Curriculum Vitae

 

BIO & BRIEF ARTIST STATEMENT

Michelle Oosterbaan’s drawings, wall paintings, and installations describe relationships between motion/stasis, and investigate ideas of cartography, memory and the idea of place, in an ever-evolving notion of the sublime landscape.

The traditions of architecture, science, religion, and poetry, deeply inform her current work. Her wall paintings chart and change space within the given circumstances of architecture. Her large drawings are cognitive maps that reflect my impressions of being in the world. Her working process is improvisational as the act of drawing guides her search for a new narrative.

Her fascination with light and land is rooted in her studies of plein-air painting as a teenager in Washington D.C. A prolific traveler, her residency fellowships include the Cite des Arts International, (Paris 2008), The MacDowell Colony (2004), Yaddo, as a John T. and Catherine E. MacArthur Fellow (2003, 2005), and VCCA (2016, 2009, 2006.)  Additionally, travel to residencies in Austria, The Netherlands, Iceland, and Berlin, Germany have expanded her research.

Oosterbaan has exhibited internationally including the Weatherspoon Art Museum, The Drawing Center, The Delaware Art Museum, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and Museum, The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, MO. Recent public art projects include the Democratic National Convention and the Mural Arts Philadelphia. Her drawings are in the Contemporary Drawing Pierogi 2000 Flat Files and The Drawing Center Viewing Program. Oosterbaan’s work has received critical responses in Art Papers, The New Yorker, and Fukt, Berlin, among others.

She has experience in the public art realm designing community based (interior and exterior) public art commissions in collaboration with the DNC, The Mural Arts Program, The Moore College of Art, and The University of Pennsylvania.

She has a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis as a Fred Conway Scholar and an MFA from Indiana University with post-graduate studies in Florence, Italy with S.A.C.I and Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.

Currently she teaches Introduction to Drawing at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, and Drawing: Line in the Landscape the CE department of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA.

GRANTS / AWARDS / RESIDENCIES

 

 

  • 2021
  • West Chester University Patron Scholarship, West Chester, PA ($4,000)
  • 2021
  • Community Care Fund, Leeway Foundation Grant, Philadelphia, PA ($1,500)
  • 2021
  • Illuminate the Arts Fund, Philadelphia City Council, Philadelphia, PA ($1,000)
  • 2020 
  • Community Care Fund Leeway Window of Opportunity Grant, Philadelphia PA ($1,000)
  • 2020
  • Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Grant, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2019
  • The Barnes Foundation Scholarship, The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA ($500)
  • 2017 
  • The University of the Arts, Faculty Development Grant, Philadelphia, PA ($5,000)
  • 2016-2017 
  • Independence Foundation Grant, Philadelphia, PA ($6,600)
  • 2016 
  • Virginia Creative Center for the Arts, Residency Grant, Amherst, VA
  • 2016 
  •  The Condition of Place, Watercolor Painting Award,
  • Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA, Odili Donald Odita, juror ($100)
  • 2015  
  • Hotel Pupik, residency fellowship GRANT, Schrattenberg, Austria
  • 2015
  • The University of Pennsylvania and Moore College of Art
  • Visual Studies Department, Research grant for Mural Creation and Internships Philadelphia, PA ($3,000)
  • 2014 
  • The Center for Emerging Artists Grant, Philadelphia, PA ($3,000)
  • 2010
  • DCR Gueststudios, Artist Residency, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • 2009
  • The Burtentee Grant, Exhibition funds, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2009
  • M4 Gastatelier, Artist Residency, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2009
  • The Gil Society, Artist Residency, Akuyeri, Iceland
  • 2009 
  • Virginia Creative Center for the Arts, Aristist Residency Grant, Amherst, VA
  • 2008
  • Cite des Arts International, Residency, Washington University, Paris, France
  • 2007
  • Great Rivers Biennial Grant ($20,000)
  • The Gateway Foundation & The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
  • St. Louis, MO
  • 2006 
  • Virginia Creative Center for the Arts, Residency Grant, Amherst, VA ($3,000)
  • 2005
  • Yaddo Fellowship, John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Fellow and travel grant, Saratoga Springs, NY
  • 2004
  • The MacDowell Colony
  • Fellowship, Residency Grant, Peterborough, NH
  • 2004
  • PEW Finalist in Painting, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2004
  • Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Grant, Painting, Philadelphia, PA ($5,000)
  • 2004
  • Leeway Foundation of Philadelphia Window of Opportunity Grant, Philadelphia, PA ($1,000)
  • 2003
  • Yaddo Fellowship, Residency Grant, Saratoga Springs, NY
  • 2003
  • S.O.S. Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Grant, Works on Paper, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2002
  • The Leeway Foundation of Philadelphia, Window Of Opportunity Grant, Philadelphia, PA ($800)
  • 2001
  • Leonard Belber Best of Show, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA ($250)
  • 2000
  • The Leeway Foundation of Philadelphia, Window Of Opportunity Grant ($1,000)
  • 1993
  • T. Miller and Sons Purchase Award, 6th Annual Works on Paper, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, ($800)
  • 1993
  • Contemporary Artists Center, Fellowship, North Adams, MA
  • 1991
  • Vermont Studio Center, residency and artist grant, Johnston, VT

