BIOGRAPHY / CV

Chicago, Ill.
(773) 227-0702  
[email protected]

Renee McGinnis grew up on a farm in central Illinois and attended Illinois Wesleyan University, earning a BFA in 1984. She continued with graduate work in sociology and anthropology at the University of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited widely in Chicago and has also been shown in Germany, Australia, New York City, Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Md. Her curatorial debut occurred when she launched “The Chicago Solution Show 2003” with the late Ed Paschke as juror, then again in 2005 with Art Institute of Chicago Curator of Contemporary Collections- James Rondeau. Awards include : * Honorable Mention, Artists of The Millennium, Rockford Art Museum, juror : James Yood 2000

She currently shows at ZG Gallery www.zggallery.com in Chicago.

EDUCATION
2005 Studied Atelier Neo Medici under Patrick Betaudier
1993 University of Chicago, Chicago, IL Sociology, Anthropology non-credit graduate study
1980-84 Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL BFA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Flora and Firmament, Zg Gallery, Chicago, Il
2019 In Search Of Symmetry, Zg Gallery, Chicago, Il
2019 Tales From the Biosphere, South Shore Arts Center, Munster, Indiana
2018 The Garden of Megastructures, Quincy Art Center, Quincy, Il
2018 Of Rust and Men, ZG Gallery, Chicago, Il
2017 Beauty and the Builders, Schoenherr Gallery, North Central College, Naperville, Il
2014 Fragile Beauty, Union League of Chicago, Chicago, Il
2013 The Girls, Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, Il
2011 Views From the International Park System, Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, Il
2008 Safety-Kleen Gallery , Elgin Community College , Elgin , Il
2007 Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2007 Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
2002 Fraser Gallery, Bethesda MD.
2001 Montgomery Ward Gallery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
2000 International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago, IL
1999 Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL

ART FAIRS
2013 Context, Miami Fl, Packer Schopf Gallery
2010 Pulse Miami, Fl, Packer Schopf Gallery
2010 Art Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, IL
2009 NEXT Artropolis Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, IL
2008 NEXT Artropolis Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, IL

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026 Balancing Forces, South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend, Indiana
2025 Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, Indiana
2024 Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana Regional, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2023 Midwestern Museum of American art, Elkhart, Indiana
2023 Sky, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2022 Rockford Art Museum Midwestern Biennial juror: Frank Juarez
2022 20th Anniversary Exhibit 20×20, ZG Gallery, Chicago, IL
2021 Ephemera: Power of Impermanence, juried by Victoria Fuller, The Art Center Highland Park, Highland Park, IL
2021 Bilingual: Abstract & Figurative, Bruno David Gallery, Saint Louis. Mo.
2017 Para·Natural World, ZG Gallery, Chicago, Il
2014 Metaphors, Christopher Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, Il
2012 So Real, Governors State University, curator, Susan Aurinko
2012 Ways of Making, Governors State University, curator, Delores Mercado
2000 Ateleirhof Kulturhandwerk, Bremen, Germany
2000 Neues Museum, Hamburg, Germany
2000 Beverly Fine Arts Center, Chicago, IL
1999-2000 Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago, IL
1998 Swan Gallery-Sydney, Australia
1998 Derriere Guard Graham Foundation Arts Festival, Chicago, IL
1998 Then and Now, NIU Art Museum , Chicago, IL
1997 “Plausible Deniability” Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Slide exhibition, L.A. CA

PUBLICATIONS
2024 Ghost Ships in Paradise, New City, Chicago by Susan Aurinko
2017 New City Indulging in Departures from Reality (link)
2016 Sports Illustrated by: Robin Dluzen and B. David Zarly (link)
2015  Poets and Artists/ November issue #68 juror Daniel Maidman
2015 New American Paintings blog by B. David Zarly (link)
2013 WTTW Chicago Tonight Arts Blog by : Marc Vitali (link)
2013 American Art Collector Magazine , November
2013 The Girls, Hi-Fructose Magazine blog by: Nastia Voynovskaya (link)
2012 New American Paintings 1012011 Kirrko ja Kaupunki , a Helsinki based national magazine. by: Panu Pinkala2011 Paul Klein’s Art letter
2008 Feb. Harpers Magazine illustration Te Amo Colombia
2007 Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine- spring issue pg.14-16
2005 June 17, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Solution Show, Margaret Hawkins (article: page 1page 2)
2003 The Chicago Tribune/Art Scene, The Chicago Solution Show. Feb. 7, 2003 (view article)
2003 Dziennik Zwiazkowy, Piatek -Niedziela, Chicago Solution Show, Jan 31 -Feb. 2. 2003
2002 In The Arts, The Washington Gazette. Oct 30, 2002 p b-4 (view article)
2001 Suite Home Chicago, Chicago Tribune 7-22-01 (Special Section pg. 1,5,8)
2001 Chicago Artists Coalition News -Cover Story, by Jeff Helgeson (June, ’01)
2000 Rock River Times, Aug 16-22, 2000, Rockford, IL
2000 Chicago Reader, Review author Fred Camper June 9, 2000 (Section 1 pg.40) (view article)
2000 Who’s Who of American Women 22nd Edition
2000 Women Caucus for Art Newsletter Feature, April
2000 Kunstzeitung NR.40 December 1999 p22
2000 Punkt Kunst im Nordwestem “Deutsch-amerikanischen Kulturaustausch” by Dagmar Isolde Herrmann, p39
1999 Chicago Sun-Times, July 16 (NC pg. 25) (view article)
1999 Elmhurst Pioneer Press, May 28
1999 Elmhurst Pioneer Press, March 18, B161999 Chicago Sun-Times, Friday, January 29 Features. (NC pg 45) (view article)
1998 Sun-Times September 4th. Friday Chicago
1998 American Arts Quarterly “The New Radicals” Spring, Summer

