Deb Sokolow is a Chicago-based artist and writer whose text-driven, diagrammatic drawings and artist books blend fact with fiction and speculate both comically and critically on a variety of topics, including architecture, artists, the details of shadowy histories and organizations, the foibles of heads of state and the lives of geniuses.
Sokolow's most recent work focuses on the idiosyncratic, humorous aspects of semi-fictitious architectural environments while hinting at the concealed agendas and social engineering involved in the design and use of existing corporate, institutional, domestic and entertainment spaces.
Born in Davis, CA
Education
2004 MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1996 BFA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Collections
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZ
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL
Providence College, Providence, RI
Northern Illinois University Art Museum, DeKalb, IL
Bank of America
Thomas J Watson Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, CA
University of Southern California Libraries, Los Angeles, CA
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
The Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
Daniel Boone Fine and Performing Arts Magnet School, Chicago, IL
DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
The Newark Public Library, Newark, NJ
The University of Miami Special Collections Library, Coral Gables, FL
The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2020
University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI (catalog)2019
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2017
Smith Center for the Arts, Providence College, Providence, RI
The Stolbun Collection, Chicago, IL
Illinois State University, Normal, IL
The Reading Room, Dallas, TX2016
G Fine Art, Washington, D.C.
PRINTtEXT, Indianapolis, IN
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2015
Ski Club, Milwaukee, WI2014
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX2013
Matrix 166, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2012
Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA2011
Abrons Art Center, New York, NY
Green Gallery West, Milwaukee, WI
Lawrence University, Appleton, WI2010
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2009
Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL2008
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO
Inova [Institute of Visual Arts], Milwaukee, WI2006
40000, Chicago, IL
Polvo, Chicago, IL2005
12x12, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Chicago Architecture Biennial, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Sun Valley Museum of Art, Ketchum, ID
The Carnegie, Covington, KY
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
Drawing Room at LUMP Gallery, Raleigh, NC
The 2023 Western Exhibitions Drawing Biennial, Chicago, IL2022
New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, Indiana2021
David Zwirner Gallery’s Platform (online project)
Chicago Comics, Buddy, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
Lump Gallery, Raleigh, NC2020
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZ
Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA2019
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
Hite Art Institute, University of Louisville, KY
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2018
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Institute for Contemporary Art, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Chicago, IL2017
Fredericks & Freiser, New York, NY
South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend, IN
The Ralph Arnold Gallery, Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Ketchum, ID
The Carnegie, Covington, KY
The Mission, Chicago, IL
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL2016
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
Roman Susan, Chicago, IL
Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Weinberg/Newton Gallery, Chicago, IL2015
Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, MO
CAM [Contemporary Art Museum] Raleigh, NC
Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
G Fine Art Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
Center for Visual Art, Metro State University of Denver, CO2014
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZ
Longhouse Projects, New York, NY
A+D Gallery, Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2013
The 4th Athens Biennale, Athens, Greece
The Drawing Center, New York, NY (catalog)
Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen, Siegen, Germany (catalog)
Invisible-Exports, New York, NY2012
Künstlerhaus Speckstrasse, Hamburg, Germany
319 Scholes, Brooklyn, NY
Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL2011
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZ
Voorkamer, Lier, Belgium
Institute of Contemporary Art, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
Doomsday Film Festival, 92YTribeca, New York, NY
Delaware County Community College, Media, PA
FFDG, San Francisco, CA
School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL
Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, LA2010
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA
Baer Ridgway Projects, San Francisco, CA2009
Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (catalog)
Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA
Synchronicity, Los Angeles, CA
Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL2008
Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Brooklyn Fire Proof, Brooklyn, NY2007
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Northern Illinois University Art Museum, DeKalb, IL
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL2006
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Rudolph Projects, Houston, TX2005
