Meet Kristen

A life-long artist and mostly self-taught, 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 in the evenings after work. 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.

Also skilled in image archiving and legalities, Kristen’s job experience includes Getty Images, Warner Bros. Entertainment Media Archives, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.


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 in my paintings and sculptures. I often utilize salvaged possessions while experimenting with paint, pencils, paper and fabric and wood fragments. There’s also a layering effect with the materials, reflecting the patterns of loss and accumulation. Art provides solace to me. I want to share this solace with others when they experience my art.

 -Kristen Neveu

I'm a member of 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

James May Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - Art of Water VIII, May 3-May 28

Mayfest, Grayslake Arts Alliance - Grayslake Heritage Center, Sat., May 3, 12-4

Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL- There’s No Place Like Home, June 1-June 28

Grayslake Artists Alliance Shop
https://www.grayslakeartsalliance.org/shop.html

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

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