Education
2018 MFA in Studio Arts (to be completed May 2021) – Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2003-07 BFA in Sculpture – Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland.
2003 Academic Degree – Grimsley High School, Greensboro, NC.
Teaching
2021 3D Design, Instructor of Record, (Online Class) Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2020 LIVLAB, Co-Instructor, (Hybrid/Online Class) Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2020 3D Design, Instructor of Record, (Hybrid/Online Class) Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2019 Intro to Sculpture, Instructor of Record, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2018-2019 2D Design & Intro to Ceramics, Teaching Assistant, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2004-07 Foundations & Sculpture, Teaching Assistant, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD.
2006 Experimental Design, Instructor of Record, St. Pius X Summer School, Greensboro, NC.
2005 Drawing 1, Teaching Assistant, Maryland Institute College of Art Pre-College, Baltimore, MD.
Exhibitions
2020 Lapwork and Leftovers Kitchenshop, Dillsboro, NC- Solo Show
2020 Hope Is A Horizon Revolve, Asheville, NC.- Group Show
2020 Still Relevant Happy Gallery Chicago, Chicago, IL.- Online Group Show
2020 ArtFields Lake City, SC.- Online Group Show
2019 Next Wave IV, MFA Candidacy Exhibition Revolve, Asheville, NC.- Group Show
2019 Appalachia Futures West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. – Group Show
2019 STREET/ART Push Gallery, Asheville, NC. – Group Show
2019 SoundWave Bascom Art Gallery, Highlands, NC.- Group Show
2018 Rad and Unexpected Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. – Group Show
2018 Queering The Mountains Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. – Group Show
2011 Dirty Laundry Occupy Greensboro, Greensboro NC. – Group Show
2009 Winter Art Show Richmond Studio Project, Richmond, KY. – Group Show
2009 Richmond Gallery Hop Curriers Music, Richmond, KY. – Group Show
2008 Artifacts Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC. -Solo Show
2007 Selected Works The Garage at Biltmore, Asheville, NC. – Group Show
2007 Layered Insights The Dripolator Coffeehouse, Asheville, NC. – Group Show
2007 All Member Juried Exhibition Greensboro Center for Visual Arts, Greensboro, NC. – Group Show
2007 The Summer Salon Greensboro Center for Visual Arts, Greensboro, NC. – Group Show
2007 Commencement Exhibition Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore MD. – Group Show
2006 Just off the Path Hyattstown Mill Arts Project, Hyattstown, MD. – Group Show
2006 Repercussions Load of Fun Studios, Baltimore, MD. – Group Show
2006 Wondering Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD. – Group Show
2004 Freshman Exhibition Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland. – Group Show
Public Art Projects
2019-2020 UKKU, Arts in Embassies, US Department of State permanent artwork commission for the US Embassy, Niamey, Niger, Western Carolina University School of Art and Design/Workingman Collective, Collaborating Artist for Courtyard Sculpture. In-Progress began Spring 2017- projected completion Spring 2020. 185K commission budget.
2018-2020 Du Quotidien, Arts in Embassies, US Department of State commission for the US Embassy, Niamey, Niger, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey Niger/Western Carolina University School of Art and Design/Workingman Collective Collaborating Artist for Interior Art Work Installation. In-Progress began Spring 2017- project completion Spring 2020. 100K commission budget.
2019 Glue: Celebrating the Unseen Women of Appalachia, panel discussion and community engagement event through Z Smith Reynolds Inclusive Public Art Grant, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, NC. Co-Organizer
2019 LIVLAB Townhalls 1 & 2, community engagement event through the Z Smith Reynolds Inclusive Public Art Grant, Sylva Public Library, NC. Co-Organizer2019 Draw Sylva: Community Sketchbook Project, Sylva, NC. Collaborative Artist
Curation
2020 Creator of SiP Artist Residents Show, Online Show Platform, Shelterinplace.art
2011 Creator of Occupy Art Fest, Occupy Greensboro, Greensboro, NC.
2008-09 Curator & Gallery Director, Dripolator Coffee House, Asheville, NC. (12 exhibition per year)
2008 Our Voice Organization Survivor’s Art Show Guest Curator, Asheville, NC.
Lectures & Public Engagement
2019 Warren Wilson College -Visiting Artist
2019 WCU LivLab Presents Glue: Celebrating the Unseen Women of Appalachia -Panel Moderator
2019 Art & Organizing: Expanding What is Possible through Changing the Frame, Graduate Research Symposium, Western Carolina University- Presenter
2017 Women in Greensboro: Communicating for Social Change. Harriet Elliott Lecture Series. University of North Carolina at Greensboro -Panelist
2016 Food + Equity + Co-ops: a recipe for a food system that works for everyone. Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance -Keynote Speaker
2016 Breaking Down the Silos. CommonBound Conference -Presenter
2014 Stories from the Front Lines. Hard Times Are Fighting Times Conference -Panelist.
2008-10 Independent Portfolio Consulting. Richmond KY, Asheville NC, Greensboro NC.
2008 Warren Wilson College -Guest Critic
2005-06 Grimsley High School -Guest Critic
Professional Affiliation
2020-Current 100 Days in Appalachia Advisory, Board Member
2020-Current SiP Online Artist Residency Shelterinplace.art, Founder
2019-Current College Art Association, Member
2018-Current LIVLAB Artist Collective, Founding Member
2012-2018 Beloved Community Center, Board Member
2016-2018 Greensboro Radio Project, Founding Board Member
2015-17 Central Carolina Worker Justice Center, Board Co-Chair
2011-2017 Renaissance Community Cooperative, Founding Board Member and Vice President
2011-2012 Youth & Student Coalition for Police Accountability, Founding Member
2009-10 Richmond Studio Project, Founder
Awards
2020 Workshop Scholarship- Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN (postponed due to COVID)
2019 Workshop Scholarship- Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2018 Graduate Scholarship- Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
2003 Academic and Merit Scholarships- Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
Grants Received
2020 Graduate Summer Research Grant, Western Carolina University (individual) $3,000
2020 UNC Systems Undergraduate Research Grant, (lead grant writer for LivLab Artist Collective) $12,000
2020 Campus Theme Grant Western Carolina University , (lead grant writer for LivLab Artist Collective) $1,000
2019 Western Carolina University’s School of Art and Design’s Catalyst Grant, (lead grant writer for LivLab Artist Collective) $5,500
2018 Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Inclusive Public Art Grant, Semi-finalist Z. (lead grant writer for LivLab Artist Collective) $5,000
Media Publications
2020 Dinner Bell Magazine vl. 2, Featured Artist
2020 Power Clash, “Remote Residencies with Mo Kessler of SiP Residency”
2020 Reject Collective, Issue 1. Featured Artist
2019 Blueridge Public Radio, “Memories Appalachian Women Are Worth Preserving”
2012 MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow’s Show: “We’ve Got Your Back[Yard].”
2012 Avant Greensboro “Occupy Art Fest Part 2”.
2012 The Carolinian “Occupy Greensboro Presents: Dirty Laundry.”
Commissions
2020 Dinner Bell Magazine- Illustrations
2020 Promotional Material Design for Musician Shamir Lee, Greensboro, NC.
2019 Promotional Material Design for LIVLAB Artist Collective, Cullowhee, NC.
2018 Promotional Photography for Artist Henry Campbell, Greensboro, NC.
2018 Album Art for Musician Shamir Lee, Greensboro, NC.
2017 Album Art for Musician Matty Sheets, Greensboro, NC.
2017 Promotional Material Design for the Greensboro Radio Project/WPRG-LP, Greensboro, NC.
2016 Interior Murals for the Renaissance Community Cooperative, Greensboro, NC.
2016 Album and T-Shirt Art for the band Magpie Thief, Greensboro, NC.
2016 Program and Promotional Material Design for the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) National Conference, Chicago, IL.
2016 Program and Promotional Art for Big Ideas That Guide Our Work Conference, Greensboro, NC.
2016 Promotional Material Design for Participatory Budgeting Project, New York, NY.
2016 Promotional Material Design for the Central Carolina Worker Justice Center, Greensboro, NC.
2015 Promotional Material and Program Design for the Black Lives Matter Raised in the Revolution conference, Greensboro, NC.
2014-16 Promotional and Education Material Design for YWCA Greensboro, Greensboro, NC.
2013 Logo Illustration for the Renaissance Community Cooperative, Greensboro, NC.
2013 Promotional Material Design for the Beloved Community Center, Greensboro, NC.
2013 Educational and Promotional Material Design for the Youth and Student Coalition for Police Accountability, Greensboro, NC.
2012-19 Logo Design for the CoopEcon Conference, Epes, Al.
2012 Logo Design for Raise Up Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.
2012 Promotional Materials Design for Food Not Bombs, Greensboro, NC.
2012 Logo Design for the NC Student Power Union, Durham, NC.
2012 Logo Design for Organize 2020, Durham, NC.
2012 Promotional Material Design the Queer People of Color Coalition, Greensboro, NC.
2012 Logo Redesign for the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice, Olympia, WA.
2012 Logo Design for the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, London, UK.
2011 Promotional Materials Design for Glenwood Coffee & Books, Greensboro, NC.
2011 Promotional Materials Design for Occupy Greensboro, Greensboro, NC.
2010 Promotional Materials Design for Whole Foods Market, Lexington, KY.
2010 Interior Mural for Whole Foods Market Wine Shop, Lexington, KY.
2009 Educational Design Student Health Services, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.