BECCA GRADY
Born in Palmer, Alaska
Previously exhibited and published as Rebecca Mir (Grady)
EDUCATION
2010 MFA, Studio Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, US.
2004 BFA, Ceramics and Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, US.
PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR: Magazines and Websites
“Attention” - Elsewhere, Twilight Issue, Summer 2024.
“Treehouse Village: Nova Scotia’s First CoHousing Community”, Ecology & Action Magazine, Spring 2022, Vol. 40 Issue 1.
“Into the Soup”, The South Shore Review, Issue 4, December 2021.
“Sustainability Stories: Inside the World of Ethical Jewelry”, Metalsmith Magazine Vol. 40 No. 3, 2020.
“DIY: A Classic Wedding Dress With a Colorful Twist”, PastFashionFuture blog, 2015.
“R&Design”, recurring column, PastFashionFuture blog, 2013-2015.
“Sacrifice”, Chicago IRL, Issue #1, Spring 2011.
“Explorations”, Composite Arts Magazine, Issue #1: Tourism, 2010.
PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR: Artist Books and Zines
“SHE IS RESTLESS vol. 1-15”, Chicago, IL + Santa Fe, NM, US, 2011-2018. Zine series.
“Strata”, co-authored with Silas Grant, Chicago, IL, US, 2017. Artist book.
“Big Wave”, Chicago, IL, US, 2013. Zine.
“Monhegan/Malecón, co-authored with Nancy Delgado, Chicago, IL, US, 2013. Zine.
“Apostrophe to the Ocean”, Chicago, IL, US, 2012. Mini-comic.
“In Search of Cold Places”, Chicago, IL, US, 2011. Artist book.
“Explorations”, Chicago, IL, US, 2010. Artist book.
“Between Mountains and the Sea”, Chicago, IL, US, 2010. Artist book.
“I was born to be an explorer”, Chicago, IL, US, 2008. Mini-comic.
“SHIPWRECK”, Chicago, IL, US, 2007. Mini-comic.
PUBLICATIONS: Contributions in Books
Caroline Picard ed., “Ghost Nature”, La Box and The Green Lantern Press, Chicago, IL, US, 2014.
Erik Peterson ed., “Proof”, Chicago, IL, US, 2012.
Devin King and Caroline Picard ed., “Field Static”, Holon Press, Chicago, IL, US, 2012.
Caroline Picard ed., “The North Georgia Gazette”, The Green Lantern Press, Chicago, IL, US, 2009
GRANTS, AWARDS, WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES
2024 Tin House Winter Workshop, Portland, OR, US.
2024 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards Longlist, Santa Fe, NM, US
2023-2024 Literary Kitchen Novel in a Year Mentor Programme, UK/online.
2023 Granta Magazine Nature Writing Workshop, online.
2022 Broad Loaf Environmental Writing Conference and Katharine Bakeless Nason Scholarship, Middlebury College, VT, US.
2021 Open Mountain Competition Selected Writer, Kendal Mountain Literature Festival, Kendal, Cumbria, UK.
2018 Pocoapoco, Creative Research Residency, Oaxaca, Mexico.
2017 Silver Streak, Artist Residency, Bozeman, MT, US.
2016 Pocoapoco, Creative Research Residency, Oaxaca, Mexico.
2014 The Artist Colony, Artist Residency, Jämtland, Sweden.
2013 Island Residency, Artist Residency, Upper Peninsula, MI, US.
2010 ACRE, Artist Residency, Stueben, WI, US.
2009 Harold Arts, Artist Residency, Jeffers Tree Farm, OH, US.
2009 Critical Fierceness Award, ChancesDances, Chicago, IL, US.
2008 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs, IL, US.
2008 Board of Trustees Tuition Waiver and Navona/KRP Scholarship, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, US.
2007 Art Shanty Project Grant, The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN, US.
2007 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs, IL, US.
2006 Everyone’s Art Car Parade Travel Assistance Award, The Orange Show, Houston, TX, US.
2005 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs, IL, US.
2000-2004 Academic Merit Scholarship, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL, US.
READINGS AND FESTIVALS
2021 Open Mountain, Kendal Mountain Literature Festival, Kendal, Cumbria, UK.
2018 Santa Fe Zine Fest, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM, US.
2017 Chicago Art Book Fair, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Chicago, IL, US.
2017 Two Cookie Minimum, Chicago Publisher’s Resource Center, Chicago, IL, US.
2012-2016 Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL, US.
2014 Chicago Small Publishers Book Fair, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, US.
2011-2014 Chicago Zine Fest, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, US.
2013 Two Cookie Minimum, Hungry Brain, Chicago, IL, US.
2007 SmartMouth, Hot House, Chicago, IL, US.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Underneath, Show Pony Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, US (curated by Ni “Moss” Fawn).
2010 Uncharted Territories, ACRE Projects, Chicago, IL, US.
2010 Temporary Allegiance, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Philip von Zweck).
2005 Crushin’, Diamonds on Archer, Chicago, IL, US.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND SCREENINGS
2019 New Year Revolution, Curate at Art.i.fact, Santa Fe, NM, US (curated by Ni “Moss” Fawn).
2018 Taos Art Insurgency: The New Protagonists, Greg Moon Gallery, Taos, NM, US.
2016 Loop – a Video Marathon, Supermarket Art, Stockholm, Sweden.
2015 Loop – a Video Marathon, Galleri CC, Malmö, Sweden.
2015 Making Chances, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL, US (catalogue).
2014 Superheroines, werkspace, Chicago, IL, US.
2014 Isolated Fictions: A Reenactment, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Caroline Picard).
2014 Boundaries, Collapse, Lula Café Walls, Chicago, IL, US.
2014 Turtle Salon in the Forest, Sällbacken in Duved, Jämtland, Sweden.
2014 Ghost Nature, La Box, Bourges, France and Gallery 400, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Caroline Picard) (catalogue).
2013 Romancing the Tone, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, US (curated by Casey Droege).
2013 My life is an open book, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, US.
2012 Romancing the Tone, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA, US (curated by Casey Droege).
2012 All Good Things Become Wild And Free, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI, US (curated by Danny Orendorff)
2012 SWWMYOSBL, Happy Collaborations and Chicago Expo, Chicago, IL, US.
2012 Field Static, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Caroline Picard + Devin King), (catalogue)
2012 Beginning, Prosjektrom Normanns, Ølhallen, Stavanger, Norway (curated by Margrethe Aanestad)
2012 Arte No Es Fácil, Links Hall, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Dan Paz and Marilyn Volkman) (catalogue)
2012 I’m … Here To Make Friends, Happy Collaborationists, Chicago, IL, US (collaboration with Aay Preston-Myint and Charles Vinz).
2011 Hornswaggler Collection Exhibition, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL, US
2012 The World as Text, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Jessica Cochran).
2010 Isolated Fictions, Green Lantern Gallery, Chicago, IL and FluxSpace, Philadelphia, PA, US (curated by Caroline Picard).
2010 National, University Galleries of Illinois State University, Normal, IL, US (curated by Adam Farcus).
2010 UIC MFA Thesis Show, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL, US.
2010 What Made It Through The Fire, the Nightingale, Chicago, IL, US.
2009 Aspect Ratio, Plaines Project, Chicago, IL, US.
2009 Isolated Fictions, AS220, Providence, RI, US (curated by Caroline Picard).
2009 The Yield, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL, US.
2008 Collection, Collection, Mess Hall, Chicago, IL, US.
2007 NFO/XPO Version Fest 07, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago, IL, US (collaboration with Casey Droege).
2007 Art Shanty Projects, Medicine Lake, Plymouth, MN, US (collaboration with Aay Preston-Myint, Charles Vinz, and Ilana Percher).
2006 New Cartography, Lobot Gallery, Oakland, CA, US (collaboration with Casey Droege).
2006 NFO/XPO Version Fest 06, Iron Studios, Chicago, IL, US (collaboration with Casey Droege).
2005 Puppet and Doll Show, Reversible Eye, Chicago, IL, US.
2005 Spring Break Chicago, Butcher Shop and ArtLedge, Chicago, IL, US (curated by Caleb Lyons).
VISITING ARTIST LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
2018 Visiting Artist, University of New Mexico, Wilderness Studio, Northern New Mexico, US.
2017 Artist Lecture, University of Montana, Bozeman, MT, US.
2017 Visiting Artist, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL, US.
2014 Guest Lecturer, Writing Department, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL, US.
2013 Guest Lecturer, Writing Department, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL, US.
2012 Guest Lecturer, Dorchester Projects, Chicago, IL, US.
2011 Guest Instructor, Printmaking, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, US.
SELECTED PRESS
Hira Sameer Ahmed, “Being a Multi-Passionate with Rebecca Mir Grady”, Living Your Truth Podcast, ep. 8, 12/16/19.
