Susan Maakestad
CV
SUSAN MAAKESTAD
Born 1954, Macomb, Illinois. Resides in Memphis, Tennessee
Represented by Spalding Nix Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
EDUCATION
1987MFA, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Painting
1981 MA, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA. Drawing
1979 BA, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA magna cum laude & Dean's Scholar
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2026 Land and Sky, Shape Shifter Art School and Gallery, Memphis, TN. Solo
2023 Spalding Nix Fine Art, Atlanta, GA. Solo. Installation shots, scroll down here
Mallory Wurtzburger Galleries, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, TN. Solo
Jet Lag, Fogleman Gallery of Contemporary Art, University of Memphis. Group
2022 Ensemble, Spalding Nix Fine Art, Atlanta, GA. Group
2021 Near and Far Light, James May Gallery, Algoma, WI. Grop
2019 Hello My Name Is, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN. Group
Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity, Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Concourse, Memphis, TN. Group
2018 Momentum, The Perfume Room, 20twelve, Memphis, TN. Curated by Michel Allen & Keith Rainer. Group
2017 Overton Park Gallery, Memphis, TN. Solo
2016 Circuitous Succession Gallery, Memphis, TN. Solo
2015 PUBLIC/ART/ists Part One, Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN. Group
Works on Paper Gallery, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH. Solo
2014 Your Attica on the Pacific, Tiger Strikes Asteroid LA, Los Angeles, CA. Group
Present Company Excluded, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL. Group
2013 The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN. Solo
Present Tense: The Art of Memphis 2001 to Now, The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, TN, Group
It Came from Memphis: Selections from the Permanent Collection, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN. Curated by Marina Pacini. Group
Fables of the Eco-Future, Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences, Rabun Gap, GA. Group
2012 Crossroads: A Shifting Landscape, Walsh Gallery, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ. Group
2010 Material, Memphis, TN. Solo
East Arkansas Community, College Forrest City, AR. Two-person show
Muddy Water, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY. Three painters’ works on paper. Group
Recent Paintings, The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN. Group
2009 Alonzo Davis V.C.C.A. Fellowship Exhibition, Sande Webster Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Group
Lineweight: Contemporary Drawing, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. Group
Works on Paper, The Long Island Museum, Stony Brook, NY. Group
2008 Meek Art Gallery, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS. Solo
Evoke, The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN. Group
Paperworks!, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA. Juried by Rene de Guzman. Group
2007 Lewis Art Gallery, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS. Solo
Sarratt Gallery at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Two person show
A Natural Order: Art Exploring the Organic and Artifice, Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY. Group
2006 Horizons, Bradbury Gallery, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR. Curated by Les Christensen. Group
Clough-Hanson Gallery, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN. Solo
Perry Nicole Fine Art, Memphis, TN. Two-person show
2005 Harry Krug Gallery, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS. Solo
Crossing the Line, The Painting Center, New York, NY. Curated by Cathy Diamond. Group
Southern Perspectives, Fine Arts Gallery, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. Works of three watermedia artists curated by Shannon Dillard Mitchel.l Group
Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery, Nashville, TN. Two-person show
2004 Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta, GA. Two-person show
Biennial 2004, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA. Juried by Carrie Przybilla. Group
Small Matters of Great Importance, Edward Hopper House Art Center, Nyack, NY. Group
Landscape: Paintings From Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis, University Art Gallery, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Six painters. Group
Plein Air, Groveland Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. Four artists. Group
2003 The Price Is Right, Perry Nicole Fine Art, Memphis, TN. Group
Marks: Contemporary Drawing, Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA. Juried by Rex Weil. Group
A Sense of Place: Continuity and Change in the New South, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta, GA. Juried by Tom Nakashima. Group
2002 Art on Paper 2002, Weatherspoon Art Museum, The University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Curated by Nancy Doll and Ron Platt. Group
Side by Side, Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN. Curated by Marina Pacini. Group
Secret Garden, River Gallery, Chattanooga, TN. Curated by Teresa Bramlette and Don Cooper. Group
2001 The Painted Landscape, Groveland Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. Group
1999 Water Works: Five Painters Work on Paper, Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY. Group
1998 The Midwestern Landscape, Eight Women’s Perspectives, Freeport (IL) Arts Center. Traveled to Bicentennial Art Center, Paris, IL, Rend Lake Community
College, Mt. Vernon, IL,
Springfield (IL) Art Association. Curated by Richard Boschulte. Group
1997 Steinway Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC. Two-person show
Rural Inspirations, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL Curated by Scott Snyder. Group
1996 Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI. Two-person show
1995 Groveland Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. Two-person show
COMMISSIONS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS
2020-22 Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, Memphis International Airport. Permanent installation: three large scale designs printed on windows with ceramic ink. Dedicated 2022.
2020 UrbanArt Commission Direct Purchase Award, Memphis, TN, one painting purchased by the City of Memphis for the Moveable Art Collection
2016 Inaugural ArtsAccelerator Art CSA, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN, one of five artists commissioned
2013 ArtsAccelerator Grant, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN, $3000 individual artist grant
2011 & 2007 UrbanArt Commission Direct Purchase Award, Memphis, TN, paintings purchased by the City of Memphis
2004 UrbanArt Commission Temporary Public Art Exhibition & Honorarium, First Tennessee Bank ArtForum, FedEx Forum, Club Level, Memphis, TN
1994, ’92, ’91 Individual Artist Grant, Peoria Area Arts and Sciences Council, Peoria, IL
1989 Nominee, Awards in the Visual Arts (A.V.A.) Fellowship
1988 National Endowment for the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship, administered by Arts Midwest
RESIDENCIES
2025 Artist Residency, Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Concourse, Memphis, TN
2011 Artist in Residence, Paducah Arts Alliance, Paducah, KY
2005 Resident Fellow, The Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA
2004 Artist at Pine Needles, St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Marine on St. Croix, MN
2001 Resident Fellow, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA
2000 Resident Fellow, Vermont, Studio Center, Johnson City, VT
1994 Resident Fellow, The MacDowell, Peterborough, NH
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Higher Education:
1997-2020 Professor, Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
1996-1997 Visiting Assistant Professor and Acting Head of Painting, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1989-1994 Part Time Art Faculty, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
1987-1989 Instructor, Mount Senario College, Ladysmith, WI
1985 Instructor, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Additional Teaching:
2026-present ShapeShifter Art Schoo, Memphis, TN
2022-2026 Instructor, Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek, WI. Watercolor workshops
2022-present Creative Aging, Shelby County, TN. Watercolor classes
2014-2020 Instructor, Flicker Street Studio, Memphis, TN
VISITING ARTIST ENGAGEMENTS
2023 Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, graduate program
2019 Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, final critiques
2011 Delta State University, Cleveland, M
2008 Mississippi Art Colony, Utica, MS, April 22 to 27
2001 University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, graduate critiques
1996 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
1995 Carleton College, Northfield, MN
1994 Eureka College, Eureka, IL
1991 Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
1988 University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
1984-85 St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
SLIDE LECTURES
2023 Delta State University, Cleveland, MS. Graduate program
Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, TN
Artist’s Link, Memphis, TN
2022 Memphis Germantown Art League, Germantown, TN
2019 University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
2011 Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
2010 Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
2008 Mississippi Art Colony, Utica, MS
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
2007 Artist Link, Memphis, TN
2006 Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
2001 University Memphis, Memphis, TN. Watercolor class
1997 University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA
Haverford College, Haverford, PA
Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
1996 Northfield Arts Guild, Northfield, MN
1994 Clark University, Worcester, MA
Northeast Missouri State University,Kirksville, MO
Saint Xavier University,Chicago, IL
1993 University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Illinois State University, Normal, IL
University of Texas at Arlington
1991University of Wisconsin-Platteville
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
1990 Eureka College, Eureka, IL
Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL
JURYING AND JUDGING
2024 Delta State University Student Art Show
2023 Artist’s Link, Memphis, TN
2014 Arts Alive, Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL
2008Mississippi Art Colony Travel Exhibition and Awards; traveled to four venues in the state of Mississippi
University of Mississippi Student Art Summer Show, Oxford, MS
2007Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition; state-wide exhibition
2005International Annual Elvis Art Show, Graceland, Memphis, TN
First Tennessee ArtForum artist selection committee, Memphis, TN
200419th Annual Helena National Bank Watercolor Exhibition, Helena, AR
Arts Alive, Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL
2003Meet Me in St. Louis All Media Exhibition, St. Louis, MO
1994Peoria Art Guild Fine Arts Fair, Peoria, IL
1993Artist's Coalition of Central Illinois Annual Exhibition, Peoria, IL
1992Peoria Art Guild Fine Arts Fair, Peoria, IL
1991Annual Student Exhibition, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL
1990Scholastic Art Awards, Central Illinois Region
1989Annual Student Exhibition, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
1987Northwoods Artists Association Invitational Exhibition, Ladysmith, WI
Heritage Festival Invitational Art Fair, Faribault, MN
COLLECTIONS
Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN
Memphis International Airport, permanent installation: three large scale designs printed on windows with ceramic ink. Dedicated 2022.
The City of Memphis, Memphis, TN
The Poplar Foundation