Education
1992 M.F.A. in Studio Art, University of Illinois at Chicago. Chicago, IL.
1988 B.F.A. in Fine Arts/Painting, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Creative Activities
Solo and 2-Person Exhibitions
2022 Plot Structure, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL.
2021 Between Tomorrow and Yesterday, A Memorial, Terrain Biennial, Oak Park, IL
Facing Two Walls, Slow Gallery, Chicago. (Upcoming, with Jean Frater)
2020 This Scrim Became One, Aspect Ratio Projects, Chicago. (with Nick Albertson)
2019 Nature and Nurture: An Ode to 1031 S. Harvey, Terrain Biennial, Oak Park, IL
2018 Reque Proque, Fernwey Gallery, Chicago. (with Julie Weber)
2016 Between the Interference and the Message, Mission Projects, Chicago, IL.
2014 The Painter’s Other Library, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
2011 Neither Plenitude nor Vacancy, INOVA, Milwaukee, WI.
2008 Deep, Dark, Rowland Contemporary, NEXT ART FAIR, Chicago.
2007 The Pillow and the Painting, Rowland Contemporary, Chicago, IL.
2006 …even in a Room Full of Darkness, Mary and Leigh Block Museum, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Satellites & Scotomas, After and Above, Sonnenschein Gallery, Lake Forest College.
(blanc), The Suburban, Oak Park, IL. Exhibition and Launch Party for my custom perfume.
2002 Gunpowder and Oil Paint, Allen/Thomas Gallery, Neenah, WI.
2001 I Know I've Forgotten Something, The Suburban, Oak Park, IL.
2000 New Drawings. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1997 More Squares: 2 Grids, 4 Abstract Paintings, 16 Landscapes. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1996 If/Then: four Paintings, a Lectern and a Book. Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL.
Not a Forest. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1994 New Paintings: Landscapes and Objects, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Group Exhibitions
2022 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Design Museum of Chicago (Organized by Industry of the Ordinary).
2020 Face to Face, Zolla-Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Four Flags: Chicago, Chicago Manual Style, Chicago, IL.
Four Flags: Belgium. (Travelled to Network Aalst, Aalst, Kunsthal, Ghent, and Be-Part, Waregem, Belgium.)
2019 On the Fence, Aspect Ratio Projects, Chicago, IL.
Both Sides Now. Adds Donna, Chicago, IL.
2018 One Last One, Fernwey Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Orange, Slow Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Dangerous Professors, Flatland Gallery, Houston, TX.
Spertus Fellows Exhibition, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Chicago, IL
2017 Tree Drawings, Terrain biennial, 125 S. Ridgeland, Oak Park, IL. Two Person Show with Lindsey French.
Without Power, No Cookies, Slow Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2016 Expo Chicago, Zolla-Lieberman Gallery and The Mission Projects, Chicago, IL. International Art Fair
Chicago and Vicinity, Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2014 Art Miami14, Zolla-Lieberman Gallery, Miami, FL. International Art Fair.
Dallas Biennial 2014, 500 Singleton Gallery. National exhibition.
2013 Ornament, Riverside Art Center, Riverside, IL. Local exhibition.
Streamlines: Ephemeral Presence in Contemporary Art, Sakyadhita International Conference, Majaprajati Vihar, Vaishali, India.
Structures for Reading: Text, (Infra)Structure, and the Reading Body in Contemporary Art, Center for Book and Paper Arts, Columbia College, Chicago, IL. National Exhibition.
Art Matter, DesignCloud, Chicago, IL. Local exhibibition.
Ex. 11, Brazos Gallery, Richland College, Dallas, TX. National exhibition.
2012 Gallery as Host, University of Texas, Dallas, TX.
Dallas Biennial 2012, http://dallasbiennial.org/volume-2/.
2010 Faculty Exhibit. DePaul University Art Museum, Chicago, IL.
2009 The Sleep (of Reason Produces Monsters, I Think), The Poor Farm, Waupaca County, WI.
Because the Night, Guggenheim Gallery, Chapman University, Orange, CA.
2007-2008 The New Authentics: Artists of the Post-Jewish Generation, Spertus Museum of Judaica, Chicago, IL. (Travelled to Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA).
2005 Situational Painting: Matthew Girson, Scott Short, Scott Stack, Gahlberg Gallery, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Faculty Exhibit. DePaul University Art Museum, Chicago, IL.
The Limits of Representation, Janette Kennedy Gallery, University of Texas, Dallas.
2002 Tasty Dog, LAC Exhibition Space, Krems, Austria.
Digitalis, Sonnenshein Gallery, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL.
Faculty Exhibit. DePaul University Art Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2001 Gallery Artists Exhibition. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago.
