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Artist Statement
I am interested in how the perception of reality is colored by dreams, memory, superstition, religion, bias, prejudice, and fear. My mixed-media works, in general, refer to the overlay of belief systems created by the individual to piece together their personal paradigm.
My vocabulary—a combination of kitsch, ersatz and craft materials, junk and personal objects—is re-aesthetisized into accumulated forms that serve as metaphors for the build-up, organization and assimilation of information. The personal objects are evidences of pain, happiness, loss, guilt, shame—all the material detritus of the everyday human experience.
The vernacular (as a language of objects indigenous to my class and culture) is used here to subvert the hierarchy of high art. The kitsch of popular culture is transformed—through collage and intense manual labor—into the elite fine-art object. By evoking the elitism inherent to the idea of the hand-crafted object, these mass-produced articles become the raw materials that are employed in the "hand-crafting" of the art piece.
I choose particular materials for their visceral qualities, as well as their symbology and real-world references. The power of the fetish object intrigues me. The methods by which disparate elements are connected are as integral as the objects themselves. All materials, as words in a paragraph, are treated in a more-or-less equal manner and bring their own bits of signification and narrative to the visual "story."
—Shawne Major
Biography
Born in New Iberia, Louisiana
Solo & Two Person Exhibitions
2020 |
Shawne Major— Texas Gallery, Houston, TX, Jan - Feb
Folie à Deux— Lawndale Arts Center, Houston, TX, Jan- Mar
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2018 |
Shawne Major: Pareidolia—Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA, Aug-Sep. |
2017 |
Side Eye: Recent Work by Shawne Major—Isaac Delgado Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Aug-Sep |
2016 |
Spotlight on Shawne Major—Hilliard Museum of Art, Lafayette, LA, Dec-May
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2015 |
Shawne Major: Surface Tension— Marcia Wood Gallery Midtown, Atlanta, GA, Jun-Jul
Collective Memory: Works by Shawne Major— Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA, Jan |
2013 |
Shawne Major: Monkey Mind—Moreau Art Gallery, St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN, Oct
Shawne Major—Ravens and Crows—Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center, Ocean Springs, MS, Aug-Sep
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2012 |
Rhyme and Reason: The Art of Shawne Major—Hilliard Museum of Art, Lafayette, LA, Sep-Dec
Shawne Major: On a Darkling Plain—Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL, Apr-Jun
Shawne Major: Fetish—Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA, Jan-Feb
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2010 |
Tickle: New Works by Shawne Major—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, May
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2009 |
Shawne Major: Love Calls Us to the Things of This World—Irvine Contemporary, Washington, DC, Apr
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2008 |
The Sacred Space of Shawne Major—Opelousas Museum of Art, Opelousas, LA, Feb-Ap
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2007 |
Recent Fiber Works by Shawne Major & Christine Tedesco—Ogden Museum of Southern Art,
New Orleans, Jan-Mar
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2006 |
Apogee—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, May-Jun
Intrinsic Value: Works by Shawne Major—Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, Apr-May
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2005 |
Coffee Milk—Fine Arts Gallery, University of New Orleans Lakefront, New Orleans, Jan-Feb
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2004 |
Portal to Portal—Architects & Artists Space, Lafayette, LA, Nov
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2003 |
Hegemony Pajamas—Galerie Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, Apr-May
Bricolage/Montage: Shawne Major/Linda Frese—NOCCA Riverfront, New Orleans, Feb-Mar
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Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 |
She Persisted: Louisiana Women in Art —Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, Mar-Jun
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2020 |
Allan Jones, Painter - Mentor — Fletcher Hall Art Gallery, Lafayette, LA, Mar-Apr
Art in the Time of Empathy — Arthur Roger Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Oct-Dec
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2018 |
The Whole Drum Will Sound: Women in Southern Abstraction— Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Mar - Jul
B18: Wiregrass Biennial, — Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, AL, Jul - Sep
Shelf Life — Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, Aug - Nov
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2017 |
Intersections of Gender and Place — MS Univ. for Women Galleries, Columbus, MS, Oct.
