education
Master of Fine Arts, MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art), Mt. Royal, 2008
Master of Medical Illustration, The University of Illinois at Chicago
Bachelor of Fine Arts, The University of Michigan, summa cum laude
1 and 2 artist exhibitions
2023
blankspace, Pittsburgh, PA, “Baby grand in the golden playroom,” juried by Joey Behrens
2021
The Chute, Pittsburgh, PA, “The first to go, always,” curated by Imin Yeh and Paul Mullins
2019
Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Ormond, FL, “Exposed,” curated by Kristin Heron
2015
Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, PA, “gatherings”
2014
707 Penn Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, “gatherings,” curated by Murray Horne
2013
Ohio University Campus Eastern Gallery, St. Clairsville, OH, “gatherings”
2012
Kunstraum Tapir, Berlin, Germany, “gatherings”
2009
Hudson D. Walker Gallery, Provincetown, MA, “She called them in, they never left”
2005
Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, “Bundles and Ties”
Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, Hillsboro, OR, “Her Eyes See Strength,” curated by Carl Annala
2004
Portland Community College, Rock Creek, Portland, OR, “To describe a heart, begin like this”
Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, “All Her Dances Were Stories”
2002
Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, “Brownie Hawkeye”
selected group exhibitions
2024
Brewhouse, Pittsburgh, PA, “Neither Here nor There,” curated by Ellen Larson
2023
AAP Exhibition Space, Pittsburgh, PA, “The Grandeur of Power,” juried by Eric Shiner
2022
Maryland Art Place (map), Baltimore, “Under500,” juried.
2021
Art Gallery 118, Brooklyn, NY, “Tell Me More,” curated
AAP Exhibition Space, Pittsburgh, PA, “Light,” curator: Emma Vescio
2020
Site:Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY, “Portraits: Identity & Expression,” juror: Claire Voon
Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY, “Transparent as Glass,” jurors: Michael Endo (curator at Bullseye Glass) & Renee Radenberg
Todd Art Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University, “Form, Line, Shape, Space,” juror: Eric Snyder; catalogue
Weisshouse, Pittsburgh, PA, “Living with Art,” juror: Stacy Weiss
2019
SPACE, Pittsburgh, PA, “_______,” curator: Brett Yasko
Pittsburgh Glass Center, PA, “Idea Furnace Retrospective,” curator: Heather McElwee
CURATORIAL PROJECT: “What we don’t talk about,” 937 Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2018
Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, PA, “AWT,” curators: Barbara L. Jones and Bonnie West
Stamps Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI, “Future Former,” curator: Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo
“Stand with Women,” Pittsburgh, PA, auction for Planned Parenthood
Irma Freeman Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, “The Stories We Tell,” curator: Tirzah DeCaria
2017
Saville and Schwab Galleries, Cumberland, MD, “Being Sentient/ Sentient Being,” curator: Aneta Georgievska-Shine
2016
SPACE, Pittsburgh, PA, “John Riegert,” curator: Brett Yasko
“War on Women,” Pittsburgh, PA, auction for Planned Parenthood
2015
Wood Street Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA, “PAGES,” sound and visuals for collaborative dance performance
University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, “Reverberations,” Pittsburgh, PA, curator: Vicky Clark
“War on Women,” Pittsburgh, PA, auction for Planned Parenthood, curator: Vicky Clark
“Start with Art, Pittsburgh,” PA, 12 artists send 3500 newborns home from hospital w/ signed print, curator: Matthew Conboy
2014
American Jewish Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, “This is not a dream: artists on place, curated by Melissa Hiller
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, “Ossuary Project,” curator: Laurie Beth Clark
SPACE, Pittsburgh, PA, “Obsessions,” curator: Tom Sarver
2013
University of Tennessee: Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, TN, “Ossuary Project,” curator: Laurie Beth Clark
Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries at Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, “8 Hour Projects: Performitivity,” curator: Darren Miller
“SIX x ATE Selections,” Pittsburgh, PA, part of First Night, curator: Casey Droege
2012
“(e)merge,” juried international art fair, Washington DC, committee members include: Claire Breukel, NYC; Matthew Higgs, White Columns, NYC; Kevin Havelton, Basel, CH; Petra Leene, Amsterdam, NL
Kunstraum Tapir, Berlin, Germany, “naht,” curated by Weronika Trojanska
Future Tenant, Pittsburgh, PA, “distillate (gatherings project),” curated by Meghan Olson and Kara Skylling
2011
Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD, “con.temporary: here today, gone tomorrow,” invitational
2010
Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, “100th AAP Annual Exhibition,” juried by Al Miner of the Hirshhorn Museum
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, PA, “Interplay,” curator: Eric C. Shiner of the Andy Warhol Museum (catalogue), awarded: Best Conceptual Art
The Schmutz Lodge, Pittsburgh, PA, “unstill’d” exhibition of installations
MICA Faculty Exhibition, Baltimore, MD, Meyerhoff Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art
2009
Sook-Myung Women’s University, and Hai Tai Gallery, Seoul, Korea, “An Art Exchange: Maryland / Korea”
Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD (an exhibition of four artists), December 2008-January 2009, curator: Julie Ann Cavnor
Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA, “FRESH: an exhibition of urban contemporary art,” juried by Clark V. Fox
School 33, Baltimore, MD, “Lottery,” juried
2008
Gallery Four, Baltimore, MD, “Archimage
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, “Hello, Hello” MFA Thesis Exhibition
2007
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, “recto/verso”
ISE Cultural Foundation, New York, NY, “International Exhibition”
2006
Lewis and Clark College Gender Symposium, Portland, OR, “Body Language, Sexualities, Identities, & Time,” curator: Barbara Bartholomew
2005
Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR, “First Person – A juried exhibition of self-portraits,” juried by Charles Froelick
2004
“Sitka Invitational,” Portland, OR, for Sitka Center for Art and Ecology
2003
“Art for Life,” Cascade AIDS Project, Portland, OR, Auction
2002
Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, “Over the Couch”
2001
“Charm Bracelet, Meeting People,” Portland, OR, Group project organized by Brad Adkins and Christopher Buckingham
1999
Littman Gallery, Portland, OR, “Colors of Dreams,” juried by Charles Froelick and Terri Hopkins
bibliography
Lynn, Hannah: “Death is Everywhere in What we don’t talk about at 937 Liberty,” Pittsburgh City Paper, July 24, 2019
Vranish, Jane: “Dance preview: 5 Performances series brings diverse dance to Wood Street Galleries,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 21, 2015
Totino, Adrienne: “Mita Ghosal and Joan Wagman collaborate with Becky Slemmons in two new works," examiner.com, preview, Nov. 9, 2015
Sorensen, Kristine: TV Interview live KDKA CBS, on gatherings & Obsessions, Nov. 10, 2014
“Best of Culture: December,” cont. ed.s, Pittsburgh Magazine, Nov. 25, 2014. Scroll—“Exhibits”
Brennan, Lissa: “Artist’s Project Based …” review, Pittsburgh City Paper, Dec. 10, 2014
Shaw, Kurt: “Art review: ‘Obsessions’ …” Pittsburgh Tribume-Review, Dec. 17, 2014
Wetherbee, Brandon: “(e)merge Takes Over…” Huffington Post, Photos #28-29, Oct. 5, 2012
Grant, Jarvis: “Photoshop's influence at (e)merge…” examiner.com, Wash. D.C. review and 2 photos on gatherings, Oct. 12, 2012
Steger, Peter: Interview and article on gatherings, in Mittelbayerisches Zeitung (translation: “Mid-Bavarian Newspaper”), June 27, 2011
Girmay, Weenta: “Becky Slemmons and ‘Gatherings,’” Pittsburgh City Paper, Nov. 17, 2010.
“gatherings” posted on Rick Byerly’s art blog. http://pittsburghgalleries.blogspot.com, Nov. 11, 2010
Krtalic, Sima: “Review of Thesis by Becky Slemmons,” http://bmoreart.com, April 7, 2008
Peterson, Isaac: “Bundles and Ties,” Review, www.portlandart.net, Nov. 15, 2005.
