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Artist Biography

Kathleen Studebaker is a multi-media sculptor focusing on wood, metal, cast plastic and a variety of other materials. She is a fabricator and all-around tinkerer with a great love of detailed fabrication and problem-solving. She makes every element of each of her works by hand (no CNC or lasers; no found-objects). Her work often references the far-flung future, or perhaps alternate realities, and is inspired by astronomy, narrative fantasy, and the intersection of digital technology with mechanical function. Aside from her art, Kathleen has an (potentially unhealthy) interest in order and organization, and busies herself with (a possibly inordinate amount of) customization of personal items: from clothing to storage solutions & furniture. She earned her MFA in sculpture from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL in 2013, and is currently working as a studio artist based in Philadelphia, PA.

To learn more about Kathleen and her work, visit her website at www.KathleenStudebaker.com, or follow her Instagram @KathleenStudebaker_art.

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Artist Statement

Sometimes the pieces I create tell a story, more often they exist inside the context of one. I make objects that belong somewhere else, and have a story of their own. I consume narrative fantasy voraciously and have always been fascinated by the idea of a post-paradigm shift future, and what it may hold. I am also interested in (amateur) astronomy; our seemingly infinite universe and all its mysteries. Learning about the life-cycle of stars, or looking at the incredible new images produced by orbiting satellites, reminds me of how small I am: how narrow my view, how finite my nature. I know that I can’t hope to ever truly understand my place in the wider scheme of things. This fact might seem frightening or disheartening, but I use it as inspiration. There are infinite possible stories out there, and as much as I am able, I will use my time here to consume and create as many of them as I can.

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‍Education

‍2013
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Carbondale, IL
M.F.A., Sculpture

2006
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
B.F.A., Sculpture

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‍Awards and Honors

2024
Converge, 2nd place

2023
Art of the State, 3rd place in Sculpture

‍2022
Luxembourg Art Prize, Certificate of Artistic Achievement

2013
Varsity Art XVII, Student artist selected for exhibition

2011
33rd Annual Student Purchase Awards at SIUC; Grand Prize Winner

2006
University of Memphis, Graduated Summa Cum Laude

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‍Bibliography

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Studebaker, Kathleen, “Heartwood”, Root Quarterly Magazine, Red Pen Arts, Fall 2025  
- Volume 7, Issue No. 2; “Conservation”

Haik, Claire, “Gizmos and Gadgets: The Meticulous Craft of Kathleen Studebaker”, Art Spiel, March 18, 2025  
- Online-only blog

“Meet Kathleen Studebaker” (Interview), Canvas Rebel, Sept 26, 2024  
- Online magazine

‍“Calculations: Units of Measurement”, Exhibition Catalog, 2022

Donahue, Hannah, “The Art of the Windmill”, The New Hampshire, The New Hampshire, April 25, 2019

Triplett, Jo Anne, “‘The WasteLand’ by Kathleen Studebaker”, Leo Weekly, Leo Weekly, 2015

Eler, Alicia, “At ArtPrize, What the F is ‘Art’”, Hyperallergic, Hyperallergic, Oct 2, 2013

Testa, Adam, “Southern Illinois Artists in $600,000 Competition”, The Southern Illinoisan, The Southern Illinoisan, Sep 15, 2013

Callihan, E., “From the School of Myatt”, Re:Brooks (blog), The Brooks Museum of Art, Oct 13, 2009

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‍Collections

‍The University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Slide Towers, Sculpture, Commissioned by the university, 2018

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Carbondale, IL Wells, Oil on Canvas, Acquired by the university, 2012

‍Selected Exhibitions

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Solo

2025
‍Gadgets & Gizmos, Patricia M Nugent Gallery, Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA

2024
Fantasy Mechanics, Dina Wind Art Foundation, Philadelphia, PA

‍2015
‍The WasteLand, ThinkBox Contemporary, Louisville, KY

2013
‍Reimagining the Landscape and the Future of Nature, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
‍The WasteLand shown as a part of ArtPrize 2013

‍The WasteLand, The Surplus Gallery, Carbondale, IL

2011
‍Untitled New Work, Vergette Gallery, Carbondale, IL

‍Wood Element, Vergette Gallery, Carbondale, IL

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‍Group

2026
Few and Far Between, Courtyard by Marriott South at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA

Other Worlds, DC Gallery & Studio, Millville, NJ
Two person Invitational

Sculpture New Hope 2026, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
Juror: Kate Brockman

2025
Hello Beautiful, Paradigm Gallery and Studio, Philadelphia, PA

Little Luxuries, main Line Arts Center, Haverford, PA
Juror: Fred Danzinger

Regional Juried Spring Open, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Juror: Christine Lafuente

With or Without, Prism Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2024
‍Pushing Buttons, Fine Arts Center, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA

‍Converge, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Bridgette Mayer

‍The Woodmere Annual: 82nd Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Joanne Grüne-Yanoff

‍The Edge of Light and Darkness, Chimaera Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2024
New Now VII, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

‍2023
‍Art of the State 2023, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Jurors: Kyle Hackett, Deborah Pinter and Jennifer Zwilling

Piece By Piece, Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Three person invitational

‍Small Favors 2023, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Jennifer Zwilling

‍Constructed/Inspirations, City Arts Salon, Philadelphia, PA
Two person invitational

2022
‍Kleine Eissen, Gastro-Norm, Berlin, Germany

‍Calculations: Units of Measurement, Frontviews, Berlin, Germany
Juror: Rian Kerrane

‍10th Annual Juried Exhibition, Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio, Philadelphia, PA

‍Little Sculpture Show, Gardenship, Kearny, NJ

‍Artists and Their Companions, 3rd St. Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2021
‍Small Works 2021, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
Juror: Rick Muto

‍22nd Annual Wills Creek Exhibition of Fine Art, Alleghany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD
Juried Exhibition

‍Monochrome, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Juried Exhibition

‍Luminosity, The Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA
Juried Exhibition AASH Vol. 14, Arcadia Theater, Tyler, TX
Juror: Dace Kidd

2020
‍New Wave, First Edition, Boomer Gallery, London, England
Juried Exhibition

‍Reflections, Arc Gallery, San Fransisco, CA
Juried Exhibition; Online-only

2019
‍ArtPM 2019, Buoy Gallery, Kittery, ME

‍Utility; Art That Functions, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Juried Exhibition

2018
‍Elegant Threads; Wearable Art and Surface Design, Lighthouse ArtCenter, Tequesta, FL
Juried Exhibition

‍Staff Stuff: Art by Staff from the Department of Art, University Museum, Durham, NH

‍Solid Gone, Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes-Barre, PA
Juror: Ben Woodsen

‍Intent: A Tool Show, The Suraci Gallery, Scranton, PA
Juried Exhibition

2017
‍What Artists Look Like, Discover Portsmouth, Portsmouth, NH
Juror: Jay Goldsmith

2016
‍Rise: Climate Change in Our World, 3S Art Space, Portsmouth, NH
Invitational

2014
‍Lines in the 3rd Dimension, Spot 5 Art Center, Louisville, KY
Two person invitational

2013
‍Varsity Art XVII, Art Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO
Invitational

2009
‍From the School of Myatt, Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN
Two person invitational

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‍Other

‍2007-2010, Office of the President, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
2007-2010, Office of the Provost, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN