EDUCATION
1997 BFA Photography, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
Poetry Foundation, Diana Solís: Encuentros, Poetry Communities Chicago, IL
2015
Juncture, The Art Lab, Simones, Chicago, IL
2010
Heroes and Other Strangers, Oxala Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
2007
Centro de Atracción, Dubhe Carreño Gallery, Chicago, IL
2005
Between Myth and Reality, Dubhe Carreño Gallery, Chicago, IL
1987
Diana Solis, Photographer, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2020
Untitled: New Works, Sam Kirk and Diana Solís, Pilsen Outpost Gallery, Chicago, IL
2014
This is not a Fairy Tale, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL (with illustrator Chema Skandal)
Spunky Funky, La Llorona Gallery, Chicago, IL (with painter Alfredo Matus)
Beyond Whimsy, Brainforest Gallery, Chicago, IL 2010 (with artist Clair Rosean)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Contigo, Diana Solís, Co-Prosperity Sphere Gallery, Chicago, IL
Images on which to build, Leslie Lohman Museum of Art, New York, New York
2022
Images on which to build, Cincinnati Art Center, Cincinnati, OH
2021
LatinXAmerican, January 2020, DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
2018
Chicago Bound, Orbit, Chicago, IL
2016
Symbol: Cobalt Art Studio, Chicago, IL
Latino Art of the Midwest: Into the 21st Century, University of Dayton Ohio, Dayton, Ohio
2015
House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2014
The Vinyl Frontier, Chicago Truborn Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
2012
Libertad Sonora: “eco/sistmas”, Electronic Art Exhibition, In conjunction with the Festival of Latin American Electronic Music Festival, Co-Prosperity Sphere Gallery, Chicago, IL
Hanal Pixán Food for the Soul: Día de los Muertos, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2011
Tigers, Totems and Tamales, Oxala Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
CelebreARTE, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago, IL
2009
Pilsen Artists, Walkers Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
PRINT PORTFOLIOS
2033
Carlos Cortéz 100 Años, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2019
Conquering Crossroads: Time Traveling With This Bridge Called My Back, Instituto Gráfico de Chicago, Marimacha Monarca Press, Chicago, IL
2018
José Guerrero, Presente: A Memorial Print Portfolio
Depaul Art Museum, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
2017
Contra/Against
Instituto Gráfico de Chicago, Chicago, IL
2014
Carlos Cortéz Koyokuikatl / 10 years / In Memoriam
25 Artists Celebrate the Life and Death of Carlos Cortéz, Instituto Gráfico de Chicago, Chicago, IL
PUBLIC ARTWORK
2019
El Abrazo, Phase II outdoor mural in collaboration with artists Eric J. Garcia and Katia Perez Fuentes. Mural commissioned by El Paseo Community Garden, Chicago, IL
2017
El Abrazo, Phase I outdoor mural in Pilsen in collaboration with artists Eric J. Garcia and Katia Perez Fuentes. Mural commissioned by El Paseo Community Garden and part of Chicago’s Year in Public Art. Chicago, IL
2016
Caracol, installation and public gathering space on Chicago’s lakefront in collaboration with artists Georgina Valverde and José Terrazas in partnership with community-based organization Contratiempo sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Field Museum’s The Roots and Routes Initiative. Chicago, IL
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Artist-in-residence in school and after-school and community-based arts education programs. Grades 1 – 12. Bilingual Arts curriculum development, science and art integration, illustration, printmaking, bookmaking, mural design, drawing, painting, street art graphics, cut and 3D paper art, found object sculptural construction, and Installation.
2019-present
Teaching Artist, visual arts, CASA Program, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2016-present
Teaching Artist, visual arts, Urban Gateways, Chicago, IL
2011- present
Teaching Artist, visual arts, artist-in-residence, after-school and in-school programs, Changing Worlds, Chicago, IL
2014- 2002
Teaching Artist, visual arts, after-school and in-school programs, Elevarte Community Studio, Chicago, IL
2005
Teaching Artist, adult, and educator art classes, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2001
Teaching Artist, Arts Education Department Community Arts workshops, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
1997
Adjunct Professor of Art, Humanities Department, San Agustin College, Chicago, IL
AWARDS, GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2017
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, 50x50 Neighborhood Arts Project Grant for Mural Project in collaboration with El Paseo Community Garden Project, Chicago, IL
2015
Chicago Park District Grant for Gathering Spaces within the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, Chicago, IL
2009
Recipient Sor Juana Women of Achievement Award, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2005
Illinois Arts Council Technical Assistance Grant, Chicago, IL
2001
Illinois Arts Council Governor’s International Arts’ Exchange Program, Chicago, IL
1997
Faculty Prize in Photography, Film and Electronic Media, University of Illinois at Chicago,
Chicago, IL
1991
Illinois Arts Council Completion Grant, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, IL
1987
Graduate College Research Fellowship in Photography, University of Illinois at Chicago.