3Arts Club, Chicago, IL
Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL2004
Gallery 312, Chicago, IL
School of the Art Institute Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
Commissioned Works, Reproduced Works and Other Contributions for Print and Online Publications
2021
"Translate a Song into a Drawing" for Artist in Residence, a publication from Studio Hudson
Writing and images for On Big Drawings, an online database for contemporary drawing and issues2020
"Museum Musings: Deb Sokolow" writing and images for Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s blog
"At the Justice Department" two-page spread for Maryland Institute College of Art’s journal, Full Bleed
"Stakeout!" an art assignment for You Are An Artist, Penguin Books, compiled by Sarah Urist Green
Writing for Loose History exhibition catalog for solo exhibition at University of Wisconsin-Parkside
“During a Hair-Gluing Session Inside the White House Cosmetology Room” drawing for Daily Trumpet2019
Drawing for Indianapolis Contemporary’s online publication, Abstract, designed by PRINTtEXT2018
"Mr. Vladimir Putin's Photo With Women" four-page spread for BOMB Magazine, fall 2018 issue
Visitors’ Guide and Novella for Institute for Contemporary Art, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA2016
Illustration for Art Journal2011
Drawings for art magazine Paletten (Sweden), guest-edited by Maria Lind2010
Comic for Creative Time’s Comics project, curated by Shane Brennan
Residencies, Fellowships and Awards
2022
Visual Arts Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council
2012
Artadia Award (Chicago): The Fund for Art and Dialogue
Artist-in-Residence, Nordisk Kunstnarsenter Dalsåsen, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, Dale, Norway
2010
International Artists Residency, Art Omi, Ghent, NY
2009
Works-in-Progress Residency, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Smart Museum Artist-in-Residence, Daniel Boone Fine and Performing Arts Magnet School, Chicago, IL
2007
Frankel Anderson Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center
2005
Visual Arts Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council
Visiting Artist Lectures and Panels
2022
Visiting Artist Talk, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL2021
Visiting Critic, IE School of Architecture and Design, Segovia, Spain
Visiting Artist Talk, NY Comics & Picture-Story Symposium, New York NY
Visiting Artist Talk, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist Talk, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI2020
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI
Public Conversation with Professor Sandy Moats, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI
Visiting Artist Talk, Arts of Life, Chicago, IL2019
Visiting Critic, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Visiting Artist Talk, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist, Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency, Saugatuck, MI2018
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Chicago, IL2017
Public Conversation with Professor Joseph Cammarano, Providence College, Providence, RI
Visiting Artist Talk, Illinois State University, Normal, IL2016
Visiting Artist Talk, Metro State University, Denver, CO
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL2015
Panelist, Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, MO
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist Talk, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI2014
Visiting Artist Talk, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL
Panelist, College Art Association, Chicago, IL2013
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Visiting Artist Talk, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
Visiting Artist Talk, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI
Visiting Artist Talk, Columbia College, Chicago, IL2012
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH2010
Visiting Artist Talk, New York Studio Residency Program, Brooklyn, NY
Visiting Artist Talk, Illinois State University, Normal, IL2008
Panelist, Contemporary Artists and Issues, Smart Museum, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist Talk, University of California, Davis, CA
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Visiting Artist Talk, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist Talk, Illinois State University, Normal, IL2007
Artists Connect Lecture, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist Talk, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Articles, Reviews, Interviews and Profiles
2021
Artnet News. “6 Rising Stars to Seek Out at Armory Week 2021”
The American Scholar. Kirschner, Noelani. "Usurping Utopia"2020
Artnet News. “The Art World at Home: Jacqueline Terrassa Is Preparing for Her New Museum Director Job...”
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (video). O’Connell, Lauren. “Slow Art Sunday: Deb Sokolow”
New City. Najeebah, Zakkiyyah. “Art 50 2020: Chicago’s Artists’ Artists”2019
The Brooklyn Rail. Buhe, Elizabeth. "Deb Sokolow: Profiles in..."
The Appreciator. Ortiz, Tim. “Profiles in Leadership// Drawings Without Words”
New City. Pocaro, Alan. "Deflating Powerful Men..."
Abstract. Holzman, Laura. “Contemporary Art, Out of Place.”
LEO Weekly. Taylor, Kaylyn. "'Conspiratorial Aesthetics,' compelling"
Burnaway. "Close Look: 'Conspiratorial Aesthetics' at the University of Louisville"2018
Hyperallergic. Dalla Villa Adams, Amanda. "A New Contemporary Art..."2017
Artnews. Freeman, Nate. “Hirshhorn Acquires…”
Vulture. Riesman, Abraham. “8 Comics to Read in October”
Glasstire. Knudson, Rainey and Rees, Christina. “Top Five..."
Institute for Contemporary Art, VCU Blog. “Guest Blogger Deb Sokolow”
D Magazine. Ratcliff, Darryl. “The Dallas Art Fair...”
