Letitia Quesenberry lives and works in Louisville Kentucky. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati. Through the play of material, process, surface and technology, Quesenberry creates hypnotic objects that extend the boundaries of visual perception. Her bright amalgamations contain layers of vibratory and translucent elements: color correction film, tinted resin, mica dust, coal slag, pyrite, glitter, sanded plexiglass, fluorescent paint, LEDs. She focuses on visibility, bewilderment, and the desire to celebrate uncertainty.
Recent exhibitions include David Smith Gallery, Denver; 57W57, New York; Ryan Lee Gallery, New York; the Speed Art Museum, Louisville; KMAC, Louisville; and 21C Museum. She is the recipient of grants from SouthArts, Great Meadows Foundation as well as the Al Smith Fellowship, the Vermont Studio Center Helen Frankenthaler Fellowship & Efroymson Contemporary Arts Fellowship.
“Opacity runs through
Quesenberry’s work like a preoccupation.
It’s shown up so frequently, demonstrated itself fully and repeatedly that the question is laid bare:
why is favor given to a lens that clarifies by means of precision, and one that reveals by omission?”
– Joe Manning
CV
EDUCATION
BFA University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH magna cum laude
SOLO & TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2022
Future Maybe, David B Smith Gallery, Denver CO
2020
Somewhere in the Future I am Remembering Today, David B Smith Gallery, Denver CO
Hyperspace 15, Proxy Gallery, Culver City CA
Darker, Surface Noise, Louisville KY
2019
((heat)), Quappi Projects, Louisville KY
Melanie’s Office, 57w57arts, New York NY
Hyperspace, University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN
Non-Arrivals, Natalie O Design, Louisville KY
2018
Little Darlings + Hyperspace, Deborah Berke Partners, New York NY
*A Brief Elaboration of a Tube, Huff Gallery, Spaulding University, Louisville KY
2017
Memento Vivere, RL Window, Ryan Lee Gallery, New York NY
2016
Small Antidote, Rockford University Clark Arts Center, Rockford IL
HYPERSPACE, Pieter, Los Angeles CA
2015
*Audio & Optics, MSU Visual Arts Center, Starkville MS
2014
*Outside In / Inside Out, IDEAS 40203, Louisville KY
Blinking Stand, GMA, Cincinnati OH
2013
Notes to the Future, Zephyr Gallery, Louisville KY
2012
Light Box, Zephyr Gallery, Louisville KY
2011
Peeled, Rasdall Gallery | University of Kentucky, Lexington KY
Peeled, SpaceCamp Microgallery, Indianapolis IN
2010
More or Less, Zephyr Gallery, Louisville KY
2009
Here Now \There Then, 21c Museum, Louisville KY
2008
Big New Empty, Zephyr Gallery, Louisville KY
2007
Until, Smack Mellon, Brooklyn NY
2006
The Rest, Zephyr Gallery Louisville KY
2005
Suddenly, Zephyr Gallery Louisville KY
2003
Oblivion, Zephyr Gallery Louisville KY
2001
13 Curves, galerie hertz Louisville KY
* = collaboration
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Rounding the Circle: The Mary and Alfred Shands Collection, Speed Art Museum, Louisville KY
2022
Not a Certainty But a Circumstance, Quappi Projects, Louisville KY
A Thought is a River, The Carnegie, Covington KY
2021
A Howl is Also a Prayer, Georgetown College, Georgetown KY
The Shands Collection: New Directions, Quappi Projects, Louisville KY
The Yellow Show, Surface Noise, Louisville KY
2020
Southern Prize and State Fellows, Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus GA
2019
TIME, the Parachute Factory, Lexington KY
Mental Misconceptions, University of Louisville, Louisville KY
2017
Victory Over the Sun,The Poetics and Politics of Eclipse, KMAC Museum, Louisville KY
Shifting Coordinates, 21c Museum, Bentonville AR
2016
