About
Niki Grangruth (b. St. Paul, MN) is an artist and educator working in Minneapolis, MN (formerly Chicago, IL). Her work explores issues of gender identity, socially-constructed beauty ideals, archetype, iconography, the body, memory and contemporary motherhood.
Her work has been exhibited nationally at museums and galleries such as the Center for Fine Art Photography, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Kinsey Institute Gallery and the Zhou B. Art Center. Grangruth received her B.A. in Studio Art and English from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN (2006) and her M.F.A. in Photography from Columbia College Chicago (2009).
INSTAGRAM @nikigrangruth.art
CV
EDUCATION
2009 Master of Fine Arts in Photography, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
2006 Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and English, Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN
SOLO OR TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2023 Muse, Dittmar Gallery, Northwestern University
Muse, Clayton Staples Gallery, Wichita, KS
2022 Muse, Cloyde Snook Gallery, Alamosa, CO
Muse, Riverside Art Center, Riverside, IL
2020 Muse, University of St. Francis Art Gallery, Joliet, IL
2015 Muse, C33 Gallery, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
2010 The New Madonnas, Kishwaukee College Gallery, Malta, IL
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Bona Fide, Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
The Still Life, Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2022 Stories I Tell Myself, Visionary Art Collective, virtual exhibition
Ann Arbor Art Center 100th Anniversary All Media Exhibition, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI
2/22/22, LensCulture, online exhibition
Arts North International 27, Hopkins Art Center, Hopkins, MN
2021 Observing Motherhood, ARC Gallery, Chicago IL
LENS 2021, Perspective Gallery, Evanston, IL
2020 Art Now: Photography, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI
2019 enGENDERing Change, Cloyde Snook Gallery, Adams State University, Alamosa, CO
Fulfilled Fantasies, Hokin Gallery, Columbia College, Chicago, IL
2018 Art·tri·bu·tion, Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA
Myths, Legends and Dreams, PhotoPlace Gallery (online exhibition) Middlebury, VT
2017 Seduction, Jackson Junge Gallery Chicago, IL
2015 Portraits 2015, Center for Fine Art Photography Fort Collins, CO
2014 38th Annual Beverly Arts Center Exhibition, Beverly Arts Center Chicago, IL
Soho Photo Gallery, National Photography Exhibition New York, NY
Spring Gala, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky Indianapolis, IN
Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, Grunwald Gallery Bloomington, IN
2013 Illinois Institute of Art Faculty Exhibition, Loop Gallery Chicago, IL
Touchy Subjects: Sex, Art and Humor, Indianapolis Art Center Indianapolis, IN
Face Value, Kinsey Art Gallery Bloomington, IN
Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, Grunwald Gallery Bloomington, IN
Collaborations, Trestle Gallery Brooklyn, NY
copy.right?, 33 Collective Gallery Chicago, IL
16th International Open, Woman Made Gallery Chicago, IL
2012 S/He Loves Me, Northern Trust Bank Chicago, IL
The Portrait: Up Close and Personal, MPLS Photo Center Minneapolis, MN
Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, Grunwald Gallery Bloomington, IN
2011 From this Place, Waseca Art Center Waseca, MN
Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, SoFA Gallery Bloomington, IN
Portraits, Gallery 350, Illinois Institute of Art Chicago Chicago, IL
2010 Girl Please!!! Woman Made Gallery Chicago, IL
Mothers, Woman Made Gallery Chicago, IL
Nature and Nurture: Reproduction, Kinsey Institute Gallery Bloomington, IN
Strange Beauty, Center for Fine Art Photography Fort Collins, CO
Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, SoFA Gallery Bloomington, IN
2009 Family Album, Woman Made Gallery Chicago, IL
