CV
EDUCATION
2011 MFA Painting, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
2007 BFA Painting, Illinois Wesleyan University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2018 Solo, The Museum of The Mels, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
2016 Two-person, A hole’s made of itself, with Priya Kambli, Filter Space, Chicago, IL
Group, The Image Underneath, with Krista Wortendyke & Diane Meyer, Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
2015 Group, Self as a River, with Nicole White & Chris Wille, McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
2014 Group, Slideshow, Roman Susan Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013 Solo, The Écorchés, Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
PERFORMANCES
2018 Melga Blank presents Who is The Mels? An Introduction to Self-evolution, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
2017 Melga Blank presents The Life and the Deaths of The Mels: An Introduction, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
Melga Blank presents The Life and the Deaths of The Mels: An Introduction, Submissive Exhibitions curated by Danny Volk, SUB-MISSION, Chicago, IL
GRANTS & HONORS
2018 Individual Artist Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Chicago, IL
2017 Northwestern University Center for Interdisciplinary Research in the Arts Grant, Evanston, IL
Doing/Thinking Artist Residency, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
2016 Judith Dawn Fund for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2015 Finalist, Luminarts Fellowship, Juror Nick Cave (SAIC), Luminarts Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
2014 New Directions, Detroit Center for Contemporary Art
2013 The Chicago Project, Catherine Edelman Gallery
2010 Vermont Studio Center Residency, Johnson, VT
2007 Anderson Ranch Arts Center Scholarship, Aspen, CO
WRITING
2018 "Mel as Hyperobject" Performance Philosophy Journal 4, no. 1, online, peer reviewed
2015 “Statement Dialogue: Objective Data that Attempts to Describe an Idea the Resists Definition.” The Economy Magazine, no. 16, online
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2018 Annette LePique, "Mel Keiser and Melga Blank 'Museum of The Mels' at Wedge Projects." Chicago Artist Writers, 11 July 2018
2016 Rachel Jump, Interview, Aint-Bad Magazine, 28 December 2016
2014 Pelle Cass, “Self Portraits Examine the Disparity Between Who We Are When We Wake Up and the Person We Present to the World.” Feature Shoot, 19 December 2014, online
Kaylin Pound, “Woman Takes Selfies When She Wakes up and After She Gets Ready,” Elite Daily, 19 December 2014, online
Cate Matthews, “She Takes Exactly 2 Photos of Herself Every Morning, and the Reason Why will Fascinate You,” A+, 22 December 2014, online
Kyohei Abe, “In Review 2014,” Detroit Center for Contemporary Art, 27 October 2014, online
Elin Spring, “Inspiration 101!” What Will You Remember?, 30 September 2014, online
“Mel Through Binary Fission No. 96,” SFMOMA Friday Posts, 28 February 2014, online
2013 Yan Li, 30th Anniversary Edition People’s Photography, China
Michael Weinstein, “Review: Mel Keiser and Martina Lopez/Schneider Gallery: Recommended.” New City Art, 8 March 2013
Wei, Huo, “The Melancholy Eyes.” People’s Photography, China, 6 March 2013 (8)
LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS
2018 Think Tank, STEAM Design Thinking and Innovation, Northwestern University Segal Design Institute & Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
Expert interview, STEAM Design Thinking and Innovation, Northwestern University Segal Design Institute & Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
2017 Guest lecturer, DSGN 395: Designing Your Life, taught by Bruce Ankenman (Segal Design Institute Co-director, Northwestern University) & Pam Daniels (Segal Design Institute Clinical Assistant Professor, Northwestern University), Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
2015 Artist talk, “The Many Mels of Mel Keiser,” with Marissa Lee Benedict & Lindsey French, Sector 2337, Chicago, IL
2014 Guest critic, “The Talking Cure!” taught by Nicole White, Latitude Print Lab, Chicago, IL
2013 Artist talk, “The Écorchés,” Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
Workshop, “Portrait Drawing and Painting,” Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL
2011 Workshop, “Optical Mixing on Claybord,” Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2019 Co-organizer Art Writing Critique Group: *between the tongue and the taste*, Wedge Projects, Roman Susan, 6018North, Iceberg Projects, and Block Museum, Chicago, IL
Co-organized with Matthew Goulish (Co-founder, Every house has a door; Adjunct Professor, SAIC). Guest member/facilitato Lane Relyea (Northwestern University)
2017 Founder & Co-organizer Art Writing Critique Group: *between the tongue and the taste*, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
Co-organized with Matthew Goulish (Co-founder, Every house has a door; Adjunct Professor, SAIC), Erin Hayden (Artist), & Elliot Reichert (Art Editor, Newcity)
2015 Member, Performance Philosophy Research Network
Reading Group, Following Non-Human Kinds: Ongoing Investigation, Sector 2337, Chicago, IL
2014 Reading Group, Following Non-Human Kinds: Ongoing Investigation, Latitude, Chicago, IL
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2011–2013 Adjunct Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL
Introduction to Visual Art
2011–2013 Adjunct Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL
Art Survey I, Art Survey II
RESEARCH INTERESTS
• identity • self-recognition • self-knowledge • construction of the self • neuroscience • cognitive science • psychobiology • personality psychology • split-brain phenomenon • autobiographical memory • experimental philosophy • performance philosophy • art practice as research • writing as art • alternative forms of memoir • approaches and methodologies of object oriented ontology, animal studies, evolutionary biology as a way to look at identity • distant reading • museum history and exhibition design • craft modes of making such as paper engineering, miniatures, taxidermy
