Artist Statement

My work spans diverse media, from painting and weaving to installation and sculpture. I explore the possibilities of mark-making, examine writing systems and vernacular styles, and ask how we process and interpret visual information. Frequently, I incorporate ideas from other disciplines. My Jacquard tapestries focus on the convergence of visual and textual languages, making connections between text and textile. In dialogue with the material culture of weaving, I examine how weaving intersects and augments developments in writing, painting, and abstraction.

Specific themes persist in my art: an interest in structures, the potential of mark-making, notation and writing systems, an exploration of vernacular styles, and how perception is shaped through context and relationships. By merging ideas and transforming materials, I place my work in conversation with a range of topics, while inviting close reading and looking.

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Artist Biography

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Annette Cords received her MFA from the University of Pennsylvania and currently lives in New York City. Cords’ recent Jacquard tapestries investigate how we read and decipher visual information in order to construct meaning and navigate our environment. Recent solo exhibitions include Shape/Shifters, Project: ARTspace, New York; Breaking the Grid at Kang Contemporary in Berlin; Sideways, New York Public Library; Diamond Days, Villa Rosenthal, Jena, Germany. Her work has appeared in group shows at venues including the Queens Museum, Flux Factory, The Drawing Center, Kentler International Drawing Space, and Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles. She has been the recipient of grants and residencies, including a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship and an Open Sessions Residency at The Drawing Center.

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Education

1993
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
MFA, Painting

1987
Principia College, Elsah, IL
BA, Studio Art and English

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Awards & Honors

2014
Open Sessions, Drawing Center, New York, NY

2010
Change, Inc., Robert Rauschenberg Fellowship

2003
New York Foundation for the Arts Artists’ Fellowship

2000
GMDC Artist’s Grant

1992
Gutman Center Residency

1991
Posey Foundation Award

Teaching Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania

1990
University of Pennsylvania Fine Arts Scholarship

1987
Kathryn Cogswell Maule Art Opportunity Award

Adelaide Caroll Johnson Art Contribution Award

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Bibliography

2020
Conner, Jill, "Saturday—A Studio Visit,” AS I MAG, Medium, July 13, 2020

Conner, Jill, “Shape/Shifters—Gestures in Form,” Exhibition Catalogue, USA, 2020

2019
Mewes, Claus, “Fragment and Thread,” Exhibition Catalogue, Germany, 2019

"Lost in the Funhouse," Wall Street International Magazine, March 4, 2019

2017
Goodman, Jonathan, “Cognition-Stroll by Annette Cords and Becky Brown at Project: ARTspace,” Arte Fuse, July 18, 2017

“Two-person exhibition by Annette Cords and Becky Brown on view at Project: ARTspace,” Artdaily.org, June 29, 2017

Istomina, Tatiana, “Cognition-Stroll,’ Exhibition Catalogue, USA, 2017

2016
Goodman, Jonathan, “Urban Tapestries, Urban Knowledge,” Annette Cords: Tapestries, Infinite Island Press, 2016

2014
Anaya Maya, David, “Overlapping Codes: Becky Brown and Annette Cords Studio Visit,” The Bottom Line, Drawing Center Blog, November 3, 2014

Dawang, Doreen & Thayer, Eric, “The Grid Hypothesis,” Interview & Photojournalistic Story, Wondereur, No. 82, April 2014

2013
Rubenstein, Rebecca, “Art Meets Science at Mid-Manhattan Public Library,” The Library as Incubator Project, October 23, 2013

Whitworth, Matt, “URBN Annex Hosts Spatial Translations Collaboration,” The Triangle, August 9, 2013

Newhall, Edith, “Subdued, Sympathetic,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly.com, September 9, 2013

2012
Zeuner, Anne, "Klingende Kunstwerke," Thüringische Landeszeitung, September 25, 2012, p. 1

2010
Rice, Robin, “Magic Number,” Philadelphia City Paper, July 27, 2010

2008
Hoban, Phoebe, “All That’s Solid Melts Into Air,” Exhibition Catalog, USA, 2008, p. 4

“Critics Pick,” Time Out New York, December 18, 2008, p. 94

2007
Lovelace, Carey, “Girls, Girls, Girls,” Art in America, June/July 2007, p. 91

Goodrich, John, “From the Inside Out,” New York Sun, March 22, 2007

Rosenberg, Susan, “From the Inside Out: Feminist Art Then & Now,” Exhibition Catalog, USA, p. 2, 13

2006
Hoffman, Hank, “Text Messaging,” Blogspot, September 15, 2006

2005
Rosof, Libby, “Density Squared,” Artblog, January 17, 2005

2004
Woldsen, Inken, “Fortuna,” Exhibition Catalog, Germany, 2004, p. 4, 12-13

2002
Strauss, R.B., “Pentimenti shows Ideal Abstraction,” West Chester Weekly, October 5, 2002, p. C7

2001
Condon, Elisabeth, “Fusion,” NY Arts Magazine, September 2001, p. 55

Strauss, R.B., “First Friday in Old City,” University City Review, September 2001, p.19

2000
Bessert, Erle, “Kunst aus Pinneberg,” Exhibition Catalog, Germany, 2000, p. 6-7

Schilling, Siegfried, “Ausstellung in der Drostei,” Uetersener Nachrichten, July 29, 2000, p. 11

Klein, Kuno, “Zwölf Pinneberger Künstler,” Hamburger Abendblatt, July 24, 2000, p. 3

1999
Berry, William, “Border to Border 7,” Exhibition Catalog, USA, 1999, p. 7, 15

Exhibitions

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Solo & Two-Person

2024
Notation (Annette Cords and Ilene Sunshine), Project: ARTspace, New York, NY

2020
Shape-Shifters, Project: ARTspace, New York, NY (catalogue)

2019
Breaking the Grid, Kang Contemporary, Berlin, Germany (catalogue)

2018
Between Two Horizons, Kang Contemporary, Berlin
With Dirk Eicken

2017
Cognition-Stroll, Project: ARTspace, New York, NY (catalogue)
With Becky Brown

2013
Sideways, The Corner Room, New York Public Library, New York, NY

Tandem Mass, Art Wall on Third, New York Public Library, New York, NY

2012
Diamond Days, Villa Rosenthal, Jena, Germany

KlangFarben, Jenaer Kunstverein im Stadtspeicher, Jena, Germany
With Peter Vogel

2011
Turnarounds, AxD Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2009
Cross-Coupling, Posie Kviat Gallery, Hudson, NY

2008
Cross-Coupling, AxD Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

The Hidden Effect of Time, The Hall, InLiquid at the Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA

Cords / Brandhorst, Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

2007
Silke Nelius Art-Consulting, Essen/Bad Oldesloe, Germany

2005
Paintings & Works on Paper, Galerie Klosterformat, Rostock, Germany

2003
Parallel Passages, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
With Neil Jussila

2001
Investigations of Language & Place, InLiquid at Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA
With Paul Fabozzi

Paintings & Collages, Büdnerei, Lehsten, Germany

2000
tisch-lein-deck-dich, petriGalerie, Rostock, Germany

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Group

2024
Hearth, Frame, Foundation, InLiquid/Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA

2020
In Union, Remotely, Shaker Museum Mount Lebanon, New Lebanon, NY

Relocation, AS I Artist Studios, New York, NY

2019
Tell Us Plainly What You Mean, Aquarius Studios, New York, NY

Lost in the Funhouse, InLiquid at SPRING/BREAK Art Show, New York, NY

Chance Encounter, InLiquid at Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA

2018
Saunter Trek Escort Parade (S.T.E.P.), Queens Museum & Flux Factory, New York, NY

Im Fokus: Multiple Art, Brunswiker Pavillon, Kiel, Germany

Plus One, Project: ARTspace, New York, NY

2017
Elemental, InLiquid at Lacey & Phillips Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2016
Kiosk, Project Room & Flat Files, Odetta Gallery, New York, NY

InLiquid at Sundance, Sundance Film Channel, New York, NY

Art on Paper, Pier 35, New York, NY
With G.W. Einstein Company

2015
Name It by Trying to Name It, The Drawing Center, New York, NY

Selections from Open Sessions, Poor Farm, Manawa, WI

Textual, Odetta Gallery, New York, NY

Open Sessions 3, The Drawing Center, New York, NY

Confluence & Influence, Hewitt Gallery, Marymount Manhattan College, New York, NY

Off the Grid, Umbrella Arts, New York, NY

Metro Curates, Metropolitan Pavillion, New York, NY
With Umbrella Arts

2014
Circumstances, Kentler International Drawing Space, New York, NY

BAM Art Auction, Whitebox Art Center, New York, NY

2013
Spatial Translations, InLiquid at Pearlstein Gallery, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Boom & Bloom, The Phatory, New York, NY

The Complete Coloring Book Show, TNC Gallery, New York, NY

Hommage an Havaianas, Escola Alema Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Members Show, InLiquid at Ice Box Project Space, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA

IFPDA Print Fair, The Park Avenue Armory, New York, NY

2012
Network, Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY

Faculty Show, St. John’s University, Queens, NY (catalog)

InLiquid v.12, Ice Box Project Space, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA

ArcheTime, The Great Room, New York University, New York, NY

2011
An Exchange with Sol LeWitt, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA (catalog)

InLiquid Group Show, Society Hill Synagogue, Philadelphia, PA

2010
RSVP, LGTripp Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

20 x 20, Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, Montreal, Canada

Allegories and Allegiances, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Philagrafika 2010, Bahdeebahdu Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2009
Beyond the Fray – An Exploration of Visual Texture, Art Sites, Riverhead, NY

Fata Morgana, Dataport, Altenholz, Germany

URBN, Gallery 543, Urban Outfitters Headquarters, Philadelphia, PA

10 x 10, Ice Box Project Space, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA

Deutschland im Kasten, Werkhof, Kiel, Germany
Traveled to Galerie III, Schlossinsel Rantzau, Barmstedt, Germany

Aufbruch, Finanzministerium Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany (catalog)

2008
Back to the Drawing Board, Michael Steinberg Fine Art, New York, NY

Between the Lines, Artists Using Words, Art Sites, Riverhead, NY

As Is, thedramaloft, New York, NY

Works on Paper Benefit, Kentler International Drawing Space, New York, NY

Penn Design, Louis Meisel Gallery, New York, NY (catalog)

2007
Multisite, Dinter Fine Art, Project Room, New York, NY

Streichholz-Schactel-Utopie, IZET Innovationszentrum, Itzehoe, Germany

FlashPop, Location One, New York, NY

multiple choice, Elbeforum, Brunsbüttel, Germany

From the Inside Out: Feminist Art Then & Now, Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery, St. John’s University, New York, NY (catalog)

Hitoshi Nakazato Tribute Exhibiton, Ice Box Project Space, Philadelphia, PA (catalog)

2006
Texture, Arts + Literature Laboratory, New Haven, CT

1801 K Street, Public Art Project with Michael Steinberg Fine Art, Washington, DC

Immersion, The Ice Box Project Space, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA

2005
American Drawing Biennial, Muscarelle Museum of Art, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Momenta Art Benefit 2005, Momenta Art & White Columns, New York, NY

2004
Specific Density, Borowsky Gallery, Gershman Y, Philadelphia, PA
Curator: Miriam Seidel

Material Wellpappe, GEDOK-Atlierhaus, Lübeck, Germany

Fortuna, Innenministerium Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
Traveled to Stiftung Landdrostei, Pinneberg, and Kulturzentrum Marstall, Ahrensburg (catalog)

2003
InFiltration, Unfiltered Fringe, sponsored by InLiquid, Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA

Faculty Show, Chung-Cheng Gallery, St. John’s University, Queens, NY

Abstractions, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA

Penn MFA Alumni Exhibition, Kroiz Gallery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

2002
New Directions ’02, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY

U.S. Artists Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
With Pentimenti Gallery

Ideal Abstraction, Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Momenta Art Benefit 2002, Momenta Art & White Columns, New York, NY

Reactions, Exit Art, New York, NY
Traveled to Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, and Library of Congress, Washington, DC

2001
Kleine Formate, Sperl Galerie, Potsdam, Germany

Collaborative Fusion, 450 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY

Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2000
Kunst aus Pinneberg, Stiftung Landdrostei, Pinneberg, Germany

Local/Global 2000, A-1/Lab Art Space, Knoxville, TN

1999
Works on Paper, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, Millikin University, Decatur, IL

Familiar Strangers, Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, NY

Border to Border 7, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN

1998
Drawings, G.W. Einstein Gallery, New York, NY