RESUME

Jason Ackman (b. 1975) is a sculptor and educator living with his wife and two daughters in the small river township of Frederick, IL.  His primary focus is the use of reclaimed building materials to establish narratives for his installation and sculptural works. He and his wife Christy are also co-directors of Farwell House, a summer artist-in-residency program.

Education

BA 1997 Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Grants/Awards

2008 TICA School of the Art Institute of Chicago

2012 Best in Sculpture – 64 Arts – America: Now and Here (Eric Fischl, juror)

2012 Award of Excellence – Art Saint Louis XXVIII: The Exhibition (Richard V. West, juror)

2012 Finalist in Kalos Foundation Art Prize

2014 Cash Award Winner - Evanston Biennial (Sergio Gomez, juror)

2017 Sustainable Arts Foundation Grant

2024 2nd Place Award - 43rd Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition

Group Exhibitions

2011 Re-duced, Re-mused, Re-cycled, West Central Illinois Arts Center, Macomb, IL

2011 College Arts Invitational, Figge Arts Center, Davenport, IA

2012 64 Arts – America: Now and Here, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL

2012 Art St. Louis XXVIII: The Exhibition, Art Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO

2013 St. Charles Community College Printmaking and Sculpture Invitational, SCC St. Charles, MO

2013 Funtemporary, West Central Illinois Arts Center, Macomb, IL

2013 Honors Awards Exhibition, Art Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO

2013 Play – ArtPrize 2013, UICA, Grand Rapids, MI

2014 Galex48, Galesburg Civic Arts Center, Galesburg, IL

2014 Evanston Biennial, Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL

2014 (Dis)Comfort Zones, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, MI

2014 Reclaim, Remember, Repeat, Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL

2017 Midwest Artists’ Studios Group Show, Walker's Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

2018 At The Surface, Foundry Arts Center, St. Charles, MO

2019 WIU Alumni Exhibition, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, IL

2020 Social Distance, The Hub Arts and Cultural Center, Rushville, IL

2023 Anniversary Exhibit, The Hub Arts and Cultural Center, Rushville, IL

2023 Ann Metzger Memorial National Biennial Exhibition, St. Louis Artists Guild, St. Louis, MO

2024 43rd Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition, Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA

Solo Exhibitions

2016 Transition, Applebee Gallery, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL

2021 Navigating Borders, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, IL

2022 Tension/Suspension, Sheldon Hall Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2023 Undertow, solo installation, Kemper Atrium, Sheldon Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Commissions

Behind Closed Doors, Angad Arts Hotel, St. Louis, MO. Permanent installation.

Forthcoming outdoor installation, Sheldon Hall Galleries, St. Louis, MO (2025)

Press/Publications

Becherers, Joseph. “Joseph Becherer's ArtPrize 2013 Top 10: Focus on poetry of works.”  MLive.  MLive Media Group, 26 September 2013.

Kaczmarczyks, Jeffrey. “Art Prize 2013: Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk's top ten favorites represent works that stay with you.” MLive.  MLive Media Group, 26 September 2013.

Wongpakdee, Patty. Art Without Waste:500 Upcycled and Earth-Friendly Designs. Beverly: Rockport Publishing, 2013. Print

Greymatter Gallery, “Jason Ackman – Rushville, Illinois”. Web blog post. 365Artists365Days. Frank Juarez Gallery and Greymatter Gallery, 14 Jan. 2014.

Juarez, Frank. 2015 Midwest Artist Studios Catalog and Workbook. Midwest Artist Studios Project, 2016. Print

Carey, Brainard, https://museumofnonvisibleart.com/interviews/jason-ackman/