︎

WHITNEY LYNN

Work          About          CV          Contact

Born 1980, Williams Air Force Base, AZ
Lives and works between Seattle and Miami

EDUCATION

 2007


 2004


 1998-99
MFA, New Genres
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA

BFA, Sculpture + Extended Media
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Music Performance
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA


SOLO PROJECTS & EXHIBITIONS

  2025

Atomic Open House, Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum
curated by Cortney Lane Stell (upcoming)

  2023

Time Kills, Jack Straw New Media Gallery, Seattle, WA

  2022
Before the Wax Melts, UNTITLED Art (Monuments special projects), Miami Beach, FL
curated by Omar López-Chahoud

  2021
Point of View, bus bench billboard series, Miami-Dade Country, FL

WINE DARK SEE, Burke Gilman Trail (public art), Seattle, WA
commissioned by the Office of Arts & Culture/Seattle Public Utilities

  2020
The Siren, Catharine Clark Gallery, Media Room, San Francisco, CA

Forbidden Illusions, LightSource, San Francisco, CA

  2019
Sirens, Silencers, Mufflers and Mutes, Bass & Reiner, San Francisco, CA

  2017
Tools & Implements, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

After The Fall, Bass & Reiner, San Francisco, CA

  2016
A Matter of Perspective, The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, NV

Sirens, Auxiliary Projects, Brooklyn, NY
organized by Jennifer Dalton and Jennifer McCoy

  2014
Searching for Diogenes, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
curated by Bean Gilsdorf

You Get What You Get, Sediment Arts, Richmond, VA
  2012
Involuntary Sculptures, Steven Wolf Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA

Timing is Everything, City Hall lobby (public art), Reno, NV
commissioned by the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission

  2010
Doug (Event Recorders), Patricia Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGS & PERFORMANCES

  2024-25
One Minute Volume 12 (traveling exhibition)
curated by Kerry Baldry
Listasafn Árnesinga Art Museum, Hveragerði, Iceland
Close Up Film Centre, London, England
VISUALCONTAINER[.BOX], Milan, Italy
Cube Cinema, Bristol, England
Storyhouse Cinema, Chester, England

  2023
Tenure & Promotion Exhibition, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA

  2022
Fotografía en Movimiento, El Espacio 23, Miami, FL
organized by Juan Carlos Alom

Twenty Year Anniversary, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
curated by Tavarus Blackmon, Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen and Michelle Mansour

  2021
Three Turns Miami, UNTITLED Art: Special Projects, Miami Beach, FL
curated by Tony Labat

A Spirit of Disruption, Walter & McBean Galleries, San Francisco, CA
curated by Margaret Tedesco and Leila Weefur

  2020
Invincible Summer, Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, CA
curated by Julie Casemore

HotHeads, Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, CA
organized by Julie Heffernan

From the Tower: Transmission, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
organized by Tony Labat

Remote Access, Catharine Clark Gallery (online video screening)

  2019

Bahía a Bahía, Centro Bahía, Regla, Cuba (two-person exhibition)

Internet Archive Residency Exhibition, Ever Gold [Projects], San Francisco, CA

  2018
Dressed, Paul Robeson Gallery, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
curated by Caren King Choi and Kristen J. Owens

Neon AIR: Radiant Residents, Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, Las Vegas, NV

Feel and Rhythms, White Columns Online
curated by Ashton Cooper

Figure of Speech, San Diego International Airport, San Diego, CA

Mediated: An Urban Projection Event, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

  2017
Detritus, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
curated by Kevin B. Chen, Lisa Ellsworth and Lordy Rodriguez

The Art Book Show, Bass & Reiner, San Francisco, CA

The Original Disruptor, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA

  2016
Not Alone, San Francisco Art Commission Gallery, San Francisco, CA
curated by Meg Shiffler and Jason Hanasik

Bizarre Bazaar, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
curated by Michael Arcega

Greeks for Greece, University of Illinois Figure One Gallery, Champaign, IL
curated by Allison Rowe

  2015
Play Grounds, RedLine, Denver, CO
curated by Cortney Lane Stell and Ruth Bruno

Front Yard/Backstreet, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA

Ephemeral Objects, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
curated by Andrew Horwitz

