Born
Aberdeen, Scotland. Lives and works in Western Massachusetts.
Education
1996 M.F.A. Degree, Studio Art, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL
1991 B.F.A. Honors Degree, Painting, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, UK
RESEARCH
Solo Exhibitions
2010 (upcoming)
Shona Macdonald, St. Gaudens Picture Gallery, Cornish, New Hampshire
Shona Macdonald, Engine Room, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
New Drawings, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
2009
Two Northeast, Proof Gallery, Boston, MA
Shift: Drawings, University Art Center, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
2008
Shona Macdonald, Reeves Contemporary, New York, NY
2007
Shift, den contemporary, LA, CA
2006
Topamnesia, Herter Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
2005
Shona Macdonald: Inscape, Gahlberg Gallery, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
Shona Macdonald :Inscape Drawings, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago IL
Shona Macdonald: Inscape: Paintings, Skestos-Gabriele Gallery, Chicago, IL
2003
Terrain, Julie Baker Fine Art, Grass Valley, CA
2000
Shona Macdonald, Project Room, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998
Shona Macdonald, New Work, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
Two Person Exhibitions
2002
Shona Macdonald: Envelopes and Isles, Galerie refugium, Berlin, Germany
Shona Macdonald & Molly Briggs, Works on Paper, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL
Shona Macdonald & LJ Douglas, University of Alberta Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Confluence, Julie Baker Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Shona Macdonald/K. Ruby Brown, Gallery 400, Chicago IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 (Upcoming)
Imagining Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, exhibition and symposium
Place, SUNY Duchess, Kingston, NY
2009
New Digs, Den Contemporary Art at Pacific Design Center, LA, CA
Illinois, McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
The Lustre of Silver, Evansville Museum & Art Gallery, Evansville, IN, (Catalog)
2008
Here There Everywhere, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago IL, (brochure)
Marks on Paper, Pharmaka, LA, CA
Benefit Exhibition, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
50th Annivesrary of the Department of Studio Arts Faculty Exhibition, Herter Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
2007
The Uncertainty Principle: Drawing in the Golden Age of Worry, NIU University Gallery, DeKalb,IL
Extended Visits, Skestos-Gabriele Gallery, Chicago IL
2006
Paper, Skestos-Gabriele Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Lustre of Silver: Contemporary Silverpoint Drawings, Telfair Art Museum, Savannah, GA
Land Escape, River East Arts Center, Chicago, IL, (Brochure)
COMA 1, Coma Gallery, Chicago, IL
2005
Into the Woods, Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago IL
Invisible Worlds, Evanston Art Centre, Evanston, IL
Groundwork, d.e.n. contemporary, LA, CA
Drawing Project, Stray Show, Chicago, IL
Drawn Out, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL
Into the Midst, Mixture Contemporary, Houston, TX
The Promised Land, Wendy Cooper Gallery, Chicago IL
2004
Den Nya Framtidsvetenskapen, Lisa Boyle Gallery, Chicago IL
Summer Drawings and Some are Not, Mixture Gallery, Houston TX
Drawing Project: Chicago/London, (organized and curated), The Stray Show, Chicago IL
Displacement, Gescheildle, Chicago, IL, (Brochure, essay John Brunetti )
Under Run, Dogmatic, Chicago IL
Lazy Days, Julie Baker Fine Art, Grass Valley, CA
2003
PAINTINGS !, Central Michigan University Art Gallery, Mt. Pleasant, MI, (booklet)
So Square, McLean County Art Centre, Bloomington, IL
Faculty Biennial, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Inspiration Point, Green Studios, Mineral Point, WI
2002
Topography, Northeastern Illinois University Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
Postcards from the Edge, MacLean County Art Centre, Bloomington, IL
2001
Faculty Biennial, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
Bakers Dozen, Julie Baker Gallery, Grass Valley, CA
By the Foot, NIU Gallery, Chicago, IL
Summer Group Show, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000
Surface Tensions, Spaces, Cleveland, OH
Intonations, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL, (brochure, John Brunetti)
Brief Encounters, British Artists Abroad, (BAB), Platform, Melbourne, Australia
Thin Line, I-Space, Chicago, (essay, Tim Porges)
Recycle, McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL
The Mark Applied, Cardinal Stritch University Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Snapshot, Contemporary Museum, Baltimore, MD, (CD-Rom Catalogue)
1999
Thirty times 15" x 15", Fassbender, Gallery, Chicago, IL
Faculty Biennial, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
Emergence, The Three Arts Club, Chicago, IL, (brochure)
It Looks Easy: A Cross-Section of Painting in Chicago, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL
Otherville, University Gallery, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
1998
Link: 22 Painters, Jan Cicero Gallery, Chicago, IL
Substance: A Corporeal Investigation, NIU Gallery, Chicago, IL, (essay)
1997
The Twenty Five Dollar Show, Beret Gallery, Chicago, IL
Works on Paper, Riverside Arts Centre, Riverside, IL
1996(over)
The Fourth Floor, 118 North Peoria, Chicago, IL
Mid-States Annual, Evansville Museum of Art, Evansville, IN
Summer Group Show, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
1995
South Central, Link Gallery, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
1993
16th Annual Purchase Award Show, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Risk, Vergette Gallery, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
1992
Pacesetters, Peterborough Art Gallery, Peterborough, England, UK
1990
Scholarship Exhibition, Hospitalfield Residency, Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, Scotland
1988
Paisley Drawing Competition, Paisley Museum and Art Gallery, Paisley, Scotland, UK
Gallery Representations
Reeves Contemporary, New York NY
Den Contemporary, Los Angeles CA
Skestos Gabriele, Chicago IL
Reviews
2007
Pulse, Review of Shift
Flavorpill, Review of Shift, Ashley Tibbits
http://www.myartspace.com/interviews/interviews/art-space-talk-shona-macdonald.html, Interview with Brian Sherwin, Jan 27
http://www.myninjaplease.com/?p=4119, Oct 26
2006
Art in America, review of, ‘Inscape’, at Skestos-Gabriele Gallery and ‘Six Years of Drawing, Chicago Cultural Center, Susan Snodgrass, September issue
2005
LA Times, Review of Groundwork, David Pagel
Chicago Tribune, ‘Friday’ Section, Review of ‘Inscape: Drawings’, Jenn Goddu, Dec 16
Chicago Tribune, ‘On the Town’ Section, Review of ‘Inscape Drawings’, Alan Artner, Nov 25
Chicago Sun Times, Review of ‘Inscape: Drawings’, Margaret Hawkins, Dec 9
Chicago Reader, ‘Now Showing’ Section, Review of ‘Inscape: Drawings’, Fred Camper
Time Out Chicago, Review of ‘The Promised Land’, Wendy Cooper, Chicago Jan 12
Flavorpill, Review of ‘Inscape: Paintings’, Skestos Gabriele, Chicago Nov 1-7
Pioneer Press, Review of ‘Invisible Worlds’, Robert Loertzel, March 10
OurChicago.com, Review of ‘Into the Woods’, Jennifer Gheith, Oct
2004
Panel House, Review of Den Nya Framtidsvetenskapen, Mary Gustaitis Beyer
New City, Mention, ‘Drawing Project’, Michael Workman, May 6
2003
Art News, Review of ‘Terrain’ at Julie Baker Fine Art, by Lindsey Westbrook, Summer
2002
Chicago Critics on Chicago Artists: John Brunetti on Shona Macdonald, Art Fair, Navy Pier,Chicago
Chicago Sun Times, Review of ‘Topography’, Margaret Hawkins, April
The Life, Review of ‘Shona Macdonald and Molly Briggs’, Rohit Mahajan, Feb
2001
Sacramento Bee, Review of, ‘Bakers Dozen’, Victoria Dalkey, Dec
The Union - Nevada City, CA, Review of, ‘Baker’s Dozen’, Carole Feinman, Nov 2
Art Week, Review of ‘Baker’s Dozen’, Terri Cohen, Sept
2000
Oberlin Review Vol 129 # 11, Review of ‘Surface Tensions’, Jessica McGuiness, Dec 8
Cleveland Free Times, Review of, ‘Surface Tensions’, Douglas Max Utter, Nov
Cleveland Scene, Review of, ‘Surface Tensions’, Charles Yannopouols, Nov
The Plain Dealer, Review of ‘Surface Tensions’, Dan Trauberg, Nov 17
Chicago Artists News, ‘Redefining Emerging Artists: a Closer Look’, John Brunetti, Nov
http://spaces.org/archive/fga/fga3.htm
FGA, review of Shona Macdonald at Fassbender, Julia Marsh, Sept
New City, review of, ‘Thin Line’, Ann Weins, Feb
1999
New Art Examiner, review of, 'It Looks Easy', Gallery 400, John Gustafson, Dec/Jan
Publications/Work Cited
2004
New American Paintings, Volume 68, Northeast Edition, 2007 (4 pgs Image/Text)
Harpers Magazine, August 2006, (Image)
New American Paintings, Volume 59, Midwest Edition, 2005 (4 pgs Image/Text)
Chicago Reader, Gallery Reviews Section, Feb 2005 (Image)
Living Artists, Crowwoods Publishing, Chicago IL, 2004 (2 pgs Image/Text)
Art Chicago Catalogue, Represented by Julie Baker Fine Art, 2004 (Image)
Collections
Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, IN
Gahlberg Gallery Collection, College of DuPage, Glen Elyn IL
Telfair Art Museum, Savannah, GA
Sackner Collection of Concrete and Visual Poetry, Miami Beach, FL
La Salle Bank, Chicago IL
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Metro Biologics, Madison, WI
Private Collections in New York, LA, Mexico City and others
Awards
2009
Pollock Krasner Foundation Award
Research Intensive Semester Award, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, University of Massachusetts Amherst
ISHA Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Amherst
2008-9 (also 2006-7)
Healey Faculty Research Award, University of Massachusetts Amherst
2005
Illinois Arts Council Finalist Award
2001
Nominated, Louis Comfort Tiffany Award
Illinois State University Faculty Large Project Grant, Bloomington, IL (Also 2002, 2003 and 2004)
2000
CAAP Grant, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs.
