EDUCATION
1983-5 New York Studio School (Arthur B. Carles full scholarship), NYC
1985 Yale’s Norfolk Summer Program (full scholarship), CT
1981 Queens College Summer Landscape Program, NY
1978-82 Knox College (Bachelor of Arts, cum laude), IL
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Megan Williamson: Zoom — Swope Art Museum, IN
2018 Defying Gravity – Rare Nest Gallery, Chicago
2017 Please Respond – Ohio Wesleyan University, OH
2016 The Influence of French Masters – Residence of the Counsel General of France, Chicago
2015 Natural Selection – Chin-Azarro Gallery, Ypsilanti, MI2014
Architecture and Nature – Cliff Dwellers, Chicago
2013 We Live Here – Bette Cerf Hill Gallery, Chicago
Many Summers – Washburn Cultural Center, WI
2011 Patterns of Recognition – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
2009 bed of earth, blanket of blue air – Madron Gallery, Chicago
2005 Collaborating with Nature – Ryerson Conservation Area, IL
2004 City Landscapes – Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago
Drawn to Poetry – Vicky Tesmer Gallery, Chicago
2003 Fallen Fabric – Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago
2002 New Work – Laramie College, Cheyenne WY
2001 Umbrian Landscapes – Loyola University, IL
1999 Tools, Chaos and Order – Eastwick Gallery, Chicago
1998 New Paintings – Eastwick Gallery, Chicago
The Hat Drawings – Galleria Isa, Italy
1997 Recent Work – University of Dallas, TX
Salon – Gallery 1616, Chicago
1996 Passaggi Italiani – Galleria Isa, Italy
1993 New Work – Gallery 1616, Chicago
1992 Recent Paintings – Knox College Gallery, IL
Passaggi Italiani – Galleria Isa, Italy
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Present Place, the Midwest Group — The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, OK
American Portraits: Identity, Persona, & Power — Midwest Museum of American Art, IN
ArtPrize 2023 — Grand Rapids, Michigan
Polyglot: 40 Artists and Three Centuries of Art — Rare Nest Gallery, Chicago
Saturday Night Show, Volume 11 — All Art Works, Grand Rapids, MI
2022
Art-in-Place: Falling, organized by Terrain Exhibitions and CNL Projects — Chicago
Knox in New York, Borzello Gallery — Knox College, IL
2021
Zeuxis: Composing in the Key of S — First Street Gallery, NYC
The Book Project — Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver
Self Portraits — The Hoyt Art Center, New Castle, PA
Boom Holiday Art Show — BOOM Contemporary, Online
Terrain Biennial 2021— Terrain Exhibitions, Nationwide
First Show — BOOM Contemporary, Online
Alumni Exhibition — New York Studio School
2020
Art in Place – Nationwide, organized by Terrain Exhibitions and CNL Projects
National Arts Drive – Nationwide, organized by Raw Artists
Gems: Small Still Lifes of the Midwest Paint Group and Zeuxis – There, NYC
AllArtWorks Exhibit — The Yard, Columbus Circle, NYC, in collaboration with Sarah Crown
2019
Animals As Muse: Two-Person Exhibition with Deborah Masters and Megan Williamson – Joyce Goldstein Gallery, Chatham, NY
Meet Select Artists – Taubman Museum, Roanoke, VA
Two Van Dykes and The Midwest Paint Group – Ripon College, WI
AllArtWorks Exhibit — 37 Ottawa, Grand Rapids, MI; Tri-Cities Historical Museum, Grand Haven, MI
2018
East Meets Midwest II – A New Figuration (expanded), at the Springfield Museum of Art, OH
X Marks the Spot – The Women of the New York Studio School, The New York Studio School, NYC
New Work – Midwest Paint Group, Village Gallery, Caledonia NY
Drawing the Curtain – First Street Gallery, NYC
Veils – There Gallery, NYC
The Greatest Show on Earth! – Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, NY
2017
Six Gallery Artists – Rare Nest Gallery, Chicago, IL
Flower – Newtownberry House Gallery, Ireland
Self-Portraits: Midwest Paint Group – Dutoit Gallery, Dayton, OH
Winter Work: Midwest Paint Group – Kishwaukee College, IL
Down the Rabbit Hole – Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, NY
The Unstilllife: Zeuxis – Delaware College of Art and Design, Wilmington DE; The Painting Center, NYC; Windgate Art andDesign, Fort Smith, AR; University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses, Oxford, MS
Alumni Association Exhibition– Elizabeth Dee Gallery, New York Studio School, NYC
Zeuxis: Flowers as Metaphor – Hendrix College, Conway, AR; Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA; Wiegand Gallery, Belmont, CA (2017)
2016
Cowgirls No.5 – Brik Gallery, Catskill, NY
The Collectors Show – Art Prize HUB, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Voices of the Prairie: Midwest Landscape, Poetry, and Song (Midwest Paint Group) – Knox College and Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA
AllArtWorks Exhibit — ArtPrize HUB, Grand Rapids, MI
2015
Improvisations: Works on paper – Two-Person Exhibition with Phyllis Floyd; Bowery Gallery, NYC
Circle the Wagons – Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, NY