1986
Neighborhood Arts Portfolio Development Grant, Chicago Arts Council, Chicago, IL
LECTURES
2018
LGBTQ Experience in Chicago and Mexico City, ECCE Speaker Series, University of Illinois, Springfield, Illinois.
2013
Art, Gender and Cancer Health Disparities, Praxis Center Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Michigan.
2012
Latina Women in the Arts: Chicano Mural Movement Chicago and San Francisco. The Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program (LACAS) and the Art Museum. Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York.
PANELS
2022
Images on Which to Build, Symposium, 2022 FOTOFOCUS Cincinnati, Ohio
2020
Women Presidents, Electoral Gender Equality, & Lesbian Feminist Organizing in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico: Challenges to Resurgent Toxic Masculine Politics, Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Conference.
2019
An Artist Conversation about Chicana Photographer, Laura Aguilar, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
2019
MIDWEST WOMEN’S ARTIST SYMPOSIUM Transforming Midwest Culture and Society, Women Artists, 1960;’s to 1980’s. Documenting Chicana/o Chicago, 1970’s – 1980’s” by Hinda Seif and Diana Solís, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2016
Chicago Art Conversations on the Making of the Equitable City 1: Building Creative Communities: Latinas in Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Latino Art Now Conference, Chicago, IL
Recovering Early Artists and Legacies, University of Illinois at Chicago, Latino Art Now conference, Chicago, IL
2009
Film Screening and Panel Discussion of “Territories of the Breast” by Sonia Báez-Hernandez, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS
Ordonez, T. (2017, May 30). Art in Nature “Gathering Spaces” along the path of the Burnham Wildlife Corridor. Nature. Nature Issue 2017/visual Arts. South Side Weekly.
Messer, M. (2016, March 24). Five Gathering Spaces Announced for Chicago’s Lakefront.
The Architects Paper. Retrieved from http://www.archpaper.com
El Abrazo Phase I (2017, October 21) The Visualist, Chicago Visual Arts Calendar. Retrived from
http://www.thevisualist.org
Edelman, Maciel, Olivia “Vanguardia en Latinoamérica,” Revista Iberoamericana
Vol. LXXIV No. 224 University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA Cover Illustration (July – September 2008)
Lynderson, Kari “Diana Solís y Patricia Acosta: La oscuridad y la luz de sus mundos de fantasia,”
Contratiempo Magazine, Issue No. 59 Chicago, IL (September – October 2008)
Aparecio, R. Frances and Sandoval-Sánchez, Alberto “Hybridismos Culturales: la literatura y cultura de los latinos en los Estados unidos, “Revista Iberoamericana, Vol. LXXI, No.212
University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA Cover Illustration (July – September 2005)
Negro, Delia “Diana Solís y su Exploración Creativa,” Contratiempo Magazine, Issue No. 15
Chicago, IL (July 2004)
Gaweki, E. Marsha “Diana Solís: Painting Mountains in Wicker Park,” La Raza, Arena Cultural Supplement, Chicago, IL (July 9, 2000)
Garza, Marie, Melita “Showing her Colors,” Latina Magazine (September 1998)
Mendieta, Ana “Report, Wicker Park Gentrify,” Chicago Sun-Times (December 26, 1999)
Badikian, Beatriz “Mapmaker Revisited,” Gladsome Books Cover Illustration (1999)
COLLECTIONS
DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
National Museum of Mexican Art
Ann Serrano López, Los Angeles California
Jim and Donna Ayelsworth, Chicago, IL
Françoise de Brugada, Paris France
Bertha Ruiz de la Concha, Mexico City, Mexico
Fred Hanson, New York, N.Y.
Sandra Cisneros, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Beatriz and David Gartler, Chicago, IL
Ruth Horowitz, New York, N.Y.
Mary K. Vaughan, Oaxaca, Mexico
Laura Munt and Ferran Kali Kelonen, Barcelona, Spain
Bill Heidorn, Oak Park, IL