The Gold Standard, VCU Depot Gallery, Richmond, VA

  2014
Prep School, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
curated by Max Presneill and Lisa DeSmidt

5 year Anniversary, Ever Gold Gallery, San Francisco, CA

The Long Conversation, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA
curated by Courtney Fink, Valerie Imus, Gay Outlaw and Chris Sollars

  2013
The Temporary Institute of Emancipated Objects, RMCAD Philip J. Steele Gallery, Denver, CO
curated by Cortney Lane Stell

See You Next Tuesday, Portland State University, Portland, OR
curated by Jennifer Locke

Device, CES Contemporary, Laguna Beach, CA

2012
De-Mobbing, Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA
curated by Brian Karl

Strange Loop, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
curated by Alanna Simone

Here, There and Elsewhere: Assembling Communities, SFMOMA, San Francisco, CA
organized by Helena Producciones at Kadist Art Foundation

10-Year Anniversary, Root Division, San Francisco, CA

  2011
Transient, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

God Only Knows Who the Audience Is, Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco, CA

Negative Space, Steven Wolf Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA

Zombie-Proof House, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Napa, CA. curated by Robert Wuilfe

Apocalypse Screening, San Pablo Arts District (SPAD) Storefront Gallery
in collaboration with di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Oakland, CA

  2010
Teen Age: You Just Don’t Understand, Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, CA
curated by Ken Goldberg and Catharine Clark

Golden State, RVCA/VASF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Print Summit: Survey of Contemporary Printmaking, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

  2009
Bellwether, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA

Z-axis, Lobot Gallery, Oakland, CA
curated by Eric Araujo and Ross Campbell

  2008
Bellwether, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA

Z-axis, Lobot Gallery, Oakland, CA
curated by Eric Araujo and Ross Campbell

  2007
The Art of Craft/The Craft of Art, CCA Irwin Center, Oakland, CA

The Gun Show, Root Division, San Francisco, CA

Vernissage, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

  2006
Terror?, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, CA. Curated by Kevin B. Chen

Security, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Studio Visit, Exit Art, New York, NY
curated by Papo Colo and Jeanette Ingberman

  2004
The Presidency, Exit Art, New York, NY
curated by Papo Colo and Jeanette Ingberman

On Message: Art for our Time, Plant Zero, Richmond, VA
curated by Alyssa Salomon

Pulse 2004, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA
curated by Peter Baldes and Kristin Beale


SELECTED COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

  2023
Remember You Must ____, Jack Straw Cultural Center, Seattle, WA
Multimedia performance with sound by Till the Teeth (Sandesh Nagaraj and Jonathan Rodriguez)

  2021
De una experiencia colectiva (From a Collective Experience), Norway Embassy to Cuba in partnership with Estudio Figueroa-Vives, Havana, Cuba
Video co-created with Tony Labat. Screened online and projected on the embassy building facade

  2019
Objectos Imposibles, Estudio 8, Havana, Cuba
Multimedia installation co-created with Tony Labat

  2004
Fluff My Pillow, Inns of Virginia, Richmond VA
Performance/installation co-created with Diane Derr and Ryan Mulligan. Organized by Mark Harris

   2003
Consumption Carnival, Polkadot Gallery, Richmond, VA
Multimedia installation co-created with PROMO collective


WORKSHOPS

  2017
Decoy Collection as part of Tools & Implements
de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

  2014
Survival Training Workshop as part of Bellwether
Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA

  2013
The Attempt (Sno-Kone Quinzee) as part of The Temporary Institute of Emancipated Objects
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Denver, CO

  2008
Public Interventions
Saint Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CA


SELECTED CURATORIAL PROJECTS

  2024
behind the scenes, Meany Center for the Performing Arts, co-organized with Sangram Majumdar, Seattle, WA

  2023
There You Are (But Where are You?), Meany Center for the Performing Arts, co-organized with Sangram Majumdar, Seattle, WA

HOLD, Freeway Park, Seattle, WA

  2021
PSA Miami, bus bench billboard series, Miami-Dade county, FL

  2017
Deceptive Actions, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

  2016
Mistaken Impressions, Root Division, San Francisco, CA

  2015
Rummage, Open Source Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

  2014
site_specific, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA

Space for Rent, Castro & Market 24-Hour Gas Station, San Francisco, CA

  2013
El Porvenir/What’s to Come, Mission Voices Summer, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA

  2009
Retractions, Root Division, San Francisco, CA

  2008
Decoy, LoBot Gallery, co-organized with Ross Campbell, Oakland, CA


SELECTED AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES

  2023-25
Artist Fellow, Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum

2023-24
Royalty Research Fund (RRF) Scholar, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  2023
Downtown Arts Recovery Grant, Downtown Seattle Association/Municipal Improvement District in partnership with the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle, WA

New Media Gallery Residency, Jack Straw Cultural Center, Seattle, WA

2022-23
Arts Faculty Fellowship, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2021-22
Mellon Faculty Fellow, Mellon Foundation/University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2021-25
Hermine Pruzan Endowed Faculty Fellowship, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  2021
Kreielsheimer Grant for Research Grant for Research Excellence in the Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  2020
Wyckoff Milliman Endowment Grant, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  2019
Artist-in-Residence, Internet Archive, San Francisco, CA

Residency, LightSource SF, San Francisco, CA

  2018
Wyckoff Milliman Endowment Grant, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  2017
Artist-in-Residence, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

  2016
National Artist-in-Residence, The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, NV

  2012
Kress Project Award, Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, GA

  2007
Travel Grant, College Art Association, New York, NY

  2006
Gulnar Bosch Travel Award, Southeastern College Art Conference, Nashville, TN

  2003-04
Dean’s Award Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA


SELECTED LECTURES/PANELS/GUEST VISITS

  2023
Artist Talk, Montclair State University,  Montclair, NJ

  2020
Artist Talk + Grad Studio Visits, University of Delaware (via Zoom)

Lunchtime Faculty Talks, University of Washington (via Zoom)

  2018
Artist Talk, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

  2017
Artist Talk: Object Cultures & Thing Theory, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

Artist Talk, SMFA at Tufts University, Boston, MA

Artist Talk: Contemporary Practice, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
  2016
Artist Talk, The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, NV

  2014
Panelist: Prep School, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA

  2013
Artist Talk, Workshop + Exhibition: Art Processes and Practices: Visiting Artists and Scholars
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

Panelist: Beg, Borrow and Steal: Four Contemporary Views on Failure
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Visiting Artist, Scholar & Designer Program, Denver, CO
  2012
Artist Talk: Visiting Artist Lecture Series, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA

Presenter: Presente, Presente, Presente!, Kadist, San Francisco, CA

Artist Talk: Advanced Photography, Mills College, Oakland, CA

  2011
Artist Talk (work-in-progress): QNA Lab, Queens Nails Projects, San Francisco, CA

  2010
Visiting Artist: Advanced Drawing, Dominican University, San Rafael, CA

Panelist: Conversations with Contemporary Artists: Photography,
Mid-America College Art Association/SECAC, Richmond, VA

  2009
Artist Talk: Sculpture/Social Practice, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Panelist: Artists, Technology, Landscape, College Art Association, Los Angeles, CA

Artist Talk: Visual Translations, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA

  2008
Artist Talk: Sculpture/Social Practice, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Panelist: Artists, Technology, Landscape, College Art Association, Los Angeles, CA

Artist Talk: Visual Translations, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA

  2007
Artist Talk and Student Exhibition Organizer: Art and the City
Saint Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CA

  2006
Presentation/Panelist: Zoom: Media Flooding and the Abstraction of Tragedy,
Mid-America College Art Association/SECAC Conference, Nashville, TN

  2004
Artist Talk: Beginning Video, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

ART EDITIONS

“Mourning Veils,” Open Editions, San Francisco, CA, 2020

“Sirens,” Open Editions, San Francisco, CA, 2016

“DIY Survival Kit,” The Present Group, Issue 12, Fall, Oakland, CA, 2009


PUBLISHED WRITING

“Love Letter to Jeannene Przyblyski,” Variable West, March 8, 2022

“Howard Fried: The Decomposition of My Mother’s Wardrobe at The Box,” Daily Serving, Dec. 17, 2014

Anna Novakov, ed. Twenty-four: Innovative Pedagogical Exercises for the Eco-Art Classroom, Moraga, CA: Center for Creative Pedagogy, St. Mary’s College of California, 2008 (contributor)


ARTIST PUBLICATIONS, COLLABORATIVELY AUTHORED

-V-E-N-T-R-I-L-O-Q-U-I-S-T- Issue 4: Persistence of Vision, Miami, FL, 2021 (editor/publisher)Box set of artist flipbooks designed by Lauren Frances Adams, Sofía Córdova, Javier Castro, Barry Noble Olusegun-Noble Despenza, Ellen Garvens, Rob Rhee, Leila Weefur, Lena Tseabbe Wright, Connie Zheng

-V-E-N-T-R-I-L-O-Q-U-I-S-T- Issue 3: One Hour Photo, San Francisco, CA, 2015 (editor/publisher)Featuring a collection of (24) 4x6 photos by Allan deSouza, Siemon Allen, Wilfredo Prieto, J. John Priola, Marco Rios, Guy Overfelt, Zeina Barakeh, Christy Chan, Sean McFarland, Anne Colvin, Maria Dawn, Diane Derr, Humberto Diaz, Theresa Ganz, Aaron Harbour, Tessa Hughes-Freeland, Taraneh Hemami, David Janesko and Francis Menotti, Lucas T. McMahon, Bernardo Roman Palau and Virginia Samsel

-V-E-N-T-R-I-L-O-Q-U-I-S-T- Issue 2: Coloring Book, San Francisco, CA, 2015 (editor/publisher)Featuring coloring pages by Linda Mary Montano, Nina Katchadourian, Mie Hørlyck Mogensen, Simon & Tom Bloor, Amir H. Fallah, Lordy Rodriguez, Adam Parker Smith, Martin Machado, Bonnie Collura, Crystal Liu, Josephine Taylor, Anthony Discenza, Alison Pebworth, Laura Hyunjhee Kim, Dmitri Obergfell, Weston Teruya, Ian Kimmerlyand Tim Sullivan

-V-E-N-T-R-I-L-O-Q-U-I-S-T-   Issue 1: Performance, San Francisco, CA, 2014 (editor/publisher)Documents of performance by Brian Conley, Ana Teresa Fernandez, Bean Gilsdorf, Jeremiah Barber, Sergio De La Torre,  Lindsey White, Hans Winkler, Tony Labat,  Jennifer Locke, Wong Kit Yi, Helena Keefe and Martine Viale

SELECTED REVIEWS/ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS/PUBLICATIONS

Brangien Davis, “ArtSEA: Arctic art for Indigenous Peoples Day in Seattle: plus, new installations at the University of Washington’s Jacob Lawrence Gallery and a frenzy of film festivals,” Crosscut, October 5, 2023.

Suzanne Ramljak, Loaded: Guns in Contemporary Art, Schiffer Publishing, 2022. 121.

Kim Beil, “An Act of Gathering: Whitney Lynn Interviewed by Kim Beil: A public artwork layers history and language,” BOMB Magazine, July 5, 2021.

Hall W. Rockefeller, “Women of the Pacific Northwest: Whitney Lynn,” less than half, June 29, 2020.

“What are the Artists Doing in Lockdown?” interview by Elif Bereketli, TRT World, May 20, 2020.

Tony Bravo, “Summer art experiences are mostly online, but some are slowly happening again in person, San Francisco Chronicle, June 20, 2020.

Charles Desmarais, “Sirens, Silencers, Mufflers, and Mutes,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 6, 2019.

Lara Shalson, Performing Endurance: Art and Politics since 1960, Cambridge University Press, 2018. 218.

Kathleen Dixon, “After the Fall,” San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 8, 2017.

Sarah Hotchkiss, “Uplifting Art for Uncertain Times,” KQED Arts, Sept. 6, 2016.

Kristen Peterson, “Biblical Temptresses In Neon: San Francisco-Based Whitney Lynn Looks At Las Vegas In The Larger Context Of Time,” Las Vegas Weekly, June 29, 2016.

