Artist Statement
As an artist I am interested in being a thoughtful productive citizen that gains insight about our culture through making. I am interesting in foraging through the past to give voice to the future. I am interested in a studio practice that is self-governing yet embraces the moral and ethical responsibilities of an autonomous practice. I value exhibiting my work as it creates a dialogue and incentive for the viewer to examine the invisible components of our culture as well as our collective cultural interests. I value my workspace as an isolation chamber, laboratory and research facility.
Biography
As an educator, I’m interested in sculpture in all its forms, permutations and cross-disciplinary manifestations. My current work continues to explore 20th-century architecture and design tropes while considering personal histories rooted in enchantment and apprehension. In addition, I’m interested in building objects and structures that investigate volumetric capacities, thresholds, and spatial relationships. Currently I’m working on a larger scale to identify and locate the kinship of anatomy to design and building practices.
In 2019, Reber had a solo exhibition “Anemic Compass” at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. His recent work was included as part of an exhibition at the Dock 6 Design and Art series. His solo shows include "Thought Models and Mental Habitats" at the Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery (2016), "Threshold Amnesia" at Threewalls in Chicago (2014), and "New Work" at the Chicago Cultural Center (2011). He has participated in numerous group shows including "Focus 5" at the Illinois State Museum (2006), "New Art from Chicago" at the Road Agent Gallery in Dallas, Texas (2008) as well as the CADD Art Lab in Dallas, Texas (2008).
Reber was the recipient of an Artadia Award grant in 2006. He received Illinois Arts Council grants in 2006 and 2000. He also received the State Arts Council finalist awards in 1999, 2004, and 2019. In 1992 and 1998 he received Maryland State Arts Council grants.
Reber can be found in private collections including the West, Jason Pickleman, Constantine Grimaldis, and William Hubbard collections. He has been an active faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago since 1998. He is represented by Devening Projects + Editions in Chicago.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
1985 M.F.A / MICA - Rinehart School of Sculpture / Baltimore, MD
1980 B.F.A. / Nazareth College of Rochester / Rochester, NY
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Operate on Low” / Devening Projects + Editions / Chicago, IL
2019 “Amenic Compass” / Hyde Park Art Center / Chicago, IL
2016 Devening Projects + Editions / Chicago, IL
2016 “Thought Models and Mental Habitats” / Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery / Palos Hills, IL
2014 “Threshold Amnesia” / Three Walls Solo / Chicago, IL
2011 Chicago Cultural Center / Chicago, IL
2006 “Steve Reber” / Peter Miller Gallery / Chicago, IL
2006 “Steve Reber Recent Work” / ATC Gallery / Chicago, IL
2004 “R-Value” / IUN Gallery for Contemporary Art / Gary, IN
1993 “Sculpture and Drawing” / C. Grimaldis Gallery / Baltimore, MD
1993 “Time Out” / School 33 Art Center / Baltimore, MD
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Barely Fair International Art Fair / Chicago, IL
2016 “Design & Art Series #9” / Dock 6 Collective / Chicago, IL
2014 “Scratch and Sniff” / Hidden Dog Gallery / Chicago, IL
2014 “Burn it Down” / Heaven Gallery / Chicago, IL
2013 “Prestidigitation“ / Slow Gallery / Chicago, IL
2012 “Drawing for Sculpture” / Sullivan Galleries, School of the Art Institute of Chicago / Chicago IL
2012 “Euphemism” / Slow Gallery / Chicago, IL
2012 “miniature/GIGANTIC” / MDW Fair / Chicago, IL
2011 “Wood Worked” / Chicago Urban Art Society / Chicago, IL
2010 “New World Order” / Dirt Gallery / Chicago, IL
2008 CADD Art Lab / Dallas, TX
2008 “New Art From Chicago” / Road Agent Gallery / Dallas, TX
2007 COMA - California Occidental Museum of Art / Chicago, IL
2006 “Focus 5” / Illinois State Museum / Chicago, IL
2006 “Strange Fictions” / NIU Chicago Gallery / Chicago, IL
