Melanie Schiff’s photographs play formally and figuratively with an alchemical manipulation of light. Firing the flash of the camera against various surfaces, she creates a recurrent reflection with its own subjecthood and presence, which operates as a synonym for internal contemplation. Since the start of her photographic practice, Schiff has frequently incorporated her own body, revealing a type of “long-exposure” self-portraiture of the artist over time.

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

EDUCATION
MFA, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
BFA, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY

SOLO AND TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2022
Convict Lake, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2021
Blind Spots, PATRON, Chicago, IL

2018
Glass Sabbath, NIGHT Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Lay Lie Lay, PATRON, Chicago, IL

2016
Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY

2015
Pains, LAXART, Hollywood, CA

2014
Sarah Conaway and Melanie Schiff, Taka Ishii Gallery Modern, Tokyo, Japan
Run, Falls, Kate Werble Gallery, New York , NY

2013
The stars are not wanted now, CAM Raleigh, Raleigh, NC

2012
The stars are not wanted now, University Galleries of Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Sun Land, Kavi Gupta CHICAGO, Chicago, IL

2010
Spider, Kavi Gupta BERLIN, Berlin, Germany

2009
Stones, Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, CA
The Mirror, Kavi Gupta CHICAGO, Chicago, IL
Melanie Schiff, Horton Gallery, New York, NY

2007
UBS 12x12: New Artists/New Work: Melanie Schiff, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Water Birth, Uschi Kolb, Galerie Haus Schneider, Karlsruhe, Germany

2006
Underwater Photographer, Kavi Gupta CHICAGO, Chicago, IL

2004
New Photographs, Kavi Gupta CHICAGO, Chicago, IL

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
Photographic Pictures, Anton Kern Gallery, New York, NY
Shrubs,Night Gallery, Los Angeles CA

2021
A glitter of seas, Dream Song, Minneapolis, MN

2020
An Infinite and Omnivorous Sky, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
MAJEURE FORCE, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.

2019
Smoke & Mirrors, AF Projects, Los Angeles, CA.
Handless Operative, Casemore Kirkeby, San Francisco, CA.

2018
West by Midwest, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL.
Vanitas, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY.
Picture Fiction: Kenneth Josephson and Contemporary Photography, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago IL
Pussy, King of the Pirates, Maccarone Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

2017
Eternal Youth, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago, IL
Woman with a Camera, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, IL

2016
Flowers in Your Hair, curated by Night Gallery at FUSED Space, San Francisco, CA
SEXTING, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY
Like a Rolling Stone, Charles H. Scott Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
Aprés Ski, Karma International, Beverly Hills, CA

2015
Oasis, Sturt Haaga Gallery, La Cañada Flintridge, CA
Mine. Yours. Ours, Woodstock Center for Photography, Woodstock, NY
BAD BOYS BAIL BONDS ADOPT A HIGHWAY, Team Gallery, New York, NY
Photography Sees the Surface (curated by Aspen Mays), Higher Pictures, New York, NY
Lost in a Sea of Red, The Pit, Los Angeles, CA
Six Doors, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, New York, NY

2014
Remake/Remodel, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY
TRAINS curated by Sterling Ruby, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
DuckRabbit, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA Video Show, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY

2013
Lens Drawings, Marian Goodman Gallery, Paris, France
To Pack and Wear, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, NY
Fridge, Control Room, organized by Erin Foley with Control Room, Los Angeles, CA
Black Rabbit, curated by Amy Thoner, White Hole, Samuel Freeman, Los Angeles, CA.

2011
GREATER LA, curated by Benjamin Godsill, 483 Broadway, New York, NY
Mouthing (The Sentient Limb), curated by Kelly Kaczynski, Hyde Park Arts Center, Chicago, IL
STATUS: Somewhere Between Position and Condition, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2010
Framed, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN Pivot Points IV, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, FL
Photographic: Anne Collier & Melanie Schiff, Salina Art Center, Salina, KS
Kurt, curated by Michael Darling, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA

2009
Between Spaces, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NY
Elements of Photography, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Klat+Melanie Schiff+Hsia­Fei Chang, Galerie Laurent Godin, Paris, France
Location, Danziger Projects, New York, NY
Harsh Terrain, Roberts & Tilton, Culver City, CA
Perfect Square, Robert and Joan Feitler Gallery for Contemporary Art, Smart Museum of Art at University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2008
Whitney Biennial, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Foreclosed, The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA
Unknown Pleasures, Aspen Art Museum, CO
“All my favourite singers couldn’t sing…” Workplace Gallery, Gateshead, United Kingdom
Shadows Don’t Cast Shadows, Meyer Riegger, Karlsruhe, Germany
In Repose, The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA
Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, FL
Hard Rain, Kavi Gupta BERLIN, Berlin, Germany
Recent Acquisitions: Focus on Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Too Strong to Stop, Too Sweet to Lose, Cohan and Leslie, New York, NY

2007
Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, curated by Dominic Molon, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL & Musée d’art Contemporain de Montréal, Québec, Canada
Spring Break 2007, Roots & Culture Contemporary Art Center, Chicago, IL
Frownland, collaboration with Tony Tasset, VONZWECK, Chicago, IL
Selected Works, Devenning Projects, Chicago, IL
The Dams 2, curated by Pedro Valez, Galeria Jose Pepin Mendez at the University of Sagrado Corazón, Puerto Rico
Out the Blue, Proof Gallery, Boston, MA
Girl on Guy, Columbia College A & D Gallery, Chicago, IL
This is Not a Self­Portrait, SAIC Gallery 2, Chicago, IL

2006
Ballroom Blitz, curated by Dominic Molon, The James Hotel, Chicago, IL
Volta, Kavi Gupta CHICAGO, Basel, Switzerland

2005
Autonomy, curated by Sterling Ruby, Foxy Production, New York, NY
Into the Woods, McCormick Gallery, Chicago, IL
Sitting, Standing, Reclining II, Modern Culture, New York, NY
Exploding Plastic Inevitable, curated by Simon Watson, Bergdorf Goodman, New York, NY
Stilled Life, curated by Brian Sholis, Placemaker Gallery, Miami, FL

2004
Sitting, Standing, Reclining, Modern Culture, New York, NY
Kristen + Melanie, Suitable Gallery, Chicago, IL
Explosions, curated by Heather Hubbs and Lorelei Stuart, PAC/edge Performance Festival, Chicago, IL

2003
Designs for Modern Living, curated by Lorelei Stewart, Curt Conklin Home Show, Chicago, IL
Result Tape, KDP, Chicago, IL
The Push Pin Project, Deluxe Projects Tainted Love, Unit B, Chicago, IL
At the Edge, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL

2002
Here and Now, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Use Your Illusion, Vedanta Gallery, Chicago, IL
MFA Thesis Show, Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL
Room for a Revolution, Deluxe Projects, Chicago, IL
The Stray­Show, Destroyer Inc., Chicago, IL

2001
Revolutions Per Minute, Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

CATALOGUES
Momin, Shamim M., Kendra Paitz, and Kristen VanDeventer. Sun Land. Normal: University Galleries of Illinois State University, 2013.
Huldisch, Henriette, Shamim M. Momin, and Rebecca Solnit. Whitney Biennial 2008. New York: The Whitney Museum of American Art, 2008, 222.
Sholis, Brian. Books & Plants. Chicago: Kavi Gupta, 2008.
Diederichsen, Diedrich, Anthony Elms, Dan Graham, Richard Hell, Matthew Higgs, Mike Kelley, Jutta Koether, Dominic Molon, Bob Nickas, and Jan Tumlir. Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967. Chicago: Museum of Contemporary Art, 2007.
Mertes, Lorie, and Rochelle F. Levy. In Repose: An Exhibition from the Collection of Debra and Dennis Scholl, Miami Beach, Florida. Philidelphia: The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design, 2008.

CURATORIAL PROJECTS
I am Eyebeam, co­-curated with Lorelei Stewart, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL
Raise High The Roofbeam, co­-curated with Kristen Vandenventer, Rainbo Club, Chicago, IL
When Darkness Falls, co­-curated with Kristen Vandenventer, Gallery 400, Chicago, IL & Midway Contemporary, Minneapolis, MN

BIBLIOGRAPHY
2016
Workneh, Sarah, Interview: Melanie Schiff, Kaleidoscope, Issue #27 Summer 2016.