JUROR / JUDGE
2006 Juror, Annual Originals Show, Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, IL
2002 Judge, Des Plaines Annual Art Fair, Des Plaines , IL

CURATOR
2005 Chicago Solution Show, juror: James Rondeau
2003 Chicago Solution Show, juror: Ed Paschke
2000 Teen Living Exhibition, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL

PERMANENT PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
2024 Fort Wayne Art Museum, Fort Wayne, Indiana
1989 East Bank Club, Chicago, IL
1989 Orleans Plaza, Chicago, IL

CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
2008 Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL
2001 TVO Realty, Chicago, IL
2000 Mary Ann & Nick Karris, Water Tower Realty
1997 Hedge Fund Research, L.L.C. Chicago, IL
1997 Nicholas Financial, Chicago, IL
1996 Schopf & Weiss, Chicago, IL
1990-95 The Eccentric (Oprah Winfrey’s restaurant), Chicago, IL

HONORS & AWARDS
2010 Richard H. Driehaus award  Art Loop Open
2002 Honorable Mention. Judge John Brunetti, Works on Paper. Eastern IL. University
2002 Best of Show, Judge: Ed Paschke, Anti-Cruelty Society Animal Images Show -Chicago, IL
2001 2nd Place, Art Against Aids, The Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL
2000 Honorable Mention, Juror, James Yood, Artists of the Millennium, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL
2000 Best of Show 13th Annual Women’s Works, Woodstock, IL.
1999 1st Place, International Platform Association, Washington, D.C.
1998 Honorable Mention, Jurors Tom Blackman, Gelsy Verna, Jay Dandy. Hyde Park Art Center. Members’ Show
1998 Best of Show by Popular Ballot Inspired Parnership Art on the Walk
1997 Honorable Mention, ARC IV Regional, Juror Ann Sass, Curator Whitney Museum, N.Y.
1996 Best of Show, by popular ballot. Northern Indiana Arts Association
1991 National Television Emmy Award “A Message from Michael Jordan” designer
1987 National Bronze Award, Broadcast Designers Association1984 Grumbacher Award, McLean County Art Association

GUEST SPEAKER
2012 Governors State University, Chicago Public Schools.
2008 Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL
2007 Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
2003 Adlai Stevenson H.S. Lincolnshire. IL
2003 Reavis School, Chicago, IL
2003 Dodge School, Chicago, IL
2001 -2007 Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
2001 Fourth Presbyterian, Chicago, IL
2003 Loyola University, Dept. of Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
1999 Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
1999 Annual Teen Living Benefit, Preston-Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center
1997 Art Encounter
1992 University of Wisconsin at Green Bay

TELEVISION COVERAGE
2007 Artist To Artist with Enid Silverman , comcast cable
2003 WTTW Ed Paschke, Artbeat Chicago – Chicago Solution Show
2003 WGN Morning News, Chicago Solution Show
2001 WGN Morning News “Suite Home Chicago”
2001 Free For All, WYCC “Suite Home Chicago”
2001 Chicago Works, Channel 23 “Suite Home Chicago”
2000 WGN 9:00 News: International Museum of Surgical Science
2000 WYCC 20 Absolute Artistry
1999 WGN 9:00 News: Teen Living Benefit at ARC Gallery
2000 WTTW 11 Artbeat Calendar
2000 Straw Edutainment – Childrens program re-motivation & Education Bowling Green Ohio
1999 WG 9:00 News: Teen Living Benefit at ARC Gallery
1991 WGN 9:00 News: Ohio St. Gallery Debut

RADIO
2007 WBEZ Public Radio – Three to see 848 Charles Darwin, Jasper Johns and Renee McGinnis
2003 WBEZ Public Radio – Interview with Renee McGinnis, Ed Paschke and Leon Golub -re: The Chicago Solution Show  (listen to the interview)
2002 WBEZ Public Radio – Morning edition with Tony Serabia -artist responds to 9/11

DELEGATION TO CHINA WITH WOMEN’S CAUCUS FOR ART 1999

FILM
2004 Co-starred in “AMERICAN BURQA,” a Hossein Khandan and Shahin Yazdani film, screened at The Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL.