Mitch Kern (b. 1965 New York) is a photographer whose work explores themes of identity and social belonging in contemporary society. He's been featured in 50+ exhibitions including ten solo shows and has an extensive publication record and client list. He’s an associate professor at Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary, where he maintains an active academic career. He has an MFA in photography from Pennsylvania State University and a BA in visual art from the University of Maryland. 

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Education

2002, MFA, Pennsylvania State University

1999, BA, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Magna Cum Laude

 

Work Experience

2024-Present, Director, School of Communication Design, AUArts

2015-Present, Associate Professor, AUArts

2011-15, Assistant Professor, AUArts

2010-11, Acting Dean of Undergraduate Studies, AUArts

2006-10, Head of Photography, AUArts

2003-06, Assistant Professor, Louisiana Tech University, LA, USA

2002-03, Assistant Professor, University of Central Missouri, MO

2000-02, Graduate Teaching Assistant (Instructor of Record), Pennsylvania State University

1997-00, Staff Photographer, Tribune Media, MD, USA

1996-97, Interim Photo-Editor, Insight Magazine, Washington, DC

1990-91, Photography Intern, Tribune Media, Baltimore, MD

1990-Present, Principal, Mitch Kern, Photographer

 

Select Exhibitions

2026    Light, Trace Time, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB

             A Rare Find, Elora Centre for the Arts, Elora, ON

             The Unmasking, Dolly Wiggler Cabaret, #1 Legion, Calgary, AB, Performance

             Works-in-Progress Faculty Show, Gallery 371, AUArts

2025    Wild Suburb, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB, Solo

             Exposure Group 2024, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB

2024    Surrealist Ball, Not Real Art, Online

2023    Exposure Group 2023, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB 

             The Visitor, 2023 ACIFA Conference, Chateau Lake Louise, Performance

             Pantalla Parade, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Reading

2021-2   Exposure Group 2021, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB 

               Pantalla Parade, Author: L. Swart, Photography: M. Kern, Sea Crow Press, C.                                                       2022

2020    Conundrums, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB, Solo

             Bodies of Knowledge, Petex Building Lobby, Calgary, AB

2019    Images from Everywhere, Pinhole Project, Seattle, WA

2018    Exposure Group 2018, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB

             Summer Show, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB

2017     I am Western, C-Space/King Edward, Calgary, AB

             Upside Down and Backwards, The Works Art & Design Festival, Edmonton, AB

             Final Frontier, Telus Spark, Calgary, AB

2016    Hack It, Telus Spark, Calgary, AB

             Festivalscape, Calgary International Film Festival, Theatre Junction, Calgary, AB

             Camper Obscura, Beakerhead Beakernight, Calgary, AB

2015    Inside Out, Tomkins Park, Beakerhead, Calgary, AB

             Faculty Show, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, AUArts

2014    Not A Love Story, Author: R. Sullivan, Photo Editor: M. Kern, Univ. of Toronto                                     Press, C. 2014

2012    Faculty Exhibition, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, AUArts

             Exposure Group 2012, Peter Lougheed House, Calgary, AB

2011    Making Faces, Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, Solo

2009    Wow Works by Gallery Artists, Byron Cohen Gallery, Kansas City MO

2008    Alberta Contemporary Photography, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB

             Good Medicine, Documentary Film, Calgary, AB, Director

2007    31st Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA

             Ten Year Anniversary Exhibition, Keki Gallery, Budapest, Hungary

2006    Body Language, Smoyer Gallery, Roanoke College, Roanoke, VA, Solo

             Heading Home, Southern Light Gallery, Amarillo, TX, Solo

             Faces of India, Tolliver Hall, Louisiana Tech University, Solo

2005    Face to Face, Sykes Gallery, Millersville University, Millersville, PA, Solo

             Kern and Lipski, Byron Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO

2004    La Fotoz Hatom?, Biggin Gallery, Auburn, AL, Solo

             Identification Marks, Southern Light Gallery, Amarillo, TX, Solo

2003    Exhibition of American Art, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL

             Inventory Show, Byron C. Cohen Gallery, Kansas City, MO

2002    Whitewashed, Zoller Gallery, Pennsylvania State University, Solo

             Baker’s Dozen, Adam and Art Gallery, Bellefonte, PA 

2001    False Index, Zoller Gallery, Pennsylvania State University, Performance

             Intersections, Adam and Art Gallery, Bellefonte, PA