Harold Mendez’s photography, sculpture and installation works explore the tensions between fiction and truth, as well as visibility and absence. The artist’s work combines research with archival materials culled from geographic sites—objects that embody erased histories—to examine how historical constructions and geography shape our sense of self. As a first-generation American of Mexican-Colombian descent, Mendez’s practice draws from the transnational experience—and its relationship to both ritual and cultural memory.

CURRICULUM VITAE
Born 1977, Chicago, IL
Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA

EDUCATION
2007 MFA, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Art and Design, Chicago, IL
2000 BA, Columbia College, Chicago, IL
1999 University of Science and Technology, School of Art and Design, Ghana, West Africa

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
On turning ground, PATRON, Chicago, IL 
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

2023 
One way to transform and two and three, Curated by Kelly Kivland, Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH
A sentence or a spell, Commonwealth & Council, Los Angeles, CA 

2021
And, perhaps, here, between, Curated by Gean Moreno, ICA Miami, Miami, FL
Let us gather in a flourishing way, Curated by Jamillah James, ICA at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

2020
Let us gather in a flourishing way, Curated by Jamillah James, ICA Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Harold Mendez: The years now, Curated by Katja Rivera, Logan Center Gallery, Chicago IL

2019
For other days, PATRON Gallery, Chicago IL
Field (Encounter): Harold Mendez,Moody Center for the Arts, Rice University, Houston, TX
The days of yesterday are all numbered in sum,Van Every/Smith Galleries, Davidson College, Davidson, NC

2016
At night we walk in circles, PATRON Gallery, Chicago, IL
Local Impact, Project Row Houses, Houston, TX

2014
but I sound better since you cut my throat, Threewalls, Chicago, IL

2008
UBS 12 X 12: NEW ARTISTS / NEW WORK, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Advertisements for Myself, Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago, IL

2007
No better, no worse, no change, Polvo, Chicago, IL

2005
The Geography of War, Polvo, Chicago, IL
The Geography of War, Mess Hall, Chicago, IL

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 
Strong Winds Ahead, François Ghebaly, Los Angeles, CA 
Crusading the Specter, Curated by Shikeith, Yossi Milo Gallery, New York, NY 
Make Sense of This, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN 

2022
Drum Listens to Heart, curated by Anthony Huberman, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco, CA
As I Found It, Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, New York, NY
Entre Centre et Absence, curated by Olivia Shao, Loong Mah, New York, NY

2021
Grain of a Hand: Drawings with Graphite, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Time Takes a Cigarette, Josh Lilley Gallery, London, UK
LatinXAmerican, DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
Senses of Brown, The Armory Show, New York, NY

2020
To Bough and To Bend, Bridge Projects, Los Angeles, CA
Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales / John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation International Connections, Havana, Cuba

2019
Cross Currents/ Intercambio Cultural, Smart Museum of Art, Chicago IL

2018
Being,New Photography,Curated by Lucy Gallun, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY

2017
Did You Ever See Such a Thing as a Drawing of a Muchness? artspace, San Antonio, TX
Whitney Biennial, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Traduttore, Traditore, Gallery 400, University of Illinois in Chicago, Chicago IL
”Monarchs Brown and Native Contemporary Artists in the Path of the Butterfly”, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE. Traveled to: Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, Miami, FL; Blue Star Contemporary and Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, TX; The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS.
ONE, curated by Joeonna Bellorado-Samuels, We Buy Gold, Brooklyn, NY
RECONSTRUCTION, curated by Hamza Walker, LAXART, Los Angeles, CA
Sunlight arrives only at its proper hour, curated by Olivia Shao, 356 Mission, Los Angeles, CA

2016
Present Standard, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Subduction, curated by Rodrigo Valenzuela for Upfor Gallery, Portland, OR
Dustsceawung, curated by Adam Farcus for DEMO Project, Springfield, IL
Incidents (of Travel), with Yesomi Umola, curated by Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago for Latitudes, Barcelona, Spain and Kadist: Paris, France, San Francisco, US

2015
Black: Color, Material, Concept, Studio Museum, Harlem, NY
Open Sessions 6, The Drawing Center, NYC
Traces in the Dark, Curated by Liz Park, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA
Name It by Trying to Name It, curated by Lisa Sigal & Nova Benway, The Drawing Center, NY
Specter Field, Harold Mendez & Ronny Quevedo, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX
Líneas de la Mano, Sicardi Gallery, Houston, TX
Drawings in Context/Field, Queens Museum, NY
Core Program Exhibition, Core Program, Glassell, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX

2014
Phantoms in the Dirt, curated by Karsten Lund, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
Core Program Exhibition, Core Program, Glassell, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
Moving, Not Moving, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX

2013
A blurred and generalized projection of you and me, perFOREmance, Studio Museum, Harlem, NY
Four Fragments, The Bindery Projects, St. Paul, MN

2012
Fore, curated by Lauren Haynes, Naima J. Keith, and Thomas Lax, Studio Museum, Harlem, NY
Home: Public or Private, curated by Tricia Van Eck, 6018 North, Chicago IL
Chicago + Detroit, curated by Tricia Van Eck, Künstlerhaus Speckstrasse, Amerikazentrum, Hamburg, Germany
Artadia Awards Finalists, curated by Steven Bridges, EXPO CHICAGO
Several Silences, curated by Hamza Walker, Knoxville Museum of Art / Renaissance Society, Knoxville, TN

2011
September 11, Museum of Modern Art / PS1, Curated by Peter Eleey, New York, NY
Mutualisms, curated by Kirsten Leenars and Lise Baggesen, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL

2010
IAAFBJHMJNMOMRSATSW, curated by William Staples, Fountain Studios, Brooklyn, NY

2009
Hide and Seek, curated by Tricia van Eck, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Zombie: A Mindless Affair, curated by Edra Soto, Antena, Chicago, IL
Fast Forward, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
Several Silences, Curated by Hamza Walker, Renaissance Society, Chicago, IL
Just Good Art, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL 

2008
So long as we can say this is the worst, this is not the worst, Outer Ear Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Eros, c’est la vie, London Biennale, organized by David Medalla, London, UK
Latino Nation, USA, curated by Encarnacion Tereul, University Museum, Carbondale, IL

2007
Consuming War, Hyde Park Art Center, curated by Barbara Koenen, Chicago, IL
Affair, Jupiter Hotel, Western Exhibitions, Portland, OR
Harold Mendez, Yevgeniya Baras, Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
Open & Closed, Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago, IL
Spring Break, artLedge, Roots and Culture, Chicago, IL
Fool Me Once: Celebrating the Art of Clowning Around, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
UIC MFA Thesis Exhibition, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL

2006
Road Trip, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL
Lo Romantico: Chicago’s Latino/a Art, Glass Curtain Gallery, Chicago, IL
Form fit, University of Illinois at Chicago, CUPPA Hall, Chicago, IL 
Six Flags: Polvo Est. 1996, Commerce Street Artist Warehouse, Houston, TX
The Bungalows Project, San Antonio, TX 
18th Evanston + Vicinity Biennial, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL 

2005 
Lies that Bill Gates told me: Exploring the Digital Divide, vuspace, Australia
Version 05: Invincible Desire, Zhou B. Center, Chicago, IL
City Selections: Art from the Galleries, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

2004
Intercambio, functionvariable, Barcelona, Spain 
Hispanic Heritage, ENLACE / EL CENTRO, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
The Big Picture: fundraiser for the Chicago Public Art Group, Three Arts Club, Chicago, IL
Art: Terrorism, Polvo, Chicago, IL
Tart, Curated by Sabrina Raaf, Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL

2003
There Goes My Hero, University of North Umbria, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2021
Darcy, Claire, “ICA Exhibit explores texture, movement, and family,” The Commonwealth Times, March
Ollman, Leah, “Erasure and Persistence,” Art in America, January
Benor, Dayla, “Harold Mendez: Let us gather in a flourishing way,” Flash Art, January

2020
Sward, Brandon, “Narratives of Personhood: Harold Mendez,” BOMB Magazine, December
Conner, Allison Nicole, “Harold Mendez at ICA LA,” Contemporary Art Review LA, November
Shane, Robert R., “Harold Mendez: The years now,” The Brooklyn Rail, March
Grabner, Michelle, “Harold Mendez: The years now,”ArtForum, April

2019
Neilson, Laura, Wall Street Journal, 9 Contemporary Artists Set to Have a Buzzy 2019

2018
Woodward B. Richard, Wall Street Journal, MoMA’s Human Focus
Greenberger, Alex, ARTNEWS, The Browser: MoMA’s Gripping ‘New Photography’ Goes Behind the Lens
Kozel, Melinda, TERREMOTO, Monarchs: Brown and Native Contemporary Artists in the Path of the Butterfly, Bemis Center, Omaha, Nebraska

2017
Campbell, Andy, Artforum Critics’ Pick, ‘Sunlight arrives only at its proper hour’, 356 Mission
Black and Blur: Critical Essays, Fred Moten, Duke University Press, (December)
Pedro, Laila, Threads of Fire and Water and Gold, One: We Buy Gold, Brooklyn Rail
Vogel, Wendy, ONE: WE BUY GOLD, New York, Artforum
Loos, Ted, From Artist’s Hand to Shop’s Counter: The Whitney Teams Up With Tiffany, New York Times
ArtNet: A Whitney Biennial on Fifth Avenue? Tiffany & Co. to Host Provocative Artist Collaborations in Its Fabled Windows
Viveros-Fauné, Christian, ‘Activism’ Is the Hot New Art Trend at NADA New York 2017
Quiles, Daniel on Harold Mendez, Artforum In Print, January

2016
Wellen, A. L. Laura, ‘Show Up: Harold Mendez, Arts + Culture
Dluzen, Robin, Editor’s Pick: Harold Mendez, Visual Arts Resource

2015
Campbell, Andy, ’ Specter Field - Harold Mendez & Ronny Quevedo’, Lawndale Arts Center, Houston, Artforum, September

2014
Cahill, Zachary, ‘Phantoms in the Dirt’, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Artforum, September Picard, Caroline, Clouded Points of Access: Phantoms in the Dirt at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, ArtSlant, September Lund, Karsten, Phantoms in the Dirt, Museum of Contemporary Photography Reaves, Kelly, Harold Mendez / Threewalls, Newcity, March

2013
Llyod Wise, ‘Fore’, Artforum (In Print), May

2012
Holland Cotter, Racial Redefinition in Progress, Fore at the Studio Museum Harlem, New York Times Lauren Haynes; Naima J. Keith; Thomas J. Lax, Fore, Studio Museum Harlem

2011
Steven Stern, September 11, Museum of Modern Art / PS1, Frieze Magazine, January Peter Eleey, September 11, Museum of Modern Art / PS1

2009
The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, Several Silences 
Christopher Bedford, Several Silences, The Renaissance Society, Frieze Magazine, May

2008
Anna Schier, 12 X 12 Sound, The art of confinement, The Phoenix, Loyola University, November 12 Bert Stabler, Critics Choice, Chicago Reader, November 7 Rachel Furnari, Newcity, November 7 Rachel Turney, Newcity, June 5
Paul Klein, Art Letter, May 16, www.artletter.com 
Spencer Dew, RESPONSES TO WAR: “Consuming War” at the Hyde Park Art Center and “Meanwhile, in Baghdad…” at the Renaissance Society, Chicago Artists’ News, Volume XXXV, Number 2, February

2007
Consuming War – Hyde Park Art Center, CAN TV, December 10 
Bert Stabler, “Objective Unclear: Two smart but imperfect group shows about war”, Chicago Reader, November 29 
Alan Artner, “2 exhibits examine toll of war in Iraq”, Chicago Tribune, November 29 Yevgeniya Baras and Harold Mendez, Flavorpill, July 10, www.flavorpill.com 
Anthony Elms, “And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees”, ‘belief’, UIC MFA Publication

2005
The Geography of War, Radio Arte. www.radioarte.org, June 
Mirada Cómplice, Polvo: Una década de arte alternativa, Contratiempo, no. 28, September 
Can of culture, www.centerstagechicago.com/art/articles/canofculture-020305.html, February 30

2004
Latino Short Films: Chicago Reader, October 22, Section Two Tart, Ten By Ten, Volume 3, Number1 End of an epicenter, Chicago Journal, Thursday, April 29

2002
In Performance: Chicago Reader, Volume 32, Number 11

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND GUEST LECTURES
2021
Discussion with writer Christina Sharpe, ICA LA Senior Curator Jamillah James, and Director of the Knight Art + Research Center Gean Moreno, The Institute for Contemporary Art, Richmond
Tamarind Institute, In Conversation with curator and writer Candice Hopkins
University of California, Riverside, Visiting Artist

2020
Jeff Parker - Harold Mendez, Sounds and Let us gather in a flourishing way, ICA LA
Harold Mendez in conversation with Yseomi Umolu and poet J. Michael Martinez, ICA LA
In Conversation: The years now, Harold Mendez in conversation with Candice Hopkins and Edgar Garcia

2018
Hunter MFASO Visiting Artist Lecture Series, Hunter College
UCLA MFA Visiting Artist Lecture Series, University of California, Los Angeles

2017
Cranbrook Academy of Art, Photography Department
Lecture: Voices: Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago
Boston University, College of Fine Arts

2016
Incidents of Travel, with Yesomi Umola, Curator (Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago) for Kadist (Paris, France) & Latitudes (Barcelona, Spain)
Artist lecture, Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge MA

2015
Present Standard, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Traces in the Dark, Conversation, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA

2014
but I sound better since you cut my throat, Threewalls, Chicago, IL
In conversation with Hamza Walker, Curator, Renaissance Society, Threewalls, Chicago, IL

2013
A blurred and generalized projection of you and me, perFOREmance, Studio Museum, Harlem, NY
In conversation with Fred Moten, Jamal Cyrus, Steffani Jemison, Studio Museum, Harlem, NY

2012
Artist lecture, Headland Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA

2011
Texts for Nothing / Future Plan & Program Publication presentation, Threewalls, Chicago, IL
Future Plan & Program, Organized by Steffani Jemison, Museum of African American Culture, Houston, TX
Future Plan & Program, Organized by Steffani Jemison, Project Row Houses, Houston, TX
Artist lecture, University of Houston, Houston, TX

2008
UBS 12 X 12: NEW ARTISTS / NEW WORK, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Sculpture Department Lecture / Discussion Series, The School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL
Talk Back: Culture and Space, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL

2007
UIC MFA Thesis Conversation with Matthew Jackson, Assistant Professor, Art History Department, University of Chicago, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL

2005
Kid culture, toy design, the mass-manufactured toy industry and violence, Mess Hall, Chicago, IL

2004
Latino Short Films, ENLACE / EL CENTRO - Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

2003
Experimental Performances: Exhibiting the Other, University of North Umbria, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

2002
Natural Properties, Industrial Materials, Science Department, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL Artist in Residence Programs, Oak Park Art League, Oak Park, IL

2001
Artist lecture, Ox-Bow, School of the Art Institute, Saugatuck, MI

CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
2002
The Brown Sheep Project: Mexotica, A Living Museum of Intercultural Fetishes, co-curate with Guillermo Gómez Peña and La Pocha Nostra, Glass Curtain Gallery, Chicago, IL

RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, & AWARDS
2024 
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, New York, NY 
Artist in Residence, Arts/Industry, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

2023 
Center for Contemporary Ceramic at California State University, Long Beach, CA 

2021
John Michael Kohler Arts Center

2020
Artist-In-Residence, Light Works, Syracuse, NY

2018
Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico

2016 
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Artist-in-Residence, Captiva, FL

2015 
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant

2014
Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Headlands Center for the Arts, Alumni New Works / Artist-in-Residence, San Francisco, CA
Core Program, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

2013 
Core Program, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Madison, ME
Contemporary Arts Fellowship
The Lighthouse Works, Fisher’s Island, NY

2012 
3Arts Award
Artadia Awards Finalists
ӬHeadlands Center for the Arts, Artist-in-Residence, San Francisco, CA
Illinois Arts Council, Professional Development Grant, Chicago, IL

2011 
Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

2010 
The Drawing Center, Viewing Program, New York, NY

2008 
Special Assistance Grant, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL
Experimental Sound Studio, Artists Residency Program, Chicago, IL

2007 
Special Assistance Grant, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL 
Union League Civic and Arts Foundation, Second Prize, Chicago, IL

2006
Juror’s Award, 18th Evanston + Vicinity Biennial, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL

2005
University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Art and Design Koffler Award University of Illinois at Chicago,
Tuition Graduate Waiver Special Assistance Grant, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

2004 
Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

2001
Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Ox-Bow Residency, School of the Art Institute, Saugatuck, MI 
William Carr Olendorf Residency Fund, School of the Art Institute, Saugatuck, MI
Salt Creek Quilters Guild Scholarship, Chicago, IL

1999-2000
‘David R. Rubin Trustees’ Scholarship Recipient, Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Presidential Recognition Award, Columbia College, Chicago, IL

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX.
Studio Museum Harlem, New York, NY
DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL.
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Colección Diéresis, Guadalajara, Mexico
J.P. Morgan Chase Collection, New York, NY.
Chicago Transit Authority
Soho House, Chicago, IL