2015
Lost in a Sea of Red, exhibition catalog published by The Pit, Los Angeles, CA. Designed by Adam D. Miller, 2015
Knoblauch, Loring, Photography Sees the Surface @Higher Pictures, Collector Daily, July 21, 2015.

2014
Comstock, Lindsay, Sun and Earth: Melanie Schiff’s Vivid and Rich Photography, artcritical, July 2, 2014.
Knoblauch, Loring, Melanie Schiff, Run, Falls @Kate Werble, Collector Daily, May 30, 2014.

2013
Vitiello, Chris. “Melanie Schiff reclaims the image at CAM Raleigh.” Indy Week, June
Greenberg, Blue. “‘Art of the moment’ at CAM gallery,” The Herald Sun, June
Capper, Beth. “Melanie Schiff: Sun Land at Kavi Gupta,” Blouin ArtInfo.com Modern Painters, February
McMillian, Kyle. “Melanie Schiff ‘Sun Land’,” Art in America, February
Yood, James. “Melanie Schiff Sun Land at Kavi Gupta,” Art Ltd., January

2012
Scholis, Brian. “Melanie Schiff Kavi Gupta Gallery,” ArtForum, November
2011
Picard, Caroline “Light and Desire: An Interview with Melanie Schiff”, Art:21 Blog, January 4
Schleussner, Laura “Melanie Schiff:Spider”, Flash Art International, January ­ February

2009
Neil, Jonathan T.D. “Future Greats”, Art Review, March, p. 80­81
Herbert, Martin. “What Would Neil Young Do?”, Modern Painters, March, p. 24
Shad, Ed. “Interview with Melanie Schiff.” ArtSlant. February
Phillips, Brad. “Melanie Schiff is What’s Up.” Hunter and Cook, Issue 02, Winter

2008
Barni, Selva. “Fotographia/Melanie Schiff.” Rodeo, No. 50, Sept, p. 80­87
Rose, Sara. “A Crowded Showcase for Everything and Anything.” The Boston Globe, March 6
Books and Plants, artist catalogue with interview by Brian Sholis
Johnson­Calderon, Paul. “Absolutely Mad for Melanie Schiff.” Papermag.com
Schwabsky, Barry. “Introducing Melanie Schiff.” Modern Painters , February , p. 54­56
Cochran, Jessica. “Five Alive!” CS Magazine, February
Eler, Alica. “Chat Room: Melanie Schiff.” Chicago Sun­Times, February

2007
Weinstein, Michael. “Tip of the Week.” New City Chicago 8 May
MacKenzie, Joanna Topor. “After Paschke.” Chicago Magazine April 2007, p. 20
Burgher, Elijah. Review. artUS Issue 17. March – April 2007 (cover image)
Orden, Abraham. “The Windy Apple.” Artnet Magazine January
Sholis, Brian, “Critic’s Pick.” ArtForum.com January
Camper, Fred. “Everyday Beauty.” Chicago Reader 5 January
McKinnon, John. Review. Time Out Chicago 4­10 January
Weinstein, Michael. Review. New City Chicago January

2006
Sandler, Carrie. “Art Groupie: Photographs for a Song” UR Magazine 16 June

2004
Ferrara, Annette. “The (Left) of Centerfold.” TENbyTEN Romance Issue, Vol. 3 No.
Hannum, Terence. Review. Bridge Magazine December Issue.
Hannum, Terence. Review. Panel House May 2004

2002
Velez, Pedro. “Rock ‘n’ Raunch.” Artnet.com August

AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2010
The Chinati Foundation, Artist in Residence, Marfa, TX

2006
The Arts Residency, Atlantic Center, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Professional Artist in Residence, Ox­Bow, Saugatuck, MI
Artadia Award Grant Recipient, Chicago, IL

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
VERBUND Collection, Vienna, Austria
Miami MOCA, Miami, FL
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY