Education:
2011 MFA, Sculpture, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
2007 BFA Magna Cum Laude, Sculpture, Minor in Art History, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
Exhibitions: (* denotes solo exhibition)
2020
Shortage, The LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
Signs of the Times, Petshop Gallery, Omaha, NE
Cancelled*, Apollon Art Space, Omaha, NE
Salina Biennial: Contemporary Art from the Mountain-Plains Region, Salina art Center, Salina, KS
LOVE, The Art Center Highland Park, Highland Park, IL
Grand Opening Art Exhibition, Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Council Bluffs, IA
14th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards Visual Arts Showcase, Roberta and Bob Rogers Gallery, Omaha, NE
2019
Re•Purpose, KANEKO, Omaha, NE
JOYBEAMS, Warlock Gallery, Omaha, NE
ARTE LATINX: The Voice Of Our Roots, El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE
POLARIZATIONS*, UNDRground Contemporary, Grand Island, NE
Sound Is Touch At A Distance*, Nordstrand Art Gallery, Wayne State College, Wayne, NE
Calacas/Skeletons & Sugar Skulls, The Mexican American Historical Society, El Alamo Art Space, Omaha,
Banana Split, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE
IS THIS THE MEME YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?, Cali Commons Uncommon Gallery, Omaha, NE
2018
A House Divided, Rouse Company Foundation Art Gallery, Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, Howard Community College, Columbia, MD
GALEX 52, Galesburg Civic art Center, Omaha, NE
39th Annual Paper In Particular National Exhibition, Columbia College, Columbia, MO
TOYOPOLIS, CHOICE Custom Framing and Gallery, Galesburg, IL
Coalescence: An Exhibition by MCC ARTS Faculty, Metropolitan Community College Gallery of Art and Design, Omaha NE
ReConnect, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
2017
AMERICAN DOTARD, World Money Gallery, New York City, NY
Seven Years Around The Sun*, Anderson O’Brien Art Gallery, Omaha, NE
Bart Vargas*, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, IA
Portals*, Maison 10, New York City, NY
Confluences*, Fontenelle Forrest Nature Center, Bellevue, NE
Thresholds*, The Outlook Project Gallery, Turbine Flats Project, Lincoln, NE
TRUMPOCALYPSE, The Sacred Gallery, New York City, NY
Portrait of a President, Petshop Gallery, Omaha, NE
2016
Concept Winter 2016: the 2nd International Exhibition on Conceptual Art, Czong Institute of Contemporary Art (CICA), Gimpo, South Korea
Kolkata International Art Exhibition, Rabindranath Tagore Centre', Kolkata, India
Maíz, Museo de Filatelia, Oaxaca, Mexico
A YEAR OF LIES and Other Stories…*, The Garden of the Zodiac, Omaha, NE
The Language of Patterns, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
Fusion: Art Inspired By Science, Westchester Community College Center for the Arts, White Plains, NY
Sensory: Please Touch the Art, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
Patchwork & Thread, Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, MO
Veteran/Mentor Exhibit, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE
Real/Surreal, New Century Art Guild, Bellevue, NE
The 10th Annual Omaha Entertainment & Art Awards Visual Showcase, KANEKO, Omaha, NE
sweetARTs, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
Murder/ed by Art, Petshop Gallery, Omaha, NE
PAPER, Cali Commons, Omaha, NE
RYTHYM, House of Loom, Omaha, NE
OUTSIDE IN, Bancroft Street Market, Omaha, NE
2015
The IV International “From Waste to Art” Exhibition, Tamiz Shahar JSC, Baku, Azerbaijan
MANDALAS*, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Omaha, NE
Latino/Latin American Artists: Exhibition and Conversations, Bancroft Street Market, Omaha, NE
Queering Our World Exhibition, Mid-Atlantic LGBTQA Conference, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA
Imagine The Fantastic, LH HORTON Jr. Gallery, San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, CA
“Money, Power, ________”, The New Bohemian Gallery, Brainerd, MN
GEOMETRY, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI
The N.E.W. Show, The Visual Arts Exchange, Raleigh, NC
EARTH Exhibition, Dubuque Area Arts Collective, Dubuque, IA
Maíz, El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE
One Day At A Time, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
MANDALAS*, Jewish Community Center, Omaha, NE
Large Works, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, IA
52nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
Abstract Sanctuary, Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland, OR
Omaha Entertainment and Art Awards Visual Arts Showcase, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
Faculty Exhibition, UNO Art Gallery, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
2014
Portals and Gateways*, Four Solos, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, IA
cardBORED, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
Circuit For The Senses: Bemis 16th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
Military and Veteran Juried Art Exhibit, Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Omaha, NE
Los Dias De Los Muertos Exhibition: Mementos, Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Omaha, NE
Carver Artists in Residence Exhibition, Carver Bank, Omaha, NE
Chromatic, LUX Center for the Arts, Offsite exhibition at the Country Club of Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Unraveled (traveling exhibition), Project Interfaith, Multiple Locations and Cities
25th Anniversary Juried Exhibition, Contemporary Arts Center, Las Vegas, NV
MYTHICAL BEASTS II, Choice Gallery, Omaha, NE
2013
REMAINS*, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
Subverting the Authority of the Square*, Petshop Gallery, Omaha, NE
POWERS*, Hoover Studios, Mastercraft Building, Omaha, NE
We Are All Made of Stars*, Norfolk Art Center, Norfolk, NE
Every Destination Requires a Journey*, Hillmer Gallery, College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE
Bemis 15th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
Los Dias De Los Muertos Exhibition: Stories By Heart, Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Omaha, NE
Green Revolution, Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Bellevue, NE
WORDS, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, IA
The Museum of Alternative History, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
Faculty Exhibition, UNO Art Gallery, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
2012
The 1st Santorini Bienniale for the Arts, Santorini of the Past Cultural Village, Santorini, Greece
WORDS*, The Benson Star Deli, Omaha, NE
The Universe In My Backyard*, Anderson O'Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
REDUX: Repurposed Materials, DuPont Gallery, UMW Galleries, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
Bemis 14th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
Triangular: Mentor Exhibition, Sweat Shop Gallery, Omaha, NE
Los Dias De Los Muertos Exhibition: Music to my Bones, Bancroft Street Market, Omaha, NE
Contemporary Indigeneity: The New Art of the Great Plains, The Great Plains Art Museum, Lincoln NE
New Artists Exhibit, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, IA
The Power of Nine, Bancroft Street Market, Omaha, NE
7th Annual Human Rights Exhibition, South Texas College in McAllen, TX
Wet Paint, The Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2011
Alchemy*, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton, OH
XXL, The Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Burnsville, MN
Bemis 13th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
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
The Fourth Beijing International Art Biennial, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
SUPERNOVA*, Anderson O'Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
Collective Reasoning, St. Louis Artists Guild, St. Louis, MO
Objects and Encounters, Paul Whitney Larson Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Greetings from Minnesota, New York Center for Art and Media Studies, New York, NY
The Kinsey Institute 2010 Juried Art Show, School of Fine Art 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
Bemis 12th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
19th Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction, North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND
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
Bemis 11th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha,NE
Small Multitudes, City Union Rotunda Gallery, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Pathos Revealed, Wilson Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2008
TRAJECTORY*, Anderson O'Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
61st Juried Exhibition, Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA, 2008
UNO and Beyond: Alumni Exhibition, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
Bemis 10th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
Fresh Works, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Crazy Eights, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
Raw Talent, Artist’s Cooperative Gallery, Omaha, NE
2007
Garbage Art*, Corning Center for the Fine Arts, Corning, IA
One Man's Trash*, bemisUNDERGROUND, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE
O! Public Art Project, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Omaha, NE
Green Art, Bellevue University Gallery, Bellevue, NE
Bemis 9th Annual Art Auction, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
2006
The Nest*, Dr. CC & Mable L. Criss Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
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
Expressions of the Hilton Omaha, Hilton Omaha
Big O Small Show, Organization for the Advancement of Art, Big O Bookstore, Omaha, NE
Awards & Residencies:
2016
Artist in Residence, El Museo Latino, Omaha NE
2013
Artist in Residence, Carver Bank, Omaha NE
2012
Alumni Award for Excellence in Public Service, College of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
Best Visual Artist, Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards, Omaha, NE
2011
Artist in Residence, Shangyuan Art Museum, Beijing, China
Recipient, Hsiao Scholarship, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Recipient, Red Pocket Scholarship, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
2010
International Sculpture Center 2010 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award, International Sculpture Center, Hamilton, NJ
Joye G. Harris Fellowship, University of Minnesota Department of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Juror’s Pick, New American Paintings No. 89, Midwest Edition 2010
1st Prize Non-Representational Category, Utrecht Art Supplies 60th Anniversary Student Art Competition
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, MN
2007
Artist in Residence, Kimmel Harding Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
Visiting Artist, Corning Center for the Fine Arts, Corning, IA
Best Emerging Visual Artist, Omaha Entertainment Awards, Omaha, NE
Artist of the Year, National Council of Negro Women, Inc. University of Omaha Section
2006
Artist in Residence, BarkerArt Residency, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
Best of Show, Big O Small Show, Big O Bookstore, Omaha, NE
Bibliography & Press:
Paluch, Tim. “SOUL AND SOCIETY: A Council Bluffs Artist Probes For Visual Answers To What Vexes Him.” ia, 3 Oct. 2017, pp. 80–89.
Carpenter, Kim: Bart Vargas: Airman To Dumpster Diving Artist, Inpired Living Magazine, Omaha World-Herald, June 25, 2017
Vargas, Bart. “Cover Art, Mandala 9.” Desert Center. By Miles Waggener. Nacogdoches, Texas: Stephen F Austin UP, 2016.
Williams, Tess: ‘Please Touch the Art’ exhibit aims to make art more accessible to the blind, visually impaired, Omaha World-Herald, October 26, 2016
Carpenter, Kim: Carver Bank’s art Program To Operate Under New Banner, Omaha World-Herald, October 1, 2016
“Bart Vargas: A Year of Lies and Other Stories…” Review. Web log post. Darger HQ’s art Files of the Flatlanders, 15 July 2016.
Dunlop, Scott, prod. "Broken Records." The Real Housewives of Orange County: Season 10, Episode 17. Bravo. New York City, New York, 28 Sept. 2015. Television.
Vargas, Bart. "Mandala 16." Thirty-six Views of O. Omaha, NE: The National Institute for the Lost, 2015. 73. Print.
Bridges, Bryce: A brief conversation between Artist Bart Vargas and Editor-in-Chief Bryce Bridges, FLYOVER, Issue 1.2, 2015
Morain, Michael: Moberg Gallery thinks big in new show, Des Moines Register, January 24, 2015
Dunn, Jancee: decorating via email :), HGTV Magazine, September 2013
Hansen, Matthew: Artist Enlists Science to Answer Nagging Question – Who Am I?, Omaha World-Herald, July 2, 2013
Biga, Leo Adam: Artists Running with the Opportunity to go to the Next Level, Omaha World-Herald, May 30, 2013
Friend, Dennis: Students Work with Noted Artist, Daily Nonpareil, June 25, 2012
Williams, David: Road Warrior for Art, Encounter Magazine, March/April, 2012
Yalkut, Jud: Alchemy of Art, Dayton City Paper, November 24, 2011
The International Sculpture Center 2010 Outstanding Student Achievement In Contemporary Sculpture Awards, Sculpture Magazine, October 2010
Bart Vargas, artistaday.com, September 23, 2010
Krainak, Michael: One Man’s Treasure, The Reader, July 21, 2010
Pitcher, John: Near Death Experience Inspires Artist’s Exhibit, 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 Tamiz Sharar: From Waste To Art Museum, Baku, Azerbaijain
Sioux City Art Center Permanent Collection, Sioux City, IA
O Meredith Wilson Library Collection, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE
Kimmel Harding Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
University Foundation Collection, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Gordmans Corporate Collection, Omaha, NE
The Phillips Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD
South Texas College, Malvern, TX
The Downtown Hilton, Des Moines, IA