Chicago Reader. “Chicago Responds to President Trump”
Idaho Mountain Express. Kerstetter, Andy. “Figuring out whom to trust…”
Third Coast Review. Musich, Susan. “Presidential Library Project…”
Loyola Phoenix. Ruiz, Miguel. “Loyola’s Fine Arts Complex...”
Art Ltd. Yood, James. “2016 Top Ten List”
Hyperallergic. Yau, John. “A Few Thoughts About 2016”2016
Hyperallergic. Yau, John. "Vanity, Thy Name is Man"
Washington Post. Jenkins, Mark. "Deb Sokolow: Debate Stage..."
New City. Barton, Brit. "Deb Sokolow"
BmoreArt. Hannum, Terence. "Politics, Smoke, and Mirrors–And Drawings"
Denver Post. Rinaldi, Ray Mark. “James Gillray: Shocking satire two centuries old”
Westword. Paglia, Michael. "CVA Votes for Political Satire and Caricatures, Both Old and New"
New American Paintings. Fiore, Brad. "Deb Sokolow's Thoughts on Men"
The Magazine Antiques. Hickson, Patricia. “Meeting Ground”
Northwestern Libaries Blog. List, Cara. “Northwestern professor’s ‘artist’s books’ on display in Deering”
NewCity Art. Cardoza, Kerry. “Fear and Loathing in U.S. Politics”2015
Washington Post. Jenkins, Mark. "In the galleries: Anything but simplicity in these drawings"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wilson, Calvin. "Contemporary Art Museum exhibition shows the art of being an artist"
Daily Serving. Yates, Calder. "HA HA! BUSINESS! at Luis De Jesus"
New City. Zarley, B. David. "Review: The world is mystical, dangerous and delicious/Western Exhibitions"
Midtown Magazine. Fellerath, David. “Drawing the Line: Indie Art Makes a Big Show at CAM Raleigh”
Dallas Observer. Smart, Lauren.
The Comp Magazine. Alamo-Costello, Chester. “Manipulative Individuals and Shadowy Histories”2014
The Art Assignment, PBS. Green, Sarah Urist (host). “The Art Assignment: Deb Sokolow, Stakeout!”
Artnet. Davis, Ben. “Hidden Gems of Miami’s Satellite Art Fairs”
Inside/Within. Sierzputowski, Kate. "Deb Sokolow's Fictionalized Blueprints"
Two Coats of Paint. McPherson, Heather Leigh. "Miami, Part III: Heather Leigh McPherson attends a Bomb discussion, Untitled (Deb Sokolow)."
Bad at Sports. Blake, Kevin. “Our Calamity is our Providence”
The Seen. Demaree, Joshua Michael. “Profile of the Artist/ Deb Sokolow”2013
New York Times. Schwendener, Martha. "An Installation of Dirty Politics and Illusion"
New York Times. Johnson, Ken. "When How It Looks Matters More Than What It Says"
Modern Art Notes Podcast. Green, Tyler. “Interview: Deb Sokolow”
Artforum.com. Lee, Nathaniel. “How I Wrote Elastic Man”
Art Ltd. Yood, James. "Critic's Picks: Chicago"
Chicago Tribune. Waxman, Lori.
Hartford Courant. Dunne, Susan. "Atheneum Showcases Art of Political Paranoia"
Hartford Advocate. Bisbort, Alan. "Crazy and Gullible"
Bad At Sports. Holland, Richard. "Deb Sokolow Interview"
The Culture Trip. Ransom, Jessica. "Fact, Fiction, Paranoia and Conspiracy Theories in the work of Deb Sokolow"
Visual Art Source. Dluzen, Robin. "Deb Sokolow"
Chicago Art Review. Reiner, Todd. "Deb Sokolow @ Western Exhibitions"2012
Art:21 Blog. Polson, Jamilee. "Painting with Words, Writing with Pictures"
Gallerist NY. Russeth, Andrew.
