Meet Kristen
A life-long, self-taught artist, Kristen Neveu currently resides in nature near many lakes halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Growing up in the Midwest, after graduating from The University of Iowa with a Communications major, she began painting and creating collages in the evenings after work while sitting on her living room floor. Kristen’s artwork combines mixed materials, including acrylic and oil paint, pencil, paper, fabric and fragments of wood. Kristen is inspired by nature, music and collecting salvaged materials and possessions.
Selected exhibitions include James May Gallery in Milwaukee, WI; The Robert Wright Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL; The Saw Room Gallery in Evanston; The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Barnsdall Art Gallery in Los Angeles, and Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, and many art pop-up exhibitions in local businesses and libraries. She is a member of the Grayslake Arts Alliance, Evanston Made, Adler Art Center and Woman Made Gallery. Each November, Kristen also curates the small and mighty Up North Art Pop-up Show.
Also skilled in image archiving, permissions and photo research, Kristen’s job experience includes Getty Images, Warner Bros. Entertainment Media Archives, and HMH Education.
In my abstract mixed media art, I'm inspired by the textures and colors found in nature. The interplay between life, death, strength and resiliency is a pattern that emerges as I experiment with what I find and what I decide to use. I often utilize salvaged possessions while experimenting with paint, pencils, paper, fabric, metal and wood fragments. There’s also a layering effect with the materials, reflecting the patterns of loss and accumulation. Each assemblage turns into a bit of a storybook, almost like a memorial to the shared possessions and experiences. Making art is therapeutic and hopeful for me, and I want to share this with others as they view my work.
-Kristen Neveu
I'm an artist member of Adler Arts Center, Woman Made Gallery, Evanston Made, and Grayslake Arts Alliance.
Selected exhibitions include: The Robert T. Wright Gallery at College of Lake County, The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Evanston Art Center, James May Gallery (Algoma/Milwaukee), Barnsdall Art Center (Los Angeles) and Woman Made Gallery.
I also enjoy exhibiting at local businesses, pop-up alternative spaces and supporting theater productions.
Upcoming Shows & Events
Recent Works 2024 - Robert T. Wrights Community Gallery of Art, College of Lake County - Grayslake, IL - October 4-31
Fall into Art - Grayslake Artist Alliance at Positive Spaces - Mundelein, IL - October 6-31
Lure of the Local - 165 N. Archer - Mundelein, IL - September 13-November 10
Come Together - Open Studio Project - Evanston, IL - November 2-23
Featured Artist at The Beer Bazaar - 107 Center St., Grayslake, IL - November 3-December 30
Up North Art Pop-up - Bramble Art Lofts, Chicago, IL - November 16, 12:00-5:00
Waukegan Public Libary - Waukegan, IL - January 1-31, 2025
Adler Arts Center - Member Exhibition - Libertyville, IL - January 7-Feb. 22, 2025
Evanston Made Shop
https://shopevanstonmade.org/
CV
Education
The University of Iowa. B.A., Communication Studies and Anthropology, 1992.
Self-taught artist.
Solo Exhibitions
2020 - 1100 Florence, The Quiet Underneath art in windows, Evanston, IL.
2017 - Swell Gallery, Clearing, West Dundee, IL.
2017 - Evanston Public Library, Evanston, IL.
2016 - Creative Co-Working, Past and Future Blooming, Evanston, IL.
2016 - Gather, Evanston, IL.
2015 - Gallery 1501, Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines, IL .
2015 - Hazel, Happy Good Morning (100 collaged salvaged plates), Chicago, IL.
2015 - Uncommon Ground, Chicago, IL.
2014 - Adventureland Gallery, American Gardens, Chicago, IL.
2006 - Hazel, Wonderland, Chicago, IL.
2004 - Lobby Gallery, Autonomous, Chicago, IL .
2003 - Iowa State University Memorial Union, Wistful, Ames, IA.
2002 - ATC Space, Solace – Garden of 500 Salvaged Tin Can Sculptures, Chicago, IL.
Selected Group Exhibitions and Fairs
2024 - needs to be updated - :)
2023 - James May Gallery, Art of Water VII, Milwaukee, WI
2023 - Highland Park Art Center, What Does Freedom Look Like, Highland Park, IL
2023 - Woman Made Gallery, Windows to the Inside: Expressions of Mental Health, Chicago, IL
2022 – Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, Recent Works 2022 Juried Exhibition of Art from Tri
County Artists, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL.
2022 - Blue Moon Gallery, Feeling Blue, Grayslake, IL.
2021- 2022 - James May Gallery, Art of Water, Milwaukee, WI.
2020 - Creative Co-working, Evanston, IL.
2019 - James May Gallery, Beyond Earth and Sky, Algoma, WI.
2019 - James May Gallery, Art of Water, Algoma, WI.
2018 - The Saw Room @ The Alley Gallery, Overlap, Evanston, IL.
2017 - A Red Orchid Theatre Evening at the Talkhouse, Chicago, IL.
2017-2020 - Artruck, Evanston, IL.
2017-2019 - Evanston Made, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL.
2013-2017 - Ravenswood Art Walk, Chicago, IL.
2013 - King Art Collective, Chicago, IL.
2010 - Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Deconstructed Applications, Los Angeles, CA.
2010-2011 - Beverly Hills Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA.
2009 - Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, CA.
2006 - Bucktown Arts Fest, Chicago, IL.
2006 - Bridge Art Fair, represented by Ai Gallery and Unit B Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2006 - Commerce Street Artist Warehouse, Six Flags: Polvo est. 1996, Houston, TX.
2005 - Polvo, Chicago, IL.
2004 - The School of the Art Institute 1926 Exhibition Studies , Crosswalk, Chicago, IL.
2002 - Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Midwestern Biennial, Fort Wayne, IN.
2002 - Judith Racht Gallery on Lake, Three Chicago Artists, Chicago, IL.
2001 - ARC Gallery, National I Exhibition, Chicago, IL.
Collections
Magnolia Winter (2015). Collection of Michael Shannon. Brooklyn, NY.
Nest (2009) and Rosy (2009). Collection of Joel McHale. Los Angeles, CA.
Grants and Awards
2012 - Ucross Artist Residency, Ucross, WY.
2010 - Best in Show. Beverly Hills Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA.
2006 - Best in Show. Bucktown Arts Fest, Chicago, IL.
2001-2003 - City of Chicago Community Artists Assistance Program Grant
Member of the Following Organizations
Grayslake Arts Alliance, joined in 2020
Evanston Made, joined in 2018
Woman Made Gallery, joined in 2003
Related Experience
Photo Archivist, Photo Researcher, Photo Specialist with over 25 years experience
Companies include: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Warner Bros., Getty Images