Renee Kuharchuk is a female painter and teacher living and working in the Chicagoland area.
Attending a small private elementary and middle school, she had never experienced a traditional art class. Art became a considerable part of her life after being introduced to her first class as a teenager in high school. Kuharchuk received her BFA in painting and sculpture from Elmhurst University while also double majoring in Art Education to earn her professional teacher's license. Having a childhood without much art, she was passionate about sharing art with young minds and being a positive art influence for students who may not have been able to express themselves.
Renee also works as a high school visual arts teacher striving to support her students in developing their personal artistic practice. She pushes her students to create fine-quality work while exploring their artistic style and voice. She encourages her students to strive to self-assess their portfolios while learning to critique and participate in showing their work to the public.
In 2021, Kuharchuk graduated from Concordia University with her MA in Education, focusing on differentiated instruction to make her content area accessible to all students. Due to her involvement in supporting high schoolers within the art world, she is also a member of art ConnectEd through the Illinois High School Art Exhibition team as their Digital Gallery Assistant Director.
While being an educator, it was important for Renee to continue her personal artistic practice. Her work captures close-up portraiture that experiments with brushwork and dynamic abstract colors. Through painting the human form, these works explore themes of feminism and the human experience. As a woman battling anxiety and depression, her art brings to light these powerful emotions. Her practice is a means for self-healing and, on a broader scope, awareness of our inner battles.
Education:
2021 M. A. - Concordia University - River Forest, IL
2010 B. F. A. - Elmhurst University - Elmhurst, IL
Awards:
2023 Thiems Grant Recipient
2023 Art Dames Society First Friday - 3rd Place
2023 Women United Art Prize - Shortlist - Painting and Drawing
2023 The Curator’s Pick - Women's United Art Magazine - Issue 2
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 Emotionally Heightened - Brother Chimp - Aurora, IL
Your Misogyny is Making Me Anxious - Women's United Art Movement - online
2022 Featured Artist - Dry City - Wheaton, IL
August Artist - Riverlands - St. Charles, IL
2010 Capstone Exhibition - Elmhurst University - Elmhurst, IL
Group Exhibitions:
2023 Gratitude Show - The Art Dames Society - online
First Friday - The Art Dames Society -online
Great Northern Explosion - AuSable Artisan Village - Grayling, MI
Extra Credit - Art Space Chicago - Chicago, IL
Micro Residency Exhibition - University of Illinois - Champaign, IL
2022 Visual Art Educator Show - Bridgeport Art Center - Chicago, IL
Recent Works - Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art - Grayslake, IL
Tell Me a Story - St. Louis Artist Guild - St. Louis, MO
2019 Educator Exhibition - Bridgeport Art Center - Chicago, IL
Micro Residency Exhibition - University of Illinois - Champaign, IL
15th Annual Alumni Exhibition - Barbara A. Kieft - Accelerator Art Space - Elmhurst, IL
2018 Micro Residency Exhibition - University of Illinois - Champaign, IL
2017 13th Annual Alumni Exhibition - Barbara A. Kieft Accelerator Art Space - Elmhurst, IL
2015 D205 Educator Exhibition - Elmhurst University - Elmhurst IL
2013 Love Under Funnel Cakes and Vengaboys - Space Club HQ - Chicago, IL
Teaching:
2012 - York Community High School - Elmhurst, IL
2014 - 2017 Triton College - River Grove, IL
2010 - 2012 Leyden District 212 - Franklin Park, IL
Publications:
2023 Artist Feature - ArtAscent - Issue V57 Portraits
2023 Artist Feature - Women United Art Magazine - Spring issue
2023 Interview - Rebecca Potts - Teaching Art Podcast - Episode 100
2023 Artwork Feature - Dabster Art Quarterly - Spring Issue
2022 Artwork Feature - Art Seen - Issue 6 Winter
Residencies:
2023 Micro Residency - University of Illinois - Champaign, IL
2022 Swarm Residency - Scattergood Farm - West Branch, IA
2019 Micro Residency - University of Illinois - Champaign, IL
2018 Micro Residency - University of Illinois - Champaign, IL
Juror:
2023 Art Competition Exhibition - Asian Club of Elmhurst - Elmhurst University - Elmhurst, IL
Press:
2023 Sarah Mills - Create! Magazine - “Emotionally Heightened” - September 27
2023 Gita Joshi - The Curator Salon - ‘Emotionally Heightened’ A Solo Show - September 25
2023 Press Release - Daily Herald - “Emotionally Heightened” - September 20
Relevant Non-Instructional Experience:
2021 - Present Assistant Gallery Director - ArtConnectEd
2023 Fall/Winter Lead - Swarm Residencies