Cambell, Polly: “Artist Draws on Parts of a Whole,” The Oregonian, Out and About, Thursday, November 18, 2004.
residencies
2021
Burren College of Art, Co. Clare, Ireland
2018
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst, VA
Azule, Hot Springs, NC
2014
Polli Talu Arts Center, Rame hoiuala, Estonia
2012
Takt Kunstprojektraum, Berlin, Germany
2011
Oberpfälzer Künstlerhaus, Schwandorf, Germany
2009 - 2010
Selected for and served Distillery Program at the Brew House, Pittsburgh, PA
2009
Vira I. Heinz Endowment to attend Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst, VA
2008
Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship, Provincetown, MA
2005
Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, Woodstock, NY
honors, lectures
2023
Guest Lecturer at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, “The Intersection of Art and Medicine,” for medical students’ arts organization, Pgh PA
2016
Visiting Artist and Guest Lecturer at Evergreen College, Olympia WA
2015
“They did not know that the books were already in our head,” glass artist’s book accepted into the inventory of Central Booking gallery, New York NY. All net proceeds from sales were donated to Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue’s “Remember, Rebuild, Renew” capital campaign (site of Oct 2018 massacre).
2013
“Idea Furnace” proposal chosen for a design session with a glass master, Pgh Glass Center, PA
“Flight School Fellowship,” career development program, partnered w/ Creative Capital, Pgh PA
2012
Lecture, “gatherings” and “Pages” at SIX x ATE at Carnegie International’s CI13, Pgh PA
2012
Guest Lecturer, “gatherings” at The Ellis School, Pgh PA
2012
Lecture, “gatherings” Relics and purposeful collections at Andy Warhol Museum, Pgh PA
2011
Guest Lecturer, “gatherings” and Berlin work at SIX x ATE at Carnegie International’s CI13, Pgh PA
2010
Awarded: Best Conceptual Art in Interplay; Juror Eric Shiner of Andy Warhol Museum
2004 - 2005
Co-president of Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2005
Invited Speaker at Art Beat, May honorarium, Portland Community College, Rock Creek, OR
2002
Grant Awarded from The Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, one of ten national recipients
1993
Awarded two Richard Wilt Memorial Fund Painting Awards
1990
William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize, one recipient in the School of Art
collections
2019
Conconrdia University, Endowed Holocaust Collection, Montreal, Canada (edition sold out)
Swarthmore College, Artists’ Books Collection
Columbia University, Artists’ Books Collection
2016
University of Pittsburgh, Artists’ Books Collection
University of Michigan, Artists’ Books Collection
teaching experience
Present: Adjunct Faculty, University of Pittsburgh, Studio Arts, 8/10 to 5/11; 5/14 to 5/20; 8/21 to 4/23; 1/24 and ongoing.
Previous: Full-time Visiting Lecturer at University of Pittsburgh, Studio Arts, 8/20 to 5/21.
Previous: Pre-college Instructor at Carnegie Mellon University, 7/15, 7/16, 7/18, 7/19.
Previous Adjunct Faculty positions include: Carnegie Mellon University (undergraduates); MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art); Duquesne University, PA; Robert Morris University, PA; Anne Arundel Community College, MD; (non-faculty) Drawing Instructor at Walters Cultural Arts Center, OR
additional professional experience
“Finding Our Wings” Community Documentary Video, six girls at Dunbar Middle School: senior mentor, editing consultant, grant writing Baltimore, MD 5/08 to 5/09
Ash Creek Press, offset printing for galleries: prepress and design Portland, OR 12/02 to 6/06
Freelance book layout Portland, OR 1/99 to 6/06
48 Hour Film Festival, national competition: film graphics, title screens, credits Portland, OR 8/04
Medical illustrator for Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Portland, OR 7/98 to 10/01; and for Med Art & Legal Graphics Company Akron, OH 6/95 to 5/98