Weisman Exhibition, Arcade Gallery, Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL
MFA Photography Thesis Exhibition, Glass Curtain Gallery Chicago, IL
Union League Civic and Arts Visual Arts Competition, Union League Chicago, IL
Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, SoFA Gallery Chicago, IL
2008 Group Show No. 27, Humble Arts Foundation online
Foto-Work, Orleans Street Gallery St. Charles, IL
Mary Beth Creiger Memorial Exhibition, Around the Coyote Chicago, IL
Weisman Exhibition, Hokin Gallery Chicago, IL
I Am Woman, The Next Picture Show Gallery Dixon, IL
Icons, Woman Made Gallery Chicago, IL
2007 New Art 2007, Orleans Street Gallery St. Charles, IL
Mary Beth Creiger Memorial Exhibition, Around the Coyote Chicago, IL
2006 Senior Thesis Exhibition, Flaten Art Museum, Saint Olaf College Northfield, MN
Topics Exhibition, Buntrock Commons, Saint Olaf College Northfield, MN
Illegitimate Arts Festival, Associated Colleges of the Midwest Chicago, IL
HONORS & AWARDS
2023 Marjorie Strider Foundation Grant Finalist
2022 Part-time Faculty Development Grant, Columbia College Chicago
Arts North International 27 First Place Photography Award, Hopkins Art Center, Hopkins, MN
2020 DCASE Individual Artist Program Grant Recipient, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, City of Chicago
2019 enGENDERing Change, Juror’s Choice Aware, Cloyde Snook Gallery
2015 Portraits 2015, Juror’s Choice Award, Center for Fine Art Photography
National Photography Exhibition, 1st Place, Soho Photo Gallery
2013 The Portrait: Up Close and Personal, Honorable Mention, MPLS Photo Center
2011 Kinsey Institute Juried Exhibition, Best in Show, Kinsey Institute Gallery
2009 Union League Civic and Arts Foundation, Visual Arts Finalist, Union League Club
2008, 2009 Albert P. Weisman Project Completion Grant, Columbia College Chicago
2008 John Mulvany Merit Scholarship, Columbia College Chicago
2008 I Am Woman, 1st Place Award, The Next Picture Show Gallery
2007-2008 Graduate Opportunity Award, Columbia College Chicago
2006 Academic Distinction in Studio Art, Saint Olaf College
2005 Dan Palm Travel Award, Saint Olaf College
2002 Waseca Arts Council Award, Waseca Art Center
COLLECTIONS
Kinsey Institute Gallery, Bloomington, IL
Columbia College Chicago, Department of Exhibition and Performance Spaces, Chicago, IL
Saint Olaf College, Department of Art & Art History, Northfield, MN
Various Private Collections
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2021 Maake Magazine Issue 12 “Niki Grangruth”
2016 “Muse: Niki Grangruth and James Kinser” in Surface Design Journal by Ann Weins. Spring 2016 Issue
2014 “Sex, Art and Archive” in Oregon Quarterly by Ann Weins. Nov. 2014
2014 “A Safe Space” in the Heraldtimesonline by Marcela Creps. 11 May 2014
2014 “Kinsey Institute Loves Chicago Art” in Chicago Magazine by Jason Foumberg. 28 Jan. 2014.
2012 The Portrait: Up Close and Personal exhibition catalogue, MPLS Photo Center, Minneapolis, MN
2012 “The Portrait: About Face” in the Minneapolis Star Tribune by Mary Abbe. 2 Aug. 2012.
2012 Kinsey Institute. “Kinsey Today.” Spring 2012.
2011 “Sexy Art” in the Examiner.com by Sarah Estrella. 13 May, 2011.
2010 Niki Grangruth and James Kinser (interview) “Guy with a Pearl Earring.” By Arianna Prothero. Indiana Public Media.
2010 “Art for Sex’s Sake” in the Heraldtimesonline.com. 10 July 2010.
WORK + TEACHING
Columbia College Chicago, Adjunct Professor, Photography Department (2010-2022)
Chicago State University, Adjunct Professor, Art & Design Department (2012-2021)
Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, Adjunct Professor, Digital Photography Department (2010-2015)
Center for Community Arts Partnerships, Teaching Artist, Schurz High School + Crown Community Academy (2012-2019)
Community Schools Full Service Resource Coordinator, Columbia College Chicago (2015-2019)
Community Schools Initiative (CSI), Program Coordinator, Chicago Public Schools (2019-2020)