, MO | 2020
Arts @ Keystone | Keystone Methodist Church | Kansas City, MO | 2017
Holiday Plums | Ward & Ward Fine Art Gallery | Kansas City, MO | 2016
La Reina | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Experiments in Blue | Plus Modern Design | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Enactus Arts & Entrepreneurship Project | Bloch School of Management | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Dia de Los Muertos | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Tortilla Pachanga | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2015
My Dress Hangs There | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2012
Dia de Los Muertos | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2011
Arts in the Heart | Donnelly College | Kansas City, KS | 2011
San Benedetto e suoi Monasteri a Subiaco | Il Monastero di San Benedetto | Subiaco, Italy | 2010
WORK EXPERIENCE
Director/Curator | Verostko Center for the Arts
Latrobe, PA | July 2018 - Present
Curatorial Assistant | Hallmark Art Collection
Kansas City, MO | March 2017 - July 2018
Framer and Installation Technician | Ward & Ward Fine Art Framing & Gallery
Kansas City, MO | November 2010 – June 2018
Art & Environment Liaison | St. Francis Xavier Parish
Kansas City, MO | November 2013 - July 2018
Graduate Teaching Assistant | University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO | August 2014 – May 2016
Service Learning Coordinator | Donnelly College
Kansas City, KS | January 2010 – August 2014
Community Arts Space Coordinator | Donnelly College
Kansas City, KS | March 2011 – August 2014
Gallery Consultant | Farm to Market Bread Co.
Kansas City, MO | May 2013 – January 2014
Benedictine Volunteer | Il Monastero di San Benedetto
Subiaco, Italy | September 2009 – September 2010
Intern & Exhibitions Assistant | Hill Museum & Manuscript Library
Collegeville, MN | August 2007 – May 2009
Retail Associate | Durwin Rice Art & Antiques
Kansas City, MO | March 2006 – August 2007
EDUCATION
Master of Arts – Studio Art
University of Missouri – Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | 2016
Bachelor of Arts – Studio Art
Saint John’s University | Collegeville, MN | 2009
Holy Ground | Steeple of Light Gallery | Kansas City, MO | 2017
Charting Devotion | Kansas City Kansas Public Library | Kansas City, KS | 2016
Trip the Light Fantastic | UMKC Gallery of Art | Kansas City, MO | 2016
Rituals of Release | Grace Episcopal Cathedral | Topeka, KS | 2015
As Above, So Below | Plus Modern Design |Kansas City, MO | 2015
JURIED EXHIBITIONS
Balanced Response | Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA | 2023
Growth | Creative Citizen Studios & Associated Artists of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2023
Art of the State | State Museum of Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA | 2022-23
__alachian [ah-LATCH-en] | Three Rivers Arts Festival | Pittsburgh, PA | 2022
108th Annual Exhibition | Associated Artists of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2021
Into the Light | Associated Artists of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2021
Annual Hoyt Regional Juried Art Show | Hoyt Art Center | New Castle, PA | 2021
25th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Regional Exhibition | Best in Show | Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art | Ligonier, PA | 2020
Kansas City Flatfile & Digitalfile | H&R Block Artspace | Kansas City, MO | 2018
12 x 12 | Honorable Mention | Lawrence Arts Center | Lawrence, KS | 2017
Mudras | Leedy-Voulkos Art Center | Kansas City, MO | 2017
Shades of Blue: Contemporary Cyanotypes | Potter Art Gallery | St. Joseph, MO | 2016
UMKC Student Exhibition | UMKC Gallery of Art | Kansas City, MO | 2016
2015 Annual Diversity Art Exhibition | 1st Place in Photography | EXPO New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
UMKC Student Exhibition | UMKC Gallery of Art | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Between Me & Thee | Greenlease Gallery | Kansas City, MO | 2011
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
This Road Is the Heart Opening | Museum of Contemporary Religious Art | St. Louis, MO | 2022
Surface to Source | Museum of Contemporary Religious Art | St. Louis, MO | 2020
Arts @ Keystone | Keystone Methodist Church | Kansas City, MO | 2017
Holiday Plums | Ward & Ward Fine Art Gallery | Kansas City, MO | 2016
La Reina | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Experiments in Blue | Plus Modern Design | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Enactus Arts & Entrepreneurship Project | Bloch School of Management | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Dia de Los Muertos | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2015
Tortilla Pachanga | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2015
My Dress Hangs There | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2012
Dia de Los Muertos | Mattie Rhodes Center | Kansas City, MO | 2011
Arts in the Heart | Donnelly College | Kansas City, KS | 2011
San Benedetto e suoi Monasteri a Subiaco | Il Monastero di San Benedetto | Subiaco, Italy | 2010
WORK EXPERIENCE
Director/Curator | Verostko Center for the Arts
Latrobe, PA | July 2018 - Present
Curatorial Assistant | Hallmark Art Collection
Kansas City, MO | March 2017 - July 2018
Framer and Installation Technician | Ward & Ward Fine Art Framing & Gallery
Kansas City, MO | November 2010 – June 2018
Art & Environment Liaison | St. Francis Xavier Parish
Kansas City, MO | November 2013 - July 2018
Graduate Teaching Assistant | University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO | August 2014 – May 2016
Service Learning Coordinator | Donnelly College
Kansas City, KS | January 2010 – August 2014
Community Arts Space Coordinator | Donnelly College
Kansas City, KS | March 2011 – August 2014
Gallery Consultant | Farm to Market Bread Co.
Kansas City, MO | May 2013 – January 2014
Benedictine Volunteer | Il Monastero di San Benedetto
Subiaco, Italy | September 2009 – September 2010
Intern & Exhibitions Assistant | Hill Museum & Manuscript Library
Collegeville, MN | August 2007 – May 2009
Retail Associate | Durwin Rice Art & Antiques
Kansas City, MO | March 2006 – August 2007
EDUCATION
Master of Arts – Studio Art
University of Missouri – Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | 2016
Bachelor of Arts – Studio Art
Saint John’s University | Collegeville, MN | 2009