nika blasser
born: Portland, Oregon
education
2010-13 Master of Fine Arts, Intermedia & Drawing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2000-04 Bachelor of Arts in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
1998-99 Fine Arts study, Hobart and William Smith, Geneva, New York
residencies
2023 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
2021 Ucross Foundation, Ucross, Wyoming
2019 PLAYA, Summer Lake, Oregon
2018 Caldera, Sisters, Oregon
2017-18 Taekker AIR Aarhus/Rethinking Matter, Aarhus, Denmark
solo exhibitions
2018 New Works by Nika Blasser, Art Center East, La Grande, Oregon
2016 Light Mirror | Mirror Shadow, Eastern Oregonian Gallery, Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon
2016 Shadows of the Floating World, Nightingale Gallery, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon
2015 Muted Forces, Harcourt House Main Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2014 Project 1: Nika Blasser, 66B Project Space, curated by Connor Buchanan, Edmonton, Alberta
2014 Frost Garden, Blue Curve Gallery, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta
2012-13 Emergence (thesis exhibition), FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2010 Cloudbusting, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland, Oregon
selected duo & group exhibitions
2022 Pacific Northwest Drawers, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2022 BMCC Faculty & Staff Show, Betty Feves Memorial Art Gallery, Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon
2019 Place/Making: A Four-Way Conversation with Shari Dallas, Roberta Lavadour, and Lori Sams, Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Baker City, Oregon
2018 Rethinking MATTER | Salt, with Nat Bloch Gregersen, curated by Sasha Rose Richter, Pamela Grombacher, and Nana Bendix Hansen, PLADS artspace, Aarhus, Denmark
2016 Sound Event (screening), coordinated by Aarhus Billedkunstcenter, Radar, Aarhus, Denmark
2016 Salon: Portland 2016 Biennial, The Studio Visits, curated by Michelle Grabner, Disjecta, Portland, Oregon
2015-16 Brain Storms I & II, University of Alberta Museums and Galleries at Enterprise Square, Edmonton, Alberta
2015 Future Station: 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art, curated by Kristy Trinier, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2015 Monstrous?, curated by David Candler, dc3 Art Projects, Edmonton, Alberta
2014-15 The 50th Anniversary Exhibition: Art & Design, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2014 Long Tracer, Gallery of Alberta Media Art (GAMA) at Epcor Centre, Calgary, Alberta
2014 …Landscape, dc3 Art Projects, curated by David Candler, Edmonton, Alberta
2013 Ouate The Tape, RATS 9 Collectif, Montreal, Quebec
2013 Substance of Space, Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, Edmonton, Alberta
2013 Prismatika: Illusions of the Universe, Steppes Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2012 New Alberta Contemporaries, Esker Foundation Gallery, curated by Caterina Pizanias, Calgary, Alberta
2012 Quotationalism, FAB Gallery, curated by Lisa Claypool, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2011 Gifted: Portland Visual Art Exchange, Littman Gallery, curated by Becca Bernstein and TJ Norris, Portland, Oregon
2009 55, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2008 Introductions 2008, SAM Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
2008 True Nature, Beppu Wiarda Gallery, curated by Victor Maldonado, Portland, Oregon
2007 Portland Modern: The Environmentalists, Portland Art Center, curated by Victor Maldonado, Portland, Oregon
teaching
2021-22 Instructor, Art 283: Beginning Painting, Blue Mountain Community College
2021-22 Instructor, Art 115: Basic Design Foundation Studies – 2D Painting & Drawing, Blue Mountain Community College
2021-22 Instructor, Art 116: Basic Design Foundation Studies – 2D Color Theory & Painting, Blue Mountain Community College
2021 Instructor, Art 117: Basic Design Foundation Studies – Sculpture, Blue Mountain Community College
2015 Instructor, Art 439/539: Drawing & Intermedia Studies, University of Alberta
2014 Instructor, Art 440: Drawing & Intermedia Studies, University of Alberta2014 Instructor, Art 136: Fundamentals I, University of Alberta
2014 Instructor, Art 340: Drawing II (Life Drawing), University of Alberta
2013 Instructor, Art 134: Fundamentals, University of Alberta
2012 Instructor, Art 340: Drawing II (Life Drawing), University of Alberta
2011 Instructor, Art 340: Drawing II (Life Drawing), University of Alberta
