Bart Vargas
Born 1973, Bellevue, NE
Lives and works in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Education
2011 Master of Fine Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2007 Bachelor of Fine Art in Sculpture, Minor in Art History, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE-Magna Cum Laude
Exhibitions
2011
The Alchemy of Art*, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton, OH
ABSTRKT, Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center, Cincinnati, OH
Common Roots, Common Roots Café, Minneapolis, MN
Home, Altered Esthetics, Minneapolis, MN
26th Tallahassee International, Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL
Eco-Byway, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, St. Joseph, MN
Spring Flight, Richard J. Demato Fine Arts Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
Everybody is an Astronaut: MFA Thesis Exhibition, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for the Arts, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MN
Resource-Return-Recycle, Wilson Library, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Louisiana Purchase: National Biennial Juried Exhibition, Louisiana Tech University School of Art, Ruston, LA
4Square, Squeeze Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Expanded Field, Salt Lake Art Center, Salt Lake City, UT
2010
Collective Reasoning, St. Louis Artists Guild, St. Louis, MO
The Fourth Beijing International Art Biennial, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
Objects and Encounters, Paul Whitney Larson Gallery, St. Paul, MN
SUPERNOVA*, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
Greetings from Minnesota, New York Center for Art and Media Studies, New York, NY
The Kinsey Institute 2010 Juried Art Show, SoFA Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Sustain, UIS Visual Art Gallery, University of Illinois, Springfield, IL
Foot in the Door 4, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Gendered, Desotorow Gallery, Savannah, GA
19th Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction, North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND
Emerging Erotic Artist Exhibition, 14th Annual West Hollywood – Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair Weekend, The Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angles, CA
31st Annual Juried Art Exhibition, The Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
Tangible Digital Matter, Wilson Library, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
2009
SALVAGE: Reclaiming Recycling, The Phillips Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Small Multitudes, City Union Rotunda Gallery, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Pathos Revealed, Wilson Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2008
61st Juried Exhibition, Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA, 2008
UNO and Beyond: Alumni Exhibition, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
Fresh Works, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Crazy Eights, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
TRAJECTORY*, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
Raw Talent, Artist’s Cooperative Gallery, Omaha, NE
2007
Garbage Art*, Corning Center for the Fine Arts, Corning, IA
O! Public Art Project, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Omaha, NE
One Man’s Trash*, bemisUNDERGROUND, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE
Green Art, Bellevue University Gallery, Bellevue, NE
2006
speculatio verto: observation interpreted – BFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
The Red Chair Show, Organization for the Advancement of Art, Bemis Underground, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE
BarkerArt Residency Show, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
Artist and Mentor Show, Hillmer Art Gallery, College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE
Speaking Volumes: Acts of Defacement, Omaha Public Library, W. Dale Clark Branch
The Nest*, University Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Expressions of the Hilton Omaha, Hilton Omaha
Big O Small Show, Organization for the Advancement of Art, Big O Bookstore,
Omaha, NE
2005
Art Machine, Organization for the Advancement of Art, bemisUNDERGROUND,
Omaha, NE
Thirteen, Organization for the Advancement of Art, Nicholas Street Gallery, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
2004
The Blok Show, Organization for the Advancement of Art, bemisUNDERGROUND, Omaha, NE
2003
The GoArt Show, Organization for the Advancement of Art, bemisUNDERGROUND, Omaha,NE
Visual Prozac 5 (Juried), S.L.A.M. Omaha, Nicholas Street Gallery, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha NE
