Tom Denlinger

Tom Denlinger (he/him) was born in Los Angeles, California, and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, where he teaches in Printmedia at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as in the Art School at DePaul University. He has an MFA from SAIC, and a bachelor’s degree from California State University East Bay, Hayward, California. Mr. Denlinger has had solo exhibitions in New York, Rome, Venice, and Chicago, as well as exhibitions in Berlin, Seoul, Turin, Madrid, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Vaishali, India. He has received grants from Artadia, the Illinois Arts Council, the City of Chicago, and Kunstlerhaus, e.V. in Hamburg. His work has been reviewed in Art in America, Artforum Online, Frankfurt Allgemeine, Szene-Hamburg, the New Art Examiner and Art Papers, and has been collected by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Art Frankfurt, the MacArthur Foundation, the State of Illinois Museum, the City of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute, the Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection, the University of Iowa, JPMorgan Chase, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Notebaert Natural History Museum in Chicago. In 2009 he co-authored a book on surrealist games, The Exquisite Corpse: Chance and Collaboration in Surrealism’s Parlor Game, published by the University of Nebraska press, and has published several artist’s books, among them: Territorial by Design, published by the School of the Art Institute in 1992, and Financial District Mirror Stage:16 Suggested Positions for the Middle Class, 2012. Most recently his work has been included in a book about remembering East Germany, Imperfect Recall: Re-collecting the GDR. His work was most recently seen in two group exhibitions, Trees Give Us Life, in 2023 and 2021, in Venice, Italy. Denlinger’s work can be viewed online at www.tomdenlinger.com.

Awards: Piazza, glass mural, permanent installation, Jarvis Stop, Red Line North Stations, CTA Public Art Project, Chicago, IL (2014–15); Governor’s International Exchange Award, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL (2009); Junior Faculty Summer Research Grant, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL, for completion of book (The Exquisite Corpse, Univ. of Nebraska Press, fall 2009) (2006); Junior Faculty Grant, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL, two-course release to pursue artwork–related research (2004); Japan Study Center, Earlham College, Travel Grant for art research project in Kyoto, Japan; ACM, ACS, GLCAI, Tri-Consortial Global Partners Project, three-week seminar in Moscow and St. Petersburg; Individual Artist’s Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL (2003); Production and Implementation Grant Midwest Instructional Technology Center, Ann Arbor, MI, for Exquisite Corpse collaborative project between three institutions including Colorado, Monmouth and Lake Forest Colleges (2002); Individual Artist Fellowship, Artadia/ArtCouncil, New York, NY (2002); Express Lane Grant, Midwest Instructional Technology Center, Ann Arbor, MI, for development of Exquisite Corpse collaborative project including Colorado, Monmouth and Lake Forest Colleges; Wetlands Project, Edgebrook Branch Library, City of Chicago, IL (2001); Visiting Artist Grant (July–August), Kunstlerhaus e.V. Hamburg, Germany (1996); Individual Artist’s Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL (1990); Individual Artist’s Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL (1985). Publications: Denlinger, T., Imperfect Recall: Recollecting the GDR, Cecilia Novero, ed., Univ. of New Zealand, Otago, New Zealand (2020); Denlinger, T., Financial District: Mirror Stage (2010); Denlinger, T., Kochar Lidgren, K., Schneiderman, D., The Exquisite Corpse: Chance and Collaboration in Surrealism's Parlor Game, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE (2009); Denlinger, T., and Schneiderman, D., "Exquisite Mori: Corpse and Contiguity," The Exquisite Corpse: Chance and Collaboration in Surrealism's Parlor Game, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE (2009); Location Uncertain, photographs by Tom Denlinger, Karen Lebergott, and Karina Nimmerfall (2007); “Memorials to Future Catastrophes,” by Tom Denlinger and Davis Schneiderman, Notre Dame Review 19 (Summer/Winter), Notre Dame, IN (2005); Territorial By Design, limited edition book, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (1992). Exhibitions: Selected Solo Exhibitions: Free Space/In Estasi, ART3160, Venice, Italy (2018); Randy Alexander Gallery, Chicago, IL (2017); Ekstatic Edgewater, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL (2016–2017); Piazza, Jarvis Stop, Red Line North Stations, CTA (2015); Public art project, Chicago, IL; Tom Denlinger, VerA, Rome, Italy (2012); Lo Sguardo di Pavese: Le colline intorno, il demone dentro (2009); CEPAM (Centro Pavesiano Museo Casa Natale), Santo Stefano Belbo, Italy, curated by Dr. Luigi Gatti, direttore, Centro Pavesiano Museo Casa Natale; Tom Denlinger, Rowland Contemporary, Chicago, IL (2008); Imperfect Recall, Chicago Academy of Sciences Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago, IL, curated by Jill Riddell, museum director (2008); Plenum, Tom Blackman Associates, Chicago, IL (2002); Castelli di Fiori, Castelli d’Acqua, Installation, Watertower City Gallery, Chicago, IL (2001); Barbara Von Stechow Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany (2000); Ten In One Gallery, New York, NY (2000); Ten In One Gallery, Chicago, IL (1998); Uncomfortable Spaces, Frankfurt Art Fair, Frankfurt, Germany; Kunstlerhaus e.V., Hamburg, Germany, by invitation from Kunstlerhaus e.V collective (1996); Ten In One Gallery, Chicago, IL (1995). Selected Group Exhibitions and Performances: Trees Give Us Life, Fondazione G.E.A. Marchesani, Laura Vattovaz, curator, Venice, Italy (2023);  Some flash in the blue sky, Artiatelier_Venice, Venice, Italy, Anita Cerpelloni, curator (2023); Trees Give Us Life, Arsenale Nord, Venice, Italy, Anita Cerpelloni, curator (2021); Art In Place, Terrain, Oak Park, IL, invitational exhibit (2020); Permanent installation, The Music School, DePaul University, Juried Exhibition (2019); Terrain Biennial, Oak Park, IL, curated by Lise McKeane, independent curator (2019); When Worlds Collide: the Prokaryotic Kingdom of Monera @ 704 S. Highland Ave., Terrain, Oak Park, IL (2014); Faculty Exhibition, DePaul Art Museum, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, juried exhibition (2013); Streamlines, Mahaprajapati Nunnery (Vietnamese Temple), Vaishali, India, curated by Lise McKeane, independent curator (2013); Industry of the Ordinary, “Portraits of IOTO,” Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL, invited by Adam Brooks, co-creator, Industry of the Ordinary (2012); Skyline, 310 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL, curated by Alison Peters Quinn, director of exhibitions, Hyde Park Art Center (2011); House-Warming NR.VII, artEmbassy, Berlin-Mitte, Germany, curated by Chiara Marzi, gallery director (2010); Faculty Exhibition, DePaul Art Museum, DePaul University, Chicago, IL (2010); In Sede: Che Schatto!, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Turin, Italy, curated by Patrizia Rosello, director, Department of Cultural Affairs (2008); The Third Mind, “Memorials to Future Catastrophes,” video / sound collaborative work, Brooklyn Lyceum, Brooklyn, NY, invitational; Sonic Impact, New Music Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, Yago, a video / sound collaboration with composer Gene Coleman, curated by Peter Taub, director, MCA performance (2006); Location Uncertain., NIU Museum, DeKalb, IL; Sonnenschein Gallery, Lake Forest, IL; Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago, IL, second part of a two-part collaborative exhibition featuring four Chicago-based artists and five artists based in Berlin, Germany; Location Matters, artMbassy, Berlin, Germany; first part of a two-part collaborative exhibition with four Chicago-based artists and four artists based in Berlin, Germany. (2005); Travel Documents, A&D Gallery, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, invitational; Kyoto In_Ex., Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL, World Music Festival; Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL, invitational; Yago, Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Soundfield Festival of New Music, curated by Hamza Walker; International Currents Gallery, John David Mooney Foundation, Chicago, IL, invited by John David Mooney (2004); Photography, Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, benefit exhibition. Fine Words Butter No Cabbage, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, curated by Anthony Elms, guest curator; Yago, House of World Cultures, Berlin, Germany, Transsonic Festival of New Music, curated by Dr. Knopf, director (2003); ArtCouncil Awards Show, regional juried, Artadia, Gallery 312, Chicago, IL, juried by Hamza Walker, Dawoud Bey (2002); Sight, Site, Insight, Sonnenschein Gallery, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL, curated by Karen Lebergott, Associate Professor of Art (2001); Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI, invitational (1999); Art Exchange, Downtown Alliance for NY, New York, NY, invitational (1997); Distractions, Tom Blackman Assoc., Chicago, IL, invitational, 1996 Clarity, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, invitational; Uncomfortable Spaces, ARCO, Madrid, Spain, curated by Joel Lieb, director, Ten in One Gallery; Pure Hinterland, Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, IL, invitational (1995); Pressed for Time, Shin Se Gae Gallery, Seoul, Korea, invitational; Residue, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, curated by Barry Blinderman, director; Know Your Poodle, Beret International Gallery, Chicago, IL, invitational (1994); The Boys of Ten In One, Ten In One Gallery, Chicago, IL, curated by Joel Lieb, director; Location, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI, invitational; Little Things, Art In General, New York, NY; In Flux, Gallery 400, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, invitational (1993); The Landscape Show, Tom Blackman Associates, Chicago, IL, invitational; Tom Denlinger-Luke Dohner, Ten In One Gallery, Chicago, IL, invitational; Welcome, Your Cooperation is Appreciated, Deson-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL; The Landscape: Subject of Renewed Scrutiny, Foster Gallery, Univ. of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI, invitational (1992); Address, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, invitational; Divide and Multiply, NAME Gallery, Chicago, IL, invitational; Movers and Shakers, Depree Art Center, Hope College, Holland, MI, invitational (1988); Reliable Machines, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, invitational; Installations, Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, IL, invitational (1986); Slant, Link’s Hall, Chicago, IL, October, set design, dance performance, invitational (1985); Climate, Moming Dance & Arts Center, Chicago, IL, set design, dance performance, invitational; Alibi for Alibi, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL, set design, dance performance, invitational (1984); 80th Chicago and Vicinity Exhibition, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, curated by James Swires, (1983); Alibi, Moming Dance and Arts Center, Chicago, IL, set design, dance performance, invitational; Palo Alto Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Palo Alto, California, invitational (1977).

In the Palace of Polysaccharides

This is the heading of my most recent group of work, some of which one can find on my website. The photographs in the collection document non-human agents, trees, in a number of urban and exurban zones, that, along with other plants, produce 50% of the atmosphere of their biome. Bacteria and microbes produce the other 50%. The photos are framed to emphasize the unique structures peculiar to each tree, as well as the work that they perform.

The work that is being built with these photos will explore human existence as holobiontic with plants and bacteria, as well as a mash-up of human and vegetal consciousness.