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2016 |
20th Century Louisiana Artists — LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center, Baton Rouge, LA, Mar-Dec
Art in Embassies— Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Jun 2016-Dec 2018
Conjurers: Artists Imbue the Ordinary— Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Richmond, VA, Sep - Dec
Louisiana Contemporary— Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Aug-Sep
Gallery Walk at Terminus— Terminus, Atlanta, LA, Mar-Jun
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2015 |
Scope Art Fair— Callan Contemporary, Miami, FL, Dec
Objects of Interest: Recent Acquisitions for the Permanent Collection— Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, Sep-Feb
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2014 |
Scope Art Fair— Callan Contemporary, Miami, FL, Dec
Trivial Pursuits: Obsession’s Allure —Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, Oct-Jan
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2013 |
Front & Center: Group Show—Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL, Nov-Jan
Sputnik 1—Boyd Satellite Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Aug
One Thousand Words—Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, May-July
Dazzling Dancing Beads—North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND, Apr-May
Her Infinite Variety—Barristers Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Mar-Apr
Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables—Barristers Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Feb
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2012 |
V—Homespace Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Dec
Reflections—Heriard/Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Nov
Luxuriant Refuse—Pearl Fincher Museum, Spring, TX May - Aug
Today's Visual Language: Southern Abstraction, A Fresh Look—Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL, Apr - Sep
RAW—Homespace Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Jan
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2011 |
Texas Contemporary Art Fair—Texas Gallery, Houston, TX, Oct
Old Methods, New Visions: Three Louisiana Artists—LA Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA Aug-Oct
Artists Tribute I—Irvine Contemporary, Washington, DC, Jun-Jul
Fresh—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Jun
Visiting Artist Exhibition—On the Edge Gallery, NOCCA Institute, New Orleans, LA, Jan-Feb
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2010 |
Here, There, and Everywhere—Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX, Sep-Oct
Tradition/Innovation—Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA . Jul-Sep
40—Texas Gallery, Houston TX, Jun-Jul
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2009 |
Scope Art Fair—Irvine Contemporary, Miami, FL, Dec
Aspect:Ratio2—Irvine Contemporary, Washington, DC, Jan
Muses—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Jan
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2008 |
Scope Art Fair—Irvine Contemporary, Miami, FL, Dec
Futurity—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Nov
Louisiana Women—River Oaks Art Center, Alexandria, LA Oct-Nov
40 days & 40 Nights—Louisiana State Archive, Baton Rouge, LA, Jul-Sep
Prospect 1. New Orleans Biennial—Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Nov-Jan
Innovation/Tradition—NEA/Southern Arts Federation traveling exhibition beginning at Atlanta History Center, 08-12
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2007 |
Southern Open—Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, May-Jul
National Association of Women Artists: New Members Exhibition—NAWA Gallery, NYC, Mar
Selections—Jack the Pelican Presents, Brooklyn, NY Jan-Feb
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2006 |
Grendel Miami(during Miami Basel)—Jack the Pelican Presents, Miami, FL, Dec
Louisiana Gallery Artists Group Exhibition—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, Dec
Contact/ Gulf Coast Exhibit—Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY, Oct-Nov
Sustained Winds: Before-During-After—Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, Jan-Mar