2000 A Broad View: Landscape Painting and Photography. University Art Gallery, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI.
(Re)Position. Oak Park Art League, Oak Park, IL.
Under the Influence. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1999 SmallWorks. Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Gallery Artists Exhibition. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Butter. Margin, Chicago, IL.
1998 Ceaseless. Crown Center Gallery, Loyola University, Chicago, IL.
Chicago Hip. Rocket Gallery, London, England.
1997 Gallery Artists Exhibition. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
An Installation Demanding Active Viewer Participation, Art1997 Chicago, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL.
1996 Gallery Artists Exhibition. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
15th Benefit Exhibition. N.A.M.E. Inc., Chicago, IL.
1995 Social Function. Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Small Paintings, Broad Shoulders. Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI (traveled).
Gallery Artists Exhibition. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Burning Down the House. Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario.
1994 A Passionate Perspective: Francis and June Speizer Collection of Art, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL.
The Bridge Show. Lannon Gallery, New York, NY.
Amenities. Frederick Leyton Gallery, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI.
1993 Group Exhibition. N.A.M.E. Inc., Chicago, IL.
Chicago Curators Choose Chicago Artists. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1992 Housewares on Level 6. Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Not Working in LA. Nomadic Site, Los Angeles, CA.
Monody. Gallery 400, Chicago, IL.
C.A.A. Exhibition, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL.
Performances
2017-ongoing Author/Director/Convener, Murmur of Democracy, Multiple Sites
2014 Author/Director, Dear Poet…All Light: Reading from the Correspondence between Paul Celan and Nellie Sachs, Chicago Cultural Center, sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, performed by Jeannie Affelder and George Booker on Monday, July 14, 2014 and Saturday, July 26, 2014.
Curatorial Experience
2016 Curator, “Dianna Frid and Richard Rezac: Split Complementary,” DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL.
2004 Curator, “fitter happier: an exhibition concerning technology,” DePaul University Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2003 Curator, “Operation Human Intelligence” curated by the Curatorial Intelligence Agency (CIA), Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago. (Traveled to the Art Museum at the University of Memphis.)
2000 Curator, “Bad Directions,” Gallery 312, Chicago.
Curator, “Telesthesia and Amnescopia,” Betty Rymer Gallery, School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
1998 Co-Curator. “Concerning Truth,” Gallery 400, Chicago, IL; TBA Exhibition Space, Chicago, IL; Gallery 1926, Chicago, IL.
1997-1998 Founder, Curator, Director, Driver. 7562LR, Chicago, IL.
Awards, Grants and Fellowships
2022 University Research Council Grant, DePaul University.
2021 College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant, DePaul University.
2019 University Research Council Grant, DePaul University.
2017-2018 Fellow, Spertus Institute, Contemporary Chicago Jewish Artists Fellowship.
2017 Suchar Innovative Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, DePaul University (with H. Peter Steeves)
Discretionary Vincentian Endowment Fund Grant, DePaul Uiversity Office of Mission and Values.
2016 University Research Council Grant, DePaul University.
2015 Excellence in Teaching Award, DePaul University.
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant, DePaul University.
Collaborative Teaching Grant, DePaul University.
2014 Illinois Arts Council Agency Project Grant.
2013 College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant, DePaul University.
University Research Council Grant, Exhibition Catalog for The Painter’s Other Library, DePaul University.
2010 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant, DePaul University.
2008 University Research Council Grant, Research Travel to Rome, DePaul University.
College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant, DePaul University.
2007 University Research Council Grant, Project Development, DePaul University.
2006 Illinois Arts Council Agency Project Grant.
2005 University Research Council Grant, Exhibition Catalog for Satellites and Scotomas, DePaul University.
2004 Quality of Instruction Grant, DePaul University.
2003 University Research Council Grant, DePaul University.
Undergraduate Research Assistance Grant, DePaul University.
Undergraduate Research Assistance Grant, DePaul University.
1999 Faculty Enrichment Grant. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
1996 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant. Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, IL.
1993 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant. Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, IL.
1991 Union League Award, Chicago, IL.
1988 Painting Department Award, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA.
Publications
2020 “A Device for Seeing Past, Present, and Future of COVID-19,” Quaranzine, Issue #47, April 30, 2020, Public Collectors.
“How to Be In It, Nothing More, Nothing Less,” The COMPOUND YELLOW Manual of Prompts, Provocations, Permissions and Parameters for Everyday Practices, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, p. 71-73.
2019 “He Also Paints Self-Portraits: New Work by Herman Aguirre,” Catalog Essay for Cicatriz: New Paintings by Herman Aguirre, Zolla-Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2018 “Migraine as Metaphor: New Paintings of Scott Stack,” Catalogue essay for Scott Stack: New Paintings, Chicago Cultural Center.
