In my paintings I contemplate an unspoken dialect. Rooted in beauty and being I want to hear them sing.
“Having acknowledged an appreciation of botany and natural pattern, Austin incorporates techniques from scenic painting and faux finishing, the folk art of Norwegian rosemaling, and reverse painting on glass. Building upon these heritage-rich processes early on became a way for her to develop a personal aesthetic based upon the necessity of good craftsmanship. Within these traditions, she’s learned to honor the authority of geometry, harmony, and natural beauty, using these traditions to create something new. ”
– Nick Griffith, for Joseph Nease Gallery
Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth, MN
http://www.josephneasegallery.com/artists/tara-austin
Fox 21 News Duluth, MN
MPR Art Hounds: Ann Klefstad
KUMD Radio Gallery
Elements of Craft WTIP Radio-Rosemaling
https://www.wtip.org/elements-craft-rosemaling-0
BIO
Born in Grand Marais, MN.
Lives in Duluth, MN.
EDUCATION
Rosemaling Apprentice to Master Artist Andrea Herkert, Funded by the Wisconsin State Art Board, 2018
MFA in Painting/Drawing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 2017
BA, The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, 2012
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Boreal Ornament III, Joseph Nease Gallery – Duluth, MN
2019 Boreal Ornament II, Johnson Heritage Post Gallery – Grand Marais, MN
2018 Boreal Ornament, Morrison Gallery, Duluth Art Institute – Duluth, MN
2017 Mirror Lake, Kohler Art Library, University of WIsconsin-Madison – Madison, WI
Dusty Turquoise Waters – Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Art Lofts Gallery – Madison, WI
2016 Windigo Piperita – Department of Art History Curatorial Lab – Madison, WI
Vicious Or•ka•id – Master of Arts Exhibition, Art Lofts Gallery – Madison, WI
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 Winnowers, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Cephalopod Interface, I Love You More, Cretaquarium, Crete, Greece
2016
Municipal, Municipal Building, Madison, WI
Arrowhead Biennial – Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN
Diverse Nature: Gender & the Botanic – Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Wallflowers – Tory Folliard Gallery – Milwaukee, WI
88th Annual Student Art Show – Gallery 1308, Madison, WI
2015
Madison 8– Foster Gallery, Eau Claire, WI
MFA Candidates – Capitol Lakes – Madison, WI
Holiday Art Underground – Betsey Bowen Studio – Grand Marais, MN
Separate Checks – Art Lofts – Madison, WI
2014
Found Out – Art Lofts – Madison, WI
2013
Papyiri– Prove Gallery- Duluth, MN
Water Works – Duluth Art Institute- Duluth, MN
COLLECTIONS
Wisconsin Union Art Collection – University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
ARTIST LECTURES
2020 Joseph Nease Gallery, Duluth, MN
2019 Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, MN
2018 Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN
2017 Kohler Arts Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
2016 Gallery Night Artist Talk, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
Capitol Lakes Artist Talk, Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Madison, WI
2015 Madison 8 Artist Talk, Foster Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI
GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
2020 American Scandinavian Foundation Artist Fellowship, Scandinavian Folk Arts & Cultural Traditions, New York, NY
2019 Artist Access Grant, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Duluth, MN
2017 Vilas Research International Travel Grant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
2017 & 2014 ED-GRS Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2017 Chazen Museum Prize Honorable Mention, Curator Brooke Davis Anderson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
2017 Dedalus Foundation Fellowship Nominee, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
EXPERIENCE
2016 Scenic Charge Artist, Department of Theatre and Drama, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Scenic Designer, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Department of Theatre and Drama, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2015 -2016 University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Assistantship, Scenic Painting, Department of Theatre and Drama
2015 -2016 University of Wisconsin-Madison Project Assistantship, Professor T.L. Solien, Department of Art
2015 Visiting Instructor in Aesthetics and Business MHR 365 Course University of Wisconsin, Madison
Tara Austin 