theartblog.org. Arthurs, Maegan. "Hilarious paranoia in Deb Sokolow’s All Your Vulnerabilities Will Be Assessed at Moore"2011
Artforum.com. Droitcour, Brian. “Deb Sokolow: Abrons Art Center”
Art:21 Blog. Picard, Caroline. "Caution, You Are Being Watched: Deb Sokolow and You"
ARTnews. Miranda, Carolina A. "Comic Relief"
Phoenix New Times. Peterson, Sativa. "SMoCA's Latest Exhibit Gives Glimpse Into the Lives of Its Artists"
Arizona Republic. Nilsen, Richard. "3 exhibits illustrate new vigor at SMoCA"
Chicago Tribune. Waxman, Lori. “An alternative reading list”
ArtSlant. Ritchie, Abraham. “Read the Fine Print”
Daily Serving. Spurgeon, Marta. "Skip the Trip to the Library"
WBEZ. Amer, Robin. "Artist Deb Sokolow makes conspiracy theories come alive in graphic style"2010
Artforum.com. Ise, Claudine. “Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside-Out”
ArtinAmerica.com. Oh, Janet. “Production Site MCA Chicago”
Chicago Tribune. Waxman, Lori. “A look inside the artist's studio”
ArtSlant. Ritchie, Abraham. “Chicago's Best of 2010”
Flavorpill.com. Lund, Karsten. “Daily Dose Pick: Deb Sokolow”
New City. Golden-McNerney, Regan. “Deb Sokolow”
ArtSlant. Ritchie, Abraham. “Do I want to Believe?”
Huffington Post. Klein, Paul. “Text Matters”
Flavorpill. Smigasiewicz, Beatrice. “Editor's Pick: Deb Sokolow”
Jettison Quarterly. Carter, Kristen. “Making Sense of Our Paranoia with Deb Sokolow.”
Chicago Tribune. Waxman, Lori. “Deb Sokolow”
ArtSlant. Ritchie, Abraham. “The Slant on Deb Sokolow”
Timeout Chicago. Weinberg, Lauren. “Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside-Out”
Gaper’s Block. Lendman, John. “Inside the Artist's Studio at the MCA”
New City. Foumberg, Jason. “Review: Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside Out”
Artnet.com. Velez, Pedro. “Chicago Build Up”2009
Artforum.com. Ise, Claudine. “Critics’ Picks: Heartland”
Dagens Nyheter. Lind, Maria. “Hjärtpunkten Chicago [At the Heart of Chicago]”
Chicago Tribune. Viera, Lauren. “Gallery winners from Sokolow, Harrison”
Beautifuldecay.com. “Deb Sokolow”
Artslant.com. Gunn, Dan. “Reassessing MiddleCoast Art”
Timeout Chicago. Weinberg, Lauren. “Heartland”
Badatsports.com. “Episode 201: Deb Sokolow”
New City. Calder, Jaime. “Review: Deb Sokolow/Spertus Museum”
Chicago Tribune. Viera, Lauren. “Artist Deb Sokolow, revealed”
New City. Foumberg, Jason. “Eye Exam: Smartland”2008
Chicago Tribune. Viera, Lauren. “Ones to watch”
Kansas City Star. Thorson, Alice. “Kemper mystery exhibit is a you-dunit”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Schumacher, Mary Louise. “Miranda July meets Mark Lombardi”
Express Milwaukee. Motlani. Aisha. “Pictorial Paranoia”
Vital Source. Moriarty, Judith Ann. “Drawing Conclusions”
Elms, Anthony. Essay for The trouble with people you don’t know
Timeout Chicago. Mojica, Jason. “Mapping the Self”
The Lost Review. Velez, Pedro. “Alive and Kicking in Chicago”2007
Artnet. Orden, Abraham.
Chicago Magazine. Topor, Joanna. “After Paschke”2006
Art Papers. Elms, Anthony. “Deb Sokolow”
Chicago Sun-Times. Nance, Kevin. “On paper, MCA show is a smash”
Chicago Tribune. Artner, Alan.
Centerstage Chicago. Hinkel, Joanne. “Deb Sokolow draws Chicago in”
New City. Foumberg, Jason.2005
Chicago Tribune. Artner, Alan. “Putting post-9/11 fear on the map: Sokolow’s dark vision at the MCA”
Art on Paper. Hixson, Kathryn.
Chicago Tribune. Storch, Charles. “Pirates invade Chicago”
Chicago Magazine. Wilk, Deborah. “Studio City”
Chicago Tribune. Artner, Alan. "…Early Adopters…"
Punk Planet.2004
NYFA Quarterly. “Raves”2003
Chicago Reader. Stamets, Bill. “Deb Sokolow puts herself in the picture”
