Amanda Wirig

Amanda Wirig is a visual artist and musician, as well as an educator and nonprofit administrator. Her paintings and mixed media work utilize pop culture and humor to address social and political issues in a meaningful and forthright manner. Born in Mankato, MN, Wirig received a BFA in Art and a BA in Music from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and later received a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the same university. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the Midwest, including the Emy Frentz Gallery in Mankato, the Evelyn Matthies Gallery in Brainerd, MN, and the David Leonardis Gallery and 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago, IL. She is also the recipient of grants and fellowships from the Jerome Foundation, Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, the McKnight Foundation, and the Split Rock Arts Program.

The inspiration for her work comes from a variety of sources, art-based and otherwise. In terms of visual art, her work is most influenced by the Pop Art of Warhol and Lichtenstein, the hard edge painting style of Frank Stella, and the text-based collage work of Barbara Kruger. Her canvases meld acrylic paint, rub-on lettering, and collage elements with retro imagery and a slightly snarky sense of humor. Because vintage advertising, pop culture, and humor also play a large part in the art she creates, it is just as accurate to say that her work is influenced by the writings of Nick Hornby, The Kids in the Hall, rock ‘n’ roll, mid-century modern design, and MAD Magazine as it is by the aforementioned artists.

Amanda Wirig
104 State St. Apt. 2, Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 340-4993/ retrodebutante@gmail.com

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2015 As the Record Turns, Arts Center of Saint Peter, St. Peter, MN
2015 Featured artist, David Leonardis Gallery, Chicago, IL
2014 What Came First, the Music or the Misery?, Emy Frentz Gallery,
Mankato, MN
2014 Ad Copy, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN
2013 Finger Paintings, The 410 Project, Mankato, MN
2011 Figuratively Speaking, Twin Rivers Center for the Arts, Mankato, MN
2009 Text Messages and Tangerine Dreams, Evelyn Matthies Gallery, Brainerd, MN
2008 Transitions, Walker Community Church Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2006 Plastic Fantastic, The 410 Project, Mankato, MN

Selected Group Exhibitions
2016 Emy Frentz Arts Guild Annual Group Exhibition, Twin Rivers
Council for the Arts, Mankato, MN
2016 Starving Artist at the Poor Farm, Poor Farm Studios, Mankato, MN
2015 Emy Frentz Arts Guild Annual Group Exhibition, Twin Rivers
Council for the Arts, Mankato, MN
2014 Annual Juried Exhibition, the 410 Project, Mankato, MN (juried)
2013 June First Thursday, Gallery 402B, Minneapolis, MN (juried)
2013 The Wide Open, Roman Susan Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013 Copy.right?, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL (juried)
2013 Annual Juried Exhibition, the 410 Project, Mankato, MN (juried)
2013 3rd Annual Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Grantee Exhibit, Arts Center of Saint Peter, Saint Peter, MN
2012 4th Annual Southeast Minnesota Regional Juried Art Exhibition,
Paul Watkins Gallery, Winona, MN
2012 20th Annual Prairie Lakes Regional Juried Exhibition, Carnegie Art
Center, Mankato, MN
2010 Adverti$ing, Altered Esthetics, Minneapolis, MN
2010 2nd Annual Southeast Minnesota Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries and Paul Watkins Gallery, Winona, MN
2010 18th Annual Prairie Lakes Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Carnegie Art Center, Mankato, MN
2010 A Foot in the Door 4, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
2009 Changing Seasons, Twin Rivers Center for the Arts, Mankato, MN
2008 Poetography IV, Crossings at Carnegie, Zumbrota, MN (juried)
2007 Fall Salute to the Arts, Q Gallery, Brainerd, MN (juried)
2006 14th Annual Prairie Lakes Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Carnegie Art Center, Mankato, MN



Awards/Grants/Residencies
2016/17 Jerome Fellowship for Emerging Artists
2016 Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council/McKnight Foundation Artist
Development Grant
2011 Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council/ McKnight Foundation
Fellowship Grant
2010 Second Place Award, Art Schools of America, 2nd Annual Southeast Minnesota Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Winona, MN (Juror: Elizabeth Armstrong, Curator of Contemporary Art, Minneapolis Institute of Arts)
2010 Alfred and Ingrid Lenz Harrison Scholarship, Split Rock Arts
Program, St. Paul, MN
2007 Media Finalist, Fall Saint Paul Art Crawl

Bibiography
Goodrich, Kristine, “Artistic Freedom,” Mankato Free Press, Nov. 29, 2016, B1, B3.
Murray, Robb, “Pop Arts,” Mankato Free Press, March 27, 2015, C1, C3.
Murray, Robb, “ABUNDANT ART!,” Mankato Free Press, Sept. 19, 2014, C1, C2.
Kent, Tanner, “Something Old, Something New,” Mankato Free Press, July 4, 2013, C1, C3.
Dyslin, Amanda, “The Artist’s Perspective,” Mankato Magazine, Sept. 2011, 12-13.
Pulchinski, Adam, “Making Old New,” Mankato Free Press, July 28, 2011, C1.
Wick, Danielle, “The arts get more visual in Winona,” Winona Daily News, June 18, 2010, A1, A8.
Makela, JoAnn, “So Retro,” CALnews, Vol. 1, No. 5,
May, 2008, 1.
Tyler, Doreen, “Plastic Fantastic exhibition highlights use of
retro color, design,” Applauze magazine, January, 2006,6.

Public Art Projects
2013 Playing the Blues, CityArt Traffic Signal Box Project, Mankato, MN
2005 Organized Chaos, mural for the Minnesota State University,
Mankato Performing Arts Center lobby

Professional Affiliations
2017- Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Affiliate Committee
2015- Arts Center of Saint Peter (member)
2014- 2016 CityArt Mankato
2010- Art Hounds- Minnesota Public Radio
2009- Emy Frentz Arts Guild, Mankato, MN


Other Professional Experience
2012-13 Juror-Region 2A Visual Arts Festival,
2012 Juror-Inspiration show, Minnesota State University, Mankato



Education
2003 BFA (Art), Minnesota State University, Mankato
2003 BA (Music), Minnesota State University, Mankato
2010 Digital Design for Printed Textiles, (instructor: Michael James), Split Rock Arts Program
2015 Graduate Certificate (Nonprofit Leadership), Minnesota State University, Mankato
2017 Introduction to Graphic Design (instructor: Julie Longo), Minneapolis College of Art and Design

MN

USA