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

 

 

  • 2019 
  • Landvaettir, Painting Gallery,
  • The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2013
  • Margins at Midnight,
  • Artspace Liberti, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2010
  • Pulse: Out to Move: A Mixing Light Workshop, Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia Center for Art and Technology, Philadelphia, PA
  • (Permanent Installation)
  • 2009
  • Stroomin, Burteentree,
  • Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2009
  • “OO” M4 G Gastatelier, residency,
  • Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2008
  • Living Room, Great Rivers Biennial, Contemporary Art Museum,
  • St. Louis, MO
  • 2006
  • Look out, doopler, doppler, so hum, little gem, Gallery Joe,
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 2003
  • The Morris Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Museum, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2002
  • Fleisher Challenge Exhibition, Fleisher Art Memorial,
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 1991
  • Walls Running at Ground Level, Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art,
  • Philadelphia, PA

TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

 

 

  • 2022
  • “Slow Accretion”
  • Brigham Dimick / Michelle Oosterbaan
  • St. Louis Art Guild, St. Louis, MO

 

  • 2016
  • “RUSTLE” 
  • Michelle Oosterbaan & Anda Dubinskis
  • Cerulean Arts, Philadelphia, PA

 

  • 2012
  • “Fantasme”
  • Saira McLaren / Michelle Oosterbaan
  • Grizzly Grizzly, Philadelphia, PA

 

  • 2010
  • “Semblance”
  • Michelle Oosterbaan and Whitney Robbins,
  • The Friends Academy, Glen Cove, NY

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  •  

     

  • 2020
  • Drawing Challenge IV, VII, and VIII, Jason McCoy Gallery, New York, NY
  • 2019
  • Small World, Heavy Bubble Art 1241 Carpenter Studios, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2016
  • Gathering,  The University of Arts, Faculty, The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2016 
  • Philadelphia Painters, Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery,
  • Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
  • 2016
  • The Condition of Place, 75th Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA, Odili Donald Odita, juror
  • 2015 
  • Drawing First + Last, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, University of the Arts,
  • Mark Campbell Curator, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2014 
  • DRAWING NOW PHILADELPHIA, Artspace liberti,
  • Sabina Tichindeleanu, curator, Emelie Keim Viss
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 2013 
  • 18th International Exhibition of Original Drawing
  • Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeke, Croatia
  • 2012
  • Art on Paper 2012, Weatherspoon Art Museum,
  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC
  • 2012
  • Falling Through Space Drawn by the Line,
  • University at Buffalo Art Galleries, Buffalo, NY
  • 2012
  • The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Museum Faculty Show, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2010
  • Nexus Alumni Invitational, Nexus for Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2009
  • The Colored Pencil, Schmidt Art Center, Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, IL
  • 2007
  • Levity: Spring Selections 2007, Luis Camnitzer, curator,
  • The Drawing Center, New York, NY
  • 2007
  • Drawnwork: Facets of Myth and Memory, Portland State University, Portland, OR
  • 2007
  • This Place is Ours!
  • Recent Acquisitions at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts,
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 2007
  • Series, Gallery Joe, Becky Kerlin, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2007
  • On the Walls, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
  • 2006 
  • Biennial Works on Paper, Cornelia Butler, Chief Curator of Drawings, MOMA, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA
  • 2006
  • Drawnwork, Portland State University, Portland, OR
  • 2005
  • Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2002
  • 4 Drawing Artists, Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2002
  • Obsessive Vision, Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2001
  • Abington Art Center Annual Juried Show, Abington Arts Center, Jenkintown, PA
  •  2001
  • 7th Biennial Works on Paper Show, Abington Arts Center, Jenkintown, PA
  • 2001
  • Blunt, The Butcher’s Shop, Kate Midget, curator, Chicago, IL
  • 2001
  • Future Imperfect: Sharidan Art Gallery, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
  • 2001
  • Non-Matriculated Residencies, Tyler Gallery, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2000
  • Delaware Biennial 2000, The Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE
  • 2000
  • Room Site #3: Project Room, Kait Midget, Curator, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2000
  • 13th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper
  • McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
  • 2000
  • The Banquet, The Borowsky Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2000
  • Red Light, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

PUBLIC LECTURES / VISITING ARTIST

 

 

  • 2019 Moore College of Art, Fine Arts Painting Lecture, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2019 Greens Farms Academy, Lecture & Studio Visits, Westport, CT
  • 2019 Southern Illinois University, lecture and workshop, Edwardsville, IL
  • 2016 Hand-in-Hand Youth Advocates, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2012 Department of Visual Studies, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
  • 2011 The Friends Academy, Drawing Workshop, Glen Cove, New York
  • 2009 Rietveld Academy, public lecture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2009 Bowdoin College, lecture and studio visits, New Brunswick, ME
  • 2008 Washington University, Great Rivers Biennial, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, MO
  • 2008 Indiana University, lecture and studio visits, Bloomington, IN
  • 2005 Pennsylvania School of Art and Design, lecture, Lancaster, PA
  • 2004 The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2004 Southern Illinois University, lecture and workshop, Edwardsville, IL
  • 2003 University of Pennsylvania, lecture, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2003 Pennsylvania School of Art and Design, public lecture, Lancaster, PA
  • 1995 Washington University, lecture, St. Louis, MO

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION

 

 

  • CLASSES 

    Introduction to Drawing, Drawing for Beginners, Drawing II, Advanced Drawing, Drawing with Color, Drawing with Confidence, Botanical Drawing, Watercolor Painting for Botanicals, Line in Landscape Drawing, Conceptual Drawing, Figure Drawing, Drawing for Design & Merchandising, Drawing for Fashion Design, Introduction to Painting I (oil, acrylic, watercolor), Plein Air Acrylic Painting, Painting II, Advanced Painting, Watercolor, Color Theory, Painting with Color and Abstraction, Two Dimensional Design, Ceramics, Silkscreen Printmaking, Painting from Observation Acrylic Painting, Large-Scale Collage

  • 2022 – present
  • Adjunct Instructor, Drexel University, The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Philadelphia, PA 
  • INTRODUCTION TO DRAWING, Learn essentials of the drawing language, line, shape, gestalt, value, composition and perspective

 

  • 2020 – 2022
  • Rowan University
  • Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts
  • Glassboro, NJ
  • Adjunct Instructor in person
  • Introduction to Painting, oil painting to all levels of undergraduate majors and non-majors

 

  • 2020 – 2021
  • West Chester University
  • West Chester, PA
  • Adjunct Instructor in person and online
  • Taught Introduction to Painting and Introduction to Drawing to all levels of undergraduates

 

  • 2019
  • SUNY, Purchase College
  • Purchase, NY
  • Adjunct instructor
  • Taught Introduction to Painting, oil and acrylic painting
  • to studio art majors and minors

 

  • 2020
  • Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA
  • Introduction to Drawing, in person

 

  • 2015 – 2019
  • Drexel University
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Adjunct Instructor and Sabbatical Replacement Position
  • Taught Introduction to Painting and Painting Basics to Design and Video Students

 

  • 2016 – 2019 
  • The University of the Arts
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Taught Ideation, a Sophomore Level Drawing Class, and Natural Forms, a First Year Drawing Class, and Introduction to Drawing
  • Continuing Education:
  • Introduction to Perceptual Painting, Painting: Abstraction and Color, Collage

 

  • 2016 – present
  • The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  • Continuing Education
  • Philadelphia, PA
  •  
  • in person and online
  • Teach courses such as Acrylic in the City, Plein-Air Painting, Line in Landscape: Drawing; Night Painting;Drawing with Color: Color Pencil; Calligraphic Sketching in the Park, Passion for Palette Workshop

 

  • Figure Drawing:
  • Week Long Intensive Workshops for High School Students

 

  • Watercolor Painting:
  • Week Long Intensive Workshops for High School Students
  • 2014 – 2015
  • Bowdoin College
  • Brunswick, Maine
  • Visiting Assistant Professor in Painting and Drawing
  • Taught Introduction to Painting and Introduction to Drawing

 

  • 2013 – 2014
  • Bucknell University
  • Lewisburg, PA
  • Painting and Drawing Sabbatical Replacement
  • Taught Drawing I, Painting I, II, & III

 

  • 2012 – 2013
  • Drew University
  • Madison, NJ
  • Adjunct
  • Taught Two Dimensional Design

 

  • 2012
  • Moravian College
  • Bethlehem, PA
  • Adjunct
    Taught Painting 1 and Visual Foundations Design Basics

 

  • 2012
  • The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  • Continuing Education
  • Philadelphia, PA
    Passion for Palette, Critic

 

  • 1999 – 2012
  • Drexel University
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Adjunct Instructor
    Taught Color Theory, Design I, Drawing I, and  Figure Drawing

 

  • 2006 – 2008
  • Washington University
  • St. Louis, MO,
  • Visiting Assistant Professor
    Taught Drawing I & II, Two Dimensional Design, Conceptual Drawing: The Narrative

 

  • 2003 – 2006
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Adjunct Instructor
    Taught Drawing I for all undergraduates

 

  • 2002
  • Tyler School of Art
  • Temple University
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Adjunct Instructor Basic Design

 

  • 2001
  • Swarthmore College
  • Swarthmore, PA
    Sabbitical Replacement Position 
  • Taught Studio Art: An Introduction to Drawing and Acrylic Painting

 

  • 1997
  • The Fabric Workshop and Museum Apprentice and Teacher
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Taught High School Students in the gifted program SilkScreen Printmaking

 

 

PUBLIC COMMISIONS

 

  • 2022
  • “Behind the Stage Door,” The Philadelphia Ballet and Mural Arts
  • Cherry Street Pier, Mural, Philadelphia, PA
  • MURAL DANCE COLLABORATION

 

  • 2021
  • “Impromptu,”
  • with Choreographer Professor Charlotte Griffin, University of California, Irvine
  • and Jaime Cano, GreyHare Films, Santa Barbara, CA
  • FILM COLLABORATION

 

  • 2016
  • “Donkeys Around Town,” Democratic National Convention,
  • Public Invitational, Philadelphia, PA
  • PUBLIC PROJECT of PAINTED DONKEYS

 

  • 2015
  • “Kalpavriksha: The Tree of Life,”
  • West Rockland Community Neighborhood,
  • The Mural Arts Program, West Rockland and Greene Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19125
  • MURAL

 

  • 2010
  • “Pulse: Out to Move: A Mixing Light Workshop,”
  • The Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia Center for Arts & Technology
  • Overbrook Neighborhood, Philadelphia, PA
  • INTERIOR MURAL

 

  • 2007
  • “Living Room,” INSTALLATION & DRAWINGS
  • Great Rivers Biennial
  • Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, MO
  • Laura Assistant Curator
  • Temporary INSTALLATION & DRAWINGS

 

  • 2003
  • The Morris Gallery
  • The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Museum
  • Alex Baker, Curator
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • SITE SPECIFIC PAINTING INSTALLATION

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

  • Edith Newhall, “Philly gallery scene for fall: Huge riches in small spaces,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 09/14/2016
  • Brian Thomas, “Meet the DNC Host Committee’s “Donkeys Around Town”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 06/23/2016
  • Von Bettina Oberrainer,“Hotel Pupik 15: Kleine Zeitung, Steiermark, Murtal, Schrattenberg, Austria, 08/2015
  • Jaime Alvarez, Art Blog, “Artists I’ve Shot” 06/19/2014
  • Edith Newhall, “Past Perfect”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 06/13/2011
  • Bjorn Hegardt, Fukt, A Magazine for Contemporary Drawing, Issue 7, Berlin, Germany, 2009
  • David Bonetti, “At the Top of Their Craft, “ St. Louis Dispatch, 02/03/2008
  • Malcolm Gay, “Two Year Itch, River Front Times, St. Louis, MO, 01 /2008
  • Fred Adelson, “Michelle Oosterbaan, In Short”, Art on Paper, 01 – 02 /2007
  • The New Yorker, The Drawing Center, “Levity”, 04/4/2007
  • Contemporary Museum of Art, “Michelle Oosterbaan-Great Rivers Biennial”, St. Louis MO, Web Video, 09/2007
  • Stephanie Buhmann, “Victoria Neel”, The Brooklyn Rail, 05/2007
  • Edith Newhall, “Shifting Scales”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/13/2007
  • “Outsider’s View”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 04/2006
  • New American Paintings, “Mid Atlantic, Vol.57”, Jonathan Binstock, Juror, 2005
  • Tom Csazar, “Michelle Oosterbaan”, Art Papers Magazine, 5-6/04
  • Edward J. Sozanski, “Painting in the Round”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/16/2004
  • Mary Anne Janco, “Artwork on the Wall,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Main Line, 03/23/2003
  • Edward J. Sozanski, “Where Music and Painting Intersect, ” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 05/11/2001
  • Roberta Fallon, “Perfect Strangers,” The Philadelphia Weekly, 02/28/2001
  • Roberta Fallon, “Sticky Business,” The Philadelphia Weekly, 09/13/2000
  • Robin Rice, “Feast Your Eyes, ” The Philadelphia City Paper, 2/10/2000
  • Ellen Rosenholtz, “Look Who’s Coming to Dinner,” The Philadelphia Weekly, 01/21/2000
  • Edward J. Sozanski, “Food for Thought,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 01/28/2000
  • Robin Rice, “Members Only,” Philadelphia City Paper, 12/16/1999

CATALOGUE ESSAYS

 

  • 18th International Exhibition of Original Drawing, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeke, Croatia, 2013
  • Art on Paper 2012 Catalog, Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC, 2012
  • Bjorn Hegardt, Fukt, A Magazine for Contemporary Drawing, Issue 7, Berlin, Germany, 2009
  • Drawing Papers #67 Catalog, The Drawing Center, New York, NY, 2007
  • Drawnwork, Portland State University, Portland, OR, Richard Torchia, 2006
  • Richard Torchia, I Want Space Without Pictures, Catalog Essay, PAFA, Philadelphia, PA, 2004

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

 

  • The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Museum, Philadelphia, PA
  • Mitchell Brownstein, Rosen and Rosen, PC, Philadelphia, PA
  • Steak and Shake Corporation, Indianapolis, IN
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
  • Private Collections

EDUCATION

 

  • 1992
  • MFA Painting
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
  • Post Graduate Scholarship, Indiana University, Florence, Italy
  • 1990
  • BFA Painting and Printmaking
  • Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Fred Conway Scholarship School of Art
  • 1988
  • Studio Arts Center International (S.A.C.I.), Florence, Italy
  • Painting
  • 1997
  • The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Introduction to Welding
  • 1996 – 1997
  • The Fabric Workshop and Museum
  • Apprentice in Silkscreen Printmaking on Fabric
  • Designed and printed color and black and white prints on various fabrics
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
  • 2019 – present
  • Silkscreen Printmaking
  • Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
  • 1985
  • George Mason University
  • Washington, D. C.
  • Lithography, stone and photo
  • 1984
  • The Corcoran School of Art
  • Washington, D. C.
  • Figure Drawing, Watercolor Painting
  • 1983
  • The Maryland Institute of Art
  • Silver Spring, MD
  • Figure Drawing, Painting