CV

Chris Williford

e: chriswillifordstudio@gmail.com

b. 1993, Dallas, TX

lives and works in Chicago, IL

Education

2018 MFA in Printmedia

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2015 BFA in Printmaking, Cum Laude

Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

Solo Exhibitions

2016 Reckless A. Bandon, The Lunchbox, Milwaukee, WI

2015 Forever (BFA thesis exhibition), MICA, Baltimore, MD

Window Installations

2020 Night Out, Dovetail, Chicago, IL

2018 Frankenglam, The Whistler, Chicago, IL

Fashion Presentations

2024 Creeper: Fall ‘24 Runway, Hammy Wammy, Chicago, IL

2022 DiscarDisco: A Trashion Show III, Beat Kitchen, Chicago, IL

Selected Exhibitions

2021 Tongue in Cheek: Irreverence in Print, Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Chicago, IL

Q-Mart, Maestri Gallery, Dallas, TX

2020 Hello Neighbor, Purple Window Gallery, Chicago, IL

2019 Innovations in Fiber, South Haven Center for the Arts, South Haven, MI

Frayed: Fiber Beyond Craft, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL

Soft, Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Chicago, IL

Happy Group Show, Happy Gallery, Chicago, IL

2018 The Small Works Show, The Real Milk Studios, Atlanta, GA

Tee Time, free range, Chicago, IL

You Don't Always Have To Be Who They Want You To Be, You Know, baby blue gallery, Chicago, IL

Third-Shifters: Art That Comes Alive at Night, The Martin, Chicago, IL

GIFC Chicago, Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL

B.R.A.C.E. (collaboration with Patricia Brace), Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, ME

Fang Parlour (MFA thesis exhibition), Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL

2017 Clemson National Print and Drawing Exhibition, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

2015 Academy 2015: MFA/BFA Invitational, Connersmith Gallery, Washington D.C.

[dis]Corporate Bodies 10, curated by Zach Hill, The Unstitute, London, UK

Exhibitionists, Shipping & Receiving, Fort Worth, TX

Still Alive, La Bodega Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Run It, curated by Press Press, Penthouse Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Print Publications

2024 A Great Gay Book: Stories of Growth, Belonging, and Other Queer Possibilities by Ryan Fitzgibbon, published by Abrams

2020 Werks Magazine Issue 3: Chicago Artists Survey (Cover Artist), Chicago, IL

2018 New American Paintings #137 (Midwest Issue)

Collections

Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection, Chicago, IL

Residencies

2018 Artist in Residence, The Studios at Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA

Bibliography

2021 “DiscarDisco: One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Runway-Ready Look”, Stitch Magazine, Chicago, IL

2019 “Hopper Prize Journal: Insights Into Contemporary Art”, interview by The Hopper Prize

“SOFT”, exhibition essay by Victoria Barquin, Chicago, IL

2018 “Meet Chris Williford in West Town”, interview by Voyage Chicago, Chicago, IL

“TOP V. WEEKEND PICKS (7/26 - 8/1)”, Bad At Sports, Chicago, IL

“B.R.A.C.E.”, MutualArt, Rockland, ME

2016 “you were never the same”, exhibition essay by Zach Hill

2015 “breathe in gold light at New Door Creative”, Post-Office Arts Journal, Baltimore, MD

Honors

2022 Third Place, DiscarDisco: A Trashion Show III, Beat Kitchen, Chicago, IL

2021 People’s Choice Award, DiscarDisco: A Trashion Show II, The WasteShed, Chicago, IL

2019 Grant Finalist, Hopper Prize for Contemporary Art, curated by Leilani Lynch and Rachel Adams