2016 Zak Prekop, THE SEEN: Chicago’s International Journal of Contemporary and Modern Art, Online Issue 31. http://theseenjournal.org/art-seen-chicago/zak-prekop-shane-campbell-gallery/
“On Complements,” Catalogue essay for Dianna Frid and Richard Rezac: Split Complementary, DePaul Art Museum.
2012 “Reflections, Traditions and Representations from a Painting Studio,” Lessons and Legacies XII, ed. Sarah Horowitz, Holocaust Educational Foundation and Northwestern University, Evanston.
2011 “Bill Conger”, Chicago, Exhibition Catalogue, DePaul Art Museum.
“Is My Vision Failing or Is My Failing Vision: Notes on Studio Practice,” Exhibition Catalog/Tabloid, INOVA, Milwaukee, WI.
2004 “I Collude Therefore I Am,” Catalogue Essay for “The New Collusion,” Chicago Cultural Center
2003 “Mysterious Clarity and Vague Elegance”, Catalogue Essay for “Dan Devening and Richard Rezac”, Kunstverein Recklinghausen, Germany. (Translated into German)
“Special Report 2079C” Catalogue Essay for “Operation Human Intelligence”, Contemporary Arts Council, 2003.
2001 "Alan Cohen at the Block Museum, Northwestern University," New Art Examiner, November/December, 200. (Exhibition Review)
"Karen Lebergott at the Chicago Cultural Center," New Art Examiner, April, 2001. (Exhibition Review)
2000 “Capricious at Best: An Essay about the Relationship between Art and Life in Two Parts,” New Art Examiner, November 2000, pp. 30-35.
“An Argument for Abstract Painting: Paintings of Rebecca ShoreandAnoka Faruqee,” Exhibition Catalogue Essay, Gahlberg Gallery, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.
1999 “Kaddish by Christian Boltanski,” New Art Examiner, March, 1999, p. 64. (Book Review)
“Brennan McGaffey at TBA Exhibition Space,” New Art Examiner, September 1999, p. 51. (Exhibition Review)
Bibliography
2017 Colon, Amber, Benjamin Conboy, Timothy Duke, “Controversial author Charles Murray’s visit sparks student protest,” DePauliaonline, November 2, 2017.
Pedersen, Brendan, Emma Krup, Madeline Happold, “Spaces for Speech: Charles Murray and the Spaces for Speech,” Fourteen East Magazine, November 3, 2017. http://fourteeneastmag.com/index.php/2017/11/03/spaces-for-speech-charles-murray-and-the-depaul-response/
2014 Foumberg, Jason. “Critic’s Pick: Matthew Girson: Chicago Cultural Center,” http://artforum.com/archive/id=47585. (Exhibition Review), July, 29, 2014.
Grabner, Michelle, “Atlas Chicago: The People’s Palace,” Art in America, October 2014, pp. 67-69 (Magazine article).
Harris, Anne, “Seeing Slowly in Dark Light,” http://badatsports.com/2014/matthew-girson-seeing-slowly-in-dark-light/, (Exhibition Review), July 22, 2014.
McKean, Lise, “Beyond Darkness: Works by Matthew Girson at the Chicago Cultural Center,” (Exhibition Catalog Essay).
Pocaro, Alan, “Review: Matthew Girson/Chicago Cultural Center,”http://art.newcity.com/2014/07/16/review-matthew-girsonchicago-cultural-center/#more-16693. (Exhibition Review), July, 16, 2014.
2013 McKean, Lise, “Streamlines: Ephemeral Presence in Contemporary Art (Exhibition Catalog), Sakyadhita International Conference, Vaishali, India.
Bailey, Richard, “Ex. 11,” http://glasstire.com/2013/09/28/ex-11/. (Exhibition Review), September 28, 2013.
Steeves, H. Peter, “Gone, Missing,” Mosaic: A Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Literature, v. 46, n. 3 (Sept. 2013): 1-26. (Academic Paper).
2012 Treib, Patricia, Draw it With Your Eyes Closed: The Art of the Art Assignment, ed. By Paper Monument, New York: Paper Monument, 2012 (Citation in Book on Teaching).
2009 Grabner, Michelle, et al. Can I Come Over to Your House: The First Ten Years of the Suburban 1999-2009, Manawa: The Poor Farm Press, 2009. (Exhibition Catalog).
2007 Gunn, Dan. “Tip of the Week”, New City, Chicago, Thursday, December 27, 2007. (Exhibition Review).
Snodgrass, Susan, “Matthew Girson at Sonnenschein Gallery, Lake Forest College”, Art in America, No. 1, January 2007. (Exhibition Review).
