Renee Kuharchuk Solo Exhibition
Renee Kuharchuk is a painter and teacher based in Chicagoland. She earned her BFA in painting, sculpture, and art education from Elmhurst University and an MA in Education from Concordia University. Her art, blending portraiture and abstract colors, explores feminism, the human experience, and mental health awareness.
In The Theater 7/11 - 7/26
Closing Reception 7/25, 6-9pm
Jackson Junge Gallery proudly presents their first group exhibition of 2025, THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID. The exhibition features artwork by women about women, showcasing the talent of 36 fem artists, many of whom are local to the Chicagoland area. In response to a contentious election, the gallery hopes to celebrate and empower women by giving female and non-binary creators a platform to share their experiences. When faced with oppression, creating becomes an important outlet where women artists can freely express themselves.
The artwork in THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID explores many different facets of womanhood. Representing both the soft, vulnerable side of femininity alongside the strong, protective side is Amber Ramos’ “Exposed and Armored”, an analog collage in which a woman form is half exposed, half covered in armor. While woman possess the unmeasurable capacity to be whatever they choose, unfortunately they are frequently hindered by societal expectations of their gender. With the constricted chest of a woman in “Caged”, Renee Kuharchuk paints a visual representation “of what anxiety feels like while inhabiting a female presenting body. The invisible limits that males place on our existence, presence, our voice. Women have all felt this anxiety, we’ve all experienced being held back or held down, out of our control.”
The recent election escalated many women’s anxiety. “They Keep Getting Away With It” by Nalei Taeoalii provides a young person’s perspective on the election. Taeoalii’s painting shows tangled RCA cables trapping vulnerable woman. The complex painting is a metaphor for the artist’s feelings of helplessness – “Growing up in the time of the Internet, I witnessed a lot of my favorite Celebrities eventually get accused of grooming or assault and then maintain some sort of following. Now, I am 18 years old and this Harris Vs. Trump election was the first I ever voted in. Watching a man convicted of rape win the presidential race felt like a confirmation of everything I’d ever felt. That the support and safety of women would never be prioritized over the success of a man.” Anitra Frazier conveys her own feelings towards the election in “…He Loves Me Not…” where she paints the hands of an African-American woman plucking the petals off a daisy cloaked in the design of the American Flag. After witnessing the results of the presidential election, Frazier “was disappointed and angry, but not surprised. I felt that perhaps America was ready for a female and Black president, but misogyny and racism won.” Frazier’s painting represents her “fanciful desire for a society that doesn’t exist.”
The 2024 election is not the first time that women have felt mistreated in politics. Faith Blackwell’s visually compelling piece “2 Feet Hi & Rising” celebrates the natural beauty of black hair while shedding light on the ongoing struggle against hair discrimination under the 2019 Crown Act. The photograph features a striking juxtaposition of the subject’s hair against a black floral background. This contrast symbolizes the complex relationship between cultural identity, personal expression, and societal norms. Through this piece, Faith Blackwell invites viewers to “reflect on the significance of natural hair in the Black community and the importance of embracing one’s cultural identity. The photograph serves as a powerful statement of empowerment and a call to action for equality and acceptance.” Laina Joy’s “Tired Woman” was created after Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022. The piece depicts a woman wrapped in a blanket of open scars. The bright and outwardly feminine color patterns are distractions away from her displeased and exhausted expression. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, Joy painted “Tired Woman” to say “Women are not baby vessels. Women are not second-class anything. Women are tired of being told how to be.”