Exit 101—Abercrombie Gallery, Lake Charles, LA, Jan-Feb
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2005 |
Legacy: Recent Acquisitions—Paul & Lulu Hilliard Museum, Lafayette, LA, Dec-Apr
Recent Acquisitions: Paintings and Sculpture—Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, Aug-Nov
Spirit of Place: Art of Acadiana—Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, May-Sep
Art With a Southern Drawl—University of Mobile, Mobile, AL, Apr
Nouveaux Artistes d'Acadiana—Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, Jan-Mar
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Selected Bibliography
2018 |
New Orleans Art Insider, ((Aug. 12,) "Shawne Major at Callan Contemporary," Eric Bookhardt
Dothan Eagle, (Aug. 9,) "'B18' exhibit has it all- abstract paintings, gospel hymns and Diet Mountain Dew," Peggy Ussery
The New Orleans Advocate, (Mar. 27,) "Ogden show explores a range of abstract art by Southern women," John D'Addairo
Art & Antiques, (Mar 27,) “Deeper into the South,” Sarah E. Fensom
PelicanBomb.com, (May 30,) "Thunderous Noise: “The Whole Drum Will Sound" at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art," Taylor Murrow
The New Orleans Art Review, (Spring,) “Women and Southern Abstraction,” Terrington Calas
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2017 |
The Acadiana Advocate, (Apr. 15,) "Artist Shawne Major weaves, sews, binds and patches her way to sophisticated artwork," Patricia Gannon
The Independent, (Mar 2,) "Collection Affection"
Spiritual Journeys: Homemade Art from the Becky and Wyatt Collins Collection, Edited by Laura Blereau. Lafayette, LA: Hilliard University Art Museum
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2016 |
Richmond Times Dispatch, (Aug. 31,) "Arts Preview: Visual arts range from haute couture to recycled everyday objects," Joan Tupponce
RVAMAG.com (Oct. 4,) "Artists give meaning to ordinary objects in VisArts' Conjurers exhibit," Sasha Jiron
Burnaway, (Nov. 29,) Conjuering Art from Castoffs at Visual Arts Center of Richmond," Kimberly Jacobs
Pelican Bomb, (Sep. 14,) "Exhibition Pick: Louisiana Contemporary," Jacob Kiernan
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2015 |
Arts Atlanta, (Aug. 26,) Review: Math is beautiful in quirky 'August Geometry' at Marcia Wood Gallery," Jerry Cullum
Burnaway, (Jul 20,) "Painting with Objects: Shawne Major at Marcia Wood," Matthew Terrell
Gambit, (Jan 2,) "An Interview with Mixed Media Artist Shawne Major," Missy Wilkinson
New Orleans Insider, (Jan. 11,) "Shawne Major at Callan Contemporary," Eric Bookhardt
New Orleans Advocate, (Jan. 14,) "Shawne Major's Mixed Media Works are Thick with Meaning"," John d'Addario
New Orleans Art Review, (Winter 14-15,) "Gallery Walk," Marian S McLellan |
2014 |
Country Roads Magazine,(Nov,) "P3…Plus", Kristy Christiansen
The Advocate, (Nov 22,) "I'm Not a Feminist, But…",Patricia Gannon
MadHat Annual 15 "Eye on the World," Edited by Marc Vincenz
Surface Design, (Winter) "Shawne Major: Colossal Collage," Nick Stillman
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2013 |
The Observer, (Oct 16,) "Moreau Welcomes New Exhibits," Rebecca O'Neil
Gambit, Blog of New Orleans, (Aug. 6,) "Review of 'Home' and 'Sputnik'," Eric Bookhardt
The Mississippi Press, (Jul 31,) "Shawne Major's Exhibit Ravens and Crows opens Friday at the Mary C."
The Sun Herald, (Jul 27,) "Shawne Major Exhibits 'Ravens and Crows' at the Mary C.," Cecily Cummings
Acadiana Lifestyle Magazine, (Jan.,) "10th Annual Most Interesting People," Lynn Castille
Huffington Post, (Jan. 2,) "Haiku Reviews: Greek Gods, The Wizard of Oz and a Facebook Miracle," Peter Frank
Times Picayune, (Jan. 4,) "Boyd Satellite Gallery, the Must-see Spot on Saturday," Doug MacCash
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2012 |
Acadiana Profile Magazine, (Dec. 2102 - Jan. 2013,) "Les Artistes: Piecing it Together," William Kalec, feature
008 Magazine, (Nov,) "Voice and Vision," Lana Henry
The Vermilion, (Sept. 11,) "Fall Brings New Crop of La. Bicentennial Exhibits"
The Advertiser, (Sept 6,) "Hilliard Museum unveils a fall full of art," Megan Wyatt