2003 Course Developer and Co-Teacher, Gallery Appreciation (elective), Portland State University
2002 Course Developer and Co-Teacher, Gallery Management (elective), Portland State University
university service
2018 Panelist; George Fox University, Newburg, Oregon
2015 Visiting Artist Lecturer; Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon
2014 Organizer; apARTment, Art 440 Pop-Up Exhibition, Strathcona House, Edmonton, Alberta
2014 Organizer/Curator; Weighting in Line, undergraduate life drawing show, Rutherford Library South, University of Alberta
2013 Exhibition Committee Chair, Art & Design Graduate Student Association (ADGSA)
2013 ADGSA-Curator; Encoding Identities: Spectatorship and the Subject, international graduate student exhibitions, held at Dc3 Art Projects and SNAP Gallery
2013 ADGSA-Organizational Committee: Spring Thaw Art Party, fundraiser and art auction
2013 ADGSA-Organizational Committee; Encoding/Decoding: Thinking Through Art & Design Practices, international graduate student symposium, University of Alberta
2012 Curator; Gesture and Embodied Drawing, undergraduate life drawing show Rutherford Library South, University of Alberta
2012 Presenter; Projections II Video Workshop, University of Alberta
2012 Vice President, Art & Design Graduate Student Association, University of Alberta
2012 ADGSA-Organizational Committee: Instability In Visual and Material Culture, graduate student symposium, University of Alberta
2012 ADGSA-Organizational Committee: Unstable Natures, exhibition, Latitude 53 Gallery
2011 Founding Member and Constitution Developer (1 of 3 founders), Art & Design Graduate Student Association, University of Alberta
2011 Lab Assistant, Instructor Hahn: Art 240, University of Alberta
2011 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Professor Ingram: Art 340, University of Alberta
2011 Lab Assistant, Professor Zivkovik: Art 134, University of Alberta
2011 Presenter, Projections Video Workshop, University of Alberta
2010 Graduate Research Assistant, Professor Caulfield, University of Alberta
2010 Lab Assistant, Instructor Visscher: Art 240, University of Alberta
2010 Facilitator, Life Drawing Sessions, University of Alberta
2010 Artist’s Installation Assistant, Perceptions of Promise exhibition, Glenbow Museum, Calgary
2001-03 Visual Arts Representative (via nomination), Student Activities and Leadership (SALP) Board for the Fine and Performing Arts Department, Portland State University
additional training & education
2015 Ceramics course (8 weeks) with Brian Purnell, Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon
2014 Super 8 Challenge workshop (1 day), FAVA (Film & Video Arts Society), Edmonton, Alberta
2013 Solarplate Etching course (6 weeks) with Sara Norquay, SNAP (Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers), Edmonton, Alberta
2011 “Experience Master Printmaking with International Artists” Workshop and demonstrations (1 day) with Ryoji Ikeda, Walter Jule and Maurice Pasternak, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2010-11 Graduate audit (8 months), Etching/Intaglio course and Relief printing course with Professor Schlüter, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2009 Post baccalaureate study (3 months), Etching course with Professor Erskine, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
related professional experience (selected)
2015-2021, Marketing Director, Crow’s Shadow Institute for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon
2013-14 Gallery Manager, dc3 Art Projects, Edmonton, Alberta
2014 Curatorial Administrative Assistant, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2013-14 Volunteer Coordinator, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
2005-10 Assistant Director, Quintana Galleries, Portland, Oregon
2001-03 Gallery Co-Coordinator, Littman & White Galleries, Portland State University
recent volunteer & community service
2019-present City of Pendleton Arts Committee, Pendleton, Oregon
2015-18 Betty Feves Gallery Arts Committee, Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon
2014-15 Press & Studio Assistant, Crow’s Shadow Institute for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon
2014-15 Studio Assistant, Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon
2014 Board of Founding Directors, Creative Practices Institute, Edmonton, Alberta
2013-14 Exhibition Guide, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2013-14 Studio Assistant, Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, Edmonton, Alberta
selected memberships & awards
2014-present Member, Pendleton for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon
2010-15 Member, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton
2012 Graduate Assistant for Professor Allen Ball, SSHRC funded research trip to London, U.K.
2011 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Graduate Scholarship in Art & Design
2011 Melba Sadler Graduate Scholarship in Art & Design
2009-10 Member, Native American Art Council, Portland Art Museum
2013, 01-04 Member, College Art Association; attended annual conferences in Philadelphia (2002) and New York (2003)
2004 Friends of the Gilkey Center Membership Award for Artistic Merit, Portland Art Museum
selected press & publications
2016 Trish Yerges, “Nightingale Gallery hosts ‘Shadows of the Floating World’ exhibit”, La Grande Observer Go!, January 6
2015 Kristy Trinier, Future Station: 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art, exhibition catalogue published by the Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, pp. 18, 38-39, 115
2015 J.D. Kindle, “Visual artist Blasser introduces herself to Pendleton”, East Oregonian, March 28, p. 3c
2015 Danielle Carlson, “90th year of AGA celebrates provincial art”, The Gateway, January 27
2014 Fish Griwkowsky, “50 Years of A+D at FAB“, Edmonton Journal, December 11
2014 Leah Sandals, “Alberta Biennial 2015 List Looks to Future”, Canadian Art Online, July 15
2014 Elizabeth Withey, “Selection of 42 artists in Art Gallery of Alberta…”, Edmonton Journal, June 18
2014 David Candler, …Landscape at dc3 Art Projects, digital exhibition catalogue, p. 4, 9-11
2014 Chelsey Van Wierden and Tori McNish, 66B, interview on Prairie Seen website
2014 Connor Buchanan, “Project 1: Nika Blasser at 66B Project Space”, exhibition brochure with text
2012 Agnieszka Matejko, “Emergence”, Vue Weekly, December 19, Issue #896, p. 19
2012 Nika Blasser, Practice, self-published catalogue, Blurb Books, intro edited by Dr. Steven Harris,100 pages
2012 Caterina Pizanias, The New Alberta Contemporaries, exhibition catalogue, Esker Foundation, Calgary, Alberta, p. 26-27
2012 Bryne McLaughlin, “The New Alberta Contemporaries: Western Promises”, Canadian Art Online, July 26
2012 Department of Art & Design News, “The New Alberta Contemporaries Exhibition Features Art Work by U of A Students”, online article, July 11
2010 Lisa Radon, Recommended Openings, Ultra PDX, July 1
2009 Richard Speer, 5 x 5 at Beppu Wiarda, WW Recommends, Willamette Week, December 30, 2009 – January 5, 2010
2009 Eva Lake, “Nika Blasser at Beppu Wiarda”, LoveLake video interview & web post, March 1
2008 Brian Libby, “Group Dynamics” review of True Nature, The Oregonian Arts and Entertainment, August 22, 2008, p. 34,37
2007 Victor Maldonado, Portland Modern, exhibition catalogue, p. 7-9
teaching samples
Drawing & Intermedia 439/539 class resource blog [2015]
Drawing & Intermedia 440 class resource blog [2014]
Fundamentals 136 class resource blog [2014]
Examples of Student Works — Fundamentals [2013]
Fundamentals 134 class resource blog [2013]
Examples of Student Works — Life Drawing [2012]
Life Drawing class resource blog [2011]
Examples of Student Works — Life Drawing [2011]
nika blasser 