Shifting Coordinates, 21c Museum, Cincinnati OH
Home and Away: Highlights from the Speed Art Museum Collection and Beyond, Speed Art Museum, Louisville KY
2015
Female Icons & Identity, Green Building Gallery, Louisville KY
2014
PRESS: Artist & Machine, KMAC Museum, Louisville KY
Tramps Like Us, Lexington KY
Dis-semblance, 21c Museum, Bentonville AK
Analog/Analogy, Zephyr Gallery, Louisville KY
2013
Wayward Bound, Rare Gallery, New York NY
Unhinged, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn NY
Dis-semblance, 21c Museum, Cincinnati OH
The Ephemeral, The Fleeting, McGrath Gallery | Bellarmine University, Louisville KY
Inhabited Gardens: Art from Kentucky, Ascent, Cincinnati OH
Welcome Neighbor, LOCAL Speed, Louisville KY
Enchanting Forms, IDEAS 40203, Louisville KY
2012
Contained, Gateway Arts Festival | FOTOFOCUS, Cincinnati OH
2011
Movement-Monument, MUSECPMI, New York NY
Expanded Music Project, Land of Tomorrow (LOT), Louisville KY
Vanishing Point, McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville KY
Summer Heat, Land of Tomorrow (LOT), Louisville KY
Transparency & Trans-formations, US Embassy, Stockholm SE
Myself, Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery, University of Reno, Reno, NV
Opposites Attract, Speed Art Museum, Louisville KY
2010
Louisville is the Land of Tomorrow, Land of Tomorrow (LOT), Louisville KY
Seeing is Becoming, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, Indianapolis IN
Shape Shifter, Country Club, Cincinnati, OH
The Death of Painting is Dead, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
2009
White Noise, Peeler Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
2008
Big Big Small Small, Dean Jenson Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
2007
DePauw Biennial, Peeler Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
Hot Fun, New Center for Contemporary Art, Louisville, KY
Roar Shock, Swanson Reed Contemporary, Louisville, KY
2006
Bluegrass Biennial, Morehead State University Morehead, KY
Uncommonwealth, Lexington Art League Lexington,KY
2005
Cambridge Art Association Cambridge, MA
Kentucky Artisan Center Berea, KY
Celebrating Women, Convention Center Louisville, KY
2003
Potential Images of the World, Speed Art Museum Louisville, KY
KY National, Eagle Gallery | Murray State University Murray, KY
2002
Out of Sight, Carnegie Center for Art and History New Albany, IN
2001
NEXT, Louisville Visual Art Association Louisville, KY
Water Tower Annual, Louisville, KY
Drawing Show, Museum 121, Louisville, KY
Partnerstadtprojeckt, Mainz Germany
Kentucky Visions, Frankfort, KY
1999
galerie hertz Louisville, KY
953 Louisville, KY
AWARDS
2020
Vermont Studio Center Helen Frankenthaler Fellowship
South Arts Kentucky Fellowship
2018
Great Meadows Foundation Artist Professional Development Grant
2016
Great Meadows Foundation Artist Professional Development Grant
2013
Ephemeral Art & Practice Symposium, Bellarmine University
2012
Speed Museum Art After Dark:redbluegreen
2011
Speed Museum Art After Dark: BLUR
2010
Creative Capital Professional Development Program
2009
Speed Museum Artist Dialogues
2008
Ucross Foundation Residency, Clearmont WY
Efroymson Contemporary Arts Fellowship
Cincinnati Art Museum 4th Floor Award Finalist
2005
Grant, Pace Trust for Creative Visual Arts
2004
Al Smith Fellowship, Kentucky Arts Council
2001
Individual Artist Grant, Kentucky Foundation for Women
Grant. Sister Cities Artist Enrichment Program
Purchase Award, Kentucky Arts Council
VIEWING PROGRAMS
Pierogi Flat Files, Brooklyn NY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2022
New American Paintings #154, Open Studios Press, Jan. 21.