AL.com, (Jun 1,) "'Southern Abstract' is a Compelling View of a Provocative Art Form," Thomas B. Harrison, photo
Big Bridge, A Webzine of Poetry and Everything Else, 15th Anniversary Issue, Edited by Michael Rothenberg
Burnaway, (Feb 2,) "Katherine Taylor and Shawne Major: Stillness, Clamor, and Fetish," Brian Hitselberger
The Daily Iberian, (Sept 17,) "Rhyme & Reason: Find the unexpected in Major's masterpieces," Jessica Goff
Felt and Wire, (Sept 26,) "Creative Chain: Connecting creatives one link at a time," Emily Potts
HoustonCultureMap.com, (Jun 26,) "Art Fair Advisor Starts Tenure with a Contemporary Exhibit on Reclaimed Garbage at Spring's Hidden Museum," Tyler Rudick
Sun Herald, (Feb 6,) "WAMA Exhibit reveals the Art in Contemporary Southern Crafts," Cecily Cummings
A Unique Slant of Light: The Bicentennial History of Art in Louisiana, ed. Michael Sartisky and Richard Gruber, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
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2011 |
The Advocate, (Oct 2,) "LASM Exhibit Blends Tradition, New Artist Ideas," Robin Miller
The Daily Reveille, (Sep. 7,) "LA. Artists use Unconventional Materials," Joey Groner
Times-Picayune, (Aug. 8,) "210 New Shelters will Keep Bus and Streetcar Riders Dry," Hannah Miet, photo
Unlikelystories.org, (Jan, online,) "Mixed media Visual Art by Shawne Major," Jonathan Penton
Washington City Paper, (Jun. 16,) "Reviewed: "Tribute 1" at Irvine Contemporary," Louis Jacobson
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2010 |
Artforum.com, (May 15, online,) "Shawne Major at Heriard-Cimino Gallery," Natalie Sciortino-Rinehart
Art Lies, (July, Issue 66 online,) "40," Wendy Vogel
Brazzaville Art in Embassies Catalogue, Edited by Renee Drake. Art In Embassies: U.S. Dept. of State
Culturemap Houston, (August 7,) "Woman Power: Texas Gallery's 40," Susie Kalil
Dallas Observer, (October 7,) "Here There, & Beyond," Merritt Martin
dart international, (spring summer) "Picking Cherries in Miami in December," Douglas Maxwell
Gambit Weekly, (May 17,) "Shawne major's Tickle and Theresa Honewell's Fresh Threads," Eric Bookhardt
Glasstire, Texas Visual Art Online, (July), "Bless Their Hearts", Kelly Klaasmeyer
Houston Press, (Jun 24,) "40," Troy Schulze
Inside Art New Orleans, (May 16, online,) "Major at Heriard-Cimino," Eric Bookhardt
New Orleans Art Review, (Spring,) "Shawne Major: Sweet & Sour," Kathy Rodriguez
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2009 |
Art Forum, (Jan,) "Being There, Elizabeth Schambelan"
Art in America, (Feb,) "Deliverance: The Biennial," Lillie Wei
Art News, (Jan,) "Prospect 1 Review," John R. Kemp
Art Slant, (Jan, online,) "Old Mint, New Art," Eric Wenzel
Creative Loafing, (Dec 9,) "Satellites, Sculptures and Sex at Art Basel," Veronica Pastore
Gambit Weekly, (Jan 19), "Muses: Recent Work by Female Artists," Eric Bookhardt
Louisiana Life Magazine, (Jul, Aug), A Tapestry of Art," John Kemp, feature
New Orleans Art Review, (Mar, Apr.), "Muses:Anti-Trend", Terrington Calas
NYFA Current, (Jan 29, online,) "Reflecting on Prospect 1," Nicole Caruth
Panorama, (Sept. 13,) "Gallery Exhibition Stresses Relationship of Artist to Society," Jane G. Collins
Salt lake City Fine Arts Examiner, (June 1), "Interview: Suzanne Fredericq," Qi Peng
Shawne Major: Works, Catalogue, Edited and published by Martin Irvine and Irvine Contemporary. Washington DC
Times of Acadiana (Jan,) "New Orleans Reinvented"
Washington City Paper, (Apr. 15), "Shawne Major ," Maura Judkis
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2008 |
American Craft, (Jun/Jul), "Tradition/Innovation," Sally Hansell, photo
Art Daily.org, (Mar 19, online), "Prospect 1. New Orleans Announces Artists for Biennial"
ArtNet.com, (Nov. 7, online), "Bleeding Heart Biennial," Walter Robinson
Art News, (Oct), "Encouraging Wards," Carly Berwick
Art Voices, (Dec), "Shawne Major," Eddie Langieri, feature article
Bigredandshiny.com, (July 13, online), "Louisville Kentucky Art Galleries," Rita Lombardi
Fiber Arts, (Nov/Dec), "Shawne Major: Spiritual Kitsch," Stephanie Nelson, feature, photo
The Independent, (Oct 16, Lafayette, LA), "New Orleans Streetcar Shelters Get Art," Mary Tuttweiler
New American Paintings, No. 76, Open Studios Press, Boston, MA
