EDUCATION 1988 The University of Chicago, MFA, Studio Arts 1978 Minneapolis College of Art & Design, BFA, Fine Arts 1972-74 Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN. SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2007 Community-based Art - Allegheny College Art Galleries, Meadvillle, PA. Shadows from the 20th Century - Socrates Sculpture Park, New York, NY 2006 From the 20th Century (solo) Weston Art Gallery, Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati, OH 2005 for love or money (solo) Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH 2004 “It’s for the Birds,” Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Miami, FL 2003 “Roots of Renewal,” Faulconer Gallery, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA “Hindsight/Fore-site Revisited,” Les Yeux du Monde Gallery, Charlottesville, VA “increase: Ann Hamilton/Michael Mercil,” North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks “On the Wall: Wallpaper and Tableau,” The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA “Personal Visions,” Richard M. Ross Art Museum, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH 2002 “Endurance: the Shackelton Adventure,” (set design) Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse, Yellow Springs, OH “Update,” (video screening: World’s Greatest Sports Video Ever) Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH 2001 “promise,” (solo) Wooster College Museum, Wooster, OH 2000 "Hindsight/Foresite: Art for the New Millennium," University of Virginia Art Museum, Charlottesville 1998 "Rifle Sport Show," Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN "Material World," SPACES, Cleveland, OH 1997 "Real Estate," (solo) Isis Gallery, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN 1996 Visiting Artists Exhibition, Hopkins Hall Gallery, The Ohio State University, Columbus. 1995 "Clearings," (solo) Olin Gallery, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. 1993 Solo, College of Architecture & Landscape Architecture Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. 1992 “Home Economies,” (solo) Bockley Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. 1991 “Open Studio Day,” tour curated by Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN. “Minnesota Metaphors,” Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN. “Eight McKnight Artists,” (traveling exhibition) Minneapolis College of Art & Design. 1990 “For the Birds,” Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI. “New Accommodations,” (solo) Bockley Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. “Flashbacks,” MCAD Gallery, Minneapolis College of Art & Design. 1989 “buildingdialogue,” (with Kinji Akagawa, Sixto Beltrandi, Cliff Garten and Steven Woodward) Minneapolis Institute of Arts. 1988 “Small Sculpture,” The Saint Paul Companies, Saint Paul, MN. "Yardwork," Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN. “Public Art Possibilities,” (traveling exhibition) Minneapolis Arts Commission. “Drawingroom,” (solo) Riflesport Alternative Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. "Five Jerome Artists,” MCAD Gallery, Minneapolis College of Art & Design. 1984 “M.F.A. Exhibition,” David and Alfred Smart Museum, The University of Chicago. 1983 “New Talent,” N.A.M.E. Gallery, Chicago, IL. COMMISSIONS, PUBLIC PROJECTS 2006-08 “The Beanfield,” a project with the Wexner Center for the Arts and the OSU College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Columbus, OH. 2006 “Halos for New York,” for Battery Park City Authority, New York, NY (in progress) 2003 “Dream of the 20th Century”, for Socrates Sculpture Park, New York, NY (completed 2006). 2002 “Acadia Duplex,” for The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA. 2000 “Corvus americanus,” for The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA. “Field of Play” and “Ballgame,” for The Ohio State University. Department of Athletics, Football Stadium Renovation, Columbus (completed 2001). 1999 Teardrop Park design team, (Ann Hamilton, lead artist; and Michael Van Valkenburgh, lead designer) for Battery Park City Authority, New York, NY (dedicated 2004). 1994 Allegheny Riverfront Park design team (Ann Hamilton, lead artist; and Michael Van Valkenburgh, lead designer) for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (completed 2001). 1992 Selby Avenue Bridge design with the City of Saint Paul. Department of Public Works (completed 1993). AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS and RESIDENCIES 2006 The University of Akron. Myers School of Art, Meyers Artist in Residence, Akron, Ohio 2005 Ohio Arts Council, Individual Artist Fellowship 2004 Finalist, Creative Capital Grants in the Visual Arts for: “Dream of the 20th Century.” 2002 American Society of Landscape Architects Design Honor Award (with Ann Hamilton and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates) for Allegheny Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh, PA. Environmental Design Research Association Place Design Award (with Ann Hamilton and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates) for Allegheny Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh, PA. Greater Columbus Arts Council Visual Artists Fellowship. 