RESUME

Monika Plioplyte is a multi-disciplinary artist merging printmaking, sculpture, performance, and photography. Born in Lithuania, Plioplyte grew up in Boston, MA. She holds a BFA in Printmaking from Massachusetts College of Art and Design (‘12) and an MFA in Print Media from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (‘19). In her practice, Plioplyte explores the profound influence of ever changing environments on her identity. She intricately weaves existential narratives with storytelling through her physical body. With a focus on Baltic Pagan symbolism, personal rituals, female archetypes, and the uncanny; Plioplyte aims to reshape both her external and internal worlds. Drawing inspiration from her cultural mythology, immigrant experience, gender, and personal reflections on loss and resilience, Monika seeks to establish connections between private narratives and ancient folklore in her artistic practice.

Monika has exhibited at venues including Hyde Park Art Center, Boundary Space, Mana Contemporary, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois Art Museum, IL; Rare Visions, Boulder, CO; IU Northwest School of the Arts, IN; Fitchburg Art Museum, AREA Gallery, Gallery Kayafas in Boston, MA. She is a recipient of a number of awards and residencies including the Genevieve McMillan-Reba Stewart Travel Award for printmakers, Blanche E. Colman Award, Professional Development Track Grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, John W. Kurtich Foundation Travel Grant, DECASE Individual Artists Program Grant, The Center Program at Hyde Park Art Center, Harris Barron Fellowship for Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Vermont Studio Center Fellowship and Studios at MASS MoCa Residency. Plioplyte currently lives and works in Chicago, IL.
 

plioplyte.monika@gmail.com
B. 1989 Kaunas, Lithuania
Lives and works in Chicago, Illinois

EDUCATION

2019     MFA / Print Media The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2012     BFA / Printmaking Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA

SELECTED SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2022    See, Shade, Shape, solo, Fine Arts Center Gallery, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

2021    Opening of the Knot, Boundary Space, Chicago, IL

2021    Gravity of the Unsubstantiated, two-person exhibition with Michelle Grabner, Rare Visions, Boulder, CO
 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024    (forthcoming) Bridging Cultures: 20th Century Lithuanian-American Artists in Chicago, Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, Chicago, IL 

2023    Northern Illinois Art Museum, DeKalb, IL. Curated by Millicent Kennedy 

2022    MDW Fair, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL
            Heaven Gallery Benefit Auction '22, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL 

            Abstract Acres, Fennville, MI, Organized by Abstract Lunch collective
            Impact: Artists in Support of Refugees from Ukraine, Artsy.com x Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, IL
2021    Dream, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL. Curated by Asha Iman Veal
            Same, But Different, IUNorthwest School of the Arts, Gary, IN. Curated by Lauren Pacheco
            Painting, Musa Collective, online exhibition. Curated by Lavaughan Jenkins
            Visual Notebook, Viral Ecologies No.2, digital publication
            MassArt Auction, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
2020    Portraits: Identity and Expression, Site:Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
            Continuous Span, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
2019    Weeping-Environment, MAMŰ Gallery, Budapest, Hungary           
            MFA SAIC Shows 2019, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL
            Voices Embodied, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL. Curated by Alex Stark
            Our Intimates, The LeRoy Neiman Center, SAIC, Chicago, IL
2018    The Dust of the World, Washed by Droplets of Dew, organized by SAIC and Tokyo Geidai,
            Sanshu-Idutsuyashiki, Hiketa, Higashikagawa, Japan 
            GIFC, Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
2017    Collage, AREA Gallery, Boston, MA
            Stand Up, Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA. Curated by Silvi Naci
2016    No Heads, Colo Colo Gallery, New Bedford, MA
            Oh Sheet! Works on Paper, The Beehive, Boston, MA
            The 2nd annual Fay Chandler Emerging Artist Exhibition, Boston City Hall, Boston, MA
            Never Nothing, Outpost 186 Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2015     80th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft, Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA
2014    The Introduction, Student Life Gallery, MassArt, Boston, MA
            Fresh Meat, Piano Craft Gallery, Boston, MA
            Proof of Purchase, Samson Gallery, Boston, MA