NPR.org (Nov. 30,) Huge Biennial Puts Art All Over New Orleans, Eve Troeh
New York Magazine, (Nov. 6,) Five Point Weekend Escape Plan
Prospect 1. New Orleans Catalogue , Edited and Curated by Dan Cameron. New York: Picturebox
Studio Visit Magazine, No. 1, Open Studios Press, Boston, MA
Times of Acadiana, (Mar 5, Lafayette, LA), "Sacred Space Brings Tapestries to Opelousas,"
Brian Lafaye, feature article
Times Picayune, (Oct 15, New Orleans), "RTA Canal Bus Street Shelters get Art", Susan Finch
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2007 |
Gambit Weekly (Feb 20, New Orleans), "Paint Me Something Mister," Eric Bookhardt
Times of Acadiana (Jul 25, Lafayette, LA), "Lost and Found," Jan Risher, feature article
Times Picayune (Dec. 9, New Orleans), "Translating the Venice Biennale to New Orleans," Doug MacCash
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2006 |
ArtInfo.com (Dec 19, online), "Art Basel Miami: Offbeat Highlights from the Fair Trail," Margery Gordon
Country Roads (Nov, Baton Rouge, LA), "Trailblazers: Artists You Should Know," J. Richard Gruber
Gambit Weekly (Jun 6, New Orleans), "Tiny Trinkets & Magical Tapestries," Eric Bookhardt
New Orleans Art Review (Apr/May/Jun), "esthetica estheticans, natura naturans," Karl Volkmar
Times-Picayune (Jun 16, New Orleans), "Buried Treasure," Doug MacCash
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2005 |
ArtNews (Feb), "Amazing Cross Fertilization," John R. Kemp, photo
Art Papers (Nov/Dec), "New Orleans Review," Eric Bookhardt
Gambit Weekly (Jun 7, New Orleans), "Celebrating the Senses," Eric Bookhardt
Times-Picayune (Jan 28, New Orleans), "Small Touches of Acadiana," Doug MacCash
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Selected Grants & Awards
2016 |
Joan Mitchell Center Artist in Residence—New Orleans, LA
Hermitage Artist Retreat Artist in Residence —Englewood, FL
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2015 |
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Residency Fellowship—Captiva Island, FL
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2014 |
Percent for Art Acquisition—City of New Orleans, LA
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Residency Fellowship—Captiva Island, FL
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2012 |
Career Development Grant—Louisiana Division of the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA
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2009 |
Art Omi International Artists' Residency—Omi, New York
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2008 |
Joan Mitchell Foundation Career Opportunity Grant
Canal TransArt—Public Art Bus Shelter Project, New Orleans
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Artist Grant
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2006 |
Artist Fellowship—Louisiana Division of the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA
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1997 |
Artist in Residence—Sculpture Space, Utica, NY
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1996 |
Workspace Fellowship—Dieu Donne Papermill, NYC
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1995 |
Artist in Residence—Corporation of Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
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1992 |
Artist in Residence—Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
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Selected Collections
- City of New Orleans Permanent Collection
- Francis Greenburger Collection—New York, NY
- Hilliard Museum of Art—Lafayette, LA
- Ogden Museum of Southern Art—New Orleans, LA
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- US Art in Embassies—Brazzaville, Congo
- Frederick Weisman Foundation—Los Angeles, CA
- New Orleans Museum of Art—New Orleans, LA
- Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum—Washington, DC
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Education
MFA—Sculpture, 1995, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
BFA—Painting, 1991, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA |
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