2000 Acadia Summer Arts Program, Northeast Harbor, ME Nominee, CalArts/Alpert Award in the Arts. 1997 Progressive Architecture Citation Award (with Ann Hamilton and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates) for Allegheny Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh, PA. 1990 McKnight Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship. 1989 NEA Artist Design Fellowship, Department of Public Works, Saint Paul, MN. 1986 Jerome Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship. TEACHING, SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS 2006-continuing Graduate Chair, Department of Art, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. 2001-continuing Associate Professor, Department of Art, The Ohio State University, Columbus. 2007 Lecture, “Beans/tallk-Stalking Beans: Lewis Hyde in Conversation with Michael Mercil, Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH. 2006 Lecture, “When was the 20th Century : An Artist Looks Forward.” Myers School of Art, University of Akron, Akron, OH. Presenter, “Cultivating living culture at the land grant university.” Imagining America National Conference, Columbus, OH. Lecture/Performance, “Words, things and the work of art—an entertainment,” Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH. 2005 Moderator, Exhibition Symposium, “Part Object/Part Sculpture,” Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH 2004 Juror, Jerome Foundation Fellowship Program for Visual Artists, Minneapolis, MN. Visiting Artist, Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Minneapolis, MN. 2002 Artist Consultant. Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative for the Pew Cultural Trust, Philadelphia, PA. Session Summary—Word/Image, “Awake: Art, Buddhism, and the Dimensions of Consciousness,” Green Gulch Farm, Muir Beach, CA. 2001 Stakeholders Forum Participant, “Evoking Histories: Listening Across Cultures and Communities,” Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, SC. 2000-01 Distinguished Visiting Artist, Department of Art, The Ohio State University, Columbus. Distinguished Graduate Critic, School of Art, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. 1998-2000 Assistant Professor, Director for Foundation Studies, Department of Art, The Ohio State University, Columbus. 1999 Lecturer, Minneapolis College of Art & Design Institute for Public Art and Design. Visiting Critic, Jerome Foundation Visual Artist Fellowship Program, Minneapolis, MN. 1997-98 Visiting Lecturer, Department of Art, The Ohio State University, Columbus. 1996 Visiting Lecturer, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. 1995 Visiting Lecturer, Department of Art, The Ohio State University, Columbus. Moderator, "Landscape Architecture, Social Ideology and the Politics of Place: a Conference," Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. 1994-95 Moderator, "Landscape as Metaphor - New American Sculpture," Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH. Visiting Critic, Urban Design Center, Kent State University, Kent, OH. 1992 Adjunct Professor, Department of Studio Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Consultant, Minnesota Capitol Area Planning Board, Roy Wilkins Memorial Commission, Saint Paul. 1990 Lecturer, Design Center for American Urban Landscape, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. 1989 Minnesota Governor’s Urban Design Team, Crookston, MN. 1988 Panelist, NEA Midwest Region Public Arts Conference, Saint Paul, MN. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 2007 Hines, Susan. "Abstract Realism." Landscape Architecture (February). Sculpture. “Itinerary: Socrates Sculpture Park.” (October 2007) p. 17. Smith, Molly Bean. “Agricultural Arts Appreciation.” Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI) in Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 2006-2007 Annual Report of Progress (July 2007) pp. 5-6. 2006 Hanour, Cigalle. editor. The Cutting Edge of Wallpaper. London. Black Dog Publishing, p. 170 Mayr, Bill. “More than a Hill of Beans.” Columbus Dispatch (August 20) p. <> Ohio State Alumni Magazine. “Circling the Oval: Field of Beans.” (November-December) p. 16 Simon, Joan. Ann Hamilton: An Inventory of Objects. 2006. New York. Gregory R. Miller & Company. pp. 238-239 Starr, Ann. “Mystery Man.” Columbus Monthly (February) pp. 67-69. 2005 Amidon, Jane. series editor. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates: Allegheny Riverfront Park (Sourcebooks in Landscape Architecture 1). New York. Princeton Architectural Press. Flanagan, Regina. “Working with Artists . . .” Landscape Architecture (June) pp. 88-97. Hall, Jaqueline. “Viewers Might Take Mercil at his Word.” Columbus Dispatch (November 27) p. G4. Houston, Joe. for love or money: Michael Mercil (exhibition brochure). Columbus, OH. Columbus Museum of Art. Mayr, Bill. “Global Workplace, Columbus Address . . .” Columbus Dispatch (January 2) pp. G1-2. Reuter, Laurel and Robert Silberman. Increase: Ann Hamilton/Michael Mercil (exhibition catalog). Grand Forks. North Dakota Museum of Art. 2004 Dunlap, David W. “A Chip Off the Old Park.” New York Tmes (September 30) pp. B1; B8. Wright, Lesley, et al. Roots of Renewal (exhibition catalog). Grinnell, Iowa. Faulconer Gallery, Grinnell College. pp. 8; 32-33; 48; 75-78. 2003 Hartz, Jill, editor. Siting Jefferson: Contemporary Artists Interpret Thomas Jefferson’s Legacy (exhibition catalog). Charlottesville. University of Virginia Press. pp. 4; 9; 62-63; 73-74; 83-90; 100-101. Spaeth, Catherine. “Personal Visions.” Dialogue, The Art, Architecture and Design Journal of the Heartland (May-June 2003) pp. 58. _____________. “Under Construction: Teardrop Park, Battery Park City, New York, NY.” Dialogue, The Art, Architecture and Design Journal of the Heartland (September-October 2003) p. 41. Zollinger-Turner, Tracy. “25 People Making A Difference in the Arts in the Midwest.” Dialogue, The Art, Architecture and Design Journal of the Heartland (May-June 2003) p. 15. 2002 Moffatt, David. “Allegheny Riverfront Park.” Places, a Forum of Environmental Design. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 10-13. Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara. “Reflections on Spoleto’s ‘Evoking History’ June 2001.” in Reflections on Evoking History: Listening Across Cultures and Communities. Charleston, SC. pp. 22-30. 2001 Zurko, Kitty McManus, What’s in a Promise? (exhibition brochure). Wooster, OH. The College of Wooster Art Museum. 2000 Bloom, Andrew. "The Active Edge." Metropolis (March) p. 82-88; 130. Gilbert, Chris. "Hindsight/Fore-site: Interpreting Mr. Jefferson." 64 (August) pp. 30-31. Pearson, Clifford A. "Allegheny River Front Park, Pittsburg" Architectural Record (March) pp. 102-105. 1998 Intermedia Arts. Riflesport Revisited: Ten Years Later (exhibition catalog). Minneapolis. Litt, Steven. "Spaces Exhibition Less than the Sum of its Parts." Cleveland Plain Dealer (1 April) pp. 1F; 4F. Utter, Douglas Max. "Material World." New Art Examiner (June) p. 59-60. 1997 "Progressive Architecture Awards: Allegheny Riverfront Park." Architecture (January 1997) pp. 92-93. 1993 Anger, David. “Michael Mercil: Social and Urban Histories.” Architecture Minnesota (March/April) pp. 13; 53. 1991 Relyea, Lane. “Public Figures.” In 8 McKnight Artists (exhibition catalog). Minneapolis. Minneapolis College of Art & Design. 1987 McEvilley, Thomas. “Hard Questions: One Critics Reflections.” In Five Jerome Artists (exhibition catalog). Minneapolis. Minneapolis College of Art & Design. WRITINGS and REPORTS 2004 “Talking Narrative: A Conversation with David Antin.” edited by Brian McHale in Narrative. Vol. 12, no. 1 (January 2004), The Ohio State University Press, pp. 93-115. 2003 “Acadia Duplex.” TriQuarterly. Issue 116 (Summer 2003), Northwestern University Press, p. 300. “In My Father’s House: An Historical Melancholy in Two Acts.” In Siting Jefferson: Contemporary Artists Interpret Thomas Jefferson’s Legacy. Jill Hartz, editor. Charlottesville. University of Virginia Press. pp. 83-90. 1997 "Teaching De-design." Public Art Review. Vol. 8, No. 2, Issue 16, FORECAST Public Artworks. pp. 19-21. 1993 "A New Life for the Shortline Bridge." Places: A Quarterly Journal of Environmental Design. Vol. 8, No. 4, MIT Press. pp. 91-93. 1992 “Promises, Promises: of Earthly Power and Heavenly Glory.” Places: A Quarterly Journal of Environmental Design. Vol. 7, No. 4, MIT Press. pp. 74-83. 1990 “Public Art for Public Works: A Report to the City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works.” Department of Public Works, Saint Paul, MN. (principal drafter) “A City Plan for Public Art.” City Plan Committee, Public Art Saint Paul, “Public Art on the Capitol Mall.” Minnesota Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. Saint Paul, MN. 1988 “Democratic Vistas: American Front Yards as Public Space -- A Landscape History to 1900.” Master’s thesis, The University of Chicago. "Lake Harriet Boatpark." Public Art Possibilities. Minneapolis Arts Commission. COMMITTEES and ORGANIZATIONS Minnesota Museum of Art, Saint Paul, MN. Trustee Committee for Facilities 1990-1993 The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Campus Art & Memorials Committee 2002-present College of the Arts, Urban Art Space Advisory Committee 2008-present Department of Art, Graduate Studies Committee 2003-present Department of Art, Chair Search Committee 2003-2005 Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities Oversight Committee 2002-2005 Public Art Review, Saint Paul, MN, National Advisory Board, 1996-1999 Public Art Saint Paul, Saint Paul, MN. City Plan for Public Art Committee 1988-1989 Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN, Arts Center Advisory Council 1991-1993 Union Depot Concourse Task Force, Saint Paul, MN 1989-1990 United States Department of Interior, National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Working Group on Cultural Resources 1991-1992 Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN, Arts Center Advisory Council 1991-1993 United States Department of Interior, National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Working Group on Cultural Resources 1991-1992 > INFORMATION Click here to download pdf version ARTWORK INFORMATION MICHAEL MERCIL