Boris, Staci, et al. The New Authentics: Artists of the Post-Jewish Generation, Spertus Museum of Judaica, Chicago, IL (Exhibition Catalog).
2006 Loerzel, Robert. “Oak Park Artist Turns Space Into Camera,” The Oak Leaves, Wednesday, November 8, 2006. (Exhibition Review)
Steeves, H. Peter. “Matthew Girson’s Gone Missing,” Matthew Girson: Recent Paintings: Satellites, Scotomas, After and Above, Self-Published (Exhibition Catalogue Essay).
2005 Molon, Dominic, Situational Painting,” Gahlberg Gallery, College of duPage (Exhibition Catalogue Essay).
2003 Holub, Barbara. Musterbuch für ein Gewinnendes Leben (Ideal Living for a Winning Life), Triton Verlag, Vienna, 2003.
2002 Apel, Dora. Memory Effects: The Holocaust and the Art of Secondary Witnessing, Rutgers, 2002.
2000 Brunetti, John. “Matthew Girson at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery,”New Art Examiner, July/August 2000, pp. 38-39. (Exhibition Review)
Camper, Fred. “Drawing by Matthew Girson,” Chicago Reader, April 7, 2000, Vol. 29 #27. (Exhibition Review)
1999 Snodgrass, Susan (7562LR). “Report from Chicago: Staying Alive,” Art in America, April 1999, p.85.
Purcell, Greg (7562LR). “Ceaseless,” New Art Examiner, February 1999, pp.52-53. . (Exhibition Review)
1998 Herbert, Martin (7562LR). “Chicago Hip,” Time Out London, Issue #1478, December 16, 1998, p.69.
Bulka, Michael (7562LR). “Matthew Girson, et al., C-Magazine, May-August 1998, p.47. . (Exhibition Review)
Hixson, Kathryn (7562LR). “Art 1998 Chicago,” New Art Examiner, July/August 1998, p. 72.
Holub, Barbara (7562LR). “Ein Maler Als Galerist Im Pick Up Truck,” O.K.: Orstbezug: Konstruktion Ooder Prozess? (pub. Centrum fur Gegenwartskunst), pp. 108-109.
Murphy, Mary (7562LR). “Alternative Art Spaces in Chicago,” Dialogue, May/June 1998, pp. 29-31.
Wiens, Ann (7562LR). “Off the Walls,” New City, May 4, 1998, pp. 11-12.
Wiens, Ann (7562LR). “On View: Chicago; Alternative Exhibition Sites/Non-Sites,” New Art Examiner, May 1998, pp. 42-43.
1997 Frank, Nicholas (7562LR). “CAR, Jenny Perlin,” Arrtlies, Fall 1997, pp.51-52. . (Exhibition Review)
Hughes, Gordon. “In Graven Images,” New Art Examiner, April 1997, pp.26-29.
1996 Artner, Alan. “Girson’s Directness Draws Viewers In,” The Chicago Tribune, Thursday, July 18, 1996, Sec. 5, p.2. . (Exhibition Review)
Artner, Alan. “Superimposed Form Transcends Time, Associations,” The Chicago Tribune, Thursday, January 25, 1996, p. 9C. . (Exhibition Review)
Hawkins, Margaret. “Evil is the Watchword in Separate Exhibitions,” Chicago Sun-Times, Friday, January 19, 1996, p. 42.(Exhibition Review)
1995 Hixson, Kathryn. “Matthew Girson at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery,” FlashArt, January 1995, p.85. . (Exhibition Review)
Holg, Garrett. “Matthew Girson at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery,” ARTnews, January 1995, Volume 94, Number 1, pp. 167-169. (Exhibition Review)
Yood, James. “Matthew Girson at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, ARTFORUM, January 1995, pp. 90-91. (Exhibition Review)
1994 Killam, Brad. “Chicago Roundup,” Art Muscle, December/January, 1995, Volume 9, Edition 2, p.35. (Exhibition Review)
Staff. New Yorker, September 19, 1994, p. 28.
1993 Bulka, Michael. “Chicago Curators Choose Chicago Artists, Dialogue, November/December 1993, p.71. (Exhibition Review)
Grisham, Esther. “Chicago Curators Choose Chicago Artists,” New Art Examiner, October 1993, pp.44-45. (Exhibition Review)
Lautman, Victoria. “Artistic License,” WBEZ 91.5fm, Chicago, July 16, 1995. (Exhibition Review)
McCracken, David. “Local Artists Shine in Summer Experiment,” The Chicago Tribune, July 23, 1993. (Exhibition Review)