2021
Carstens, Ian. Glass Breakfast Q & A. Ruckus, Jan.18.
2020
Chandler, Mary Voelz. Somewhere in the Future I am Remembering Today. DARIA, Sept. 4.
2019
Bickel, Megan. Letitia Quesenberry at Quappi Projects. AEQAI, Aug. 24.
Clore, Mary. (((heat))). Ruckus, Aug. 21.
Keel, Eli. In New Solo Exhibition (((heat))) Artist Letitia Quesenberry Combines Past Techniques and Work. WFPL, Aug. 16.
Taylor, Kaylyn. (((heat))) Uses Color, Shape to Mesmerize. LEOweekly, Aug. 14.
2018
Bickel, Megan. A Brief Elaboration of a Tube. AEQAI, Feb. 19.
Warth, Kevin. A Brief Elaboration of a Tube. Ruckus, Feb 2.
2017
Morrin, Peter. Victory Over The Sun: The Poetics and Politics of Eclipse. UnderMain.
Yanoviak, Eileen. Louisville Artists at the Louisville Ballet. Burnaway, Feb. 25.
2014
Frassica, Matt. Portland is becoming a new affordable haven for artists. Courier Journal, Mar. 30.
2013
Anderson, Ashley. Letitia Quesenberry. The Voice, Vol.2.
Artist Class. Louisville Magazine, October.
2012
Gifford, Chelsea. Art: Into Darkness. LEO, October 17.
2011
Boskovic, Boshko. Monument-Movement. November 29. (catalog)
Serpentini, Alexia. Noted 2: Letitia Quesenberry. http://alexiaserpentini.blogspot.com, November 24.
Priest, Joy. Artist Peeled Images and Memories for New Exhibit. Kentucky Kernel, September 27.
Bennett, Katy. Sixty Days-One Exhibit. UKNOW, September 26.
Gifford, Chelsea. Art: Get hot and bothered with ‘Summer Heat’. LEO, July 20.
Vecchio, Marjorie. Myself: A Survey of Contemporary Self-Portraiture. January 18. (catalog)
2010
Stites, Alice Gray. What is Now, What is Next: Transparency & Transformations. April 1. (catalog)
Durrell, Jane. Shapeshifter. City Beat, March 31.
Stockman, Kathy. Shapeshifter at Country Club. AEQAI, March 5.
Group Exhibition “Shapeshifter” on View at Country Club. Artdaily.org, January 30.
Linn, Bruce. The Death of Painting is Dead. January 1. (catalog)
2009
Louisville Counts! A Children’s Counting and Art Book. Holland Brown Books.
Triplett, JoAnne. Here Now, There Then. LEO, November 25.
2008
Triplett, JoAnne. Big New Empty. LEO, March 12.
Heilenman, Diane. Artist Explores Line Between Perception…. Courier Journal, February 24.
2007
BEJEEZUS, vol.9, September 19.
Heilenman, Diane. Poets words inspire. Courier Journal, November 11.
2006
Linn, Bruce. Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax-All the Art that Sticks In 2006. LEO, December 26.
Skinner, Jeffrey. Universe in a Box. Pitch Magazine, March 1. (drawings)
2005
CELEBRATING WOMEN. text by Maiza Hixson. August 1. (catalog)
Heilenman, Diane. Works at Zephyr, Swanson Reed Engage Eye & Mind. Courier Journal, January 30.
NEW AMERICAN PAINTINGS # 58. Open Studios Press, June 1.
2003
Jones, Michael. Matched Pair. LEO, April 2.
KENTUCKY NATIONAL. text by Julien Robson. March 6. (catalog)
2002
Millar, Leslie. Out of Mainz. LEO, January 30.
2001
Drozt, Amy. What’s Next. Courier Journal, June 17.
CONTACT:
letque@mac.com