Biography
My work spans a range of media from prints and book arts, to sculpture and public works. Two degrees in printmaking, over a decade of residencies in artist’s communities/National Parks, and a parallel career teaching art in Title I Public High Schools for over 20 years have nurtured a desire to make my work accessible to a broad range of people, and supportive of the communities that I am part of. By making multiples I am able to spread my own community around, while leaving pieces of Miami in the communities I travel to. I bring Miami wherever I go, and bring other artists home to my friends and colleagues.
I am born and raised in the Midwest (Detroit), transplanted to South Florida and loving it.
solo exhibitions and site specific work
2015. Tom Virgin: Open Book, Installation. Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL
2014. “Conversation Too”, Book release. Emerson Dorsch, Miami, FL
2012. “When We Work”, Public Art. Station #8, Gainesville Fire Department, Gainesville, FL
2011. 13 Views of Mount Hood. John D. Mac Arthur Library, Florida Atlantic University. Jupiter, FL
2010. “Einstein Cafe” Site Specific Sculpture Installation. Miami Dade College- Hialeah, Hialeah, FL
2009. Books: Burden & Bliss. John D. Mac Arthur Library, Florida Atlantic University. Jupiter, FL
2008. “Rise” Site Specific Stairwell Mural. Miami Dade College- Hialeah Campus, Hialeah, FL
2008. “He Said, She Said” (installation). University of Miami/Wynwood Project Space. Miami, FL
2007-2008. “INDU Project” (Large Format Banner). Ingalls and Associates. Miami, FL
2007. “Stilts and Cranes” Public Art. MDCPS/ Schools of Choice, Museum Magnet Program. South Side Elementary School. Miami, FL
2007. “Duty and Remembrance,” Art in Public Places Commission, Florida Keys Council of the Arts/
Monroe County Art in Public Places. Key Largo, FL
2006. 800 Window/ Summer Studio. ArtCenter South Florida. Miami Beach, FL
2004. Tom Virgin: Escape and Other Diversions. Miami International Univ. of Art & Design. Miami, FL
2003. Reflections and Dreams. Leonard Tachmes Gallery. North Miami, FL
2001. PRESSURE: relief. Recent Prints. MDCC, Wolfson Gallery. Miami, FL
1994. Recent Work. ETC Gallery. University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
1994. Portraits, Keys and Godsend. Dorsch Gallery. Miami, FL
public collections
Anderson Center at Tower View. Red Wing, MN
Arthur and Matta Jaffe Collection of Books as Aesthetic Objects, FAU, Boca Raton, FL
Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward Main Library, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO (with DC Art Press, Leon Loughridge)
Florida Keys Council for the Arts/ Monroe County Art in Public Places. Key Largo, FL
Gainesville Art in Public Places. Gainesville, FL
Iraq National Library, Baghdad, Iraq
Miami-Dade Art in Public Places. Miami, FL
MDC Museum of Art + Design, Miami, FL
Miami-Dade College, Hialeah Campus, Hialeah, FL
Miami-Dade Public Library System, Permanent Art Collection. Miami, FL
Museum of Contemporary Art, Mail Art Collection. North Miami, FL
Perez Art Museum Miami, Miami, FL
South Side Elementary School. Schools of Choice, Museum Magnet, MDCPS. Miami, FL
University of California-San Diego, Mandeville Collection. San Diego, CA
University of Denver, Penrose Collection. Denver, CO
University of Miami Library, Special Collections. Coral Gables, FL
Vanderbilt University, Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Special Collections. Nashville, TN
Walker Art Center, Artist’s Book Collection. Minneapolis, MN
Wells College, Book Arts Center. Aurora, NY
Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS (with DC Art Press, Leon Loughridge)
awards and grants
2015. Finalist, Extra Virgin Press. Knight Arts Challenge, Miami, FL
2013. Helen F. Salzberg Artist in Residence Fellowship, the Jaffe Center for Book Arts. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
2001, 2004-2015. Artist Access Grants. Tigertail Productions/ Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. Miami, FL
2015, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007. Creative Capital Professional Development Program. Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. Miami, FL
2010. Honorable Mention, Florida Artists Book Prize. Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward Main Library, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2010. Finalist. Miami-Dade Art in Public Places. Doral Fire Training Complex. Miami, FL
2009. Surdna Art Teachers Fellowship. Surdna Foundation. New York, NY
2008. Honorable Mention, Florida Artist Book Prize. Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward Main Library, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2009. Best in Show, “Leila Thirteen Times,” BookEnds. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD
2008. Finalist, Site Specific Sculpture Proposal. AppalCART Art in Transit /Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Design and Art In Transit Project, Boone, North Carolina
2007. Artist Enhancement Grant. State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs. Tallahassee, FL
2006. Winner, Florida Artists Book Prize. Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2003. Honorable Mention, Florida Artist Book Prize. Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward Main Library, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1992-1994. Full Tuition Remission. University of Miami, Department of Art and Art History. Coral Gables, FL
