Kathleen Shanahan
Statement
My work has never fallen into a concise genre such as “landscape” or “still life”. Instead, my images are hybrids which incorporate elements of nature from the micro to the macro. I record nature for the intrinsic value of doing so, and for the analytical insights it yields; working “en plein air” is a meditation and communion with nature. Nature is the basis of all design and structure, and as such pertains to my own artistic processes. As visiting scholar in Japan, I focused on gardens and the heightened role nature plays in religion and culture. Animals are more and more evident in my imagery as are action-oriented elements from sources such as the dance, theatre or sports, contrasting static with active. The sculptural properties of natural objects, as well as the dynamic properties, such as flux, and life cycle, are of interest to me.
Selected Exhibitions, Grants and Awards
2015
Second Place Cash Award, National Printmaking Exhibition (juried), Wichita Center for the Arts
Remix, Two Person Show, City Arts, Wichita KS
Zig Zag Stream, Two Person Show, Fiber Studio, Wichita KS
2014
One Person Show, Hot Springs National Park Cultural Hall, culminating artist residency
One Person Show, Strecker-Nelson Gallery; Manhattan KS
Commission to create painting for promotional materials for Ballet Wichita production of The Nutcracker.
2013
Inclusion of my work in Practical Mixed Process Printmaking published by A & C Black, London U.K.
University of Michigan Alumni Exhibition, Ann Arbor MI
Wichita Center for the Arts Faculty and Student Exhibition
Printmakers Who Paint and Painters Who Printmake, City Arts, Wichita KS
2012
Juror’s Cash Award; Kansas Watercolor Society National Exhibition; Wichita Center for the Arts; Wichita, KS
Kathleen Shanahan Printmaking; Shiawassee Arts Center; Owosso, MI
Animalia; Strecker-Nelson Gallery; group invitational; Manhattan KS
Printmaking Invitational, Castle Hill Art Center; Cape Cod MA
2011
The Language of Drawing (invitational); Erman B. White Gallery; Butler County Community College; El Dorado, KS.
One Person Show, Mixed Process Printmaking; Bob Schwan Studios; Wichita KS.
Kansas Watercolor Society National Exhibition; Elizabeth Koch Patron Purchase Award; Wichita Center for the Arts; Wichita, KS.
2010
Invitational, Fibre Studio; Wichita, KS;
2009
Kansas Masters Invitational; Strecker-Nelson Gallery; Manhattan, KS
Guest Artist Exhibition, Notched Tondos, Gallery XII, Wichita, KS
2008
KMUW Radio Artists Exhibition; Start Thinking; Wichita, KS
2007
Governor’s Inaugural Exhibition (invitational); Topeka, KS
Flexion Friezes, One Person Show; PI Gallery; Kansas City, MO
Kansas Masters Invitational; Strecker-Nelson Gallery; Manhattan, KS
2005
Mergers and Acquisitions, One Person Show; Fibre Studio; Wichita, KS
Watercolor Now!; Water Color USA Honor Society Exhibition; Springfield, MO
2003
Painting and Drawings, Three-Person Exhibition; Shiawassee Arts Center; Owosso, MI
2000
Fine Arts in Painting Grant ($5,000), Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation, Kansas City, MO.
Kansas Water Color Society Honor Show; Wichita Center for the Arts; Wichita, KS
Watercolor USA Honor Exhibition; Huntsville Museum, Huntsville, AL
1999
Human/Humane; Two Person Show; Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO.
1997
Drawing Power, Cedar Rapids Art Museum, Cedar Rapids, IA.
1996
Kansas Water Color Society 7 State Exhibition, Purchase Award and Cash Award, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS.
Watercolor USA, Cash Award and 2 Purchase Awards, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO
Rutgers National Works on Paper, Camden, NJ.
1995 Rocky Mountain National Water Media Exhibition, Golden, CO.
1994, 1988 One Person Show, Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL.
1993 Men: Moods and Metier, One Person Show, Artists en Masse, Lawrence, KS.
1990 Lawrence Collaboration in Lithography Grant, Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, KS.
1987 Artist Residency Scholarship, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL.
1986 Drills and Ceremonies, One Person Show, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS.
1981-82 Columbia College Faculty Development Grant for year’s research in Japan,
“Folk Art and Modern Manifestations of the Japanese Aesthetic”, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.
1981-82 Visiting Scholar , National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.
1982 Karasu Ten (Crow Point), Two Person Show, Amano Gallery, Osaka, Japan.
Selected Publications, Citations & Reviews
2015 Selected to be profiled in upcoming book entitled Artists in their Studios, Wichita KS
2011 Inclusion of work and artist profile in Practical Mixed Media Printmaking, Sarah Riley, A&C Black, London.
1995, 1987, 1985 New Art Examiner, review of show, Chicago, IL.
1995 New American Paintings, Open Studios Competition, Midwest Edition, Open Studios Press, reproduction of work and artist profile.
1990 Reproduction: Slide Portfolio which accompanies Drawing-Space, Form , Expression, Wayne Enstice, Prentice Hall.
1989 Reproduction and artist profile, Forty-Four Kansas Artists, A Kansas Collection,a printed edition of books.
1981 Shanahan: Drawings, “Minpaku”, monthly publication, National Museum of Ethnology Osaka, Japan.
Selected Collections
Backwoods, Wichita KS
Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, AR
Elizabeth Koch Foundation, Wichita, KS
Spencer Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Southern Graphics Council, Print Archives, Statesboro, GA
Emprise Bank, Wichita, KS
Kansas Health Foundation, Wichita, KS.
Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS.
Dr. T. Fujii, Director, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.
Selected Academic Experience
2011-15 Faculty, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS.
2001-02 Lecturer, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
1983-97 Associate and Assistant Professor, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
1978-83 Assistant Professor, Columbia College, Columbia, MO.
1977-78 Instructor, Lane Community College, Eugene, OR.
1977 Adjunct faculty, Cochise College, Douglas, AZ.
1974-76 Instructor, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, AZ.
Education
MFA University of Arizona
BFA University of Michigan
Gallery Representation
Viridian Artists; NY, NY
Strecker Nelson Gallery, Manhattan KS