1999
Illinois State University Faculty Small Project Grant, Bloomington, IL
1997
Drawing Prize, Riverside Arts Centre, Chicago, Illinois
1996
Jess Halpert Memorial Award, Evansville Museum, Indiana
1995
R.S. Richard Foundation Award, Ayrshire, Scotland
Aberdeen Endowments Trust, Aberdeen, Scotland
1992
Scottish International Educational Trust Scholarship, Scottish Arts Council, Edinburgh, Scotland
1990
Hart Bursary Award, Glasgow School of Art
Residencies
2004
Tyrone Guthrie Centre, One-month Residency, County Monaghan, Ireland, Virginia Centre for the Creative Arts, International Artists Residency Programme
2001
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Artists Residency (Also offered 2003), Sweet Briar, VA
Ragdale Foundation, Artist Residency, (Friends Fellowship), Lake Forest, IL
1990
Hospitalfield Scholarship and Residency, Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, Scotland, UK.
Visiting Artist Lectures/Panels
2009
College of St. Benedict, St. Johns, MN, undergraduate critiques.
Hillside Salon Invitational, Chancellor’s Residence, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Visiting Faculty, Ox-Bow Artist Residence, Saugatuk, MI
Visiting Artist, Cleveland Institute of Art. Two Day Visit
Invited Panelist, Mellon Mutual Mentoring Grant Recipients, Campus Center
2007
Artist-in-Residence, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA. Three day Residency
Artist-in-Residence, Ox-Bow, Saugatuk, MI (Awarded Cora Bliss Taylor Fellowship)
The Uncertainty Principle: Drawing in the Golden Age of Worry, Symposium, Northern Illinois
University, DeKalb, IL
Gallery Talk, University Gallery, University of Massachusetts Amherst, with Sandra Matthews, ‘Impossible Landscape’.
Gallery Talk, Melanie Calvalos Solo Exhibition, University Gallery, University of Massachusetts Amherst
2005
Juror, 5th Annual Student Art Exhibit, Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, IL
2006
Visiting Artist, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Visiting Artist, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Panelist, ‘Drawing: Material Articulation’, Vanderbildt University, Nashville, TN
2005
Panelist, panel, Drawn Out exhibition, Gallery 400, Chicago IL
Lecture, Inscape exhibition, College of DuPage, Glen Elyn, IL
Visiting Artist, Interlink Program, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2004
Visiting Artist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, First Year Program
Visiting Artist, University of Illinois at Chicago, Final critiques
2003
Visiting Artist, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
Gallery Talk, Julie Baker Fine Art, Grass Valley, CA
Visiting Artist, Painting Area, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, (Lecture and Critiques; Three day appointment)
2002
Visiting Artist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, (Final Critiques)
Panelist, Mid-America College Art Association Conference, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Holding on and Letting go: Inter-Disciplinary Art in Education
Visiting Artist, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Visiting Artist University of Calgary, Canada, Week-Long Project and Lecture
Gallery Talk, Northeastern Illinois University, Topography, Chicago, IL
2001
Visiting Artist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, (Final Critiques)
Lecture, Ohio State University, Bowling Green, OH, (at Fassbender Gallery)
1999
Visiting Artist, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Visiting Artist, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri
1997
Visiting Artist, University of Illinois at Chicago
Lecture, Wimbledon College of Art, London, UK
Other Projects
2009
Visual Stimulus Package, Proof Gallery, Boston, MA – donated work in support of gallery
Ox-Bow Benefit Auction - donated work in support of Residency
2007 & 2008
Benefit Auction, Evanston Arts Center - donated work in support of Center
2006
Benefit Auction, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL - donated work in support of Museum
2002
Water: Benefit Auction, Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL - donated work in support of Museum
1999
Awash, Collaborative Artists’ Book with Buzz Spector, WhiteWalls Benefit, 2000
TEACHING
Teaching Positions
2006-present
Assistant Professor, Dept of Art, Architecture and Art History, University of Massachusetts Amherst
2006
Associate Professor, Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, IL
2000 - 2006
Assistant Professor of Art, Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, IL
1998-9
Visiting Assistant Professor, Illinois State University
1996-8
Adjunct Instructor, Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, IL
Adjunct Instructor, Daley Community College, Chicago
Adjunct Instructor, Truman Community College, Chicago
Classes Taught
University of Massachusetts Amherst 2006-present
Art 142, Foundations, 3-Dimensional Design, Art 202, Advanced Drawing Problems, Art 797 Graduate Drawing, Art 221 Painting II, Art 223 Painting III, Art 320 Painting IV, Art 4971 5-College Drawing Seminar, Art 697, Art 697 WS, Graduate Teaching Workshop