artist’s residencies
2015. Artist in Residence. Anderson Center. Red Wing, MN
2014. Artist in Residence. Anderson Center. Red Wing, MN
2013. Artist in Residence. Anderson Center. Red Wing, MN
2013. Helen M. Salzberg Artist in Residence. Jaffe Center for Book Arts. FAU. Boca Raton, FL
2012. Artist in Residence. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Gatlinburg, TN
2011. Artist in Residence. Anderson Center. Red Wing, MN
2011. Artist in Residence. Montana Artist Refuge. Basin, MT
2010. Artist in Residence. Jentel Artist Residency. Banner, WY
2009. Artist in Residence. Anderson Center. Red Wing, MN
2008. Artist in Residence. Ucross Foundation. Clearmont, WY.
2007. Artist in Residence. Oregon College of Art and Craft. Portland, OR
2006. 3 Month Juried Artist’s Residency. ArtCenter South Florida. Miami Beach, FL
2006. Artist in Residence. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Porter, IN
2004. Artist in Residence. Glen Arbor Art Association. Glen Arbor, MI
bibliography
Nerhaugen, Ruth. Red Wing Republican Eagle. Speaking to the heart. Oct 22, 2015
Tschida, Anne. Miami Herald. An exhibition explores downtown Miami history through art and words.
July 14, 2015
O’Miami Poetry Festival Paperback Book. 2014. Pages 30 and 106.
Presenter. Swamp, Miami International Book Fair, SWEAT Broadsheet Collaboration with Michael Hettich. November 2014
Fishman, George. Miami Herald. South Florida printmaking community making a greater impression.
Sat, Aug. 09, 2014
Tschida, Anne. Miami Herald. Three South Florida efforts explore the intersection of books and art.
September 6, 2013
Nerhaugen, Ruth. Red Wing Republican Eagle. Printmaker’s Images Capture Community.
July 10, 2013
Chen, Julie. Editor/Juror. Showcase 500 Handmade Books. Lark Crafts. Fall 2013
Salomony, Sandra. Editor. 1000 Artist Books: Exploring the Book as Art. 2012. illus. 0897, 0898, 0950-0952.
Tschida, Ann. Miami Herald. Celebrating art of endangered icon. (SWEAT). September 8, 2013
Hettich, Michael. Editor. (NO) SWEAT. Tabloid Newspaper. Miami Dade College. 2012
Mosovich, Galena. Miami Herald. South Florida Arts Scene. The Art of Words. SWEAT.
November 25, 2012
Miami Herald. Weekend, Cover Story. Miami International Book Fair, SWEAT Broadsheet Collaboration, Panelist. Broadsheet with Tom Virgin/Campbell McGrath, Illustration. November 16, 2012.
Tschida, Anne. Miami Herald. New exhibit, new direction at ACSF (By Hand). August 19, 2012
Austin, Tom. Miami Herald. The Portable Art of The Book. July 13, 2012
Tschida, Anne. Miami Herald. Surface and Soul. August 7, 2011
Bryan, Jenson. Curator. 2011 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition. Catalog. 2011
Mason, Barbara. Curator. International Print Project 2010. Prints from New Zealand and the USA.
Bellisario, Kerrie; Cook, Linda; Dunn, BJ. Drawing New Audiences, Expanding Interpretive Possibilities. Artist-In-Residence Programs Of The National Park Service. NPS. 2009. pg. 22-23.
Drost, Lise. Curator. Florida Printmakers Invitational Exhibition. Museum of Florida Art. 2007
Martin, Lydia. Miami Herald. Art Exhibit Gives Place A Fresh New Perspective. April 23, 2006
Morales, Rene. Miami In Transition, catalog essay. Miami Art Museum. April 27-May 19, 2006
Watson, Robert. Juror. Florida Printmakers 14th Competition: International Prints and Drawings. 2005-2006
Virgin, Tom. escape*…restrictions apply. Accent Miami. Issue 5, 2005.
Russel, Candice. City Link. Gallery/Tom Virgin. March 17-23, 2004.
Nickless, Lea. Curator. Turning Pages: Celebrating South Florida Artist Made Books. Miami Dade College, Jaffe Center for Book Arts, Bienes Museum of the Modern Book. 2003-2004.