AWARDS, HONORS & FELLOWSHIPS

2023    Harris Barron Fellowship, MassArt Alumni Relations, Boston, MA
            Vermont Studio Center Fellowship, Johnson, VT
2022    DECASE Individual Artists Program Grant, Chicago, IL
2020    Artist Relief Grant, United States Artists Org. 
2019    Professional Development Track Grant, Illinois Arts Council Agency, IL
2018    Lithuanian Foundation Scholarship
            Daniel D Van Degrift Scholarship, SAIC, Chicago, IL
2017    John W. Kurtich Foundation Travel Grant
            Incentive Scholarship, SAIC, Chicago, IL
            Lithuanian Foundation Scholarship
2016    The Blanche E. Colman Award
2012    Genevieve McMillan – Reba Stewart Traveling Fellowship
            Morton Godine Fellowship, MassArt, Boston, MA
2011    Juror's’ Commendation Award, North American Print Biennial (Juried by Jim Dine), Danforth Museum of Art, MA

RESIDENCIES

2023     Vermont Studio Center, Vermont Studio Center Fellowship, Johnson, VT
             Haystack Residency, Harris Barron Fellowship, Deer Isle, ME
2022     Studios at MASS MoCA, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA 
2021     The Center Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL 
2020     Conversations in Practice Program, Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency, Saugatuck, MI
2019     Bridge Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL

ARTIST TALKS & PANELS
 

2023     Alice Shaddle conversation at the HPAC, panel discussion, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
             Artist Talk, Printmaking and Painting Departments at Massachusetts College of Art and Design,
             Boston, MA 
             Artist Talk, Print Media Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
             Artist Talk, Department of Arts Administration, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2022     Artist Talk, Fine Arts Center Gallery, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
             Professional Practices Panel, Printmaking and Painting Departments, Massachusetts College of Art and
             Design, Boston, MA
2021     Genevieve McMillan – Reba Stewart Traveling Fellowship, Juror, Boston, MA
             Professional Practices Panel, Printmaking and Painting Department, Massachusetts College of Art and
             Design, Boston, MA
2020     Artist Talk, Printmaking and Painting Departments at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA 
2019     Artist Talk, Print Media Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

SELECTED TEXT/ PRESS/ MEDIA

[EN]    Top 10 for Visual Art in Chicago: Big shows, big messages in the first months of 2022, by Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, January 6th, 2022
[EN]    Hyde Park Art Exhibit Examines How to Build a Better World, NBC 5 Chicago, December 15th, 2021
[EN]    Hyde Park Art Center presents biennial exhibition ‘Dream,’ part of Center Program, by Raymond Ward, The Chicago Crusader, December 9th, 2021
[EN]    Visual Notebook, Viral Ecologies, Issue No. 2, March, 2021
[EN]    Under The Bridge Magazine, Printmaking issue, January, 2021
[EN]    60wrd/Min COVID Edition: Alex Chitty, Monika Plioplyte, Barbara Diener, Dasul Kim. by Lori Waxman, Newcity Art, 19 Nov. 2020
[EN]    Monika Plioplyte by Lori Waxman, 60 WRD/MIN ART CRITIC, 9 Nov. 2020
[LT]     Ieskokime, tobulekime ir nenustokime augti, by Loreta Stephens. “Draugas” Lithuanian Worldwide Newspaper. Dec.19, 2019
[EN]    2019 Exhibition Catalog, Department of Print Media SAIC, December, 2019
[EN]    SPOTLIGHT Magazine, Issue #7, June, 2018
[EN]    Here to create: Iron Wolf Press by Courtney Moy. Big, Red and Shiny blog. April 5, 2016
[EN]    Fresh Meat: passion for creative output fuels new printshop by Susanna Jackson, Boston Dig. September 27, 2014
[LT]     Lietuves dailininkes mene - savu simboliu sistema, by Loreta Stephens. “Draugas” Lithuanian Worldwide. Newspaper. Aug.18, 2014