Short Bio
Margie Criner is an American artist residing in Chicago, Illinois. Her sculptural work invites the viewer to examine form from multiple perspectives by building miniature narrative sculpture inside abstract sculpture. Her work explores universal experiences like waiting, commuting, traveling, and dreaming.
Statement
Curiosity is inherent to the human condition. I believe it should be nurtured, engaged, at any age. I see it as the cornerstone for problem-solving, for understanding each other and situations, for building a better future. My intention as an artist is to engage that curiosity we sometimes forget still stirs in us, to celebrate what we have in common, to remind us that we are all in this together, and if you look further during those everyday moments in life, you may find something that surprises you.
Biography
Margie Criner is an American artist born in Detroit in 1968. Her sculptural work invites the viewer to examine form from multiple perspectives by building miniature narrative sculpture inside abstract sculpture. Her work explores universal experiences like waiting, commuting, traveling, and dreaming. She received a Bachelor of Science in Textile Design from Michigan State University in 1991 and has exhibited her work throughout the United States. Criner has exhibited work in museums, art centers, and galleries throughout the United States. Her work is currently on tour as part of the international exhibition 'Small is Beautiful' and is in private collections throughout the world. Margie Criner currently works and resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Resume / CV
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Textile Design, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 1991
Bauhaus Furniture Woodworking, Bauhaus Apprenticeship Institute, Forest Park, Illinois, 2003
Woodturning, Chicago School of Woodworking, Chicago, Illinois, 2013-2014
Glassblowing, Chicago Hot Glass, Chicago, Illinois, 2015
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
Small Is Beautiful, New York, NY 2023
Chicago Sculpture International Biennial 2020, Ukranian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2020 Chapter 2: Part 1, WNDR Museum, Chicago, Illinois, 2019
Chapter 2: Part 2, WNDR Museum, Chicago, Illinois, 2019 -2020
Hunter Underground, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2019
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
In Dreams, solo exhibition, The Clancy, Chicago, IL 2023
Small Is Beautiful, group show, Boston, MA 2022
Small Is Beautiful, group show, Chicago, IL 2024
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Pursuit of Happiness, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL 2023
Ride of Life, A + C Architects, Skokie, Illinois, October 2022
Destination Unknown, Yard Dog, Austin, Texas, August 2022
Hide & Seek, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, February 2020
Mind Over Matter, curated by Aron Packer, Bert Green Fine Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 2020
Under the Same Moon, SOFA, Red Arrow Gallery (Nashville, TN), Chicago, 2019
Modern Habitat, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Colorado, Illinois, 2019
Satellite, Gallery at A+C Architects, Skokie, Illinois, 2017
The Space Between, SUB-MISSION Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 2017
Close-Up, Eye Spy, Chicago, Illinois, 2014
SELECTED TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
Swim, Oliva Gallery, Chicago, Illinois March 2021
Margie Criner & Bob Schneider, Yard Dog, Austin, Texas, March 2020
Transformation, Terzian Galleries, Park City, Utah, March 2019
One Step Beyond II, Green Exchange, Chicago, Illinois, March 2019
One Step Beyond, Workshop 4200, Chicago, Illinois, November 2018
Margie Criner & David Criner, Nest, Michigan City, Indiana, August 2018
Hidden Agenda, Firecat Projects, Chicago, Illinois, June 2018
Structural Elements, Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois, May 2018
Passage, The Red Arrow Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, 2017
Dreaming of the Other Side, Gallery 13, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2017
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
20/20, Governor State University, University Park, Illinois, 2020
Art Market, Muriel Guepin Gallery NYC, San Francisco, California, April 2019
The Originals, Yard Dog, Austin, Texas, April 2019
Annual Art Competition, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, Illinois, March 2019
Evanston + Vicinity Biennial, Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, Illinois, August 2018
A Curious Reality, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, Illinois, 2016
Getting There, Tall Grass Association, Park Forest, 2016
Alter+Combine, SCENE Metrospace, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 2016
REPRESENTATION
Muriel Guepin Gallery, New York City, New York
Red Arrow Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee
Yard Dog, Austin, Texas
INSTALLATIONS
Ceremony, WORKSHOP 4200, Chicago, Illinois, Permanent
Shift, The Whistler, Chicago, Illinois, November 2015 thru February 2016
PODCASTS
Episode 147: Live at SOFA Chicago with Margie Criner, The Art History Babes, October 2019
LECTURES
Artist Talk, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL 2023
Sculpture in Sculpture, SOFA, Chicago, Illinois 2019
Artist Talk, A+C Architects, Skokie, Illinois, 2017
Artist Talk, The Red Arrow Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, 2017
Artist Talk, Disney Magnet School, Chicago, Illinois, 2016
AWARDS
Best 3D, Bridgeport Art Center 7th Biennial, Chicago, Illinois 2019
Kalos Visual Art Prize 2019, 2nd Place Award, Ruminate Magazine
Editor’s Choice Award, Maker Faire, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2015
3D Award of Excellence, Geneva Fine Arts Festival, 2014
2nd Place Award, Northbrook Art in the Park, 2014
SELECTED PRESS
These Miniature Artworks Prove That It’s the Little Things In Life by Rhea Nayyar, Hyperallergic Magazine, Feb 28, 2023
Margie Criner’s Sculptures Want to Change Your Perspective by Ariana Portalatin, Chicago Magazine, January 2020
The Daily Mini, @dailymini, 2019
2019 Kalos Visual Art Prize Winners: Jennifer Cronin & Margie Criner, Ruminate Magazine, Spring 2019
Home is Where the Heart Is by Amelia Broughton, Artist Feature, Boulder Lifestyle, September 2019
Art-wrapped Utility Box, by Rafael Guerrero, Chicago Tribune, June 2019
Artist Spotlight: Margie Criner, The Woven Tale Press, April 2018
The Daily Mini, @dailymini, 2018
Meet Margie Criner, Voyage Chicago Magazine, April 2018
Local Artist Faces Fears Through Dynamic Dioramas by Lauren Dixon, The Logan Squarist, September 2017
Nashville Arts: The 6 Best Culture Events Right Now by Amy Stumpfl & Melinda Baker, The Tennessean, June 2017
Interview: Margie Criner by Alicia Puig, Create Magazine, July 2017