Honey Harris, “Interview with Rebecca Mir Grady and Niomi Fawn”, The Big Show with Honey Harris, KBAC 98.1, 08/16/2019.
Frank Rose, "A Creative Excuse #12 with Rebecca Mir Grady”, A Creative Excuse Podcast, 08/13/19.
Alex De Vore, “Summer Arts Preview”, Santa Fe Reporter, 05/29/19.
Emily Breidenbach, “Five Highlights from the Chicago Art Book Fair 2017”, Sixty Inches From Center, 12/7/2017.
Caroline Picard, “SHE IS RESTLESS: The Artist Books of Rebecca Mir Grady”, Bad At Sports Blog, 08/20/16.
Chloe Stagaman, “See Plus: Ghost Nature at Gallery 400”, Heave Media, 02/23/14.
Alicia Eler, “10 Chicago Art Exhibitions to See This Winter”, Hyperallergic, 01/14/14.
Jason Foumberg, “20 Best Shows at Art Galleries in January”, Chicago Magazine, 12/27/13.
Monica Westin, “Portrait of a Designer: Rebecca Mir Grady”, New City Design, 11/19/13.
John Wawrzaszak, “She Does it Herself”, New City Lit, 03/04/13.
Alicia Eler, “The Best of Chicago’s MDW Art Fair: Cat Taxidermy, Tarot, and Interactive Icebergs”, Hyperallergic, 11/13/2012.
Alicia Eler, “A Wild Forest of Queer Aesthetics”, Hyperallergic, 11/06/12.
Jeremy Biles, “Review: Field Static: a Catalog Essay”, New City Art, 06/05/12
Lori Waxman, “An Alternative Summer Reading List”, Chicago Tribune, 07/13/11.
Caroline Picard, “Lovers are Oceans are Vampire Slayers: an interview with Rebecca Mir”, Bad At Sports Blog, 04/20/11.
Jessica Del Curto, “Superheroes: Class Creates Comic Books Based on Personal Experiences”, Extra, 11/08/07.
Jennifer Brandel, “The Soft Shop/Pimp My Shack/Illcutyou.com/Shanty”, Mule Magazine, #4, 2007.
Jennifer Brandel, “Soft Shop on the Crackling Ice”, 848, Chicago Public Media, 02/08/07.
Cate Levinson, “Static”, Punk Planet Issue #67, May/June 2005.
COLLECTIONS
Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection – the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, US.
University of Chicago Library – Special Collections, Chicago, IL, US.
Center for Book and Paper Arts Artist Book Collection, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, US.
Hornswaggler Arts Collection, Chicago, IL, US.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2014-2024 Freelance Photographer, Editor, Writer, Chicago, IL + Santa Fe, NM, US
2013-2020 Owner/Designer, Rebecca Mir Grady Jewelry, Chicago, IL + Santa Fe, NM, US.
2014-2016 Studio Manager, Sarah McGuire Studio, Chicago, IL, US (managed studio operations and equipment).
2010-2014 Production Assistant/Studio Coordinator, Sarah McGuire Studio, Chicago, IL, US (metal fabrication and studio upkeep).
2009-2010 Instructor of Record, Drawing 1, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, US.
2009 Teaching Assistant, Art + Ecology, Advanced Sculpture, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, US.
2006-2008 Instructor, The Comic Book Project, After School Matters, Chicago, IL, US.
2005-2006 Instructor, TeenREACH, Summer Arts Curriculum, Chinese American Service League, Chicago, IL, US.
2005-2006 Instructor, The Clay Mobile, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, US.
2005 Administrative Assistant, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, US.
2003-2005 Instructor and Program Coordinator, Artists and Children Create Together, Chicago, IL, US.
ASSOCIATIONS
2021-2022 Writer, Photographer, and Editor, Ecology & Action Magazine.
2014-2022 Board Secretary, The Green Lantern Press, Chicago, IL, US.
2014-2018 Juror, Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, Chicago, IL.
2014-2020 Member, Ethical Metalsmiths.
2014-2016 Member, Windy City Bloggers Collective, Chicago, IL, US.