I use textile crafts to explore masculinity’s conflicting messages, and I typically use the embroidery sampler form to document how I’ve been educated to be a man in US society and to document memories. My more recent active shooter / school shooting pieces (“run, hide, fight”) are my next generation samplers: I worked in educational institutions, in which we were trained on how to respond to active shooter situations, and these pieces document my ongoing education.
2021-Present
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Continuing education courses in printmaking
2010
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
Master of Fine Arts in Textiles
1991
Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA, USA
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
1986
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Bachelor of Science in Economics (Concentration: Insurance) and Bachelor of Arts in English
2014
First Place Award for Sampler #11, Politically Charged Show
Curator: Shelly Willis, Director, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission
2010
San Francisco State University Graduate Student Award for Distinguished Achievement
2008
Murphy & Cadogan Fellowship in the Fine Arts (Sponsor: San Francisco Foundation)
2018
Kost, R. “Queer art exhibition explores shaping force of ‘A History of Violence.'” San Francisco Chronicle, June 12, 2018.
Le, A.-M. “‘It’s Our Way of Resisting’”: An unlikely South Bay museum taps into a wellspring of pain over gun violence.” San Francisco Magazine, April 2018, pp. 30-31.
Blume, L.B. and Weatherston, R. “Queering the Campus Gender Landscape Through Visual Arts Praxis.” In Mapping Queer Space(s) of Praxis and Pedagogy, Queer Studies and Education (McNeil, E. et al., eds.), 2018, pp. 71-103.
2017
Hochberger, C. “7 Artworks Taking a Stance on Gun Violence.” Artspace, December 4, 2017.
2016
“Datebook: Bren Ahearn’s Work on Gender and Masculinity at Bellevue Arts Museum, Washington.” Blouin Art Info, September 5, 2016.
Diaz, J. “Interview with Artist Bren Ahearn.” Anti-Heroin Chic, August 19, 2016.
Crowder, D. “Bren Ahearn: Spin me a Tale.” TextileArtist.org, July 20, 2016.
Upchurch, M. “Artist confronts gun violence, gender roles through embroidery.” Seattle Times, July 11, 2016.
Murray, R. “Bellevue Arts Museum Exhibit Explores Gender Roles, Homophobia and Violence.” Eastside Scene, June 24, 2016, pp. 9, 12.
“Emotionally charged, tongue-in-cheek samplers by Bren Ahearn at Bellevue Arts Museum.” Artdaily.com, June 11, 2016.
2015
Jarque, F. “Puntadas de doble filo.” El Pais Semanal, December 1, 2015.
Nath, Gopika. “Men who picked up the needle.” Deccan Herald of Bangalore, India, September 20, 2015.
2014
Hightower, M. “The Big 5-0! An interview with Bren Ahearn, Fiber Artist.” Mixed Remnants, September 10, 2014.
2013
Catalani, S. “Codes of Conduct.” Surface Design Journal, Summer 2013, pp. 22-27
2021
Crafty Queers, v 5.0, Desert Weavers and Spinners, Palm Springs, CA, USA
2019
Artists’ Panel: Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel, CA, USA
2018
A History of Violence Walkthrough, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA, USA
2016
Bren Ahearn: 1964-2016, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
A Conversation with Bren Ahearn and Stefano Catalani, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA, USA
2015
Queering our World Artists’ Panel, in conjunction with affiliated Queering our World Conference, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA, USA
2011
Men's Work Show Artists’ Panel, Box Factory, San Francisco, CA, USA
Moderator: Tina Takemoto
State Of Community - Art, Politics & Community Panel, Underground Books, Sacramento, CA, USA
2016-2017
Bren Ahearn: Strategies for Survival, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA, USA
Curator: Stefano Catalani
2013
Black and Blue, Sacramento Temporary Contemporary Gallery, Sacramento, CA, USA
Curator: Rafael Delgado
An Early Sampling, Alumni Hall Gallery, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
Curators: Sharon Bliss and Mark Johnson
2011
Thread of Masculinity, v 2.0, Ridley Gallery, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA, USA
Manmade, Evolve the Gallery, Sacramento, CA, USA
2024
New Now VII, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2020
Uncertain Times, La Quinta Museum, La Quinta, CA, USA (ongoing virtual exhibit)
Curator: Sharla Fox
PRIDE, Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Curator: Tracy Krumm
Armed Disposal, Victori and Mo, New York, NY, USA
Curators: Celine Mo and Katrina Majkut
The Power of Words, Coachella Valley Art Center, Indio, CA, USA
Curator: Bill Schinsky
2019
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel, CA, USA
Curator: Jan Wurm
2018
A History of Violence, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA, USA
Curator: Rudy Lemcke
Guns: Loaded Conversations, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, CA, USA
Curator: Amy DiPlacido
2017
Social Fabric/Moral Fiber, Gallery West, Grant Campus of Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood, NY, USA
Curators: Leila Daw and Michaelann Tostanoski (catalog)
2016
(De) Constructing Identity, Greenly Gallery, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA, USA
Curator: David Kube
2015
OUT/Break, Sarah Silberman Art Gallery, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD, USA
Curators: Robin Meyer and Molly Nuzzo
Needle’s Eye: Contemporary Embroidery, Kode, Art Museums of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
(Traveled to National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway)
(catalog: pp. 48-49)
2014
Scythia 10, Local Lore Museum, Kherson, Ukraine
Curators: Ludmila Egorova and Andrew Schneider (catalog: p. 10)