2005 “Strange Fictions” / Eastern Illinois University Tarble Art Center / Charleston, IL
2004 Peter Miller Gallery / Chicago, IL
2003 Stray in May / Chicago, IL
2002 “Stray Show” / Joymore / Chicago, IL
2002 Bodybuilder and Sportsman Gallery / Chicago, IL
2002 “Sculpture at Evergreen House” / John Hopkins University / Baltimore, MD
2000 Group Show / Gallery 312 / Chicago, IL
2000 “Quickie” / 202 South State / Chicago, IL
1999 “Urban Conditions” / Wabash College / Crawfordsville, IN
1999 “Harvesting the Urban Landscape” / Prairie State College / Chicago Heights, IL
1999 “Suite: A Hotel Room Show” / Inn of Chicago / Chicago, IL
1996 “Brett Bloom, Piper, Steve Reber” / Randolph Street Gallery / Chicago, IL
1996 Outdoor Installations / Baltimore Festival for the Arts / Baltimore, MD
1995 “Material Junction” / Evanston Art Center / Evanston, IL
1995 “People-Going Places-Doing Things” / N.A.M.E. / Chicago, IL
1994 “Profiles” / Randolph Street Gallery / Chicago, IL
1993 “New Talent” / ATC / Chicago, IL
1992 “Baltimore Sculptors” / International Sculpture Conference / Philadelphia, PA
1990 “Artscape” / Baltimore Festival for the Arts, Baltimore, MD
1990 “Summer 90” / C. Grimaldis Gallery / Baltimore, MD
1990 “Maryland On View” / Maryland Art Place / Baltimore, MD
1989 “Prints and Drawing” / C. Grimaldis Gallery / Baltimore, MD
1989 “Artists on Mulberry Street” / Maryland State Arts Council / Baltimore, MD
1989 Window Installation / Tuttle Gallery / McDonough, MD
1988 “Black and White” / C. Grimaldis Gallery / Baltimore, MD
1988 “Baltimore 4” / Winston Gallery / Washington DC
1988 “Landscape: Three Perspectives” / Maryland Art Place / Baltimore, MD
1988 “Artscape” / Baltimore Festival for the Arts / Baltimore, MD
1988 “Walking the Line” / School 33 Art Center / Baltimore, MD
1987 “Heat” / Anton Gallery / Washington DC
1987 “Acts of God” Collaborative Installation / Maryland Art Place / Baltimore, MD
1986 “Sculpture ‘86” / Washington Square / Washington DC
WORK EXPERIENCE
1998-2016 Adjunct Associate Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, sculpture department
2016 Anderson Ranch Arts Center "Hard, Flex, Remix”
2003 Visiting Artist, University of Chicago, Graduate program
2000 Visiting Artist, Columbia College, Graduate Seminar
OTHER PROJECTS
2013 Film, sets, props, Art Department / The Strange Eyes of Dr. Meyes by Nancy Andrews / film release 2015
2000 Sound Effects / Reach of An Arm by Nancy Andrews / film and performance / Outer Ear Festival / Chicago, IL
1998 Lighting, sets, and props / Hedwig Page by Nancy Andrews / Athenaeum Theater / Chicago, IL
1997 Lighting and props / Woods Marm by Nancy Andrews / film and performance / N.A.M.E / Chicago, IL
1995 Props / Frances Coco by Nancy Andrews / Randolph Street Gallery / Chicago, IL
1993 Sets / The Workshop of Filthy Creation by Laure Drogoul /
The Theater Project and the Baltimore Museum of Art / Baltimore, MD
1989-1992 Lighting /14Karat Cabaret / Maryland Art Place / Baltimore, MD
A bimonthly performance arts series featuring regional and national artists in a night club setting
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Artadia, fund for Art and Dialogue grant - 2006
State of Illinois Arts council grant - 2006
State of Illinois Arts council grant - 2000
CAAP Grant, City of Chicago - 1996
Baltimore City Arts Grant - 1992, 1991, 1990,1988, 1987
Artists Fellowship, Maryland State Arts Council - 1992, 1988
Works-in-Progress Grant, Maryland State Arts Council - 1989
Fellowship Award, Rinehart School, Maryland Institute - 1985
PRIVATE COLLECTION
The West Collection - Oaks, PA
Jason Pickleman - Chicago, IL
Jeff Stephens - Chicago, IL
Smultz / Davis - Chicago, IL
Victor Cassidy - Chicago, IL
Victoria Fuller - Chicago, IL
Constantine Grimaldis - Baltimore, MD
William Hubbard - Baltimore, MD
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Eye Exam: Cities built within Galleries” / New City Art / Matt Morris / 2014
”Chicago Art critics on Chicago Art” / Art Chicago / 2004
”Steve Reber” / Sculpture Magazine / Victor M. Cassidy / 2004
“Practicing in Place : Sculpture at Evergreen” / Mary Jane Jacob exhibition catalogue / 2002
“Sculpture at Evergreen” / Sculpture Magazine / Sarah Tanguy / March 2003
“Prairie Smoke” / Artnet.com / Victor M. Cassidy / 2002