7 on Site + 2 – Newtown Barry House, Bunclody, Ireland
Circle the Wagons – Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, NY
7 on Site – Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, PA
2014
Of Color and Rhythm: Midwest Paint Group – Jacoby Arts Center, Alton, IL
Travel Log: pram endeavor invitational – Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago
2013
7 on Site – Oxbow Gallery, Northampton, MA
Still, Blue: Zeuxis – Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville IL; Anderson University, IN; First Street Gallery, NYC; Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD
The Drawing Show – Gallery 1837, Chicago
Responding to Helion: Midwest Paint Group, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
2012
Tenses of Landscape – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AK
Contemporary Landscapes – Gallery 1837, Chicago
Reflections: Zeuxis – Lindenwood University, St Louis; Crisp Museum of Art, MO; Coe College IA; The Painting Center, NYC
2011
18 + 1 Artists – Brik Gallery, Catskill, NY
Poets and Painting – Poetry Center Booth at Art Expo, Chicago
Realism and Its Discontents: Midwest Paint Group – Wright State University, OH; Manchester College, IN
2010
Standing Heat – The Font, New Orleans
Students of Matter – Figge Museum of Art, IA
Art Loop Open – Installation of 19 piece Grid, Chicago
East Meets Midwest: New Visions of Figurative Painting – The Beverly Art Center, Chicago; Hoffman-LaChance Gallery, St. Louis, MO; Westbeth Gallery, NYC; The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, PA
The Common Object: Zeuxis – Lancaster Museum of Art (PA), Peninsula Fine Art Center (VA), Prince Street Gallery (NYC)
The Figure: Midwest Paint Group – Leedy-Voulkos Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2009
Works from Perception: Midwest Paint Group – Swope Museum of American Art (IN); Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art (Kansas City), George; Spiva Center for the Arts (MO)
2008
Five in the Field – Lohin Geduld, NYC
Pride of Place: Midwest Paint Group – Ryerson Woods at Brushwood
Zeuxis: Outside the Box – Delaware College of Art and Design, Wilmington, DE Small Takes – First Street Gallery, NYC
Longitude and Attitude: Artists Cartographies – Vespine Gallery
Chicago Zeuxis: In/Out –Broome Street Gallery, NYC; Hobart College, NY
Mapping: Cartographies of Learning – Columbia College, Chicago
2007
On Board: Zeuxis and Friends– Lori Bookstein Gallery, NYC
Painting in Place: Two-Person Show with Judy Koon and Megan Williamson– Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario
New Work by the Midwest Paint Group – Rose-Hulman Institute, IN
2006
Secret Gardens – Nabi Gallery, NYC
Reflections – Vicky Tesmer Gallery, Chicago
2005
Blue Period – Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago
Cash and Carry – Lisa Boyle Gallery, Chicago
The Drawing Show – Oxbow Gallery, Northampton MA
2004
Art to Art – Knox College, Galesburg IL
2002
Still Lifes and Landscapes – Vicky Tesmer Gallery, Chicago
Shebang – 3Arts Club, Chicago
2000
The Search for Innocence – Bond Market Association, NYC
1999
Raw Seeing – New York Studio School Gallery, NYC
1998
Truth – Gallery 312, Chicago
Collision – Blue Rider Gallery, Chicago
A Month of Ragdale – Cliff Dwellers, Chicago
1997
Women in Abstraction – Woman Made Gallery, Chicago
100 Miles Exhibition – Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City
1996
IdaOYTE – Idaho Gallery, Chicago
1995
Near Northwest Arts Council Invitational – Chicago
1994
CityScape – Harold Washington Library, Chicago
1993
Deluge – Lyons Wier Gallery, Chicago
1992
Random Access – Beret International, Chicago
Fiera in Festa – Toscolano, Italy
Finklestein National Competition – Bowery Gallery, NYC
1991
Gabriel Laderman Selects – First Street Gallery, NYC
Bi-State Show – Davenport Museum of Art, IA
Reinventing the Landscape – Ragdale Foundation, IL
Exploring the Landscape – NNWAC Gallery, Chicago
1990
Mass Miracle – Massachusetts College of Art
Three Person Show – Form and Function Gallery, Chicago
NYSS Alumni Show – New York Studio School, NYC
1989
Urban Archeology – Gallery Great Lakes, Chicago
Connected to Wicker Park – Near Northwest Arts Council, Chicago
1988
Is There Still Life – Gallery X, Rockford, IL
Flora 88 – Chicago Botanical Garden, Glencoe, IL
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2015 DCASE Artist Grant, Chicago, IL
2014 Innovation Fellowship, National Science Foundation, Chicago, IL
2010 Residency, Louisiana Art Worked, New Orleans, LA
2001, 2002, 2007 CAAP Grant, City of Chicago
2007 & 1989 Fellowship and Residency, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL
1985 Arthur B. Carles Scholarship, New York Studio School, NYC
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2018 Teaching Artist, Mount Gretna School of Art, PA
Visiting Artist, Dominican University, IL
2017 Curator, Carone Centennial, Rare Nest Gallery, Chicago IL