*-denotes solo exhibitions
Awards and Residencies
2011
Artist in Residence, Shangyuan Art Museum, Beijing, China
Recipient, Hsiao Scholarship, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Recipient, Red Pocket Scholarship, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
2010
Recipient, Joye G. Harris Fellowship, University of Minnesota Department of Art
International Sculpture Center 2010 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award
Juror’s Pick, New American Paintings No. 89, Midwest Edition 2010
1st Prize Non-Representational Category, Utrecht Art Supplies 60th Anniversary Student Art Competition
1st Place Fantasy Category, Emerging Erotic Artist Exhibition, 14th Annual West Hollywood – Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair Weekend, The Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angles, CA
2009
Best of 3-D, SALVAGE: Reclaiming Recycling, The Phillips Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
2008
Recipient, Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
2007
Best Emerging Visual Artist, Omaha Entertainment Awards
Artist of the Year, National Council of Negro Women, Inc. University of Omaha Section
Deans Award, College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Honors Award for Outstanding Studio Art Student
Visiting Artist, Corning Center for the Fine Arts, Corning, IA
Artist in Residence, Kimmel Harding Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
2006
Recipient, Barrientos Scholarship
Recipient, Expressions of the Hilton Omaha Honorable Mention Scholarship
Best of Show, Big O Small Show
Honors Award for Outstanding Goodrich Scholar
Artist in Residence, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
2004
Recipient, Whitmore Memorial Scholarship
Recipient, Bertha Mengedoht-Hatz Memorial Scholarship
2001-2006
Recipient, Goodrich Scholarship, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Press
Yalkut, Jud: “Alchemy of Art”, The Dayton City Paper, November 24, 2011
Krainak, Michael: “One Man’s Treasure”, The Reader, July 21, 2010
Pitcher, John: “Near Death Experience Inspires Artist’s Exhibit”, The Omaha World Herald, July 22, 2010
New American Paintings No. 89, Midwest Edition 2010
The Briar Cliff Review, Briar Cliff University 2010
Stienstra ,Anita: “National Show” , Illinois Times, April 1, 2010
Geltman, Liz: “SALVAGE: Reclaiming Recycling, A National Juried Exhibition”, DC Museum Examiner, October 2009
Knowles, Laura: “Salvaged, Shuffled and Reshaped, Trash Becomes Art”, DC Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era, September 2009
Bloomfield, Maureen: “Omaha, Nebraska”, The Artist’s Magazine, July 2008
Hetland, Patty: “Signature: Bart Vargas”, From House to Home, July 2008
Deskins, Sally: “Recycled Art”, The Reader, May 15, 2008
Stickney, Dane: “Artist makes his point” Omaha World Herald, May 1, 2008
Simons, Will: “All Signs Point to…”, The Omaha City Weekly, April 30, 2008
Schweppe, Fred: “One Man’s Trash”, UNO Alum, Fall 2007
Baker, Sarah: “Sculpted City”, The Reader, July 12, 2007
Stickney, Dane: “Standing O!” Omaha World Herald, June 11, 2007
Baker, Sarah: “Trash Talk”, The Reader, February 1, 2007
Krainak, Michael: “One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure in Vargas’ Show at bemisUNDERGROUND”, The Omaha City Weekly, February 1, 2007
Stickney, Dane: “Trash Transformed” Omaha World Herald, January 25, 2007
Krainak, Michael: “Eco-smart Art ‘Green Art’ Program Highlights Environmental Issues at Bellevue University”, The Omaha City Weekly, January 24, 2007
Baker, Sarah: “Tangible Thinking”, The Reader, March 9, 2006
Collections
Shangyuan Art Museum, Beijing, China
The Phillips Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Sioux City Art Center Permanent Collection, Sioux City, IA
Kimmel Harding Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
O Meredith Wilson Library Collection, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
University Foundation Collection, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Experience
2010 Instructor of Record, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Installations Manager, SPARK Festival of Electronic Music and Arts, Minneapolis,
MN
2008 Public Spaces Exhibitions Coordinator, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
2007 Framing and Installation Technician, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art
2006-8 Artist Assistant, Russ Nordman and Jody Boyer, Council Bluffs, IA
2006-7 Sculpture Lab Technician, University Nebraska at Omaha
2006-7 Installation Technician, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE
2003-5 Gallery Assistant, University Nebraska at Omaha