MEL KEISER
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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
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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   
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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
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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
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