Visiting Artist, Ohio Wesleyan University, OH
2012-17 Advisory Board, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Illinois
2015 Visiting Artist, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Lancaster, PA
Visiting Artist, Dominican University, IL
2013-15 Teaching Artist, Chicago Arts Partnership in Education
2008-14 Teaching Artist, Arts integration Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, Chicago
2013 Visiting Artist, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Visiting Artist, Anderson University, IN
2012 Teaching Artist, Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago
Teaching Artist, Innovations High School, Chicago
2011 Teaching Artist, Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Visiting Artist, Columbia College, Chicago
2011 Visiting Artist, Mural Project, Peterson Elementary, Chicago
2010 Artist Residency, Louisiana ArtWorks, New Orleans, LA
Teaching Artist, Gary Comer Youth Center in Grand Crossing, Chicago
2009 Artist Panel, Madron Gallery: Inviting Artists to the Civic Table, Chicago
2008 Visiting Artist, New Allies for Nature and Culture, Gary Comer Youth Center Rooftop Garden, Chicago
2005-7 Teaching Artist, Chicago Arts Partnership in Education
2006 Visiting Artist, Columbia College, Chicago
2005 Art Tour/Studio Visit - Art Institute of Chicago, "Potpourri"
Studio Visit /Garden Tour - Chicago Botanic Garden, "Art on the Move"
2005 Artist Residency, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL
1997-2004 Instructor, Landscape Workshops, Ragdale Foundation, IL
2000-2 Consultant to lead artist Deborah Masters, Walking New York (380’ painted relief), JFK International Airport, NYC
2000 Faculty, Chautauqua Institute, NY
Visiting Critic, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1998-9 Artist Board, PEACH Club, Chicago
1999 Visiting Artist, International School of Art Umbria, Italy
1996-8 Faculty, International School of Art in Umbria, Italy
1993-98 Visiting Critic, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1990-3 Faculty, International School of Art in Umbria, Italy
1990 Visiting Lecturer, Progetto Perugia, MA College of Art, Italy
Visiting Artist (Master Class), University of Dallas, TX
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2022 Wicker Park artist Megan Williamson shows faces of pandemic Zoom calls: ‘It looks like America to me’, Chicago Sun Times, Mitch Dudek
2022 Chicago artist captures shared humanity of pandemic through Zoom portraits, Scripps Media, Jessie Cohen
2021 Chicago Artist Paints ‘100 Zoom Portraits’, WTTW, Angel Idowu
2020 On Observation, Memory, and Joy: A Conversation, Zeuxis, Imogen Smith
2018 Megan Williamson: Defying Gravity, David Ebony— Contributing Editor for Art in America
2018 A View from the Easel, Hyperallergic
2018 Visiting Artist, Essay, Dmitry Samarov
2017 Essay on Please Respond Book Exibition, Erin Fletcher — Museum Curator, Ohio Wesleyan University
2015 Megan Williamson + Best of the Web, Design*Sponge, Grace Bonney
2014 Featured Artist, Ypsilanti Courier, MI
2013 Seven on Site, Art New England Online, Martha Hoppin
2013 Oxbow Gallery Features Work by Seven Landscape Artists, Phoebe Mitchell
2011 Zeuxis and the Art of the Everyday, American Artist, Michael Gormley
2009 Interview with Megan Williamson, MW Capacity, Christopher Lowrance
2006 Essay, Gabriel Laderman
2005 Composition, Feature Article, Chicago Home & Garden Magazine, Dennis Rodkin
2005 Catalog, Blue Period, Thomas Masters Gallery
2004 An Artist in the Garden, Feature Article, Chicago Tribune, Barbara Mahany
2004 Painting Between the Lines, Leah Pietrusiak - CityLink Chicago
2002 Essay, Cathy Lebowitz – Picture Editor and Exhibition Reviews Editor, Art in America
2002 Chicago Artist Brings Work to Life, Wyoming Tribune
2002 Individual Review, John Brunetti – Critic, The New Art Examiner Artist Discovers Beauty of Tools, The Times, IN
2001 Stepping Off A Plane To Meet New Art, The New York Times, Celestine Bohlen
2000 The Search for Innocence, Catalog Essay, Don Davis
1999 In Resonance, Vesela Stretenovic - Curator, Brown University
1999 Tools, Chaos, and Order- Exhibition Catalog, Eastwick Art Gallery
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
The Midwest Museum of American Art
The Swope Museum of Art
Vincent and Christine Floreani: Counsul General of France
The Newberry Library
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection
Loyola University Medical School
Ryerson Woods Library
Verzone Woods Architects, Switzerland
Thomas A and Georgina T. Russo Collection, PA
Newtown Barry House, Ireland
Dorian Bennet Collection, New Orleans
The Myron Shure Collection
Louisiana ArtWorks, New Orleans
Anthropologie
University of Southern IL, Edwardsville
The Bond Market Association
Ragdale Foundation
The International School of Art in Umbria, Italy
Artifex Construction
RTP Environmental Associates
Tres Jolie Art, Inc.
200 + private collections