About
Shonna Pryor is a nationally exhibiting artist, art programs producer, and an educator at the esteemed School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her multidisciplinary art practice is inspired by references to food theory and its peripheral objects and concepts as a sociocultural lens through which to examine the politics of identity, memory, power, and play. Through these lens, the influence of STEM –ologies are also apparent in the visual/conceptual aesthetic of her work. Pryor's engagement in the fields of art, culture and science is enhanced by her award-winning art-based broadcast media work that has sought to create equitable space and expanded reach through a cross-disciplinary approach in the advancement of these fields collectively. She is a 2018-2019 Emmy Award, Midwest winner and was shortlisted for the 2017 Harvard University Knight Visiting Neiman Fellowship Award. Shonna's visual art has been exhibited in major cities such as Chicago, Detroit and New York, with esteemed artist residencies at Hyde Park Art Center; High Concept Labs; and Chicago Council on Science and Technology, respectively. Her community engagement and outreach collaboration with organizations and institutions such as Chicago AT&T Community Youth Development; Carole Robertson Community Center west Chicago; and Baker College Prep High School class curriculum have been instrumental in employing visual art to encourage young people toward Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math futures.
CV
EDUCATION
2016—The New School, MS Media Management, Arts Programming, Production and Development (NY, NY)
2012—School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Master of Fine Arts Painting (Chicago, IL)
2010—School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate of Fine Arts
2002—College for Creative Studies, BFA Fiber/Materials Studies (Detroit, MI)
PROFESSIONAL
Multimedia Visual Artist and Art Programs Producer—2007- present
Visual Arts Educator, School of the Art Institute of Chicago—2012-present
Research Producer, WTTW/Chicago PBS, Chicago, IL—2016-2017
Research and Production, Chicago Access Network Television—2012
Art & Design Educator, Baker College, Auburn Hills, MI—2004
Production Assistant, Community Media Network Cablevision, Troy, MI—2002- 2003
AWARDS
2019 Emmy Award Winner, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Midwest:
Arts/Entertainment Programing Program/Special Series (Art & Design in Chicago)
2019 (nominee) Peter Lisagor Award, WTTW Chicago Public Broadcast Television:
“Best News/Specialty/Arts/Culture/Entertainment News–Feature or Series (Art & Design, Chicago)”
2017
(shortlist) Knight Visiting Nieman Fellowship Award, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2016 Judy and John McCarter Fellowship, WTTW Chicago Public Television
2012
Archibald Motley Jr. Artist Grant Award
2009
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Merit Scholarship Award
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 (forthcoming)
Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
2022 (forthcoming)
“Solo", Material Gallery, Chicago, IL
GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES
2020
"The TOGETHER Tablecloth Assemblage Summer Tour Series", Black Lives Matter Rally(ies), Chicago, IL
“By & For | BLM (Black Lives Matter)”, Instagram curated by Fabiola Tosi, Chicago, IL
“WallPAPER of Respect: The Freedmens Bureau Ledgers” in conjunction with the AACM Great Black Music Ensemble, Stoney Island Arts Bank, Chicago, IL
2018
“Take Root Among the Stars” curated by D. Denenge Duyst-Akpem, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
“High Concepts Lab Open House Show”, Constellation Chicago, Chicago, IL
"Female Curves", CAN TV Broadcast Channel, Chicago, IL
“Experience: Threewalls Annual Gala”, Threewalls Gallery, Chicago, IL
2017
“The Presidential Library Project: Black Presidential Imaginary”, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
2015
“Adorn”, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL “Gender Bombs and Other Cooking Ingredients” Impromptu Intervention Performance,
“Gender Bombs and Other Cooking Ingredients” Impromptu intervention performances: Expo Chicago The Armory Show, New York, NY Frieze, New York, NY
“Surface, Place”, Abrazo Interno Gallery, New York, NY “Art from Excess”, Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, Gary, IN
2014
“Gender Bombs and Other Cooking Ingredients” Impromptu intervention performances:
Art Basel, Miami; Whitney Biennial, New York; New York Frieze Art Fair, New York; Expo Chicago; New York City Gallery tours led by Jerry Saltz courtesy of Vulture Magazine—Gagosian Gallery, Luhring Augustine Gallery, Andrea Rosen Gallery, David Zwirner Gallery, Petzel Gallery
“Female Curves” CAN-TV art video programming hosted by ExTV SAIC, Chicago, IL
2013
"Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity" Performance Exhibition, The Art Institute of Chicago
Museum, Chicago, IL
“Gender Bombs and Other Cooking Ingredients” Impromptu intervention performance, Expo Chicago
2012
"Graduate Thesis Exhibition", The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL
2011
"Dialogical Self", The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2010
“Post-Baccalaureate Thesis Exhibition”, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL "Midnight Snacks", 1366 Space, Chicago, IL
2007
“Full Circle”, G.R. N'Namdi Gallery, Detroit MI 2006
"75th Anniversary Show", Detroit Artists Market, Detroit MI
RESIDENCIES
2021-3
Chicago Council on Science and Technology Artist Residency, Chicago, IL
2020 (shortlist) and 2021 (shortlist)
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago Artist-In-Residency (Homan), Chicago, IL
2019
Artist Winter Intensive Residency, High Concept Labs, Chicago, IL
2016
Jackman Goldwasser Artist Residency, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (PROGRAM PRODUCER, LEAD INSTRUCTOR)
2021 – "STEAM Youth Collaborative Art & Design Project" AT&T Community Youth Development Program + Chicago Parks District (Murray Park), Chicago IL
2021 – "Mission to Mars Museum" Carole Robertson Learning Center, Chicago, IL
2018 – "Object Storytelling: Appropriating the AIC Museum" Baker College Prep High School classroom, Chicago, IL
2017-2019 - "Youth Summer Fashion Camp: Food Theme Inspired By First Lady Michelle Obama (Healthy Food Initiative For Children)", The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2016 – "Recipe Storytelling: Senior Community", Lawndale/Homan Community Center, Chicago, IL
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2014
“Female Curves”, ExTV Broadcast, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2011
“Dialogical Self”, co-curated with Tony Lewis and Christina Long, School of the Art Institute of
Chicago, Chicago, IL
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2021 Feb 12, "60-Word Minute: Shonna Pryor", by Chicago Tribune contributing art critic, Lori Waxman for New City Art Magazine
2014 “Street Style: Frieze Edition”, Refinery29
2007 “Motown Leaders Envision a New Paradise Valley: Enclave to Showcase Black Culture”, The Associated Press
LECTURES + WRITINGS
2021 "Visual Art As Journalism", Women's History Month Talk, Waubonsee Community College, Chicago, IL
2015 “The Great Good Place” publication, Curated by Brandon Alvendia, Threewalls Gallery, Chicago, IL
PUBLIC SERVICE
Auxiliary Board Member, Chicago Council on Science and Technology—2020-current • National Academy of Television Arts & Science Midwest, Awards Judge 2020 • Member Toastmasters (Loop Trustmasters)—2020 • WTTW Community Advisory Board member, Chicago, IL—2015 • Dorchester Community Garden Project volunteer, Chicago, IL—2015 • Associate Board of Ambassadors, American Cancer Society, Chicago—2015 • Member of Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee for Creative Arts Center Gallery, Pontiac MI—2007 • WDET Detroit Public Radio fundraiser and contributing newsletter writer—2007 • Exhibit Committee Member, Detroit Artists Market—2006 • Member of the Detroit Institute of Arts Speaker's Bureau—2005