Laura Haberer’s painting “She Didn’t Know That Nature Could Be Placed Upon Her Chest” is an intimate glimpse into the momentous moment a new mother meets her baby. The expressive gestures of the brush strokes combined with the warmth in tone envelops viewers in the emotions of the scene. While Haberer’s piece is undoubtably a beautiful celebration of motherhood, the artist also shares her complex feelings towards the intrusion of politics into the deeply personal decision to have children – “My husband and I struggled with fertility, and I nearly died of a septic miscarriage the year before having my son. It isn’t lost on me that had that occurred during the current presidential administration or if I lived in a different state, I may not have survived and never had the chance to become a mother. My son wouldn’t be here. When I reflect on all the ways in which men in suits have attempted to control women’s reproduction, from the idea of restricting IVF to forcing women to bear children they don’t desire to withholding life-saving healthcare, it’s clear it isn’t about reproduction at all, but about control. These men sit in their leather-bound chairs miles from the hospital rooms where babies are born or the bathrooms where women are racked with fear over an unwanted pregnancy. They do not pause to contemplate the emotional state of any woman on the precipice of a reproductive choice, yet they feel entitled to the decision. Words fail to describe the moment I met my son and the change to my very being that I experienced. But it was my choice. As it should be every woman’s choice.”
While woman’s rights are threatened, many women are finding their voice. At first glance, Brie Hines’ “I Miss the Old You” looks like a bright, colorful painting of note-passing at a fanciful dinner, but it serves as a deeper allegory for the relationship changes Hines experienced on her journey of self-worth and discovery of her voice as a feminist. Hines says “with this transformation came a pattern of abandonment—people who once surrounded me drifted away when I no longer sought their validation. On a broader scale, women who embrace their individuality and confidence are often misunderstood, even resented, by those who once depended on their self-doubt. And now, we are watching this play out on a systemic level. As women reclaim their autonomy—over their bodies, their identities, their futures—there is a force desperately trying to push us back into silence.” An artist who refuses to be silent is Bryn Gleason whose photograph “NO.” shows a woman taking a knife to an egg positioned above her abdomen, a strong visual meant to empower. Gleason understands that “in a world flooded with prompts to be gentile, quiet, caring, and accommodating, merely uttering the work “No” takes practice. Strengthening that vocal muscle is an immense feat, one of significance even if it is only the first of many strenuous steps in ensuring the lines you draw are respected. What then do you do when your “No” is violated? When the boundary you set has been crossed and you find yourself being bent once again to satisfy someone else’s demand? This is when “No” becomes an action. “No” becomes a journey. “No” becomes destruction, loss, survival, and immeasurable grief. “No” should never be smothered by fear, if it is, then it is the most important “No” you will ever survive.”
Ultimately, the artworks in THAT’S WHAT SHE SAYS convey a similar message – that woman hold unmeasurable capacity to be whatever they choose. A series of nine small mixed media paintings of sparrows, Elena Nentcheva’s “Bridesmaids” references the tendency in eastern cultures to describe women using bird related terms. Nentcheva believes that while “some may find this to be an implication of weakness, I feel the comparison parallels the beautiful, free, loyal, untamed nature of being a woman”. Amber Penney’s “The Birdcage” is an abstract painting poetically depicting a bird freed from a cage. Penney says the cage serves as “a metaphor for the historical treatment of women, who have often been expected to conform to roles as caretakers and objects of beauty, discouraged from questioning societal norms. The bird, depicted outside the cage, symbolizes freedom, emphasizing that it was never intended to be confined.” While recent events may have women feeling trapped, we hope the community found among the artists of THAT’S WHAT SHE SAYS empowers women to seek freedom.
Existing as a woman is a wildly complex experience. When asking artists to provide a few words on their works, our gallery has never received such profound and thoughtfully expressed descriptions. It was difficult not to highlight every piece here, but you can find each artist’s statements alongside their piece on our website.
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of womanhood. Join us at Jackson Junge Gallery to share this journey. An Opening Reception for THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID will be held Friday, February 28th, 2025 from 6pm-10pm and is free to the public. The exhibition runs February 24th – April 6th, 2025. It is curated by Owner & featured artist Laura Lee Junge, Gallery Director Kaitlyn Miller, and Assistant Gallery Director Kristen Arcus.
The Art Educator Exhibition is an annual juried exhibition developed by art educators for art educators who continue their studio practice while teaching in K-12 schools across Illinois. It is held at the historic and visually breathtaking Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago with up to $1,000 in cash awards.
“Cocoon” & “Nebulous Woman” on display at the Bridgeport Art Center
“If I eat this, I’ll be fat” on display at the Bridgeport Art Center
ArtRat Gallery announces its ArtPrize 2024 lineup
'Lucky 13' welcomes 13 guest artists in a variety of media.