Fred Wasser, “Las Vegas: Glass Half Full Or Half Empty?,” KNPR RADIO, June 29, 2016.

Sarah Corsa, “Artist explores ‘industry of fantasy’ in Las Vegas,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 4, 2016.

Charles Demarais, “Make no mistake, catch latest Root Division exhibit,” San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 27, 2016.

Kimberly Chun, “Mistaken Impressions’ explores the inspiration of trash,” San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 6, 2016.

Amanda Dalla Villa Adams, “Change: ‘The Gold Standard’ examines the work of VCU graduates from the last 10 years,” Style Weekly, July 28, 2015.

Ray Mark Rinaldi, “Art that invites you to ‘play’ and see the world now,” The Denver Post, June 21, 2015.

Christian L. Frock, “De-Mobbing Invests in Different Futures at Headlands Center for the Arts,” KQED Arts, Feb 23, 2012.

Kara Q. Smith, “With Involuntary Sculptures,” ArtSlant, Jan. 10, 2012.

Bean Gilsdorf, “Intersections and Boundaries: Interview with Whitney Lynn,” Daily Serving, Jan 12, 2012.

Liz Glass, “The Lure of Disaster,” Artslant, Sept 20, 2011.

Matt Sussman, “Just Say No,” San Francisco Bay Guardian, Aug 8, 2011.

Michele Carlson, “Zombie-Proof House,” Art Practical, June 28, 2011.

Matt Sussman, “TV Eye: Anxiety of Influence and Bleak Portraiture,” SF Bay Guardian, May 3, 2011.

Liz Glass, “On the ‘Attempt’,” Artslant, May 3, 2011.

Aimee Le Duc, “God Only Knows Who The Audience Is,” KQED Arts, May 3, 2011.

Matt Sussman, “Totally wired,” San Francisco Bay Guardian, Sept 14, 2010.

Kenneth Baker, “‘Bellwether’ is Southern Exposure’s latest,” San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 17, 2009.

Nirmala Nataraj, “‘Bellwether’: Uncertainty’s artistic promise,” San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 15, 2009.

Hiya Swanhuyser, “Under Exposure’s Spell,” SF Weekly, Oct. 15, 2009.

Traci Vogel, “Harpoons and Harbingers,” SF Weekly, Aug. 31, 2009.

David Buuck, “‘Retractions’ at Root Division,” Artweek, March, 2009.

Victoria Gannon, “Retractions,” KQED Arts, Jan. 17, 2009.

Mary Eisenhart, “Last chance: ‘Retractions’,” SF Chronicle, Jan. 15, 2009.

Rebekah Drysdale, “Whitney Lynn,” Daily Serving, Aug. 14, 2008.

Rachel Swan, “Critics Choice: Shape,” East Bay Express, Feb. 20. 2008.

Lea Feinsten, “Terror?,” SF Weekly, Oct. 25, 2006.

Steven L. Jones, “Loud and Clear: Finally, an art show gets political,” Style Weekly, Sept. 29, 2004.



ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

  2024-
Associate Professor, University of Washington
School of Art + Art History + Design, Seattle, WA

  2020-24
Chair, Interdisciplinary Visual Art, University of Washington
School of Art + Art History + Design, Seattle, WA
 
  2018-24
Assistant Professor, University of Washington
School of Art + Art History + Design, Seattle, WA

  2018
Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
Art Practice Department, Berkeley, CA

  2014-17
Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
Art Practice Department, Berkeley, CA

  2010-18

Lecturer, San Francisco Art Institute
New Genres, Critical Studies & Graduate programs, San Francisco, CA

  2013-15
Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
Department of Art + Architecture, San Francisco, CA

  2012
Adjunct Professor, Sonoma State University
Art & Art History Department, Sonoma, CA

  2009-14
Lecturer, Saint Mary’s College of California
Art Practice, Moraga, CA

  2009
Visiting Lecturer, University of the Pacific
Department of Art, Media, Performance & Design, Stockton, CA
© Whitney Lynn, All Wrongs Reserved 2024