Christopher Willard received his MFA from Hunter College in 1992 and his BFA from the Maine College of Art in 1982. He currently teaches painting at the Alberta College of Art + Design. Previous teaching experience includes Hunter College, Westchester Community College, the University of Vermont and St. Joseph’s School in Harlem, NY. Willard is a recognized painter and writer. As a visual artist, his works have been exhibited in many shows across North America and in Europe. Works are also in public collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Visby Konstmuseum, Sweden, and Calgary Health Region, Calgary, and Reader’s Digest, New York. Awards include the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, E.D. Foundation Grant, and the Veritas Award for Outstanding Creativity.
He has served as a consultant for Leonardo magazine (MIT), Rainbow Music (Houston, TX), The New York Philharmonic (New York, NY) , COLOR research and application, and the Clinton School for Artists and Writers (New York, NY). Willard is also a recognized expert on color theory, practice, and education. Areas of specific research have included Color Education, Serialism and Symmetry in Painting, and Film Color. He has published and presented papers on these topics at international conferences.
Education:
MFA, Painting, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, 1992
BFA Painting/Drawing, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME, 1982
Post-Graduate classes in: Methodologies of Teaching English as a Second Language; Literacy and
the Adolescent; 18th Century English Literature; Intermediate French, German
Teaching Experience:
Full-time Professor of Painting, Alberta College of Art + Design, 2007-present
Sessional Instructor, Alberta College of Art + Design, Calgary, AB, 2005 to present
Replacement Instructor for Chris Cran, Alberta College of Art + Design
Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, 2005 to 2007
Adjunct Professor, Hunter College, New York, NY, 1994-2002
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Westchester Community College, White Plains, NY, 1993-2001
Helpline Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Hotline, Small Group Leader and
Training Instructor, 1988-1999 (volunteer)
Adjunct Professor, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Teaching Assistant, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME, 1982
St. Joseph of the Holy School, New York, NY, 1998-2002 [developed and taught part-time art
program to grades K-8]
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2004 -Gallery@49, New York, NY
2002 -Gallery@49, New York, NY
1999 - The Casements, Ormond Beach, FL
1997 - Art Vivant, Charlotte, NC
1997 - Jay County Arts Council, Portland, IN
1997 - Richart Gallery, New York, NY
1997 - Empire State Building, New York, NY
1996 - John Jay College Gallery, New York, NY
1996 - Westchester Community College Gallery, White Plains, NY
1995 - Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery, Sturgis, MI
1992 - Galerie au Parrain des Artistes, Quebec, Canada
1989 - St. John the Divine Art Gallery, New York, NY
1988 - Chemical Bank Exhibition Space, New York, NY
1998 - Galerie au Parrain des Artistes, Quebec City, PQ
1987 - Citibank Exhibition Space, New York, NY
1985 - Burlington City Hall, Burlilngton, VT
1984 - University of Vermont Church Street Gallery, Burlington, VT
1983 - Port Bakehouse Gallery, Portland, ME
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2008 - Faculty Exhibition, Alberta College of Art + Design, Calgary
2008 - Naestved International Exhibition of Contemporary Mini Square Prints, Naestved
2008 - Roennbaeksholm Arts & Culture Centre, Denmark
2007 - How to Draw a Tree, Fish Creek Nature Center, Calgary
2007 - How to Draw a Tree, LRT Window Gallery, ACAD, Calgary
2007 - Punch [Lines], Art City, Two Person show with Bradley Harms, Calgary
2007 - Gibson Fine Art, Summer Exhibition, Calgary
2006 - Paul Kuhn Gallery, Summer Exhibition, Calgary
2006 - Alberta College of Art + Design Painting Faculty Show, 371 Gallery, Calgary
2004 - Grafton Spring Show, Montreal
2003 - Summer Exhibition, Gallery @49, New York, NY
2002 - Small Works, Gallery@49, New York, NY
2002 - Life of the City, Museum of Modern Art, NY
2002 - Faculty Small Works Leubsdorf Gallery, NY
2001 - CAA Online Exhibition
2001 - Galleria G, Helsinki, Finland
2001 - Snapshots, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefied, CT
2001 - Paper Abstractions, Gallery@49, NY
2001 - Surroundings, Gallery@49, NY
2000 - Snapshots, Baltimore Contemporary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
2000 - Hunter College Art Department Faculty Exhibition, Times Square Gallery, NY
1999 - Clinton AKA Hell’s Kitchen, Gallery@49, NY
1997 - Abstraction Index, Condeso-Lawler, NY
1997 - Friends of Hunter College Art Galleries exhibition, Leubsdorf 1997 - Gallery, New York, NY
1997 - Faculty Show, Westchester Community College Gallery, White Plains, NY
1996 - The Folding Image: Contemporary Art Screens” Canvas
Imaging Gallery, New York, NY
1996 - Art Vivant, Charlotte, NC
1996 - Hunter College Faculty Exhibition, Vorheese Gallery, New York, NY
1995 - Momentum, Regency Hotel, New York, NY
1995 - Group Show, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
1994 - Sweet and Low: Artificiality and Loss of Direction, Nighthawk Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1994 - Nettime-Timenet, St. Augustine, Germany
1994 - Repetitions, MMC Gallery, Marymount College, New York, NY
1994 - Faculty Exhibition, Westchester Community College Gallery, White Plains, NY
1994 - Art for Kid’s Sake, Little Red Schoolhouse, New York, NY
1994 - Group Exhibition, Roger Smith Gallery, New York, NY
1993 - Presentational Painting, Vorheese Gallery, New York, NY
1993 - Group Exhibition, Roger Smith Gallery, New York, NY
1993 - Art for Kid’s Sake, Little Red Schoolhouse, New York, NY
1993 - ART/UMJEPNOST, Obala Theatre, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1992 - Gridlines, Vorheese Gallery, New York, NY
1992 - Opening Exhibition, Roger Smith Gallery, New York, NY
1992 - Print Suite 1992, Leubsdorf Gallery, New York, NY
1991 - Group Exhibition, Cork Gallery, New York, NY
1990 - Salon du Printemps, Society Lyonnaise des Beaux Arts, Lyon, France
1990 - The Emerging Collector Gallery , New York, NY
1989 - AIDS: The Artists’ Response, Hoyt L. Sherman Gallery, Ohio State University
1989 - The Emerging Collector Gallery, New York, NY
1988 - The Emerging Collector Gallery, New York, NY
1987 - Winter in Chicago II, Artist’s Book Works, Chicago, IL
1986 - Art for New Collectors, Hudson Guild Art Gallery, New York, NY
1982 - Contemporary Drawings from Nature, Joan Whitney Payson Gallery, Westbrook, ME
1982 - Fractured Paintings, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
1982 - WCHS Invitational, Portland, Maine, Portland, ME
1981 - Augusta Juried Invitational, Statehouse Gallery, Augusta, ME
1979 - Mid-Vermont Artists Association Invitational, Barre, VT
1978 - Vermont State Juried, South Burlington, VT
1977 - Vermont Regional Juried, Barre, VT
Awards:
2008 - Alberta Foundation for the Arts Project Grant
2006 - Alberta Foundation for the Arts Project Grant
2006 - Canadian Library Association Young Adult Canadian Book Award, shortlist
2006 - Expozine Award, shortlist
2006 - Garbage Head selected for Take a Joy Read Canada
2006 - The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, longlist
2005 - ReLit Award, longlist
2005 - Sunburst Award, longlist
2005 - Garbage Head on Calgary Bestseller top ten list, May 15, 2005
2005 - Garbage Head number 1 on Pages Original Edition Fiction and Poetry Bestseller
List, May 15
1998 - Hunter Faculty Travel Grant
1996 - E.D. Foundation Grant
1995 - Manhattan Graphics Center Grant
1994 - Hunter Faculty Travel Grant
1994 - Helpline Award for 1000 volunteer hours
1992 - Hunter Alumni Associatin Scholarship
1989 - New York Department of Cultural Affairs Artist’s Certification and Housing
1978 - Veritas Scholarship
1978 - Vermont Woman’s Association Scholarship
1978 - Waterbury Rotary Scholarship
1978 - National Honor Society Membership
Selected Public Collections:
Museum of Modern Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Calgary Health Region
Eli Broad
Visby Konstmuseum
Reader’s Digest Corporation
Alberta College of Art and Design
Goldome Bank
Terrien Architects
Published Writings:
Garbage Head, fiction novel, Esplanade Books/Vehicule Press, Montreal, 2005
Watercolor Mixing: The 12-Hue Method, non-fiction, Rockport Publishers, Inc.,
Rockport, MA, 2000
The Fiction WrIiter, unpublished, in progress
Jeremy and the Bridge of Wishes, unpublished, represented by New York Creative Management,
Stony Brook, NY
Reviews:
Review, Dean Drever, Canadian Art, (upcoming)
Review, Curtis Cutshaw, Canadian Art, (upcoming)
Three artists, two highlights, Review of Sublime at Triangle Gallery, curated by Eric Cameron,
Calgary Herald, 2007
A la mode, Cathy Daley, Calgary Herald, March 25, 2007
Selective Memory: Eric Metcalfe and Paul Jackson, Calgary Herald, February 11, 2007
A Colourful Tightrope: Ron Moppett’s new work excites, bothers and pleases, Calgary Herald,
February 2, 2007
Surviving Information Anxiety: Three artists respond to the digital overload, Calgary Herald,
February 1, 2007
Reflections and Reflecting, Blake Senini, Calgary Herald, 2007
Unpacking and Packing, John Eisler and David Foxcroft, Calgary Herald, December 17, 2006
Monsoon Season, Katie Ohe, Calgary Herald, 2006
Drawing in Canada is Big and Bold, Just My Imagination, Calgary Herald, October 29, 2006
Accidental Destinies, Jane Hamilton, When Madeline Was Young, Calgary Herald, 2006
Master of Light and Space, L. Frederick Valentine Retrospective, Calgary Herald, October 1,
2006
Milutin Gubash: Near and Far, C-Mag, Autumn, 91, 2006
Painting in the fast lane, Christian Eckart, Calgary Herald, May 20, 2006
Chance Encounters, George Weber, Interview, Calgary Herald, April 29, 2006
In the Clouds, Gershon Iskowitz, Calgary Herald, April 22, 2006
Ranch provides artistic vision to graze on, McIntyre Ranch, Calgary Herald, April 1, 2006
Ian Carr-Harris, Calgary Herald, March 4, 2006
Lilliput, Canada, Toni Hafkenscheid, Calgary Herald, February 11, 2006
Portraits of the Artists, Calgary Herald, January 28, 2006
Review of A History of Art in Alberta 1905-1970, Calgary Herald, 2006
Scratch Culture, review of Painting Under Pressure, Calgary Herald, January 14, 2006
Making his Mark, Mark Mullin, Calgary Herald, March 18, 2006
Genius in Multiple, Picasso prints, Calgary Herald, April 15, 2006
Losers and Winners: Kim Dorland homes in on Generation Y, Calgary Herald, November 5,
2005
Landscapes Whispered on Canvas, Review of the book Takao Tanabe, Calgary Herald, 2005
Confronting Monsters, Ryan Sluggett, Calgary Herald, December 17, 2005
Puttin’ on his top hat, Ron Moppett, Calgary Herald, October 8, 2005
Mirrored cities, Mary Shannon Will, Calgary Herald, October 1, 2005
Scott Wallis, Canadian Art, Rewind, Web-exclusive, 2005
Matthieu Gaudet at Roger Bellemare, Canadian Art, Fall, 2004
John LaTour at Pierre-Francoise Oullette, Canadian Art, Winter, 2003
Review of Color and Meaning, by John Gage, COLOR research and application, 2001
Review of Color and Culture, by John Gage, COLOR research and application, 2000
Review of Color: An Introduction of Practice and Principles, by Rolf G. Kuehni, COLOR research and application, February 2000
AIC Interim Meeting Report, Goteborg Sweden, COLOR research and application, November 1996
Review of the International Conference on Color Education, Leonardo magazine and Digital Reviews section of Leonardo Electronic Almanac, 1994
Visiting Artist Residencies:
Maine College of Art
Concordia University
Alberta College of Art and Design
Glen Oaks Community College
Workshops:
1994-2001 Numerous day-long workshops titled “Color Made Easy,” and “Discovering
Your Creative Self,” Westchester Community College
Curator and Consultant:
Review panelist for Leonardo magazine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Color Developer and Consultant, Rainbow Music, Houston, TX
Article Juror for “COLOR research and application,” Williamsburg, VA
National Public Radio interview on color influences, “Weekday” KUOW, Seattle,
WA
Exhibition of depictions of St. Sebastian in historical paintings, New York
Philharmonic, New York, NY
Curator, “In a New Light,” Peekskill, NY
Consultant, All Japan Fashion Institute, New York, NY
Assistant Curator, Walter Wood Gallery, Montpelier, VT
Related Experience:
Assistant Librarian, Christie’s Auction House
Librarian/Archivist, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Assistant Archivist, New York Philharmonic
Assistant Archivist, New York Shakespeare Festival
Press Coordinator, Carnegie Hall
Freelance Designer for companies including: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Innovative Solutions,
Archives Week, New York Philharmonic, Minor Problems (off Broadway show), Erroll
Simpson Dance Company, Midtown West Elementary School
Membership:
College Art Association
Inter-society Color Council, member of the art, design, psychology, and applied color
research interest groups
Association Internationale de la Couleur, member of the color and color in art interest
Groups
Press:
Christopher Willard shortlisted for the first-ever Expozine Award,
media mag-ezine, February 2006
The media ‘peats’ the message, Interviewed by Christian Bok, Calgary Herald, May 14,
2005
Review of Garbage Head, Chris Koentges, Alberta Views, Dec 05/Jan 06
Christopher Willard reading at Zeke’s Gallery last night, Podcast, Zeke’s Gallery
Facing the dragon head-on, Cultural Snow, July 2006
Bookends, Fast Forward, March 24, 2006
The Buzz: Calgary writer shortlisted, Nancy Tousley, Calgary Herald, February 18, 2006
Stories of navigation and media-constructed identity: Local authors of Garbage Head and
Sextant reflect on their latest works, Cary Lees, The Link, February 1, 2006
Book Review: Garbage Head, Ben Hoffman, The Gauntlet, January 25, 2006
Do you suffer from Garbage Head? Harry Vandervlist, Fast Forward, May 05-11, 2005
Garbage In, a Good Read Out, Shawn Britton, Avenue Magazine, July/August 2006
Talking Trash on Celebrity, Quentin Mills-Fenn, Prairie Books NOW, Summer 2005
The trash aesthetic, Elizabeth Johnston, Montreal Review of Books, Spring 2005
Can Not-So-Ordinary Artists Make Ordinary Snapshots? Well, Not Really, Sarah Boxer
New York Times, March 8, 2002
1,300 Snapshots, One Surreal Show, Michael O’Sullivan, The Washington Post, November
17, 2000
More U.S. Companies are Blue, and It’s Not Just the Stock Market, Susan Carey, The Wall
Street Journal, August 30, 2001
Christopher Willard, REVIEW magazine, J. Bowyer Bell, February 1, 1997
Painter opts for op art, Lawrence Toppman, The Charlotte Observer, May 16, 1997
Color My World, Jane Grau, Creative Loafing, June 14, 1997
Painter’s Light Show from Empire State Building, The New York Times, February 16,
1997
Local Artist Makes Good in NYC, Jim Lowe, The Times Argus, February, 1997
Exhibit, Reception, Sturgis Journal, June 16, 1995
Internationally-recognized artist Christopher A. Willard to offer painting workshop for
Flora Kirsch Beck Visiting Artist’s Program, Sturgis Journal, June 1995
Christopher Willard, Newsletter, Maine College of Art, Spring/Summer 1994
Artistic Ponderings, Arts News, July/August 1993
Arts Notes, Jim Lowe, Times Argus, June 18, 1987
Blurred Systems: Christopher Willard, catalogue essay, Rob Daniels, 1986
Who’s Who in American Art, 1985
Presentational Painting, exhibition catalogue, 1993
Inviting comparisons is risky business, Edgar Allen Beem, Maine Times, May 7, 1982
Contemporary Drawings from Nature, Mary Lou Kelley, Art New England, June, 1982