Grand Rapids, MI, September 9, 2024 — ArtRat Gallery today introduced the 13 artists it will host during ArtPrize 2024: Emma Bandos, Isabel Dowell, Trinja Henrickson, Missy Hines, Renee Kuharchuk, Wendy Liang, Emily Moores, Lux Pax, Maxwell Pearce, Tammy, Michael Thorensen, Zachary Trebellas and Robyn Wall. ArtRat co-owner and resident artist Nancy Tobin completes the lineup — the largest group show the gallery has presented to date.
“We feel very lucky to share our walls with all these amazing guests!” Tobin said. “While each work is utterly distinct, the artists in our 'Lucky 13' share a commitment to image-making that harmonizes beautifully in this show.”
Renee Kuharchuk’s (VOTE ID 55120) work captures close-up portraiture that experiments with dynamic brushwork and abstract colors. Through painting the human form, she explores themes of feminism and the human experience. As a woman battling anxiety and depression, her practice not only brings these issues to light, but creates a space for self-healing and, on a broader scope, awareness of our inner battles.
Her work has been recently on display at Vibrant Cast Gallery in Chicago, Illinois and at Side Street Studios in Elgin, Illinois. Her solo show "Emotionally Heightened" has been featured in Chicagoland's paper: The Daily Herald & in Gita Joshi's London-based curators' platform The Curator's Salon.
The Art Connect Society (ACS) is a network that aims to “connect communities through engagement with contemporary art,” in the words of founder and director Valentine Svihalek, a Brno-based artist. The collective is currently curating the Safe Spaces project, an initiative encompassing a series of activities, including exhibitions and workshops, aimed at empowering women in communities worldwide.
Earlier this year, ACS launched a survey, the ‘100 Women’ Safe Spaces Questionnaire, collecting testimonies from women about their experiences of violence and abuse. ACS uses the anonymised data collected from the survey to inform their initiatives, in order to foster solidarity and raise awareness within networks of women, mothers, and caregivers. The survey is still open to responses here, for anyone who identifies as a woman and lives in the Czech Republic.
As part of the project, ACS also hosted a panel discussion on 16 July in Brno’s Kumst art space, which has since been released on the Art Sisters Podcast.
The testimonies collected via the survey will also be presented through artistic translation at the society’s next event: Safe Spaces International, an exhibition highlighting the deeply personal stories of women who have survived domestic violence, through their words, work, and creativity. The opening ceremony will take place in Prague on 7 November at 6pm, at the GRAM event space on Záhřebská in Vinohrady.
The opening program includes dancing, painting, and musical performances. The exhibition will feature a number of interactive elements, and installations including ‘The Birth’ by British artist Ellie Shipman, and Valentine Svihalek’s ‘Leave Your Mark: Find Your Voice’, which is based on the 100 Women project.
All proceeds from the sale of the works will be donated to the Rosa Center for Women, an organization providing essential services to women that have undergone abuse. “The Safe Spaces exhibition is not only an artistic presentation but also an act of solidarity that reminds us that all women have the right to be safe—physically, emotionally, and mentally,” said Svihalek.
A book about the community, entitled ‘Safe Spaces’, will be released from 7 November, coinciding with the event. More information about the project can be found on the ACS website.
The Sound and Soul collection explores the profound impact of sound on the human experience. This is body of work by Chicago based artist focusing on the collaboration of visual images and sound.
Side Street Studio Arts, NFP was founded in 2013 as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene. Side Street provides educational and creative resources and an inclusive space, run by artists. Side Street’s mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration.
This is one of the biggest visual art shows of the year! Jurors will select artists for recognition and awards. The Crowd Favorite (voted on during the opening reception) will receive our top cash prize! Come vote for your favorite and celebrate with us.
Performances by Angrous Jeffries, Atrocious Poets, and more!
Guest Judges: Joshua Dixon, Iga Puchalska, Marc Thayer
The Art Dames Society was launched as an international support network for women creatives who are changing their career path into the arts. It shines a spotlight on emerging, mid-career, and established women artists through opportunities to showcase their work and share their stories with the world. We believe that all voices are important as each woman's life and art journeys are unique and shape the circumstances of her art practice.
Mouth 3 - Acrylic painting on canvas
Having had personal experience with returning to the arts after years of neglecting her creative callings, the founder Ceili Seipke, made it her mission to support like-minded women artists through opportunities, resources and mentorship.
The Art Dames Society is an inclusive platform that currently focuses on showcasing the work of women artists through the First Friday Art Gallery, introducing them to wider audiences through the Artist Directory and In the Spotlight interviews and sharing business/career advice on the Spotlight page.
“Is it enough, yet?” Assemblage/Installation
Join us to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative that is “Celebrating women artists who radiate wisdom, experience, strength, and the beauty of aging.”
Works featured by Renee Kuharchuk include “Mouth 3” and “Is it Enough, Yet?”
Participating artists in The Art Dames Society Gratitude Show.
Featured artist, Renee Kuharchuk, whose work focuses on portraiture and close up imagery.
The Art Dames Society was launched as an international support network for women creatives who are changing their career path into the arts. It shines a spotlight on emerging, mid-career, and established women artists through opportunities to showcase their work and share their stories with the world. We believe that all voices are important as each woman's life and art journeys are unique and shape the circumstances of her art practice.
Having had personal experience with returning to the arts after years of neglecting her creative callings, the founder Ceili Seipke, made it her mission to support like-minded women artists through opportunities, resources and mentorship.
The Art Dames Society is an inclusive platform that currently focuses on showcasing the work of women artists through the First Friday Art Gallery, introducing them to wider audiences through the Artist Directory and In the Spotlight interviews and sharing business/career advice on the Spotlight page.
Join us to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative that is “Celebrating women artists who radiate wisdom, experience, strength, and the beauty of aging.”
“Picking 4” and “Biting” are acrylic paintings featured within this exhibition by Illinois artist Renee Kuharchuk. Her painting “Picking 4” garnered her 3rd place.
Center: “Biting” Acrylic painting by Renee Kuharchuk
Center: “Picking 3” Acrylic painting by Renee Kuharchuk
Ausable Artisan Village presents: The Annual Great Northern Art Explosion located in downtown Grayling Michigan - An international juried fine art exhibition featuring over 100 artists and artworks selected by professional juror Amy Vos Dillinger.
Show dates from August 26th, 2023 through public award ceremony, September 10, 2023.
Art Explosion 2023 Accepted Artists:
Clifford Burkholder, Abby Akers, Linda Allen, Madeleine Althoff, Sylvia Bandyk, Kelli Bechtel, JoAnn Bennett, Shanti Bennett, Larry Blovits, Mary-Glynn Boies, Anita Brett, Robert Bridenbaugh, Michael Bruner, melinda bylow, Anthony Cairo, Jeff Caverly, Pat Cheal, Marc Chicoine, Cheryl Chidester, Winnie Chrzanowski, Alisa Clark, Amy Clark, Jeannine Cook, Jacob Cotton, Paulette Cruise, John DeHoog, Terry Dickinson, John Diephouse, Randi Dodgson, Lisa Downs, henry droski, Robert Esckelson, Gwen Meyer Ethelbah, Daniel Feldhauser, Christopher Fowler, Aimee Fresia, Jill Gary, Jerry Gates, Raymond Gaynor, Susan George, Jan Gill, Sharon Grant, Janet Grifka-Smith, Marcia Guetschow, Becky Hansen, Ebonee Hansen, Robert Harold, Rebecca Hauschild, Gary Johnson, Michael Koole, Renee Kuharchuk, Justin La Doux, Sheila Lamberson, Gaye Lee-Peters, Frank Leimbek, Jennifer Mann, Carol Mannas, Marlies Manning, mike mcgraw, Stacy McKellip, Russel Minnerick, Sara Naylor, Jay (aka Jacqueline) Norris, Lisa Oliver, Nicki Omori, Justice Otterbacher, Frauke Palmer, stone peng, Joyce Petrakovitz, Stacie Poindexter, Trish Poupard, Olivia Prado, Agnieszka Przyborowski, John Puffer, Matthew Schellenberg, Bonnie Sheckter CPSA, Megan Shilobod, Carolyn Shoemaker, sandra sholl, Shena Sloboda, David Smith, Jennifer Sowders, Jan Stannard, Betsy Stecker, Laura Stockwell, Pamela Stoddard, Jennifer Sugarman, Mary Sundstrom, Nicole Szymanski, Amy TATROE, Ilene Thayer, Susan Thiel, Jamie Thomson, Pete Wardrope, Christy Warren, Carrie Weis, Jeff Wortman, Elizabeth Yarosz-Ash, Larry Zdeb, Albert Zifilippo, MaryAnn Ferrigan, Lynn, Pettyjohn, Paul Nilsson, Jan Treston, Gilbert Kustra, Jake Allen, Terry Akers
“Emotionally Heightened” is an exhibition of a recent body of work by visual artist Renee Kuharchuk. This collection of works embodies the feelings of anxiety, illustrated through close up snap shots of everyday habits and visual manifestations of these anxious feelings. These images illustrate a feeling and highlight that habit or symptom when emotionally heightened. We all have those subconscious mannerisms - biting nails, picking fingers, twirling hair, tapping a foot. What happens when a spotlight is shined on those mindless routines? What happens when we take notice of what is happening in our bodies when experiencing painful situations? These movements serve as a way to cope. It’s a manifestation of that emotion in our bodies; how we self-soothe.
The style of each painting illustrates the symptom or situation. Some works use short feathered marks that mimic meditative, repetitive movements such as yoga, prayer beads, or worry stones while others use loose swooping lines and layered energetic strokes to exemplify anxious or painful situations. The loose and wild brushwork create chaos and disorganization - a reflection of the internal struggle. By creating small clustered brush strokes using bright colors, the works leap off the canvas and almost vibrate with movement.
This September, Brother Chimp Brewing will be hosting the solo exhibition “Emotionally Heightened” by artist Renee Kuharchuk. Renee is an artist working in the Chicagoland area. This exhibition displays 19 of her original paintings and is an exploration of portraiture and mental health. The exhibition is accompanied by an artists talk, where Renee will be answering questions about her work, describing her intention and purpose behind making these pieces. This is an opportunity to experience these works while getting personal insight into Kuharchuk’s artistic process.
Chicagoland based artist Renee Kuharchuk pushes the boundaries in her work to get the viewer to feel. Her works dominate the canvas and demand attention. A practice born from personal experience, Kuharchuk’s imagery is identifiable while her brush technique is stylized. Her collective mark making is a demonstration of her creative practice as a means for healing. This body of work brings awareness to our collective struggles with mental health.
The Quarterly is an art publication and online exclusive exhibition highlighting the art and artistic concepts of contemporary artists working today. This Spring issue interviews arts on their personal practice and how they develop the meaning behind their work. In this issue, Renee Kuharchuk explains how her exaggerated brush work and bold color palette add to the anxious themes of her artwork.
Image from the Spring 2023 issue featuring artwork and interview with Renee Kuharchuk
Excerpt from interview with Renee Kuharchuk
Artist Interviews featured in the Spring Issue
Cover of Women’s United Art Magazine
WOMENS UNITED ART MAGAZINE | ISSUE III | SPRING 2023
INCLUDING
WOMEN IN THE ARTS
Celebrating industry leaders Sarah Maple & Tam Gryn
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Interviewing contemporary visual artists Alejandra Moral, Alexandra Bolshakova, Aomi Kikuchi, Asya Kozina, Avin Abbasi, Ēlena Ēto, Elena Rousseau, Francesca Schwartz, Joanna Pilarczyk, Judi Tavill, Julia C R Gray, Kathy Cornwell, Kim Hopson, Lori Solley, Meghan DeRoma, Olivia Jane, P.M.K.D, Saeideh Aghaei, Sahar Nateghi, Sara Rahanjam, Tara Barr, Victoria Matéo
View of the virtual gallery space in the solo show.
ART UNLIMITED
Introducing women creatives Marianna Koytsan
THE CURATOR'S PICK
Highlighting artists to follow Alex Duncan, Shannon Rae Fincke, Valerie Milo, Sarah Renzi Sanders, Yevheniia Kurdiukova, Amy Swartelé, Pamela Chrabieh, Nadine Ogle, Dulce Carvalho Atelier, Dawn Smith, Cassie Arnold, Mehrnoosh, Leonor Ali & M. Kate Helmes Shark, Rose Malenfant, Sue Dickins, Marelie van Rensburg, Anne Mailhot, Bita Mohabbati, Sara Mazahery, Lauren Brumbach, Nicki Ault, Lauren Lewchuk, Roshni Patel, Kuan-Hsuan Lu, Rachel Morrisey, Lichiban, Polurenko, Maryam Rajabzadeh, Saba Tafaghodi, Sarah Spillers, Mahshad Azadi, Carola Orieta Sperman, Ziba Pashang, Leila Farzaneh, Iskra Sale, Parastoo Haddadi, Lori Burke, Deb McCarroll, Odeta Xheka
LIVING THE LIFE
Discovering The Travelling Artist, Your Creative Diaries with Alisha Pop, Tools For Artists
EXHIBITS
Presenting Women United ART MOVEMENT solo exhibits - Celine Gabrielle, Lauryn Grubbs, Petra Schott, Ghia Haddad, Vanessa Hiller, Katrina Niswander, Renee Kuharchuk, Paula Borsetti, Jennifer Hulley, Kristy Okkonen, Rachel Le Roux, Aomi Kikuchi, Daniella Queirolo, Lize Krüger, Molly F. McCracken, Agathe Bouton; group exhibit Dare To Dream curated by Women United ART MOVEMENT
Through conversations with teaching artists, an art educators support group, and resources like lesson plans and workshops, we are building community and sharing stories to connect our islands and make equitable liberatory teaching the norm.
Teaching Artist Podcast was started by Rebecca Potts Aguirre, a visual arts teaching artist. She interviews practicing artists who are also educators in K-12 and community settings. This podcast is dedicated to discussions of teaching art, making art, and how those things overlap and feed each other.
In episode 100, Rebecca interviews practicing artists who offer insight and advice to other art teachers. In this interview, Renee Kuharchuk speaks to the challenges of teaching alongside strategies to manage the work flow. See the detailed show notes here
A view of the gallery space.
ArtAscent Portraits issue features Chicago based artist Renee Kuharchuk and her acrylic painting: “Disgusting” Kuharchuk is painter whose work focuses on themes of femininity and mental health.
Art Seen Magazine - Issue 6
Art Seen, The Curator’s Salon Magazine, brings together contemporary visual artists from around the world to talk about their work, influences, purpose and everything else.
Issue 6 published for Winter 2022 presents:
• Conversations between artists and curators including Sagarika Sundaram, Suchitra Mattia and Jess Allen.
• Collectors Axel Anderl and Kathrin Weber share their journey through collecting art
• Stories behind the artworks and the artists practice including bold and stunning visuals
• An insight into the studio life and practice of artists from around the world plus studio spaces in their most natural form. Inside the publication you will discover artists from around the world, working across a number of disciplines, and learn about contemporary art and artists.
This issue also includes Dalini Sagadeva, Young Shin, Celine Chan, Seth Ellison, Ruth Santee, Natasha Bakovic, Bobbye Cochran, Grayson Cassels, Masako Roberts, Odeta Xheka, Ekaterina Adelskaya, John A. Blythe, Renee Kuharchuk, Ilsa Brittain, Sarah Darke, Adrienne Egger, Vanessa Snyder, Melissa Wilkinson, Kate Marsden, Veronika Lavey, Cecile Lobert, Dana Kohlmann, Camille Myles, Shelly Pamenskym Ghia Haddad, Geraldine Khatchikian, Adam Strange, Katrina Niswander, Sally Wetherall, Charley Peters, Zara Kand, Brandi Hofer and Kathryn Armitage.