2011 MFA Painting, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
2007 BFA Painting, Illinois Wesleyan University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2018 Solo, The Museum of The Mels, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
2016 Two-person, A hole’s made of itself, with Priya Kambli, Filter Space, Chicago, IL
Group, The Image Underneath, with Krista Wortendyke & Diane Meyer, Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
2015 Group, Self as a River, with Nicole White & Chris Wille, McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
2014 Group, Slideshow, Roman Susan Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013 Solo, The Écorchés, Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
PERFORMANCES
2018 Melga Blank presents Who is The Mels? An Introduction to Self-evolution, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
2017 Melga Blank presents The Life and the Deaths of The Mels: An Introduction, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
Melga Blank presents The Life and the Deaths of The Mels: An Introduction, Submissive Exhibitions curated by Danny Volk, SUB-MISSION, Chicago, IL
GRANTS & HONORS
2018 Individual Artist Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Chicago, IL
2017 Northwestern University Center for Interdisciplinary Research in the Arts Grant, Evanston, IL
Doing/Thinking Artist Residency, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
2016 Judith Dawn Fund for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2015 Finalist, Luminarts Fellowship, Juror Nick Cave (SAIC), Luminarts Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
2014 New Directions, Detroit Center for Contemporary Art
2013 The Chicago Project, Catherine Edelman Gallery
2010 Vermont Studio Center Residency, Johnson, VT
2007 Anderson Ranch Arts Center Scholarship, Aspen, CO
WRITING
2018 "Mel as Hyperobject" Performance Philosophy Journal 4, no. 1, online, peer reviewed
2015 “Statement Dialogue: Objective Data that Attempts to Describe an Idea the Resists Definition.” The Economy Magazine, no. 16, online
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2018 Annette LePique, "Mel Keiser and Melga Blank 'Museum of The Mels' at Wedge Projects." Chicago Artist Writers, 11 July 2018
2016 Rachel Jump, Interview, Aint-Bad Magazine, 28 December 2016
2014 Pelle Cass, “Self Portraits Examine the Disparity Between Who We Are When We Wake Up and the Person We Present to the World.” Feature Shoot, 19 December 2014, online
Kaylin Pound, “Woman Takes Selfies When She Wakes up and After She Gets Ready,” Elite Daily, 19 December 2014, online
Cate Matthews, “She Takes Exactly 2 Photos of Herself Every Morning, and the Reason Why will Fascinate You,” A+, 22 December 2014, online
Kyohei Abe, “In Review 2014,” Detroit Center for Contemporary Art, 27 October 2014, online
Elin Spring, “Inspiration 101!” What Will You Remember?, 30 September 2014, online
“Mel Through Binary Fission No. 96,” SFMOMA Friday Posts, 28 February 2014, online
2013 Yan Li, 30th Anniversary Edition People’s Photography, China
Michael Weinstein, “Review: Mel Keiser and Martina Lopez/Schneider Gallery: Recommended.” New City Art, 8 March 2013
Wei, Huo, “The Melancholy Eyes.” People’s Photography, China, 6 March 2013 (8)
LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS
2018 Think Tank, STEAM Design Thinking and Innovation, Northwestern University Segal Design Institute & Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
Expert interview, STEAM Design Thinking and Innovation, Northwestern University Segal Design Institute & Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
2017 Guest lecturer, DSGN 395: Designing Your Life, taught by Bruce Ankenman (Segal Design Institute Co-director, Northwestern University) & Pam Daniels (Segal Design Institute Clinical Assistant Professor, Northwestern University), Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
2015 Artist talk, “The Many Mels of Mel Keiser,” with Marissa Lee Benedict & Lindsey French, Sector 2337, Chicago, IL
2014 Guest critic, “The Talking Cure!” taught by Nicole White, Latitude Print Lab, Chicago, IL
2013 Artist talk, “The Écorchés,” Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
Workshop, “Portrait Drawing and Painting,” Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL
2011 Workshop, “Optical Mixing on Claybord,” Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2019 Co-organizer Art Writing Critique Group: *between the tongue and the taste*, Wedge Projects, Roman Susan, 6018North, Iceberg Projects, and Block Museum, Chicago, IL
Co-organized with Matthew Goulish (Co-founder, Every house has a door; Adjunct Professor, SAIC). Guest member/facilitato Lane Relyea (Northwestern University)
2017 Founder & Co-organizer Art Writing Critique Group: *between the tongue and the taste*, Wedge Projects, Chicago, IL
Co-organized with Matthew Goulish (Co-founder, Every house has a door; Adjunct Professor, SAIC), Erin Hayden (Artist), & Elliot Reichert (Art Editor, Newcity)
2015 Member, Performance Philosophy Research Network
Reading Group, Following Non-Human Kinds: Ongoing Investigation, Sector 2337, Chicago, IL
2014 Reading Group, Following Non-Human Kinds: Ongoing Investigation, Latitude, Chicago, IL
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2011–2013 Adjunct Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL
Introduction to Visual Art
2011–2013 Adjunct Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL
Art Survey I, Art Survey II
RESEARCH INTERESTS
• identity • self-recognition • self-knowledge • construction of the self • neuroscience • cognitive science • psychobiology • personality psychology • split-brain phenomenon • autobiographical memory • experimental philosophy • performance philosophy • art practice as research • writing as art • alternative forms of memoir • approaches and methodologies of object oriented ontology, animal studies, evolutionary biology as a way to look at identity • distant reading • museum history and exhibition design • craft modes of making such as paper engineering, miniatures, taxidermy