Cheryl B. Harper
Contact Information
Gallery
inliquid.org/artist/harper-cheryl-curatorial/
Please contact artist for purchases, commissions, etc.
Political Works & Social Commentaries
Installations
Find Cheryl’s Curated Exhibitions Here
Artist's Biography
Cheryl Harper lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her higher education reflects her interests and she developed into both an artists and an art historian, missing one discipline when not active as the other, successfully balancing both. Her studio and curatorial work has been well received by critics and the public.
Trained as a printmaker, her earlier work focused primarily on large one-of-a-kind woodcuts. However, after several years she decided to bring her graphic and narrative sensibility to sculpture. She wanted to explore a major difference in scale and medium. These have further transitioned into an installation practice.
Recognition for her body of work includes her selection as a Fleisher Art Memorial Challenge winner in 2008 and recognition such as the first prize in sculpture at Art of the State in Harrisburg. In the national show, ARTship Olympia, she engaged a larger audience beyond the art world. Her political pieces are shown nationally. Most recently, her installation, Passages: An Installation in Progress by Cheryl Harper, debuted at the Maier museum of Art in Lynchburg, Virginia.
She brings her interest in biography and social issues to her work, documenting the foibles of American politics and social issues through her unique artistic voice.
Selected Exhibitions
Solo
2020
Passages: An Installation in Progress by Cheryl Harper, Maier Museum Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA
2017
Period Pieces, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Responses to Life as I Know it., Hess Gallery, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA
2014 - 2015
Convenient Vanities and Political Fancies, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2008
31st Annual Wind Challenge Exhibition, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Under the auspices of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
2007
Dirty Politics, John Sloan Art Center, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
1997
WALL PAPERS New Works on Paper, NEXUS Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, PA
1995
Mental Pictures, NEXUS Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, PA
1993
Ruminations, NEXUS Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, PA
1991
Cheryl Harper, West Chester University, West Chester, PA
Group
2020
Artists React to the Pandemic, George Floyd, and the Election, online exhibition
Invitational
Curated by Patricia Dahlman
2019
Salon de Refuse, iMPeRFeCT Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition
2018
22nd San Angelo Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Art, TX
Juror: Peter Held
International Variety, (Works on Paper), James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational
2016
Power and Politics, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
JOG10, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Heads of State, Hamilton Street Gallery, Bound Brook, NJ
ARTSHIP Olympia, Philadelphia Sculptors on the Cruiser Olympia, Philadelphia, PA
National juried exhibition of artist installations on the 19th century warship.
The Olympia is docked on Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, PA
Surviving the Storm: Hurricane Katrina 10 Years After, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
2015
Victory for Tyler Biennial, Ice Box at Crane Art Center, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Anthony Elms
Symbolic Speech: Freedom of Expression, Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA
2013
Sculpture 2013, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
Juried Exhibition
2012
64 ARTS part of America: Now and Here, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
Juror: Eric Fischl
2011
Opposites Attract, University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA
Invitational
2010
Over the Bridge, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational
2009
Obama-rama, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational
Biennial National Juried Ceramics Exhibition, Northern Arizona University Art Museum, Flagstaff, AZ
Juror: Kurt Weiser
Crossing Lines, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
Juror: Darcie Alexander, Chief Curator, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Interrogating Beauty, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
Juror: Eleanor Heartney
2008
Party Headquarters: Voting is Just the Beginning, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, NY
Invitational
Curator: Eleanor Heartney and Larry Litt
(catalog)
Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2008, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Juried Exhibition
Take Issue, Washington Square, Washington, DC
Juried Exhibition
Philadelphia Sculptors at West Chester, University West Chester, PA
Juried Exhibition
2007
Sideways: A Poets’ & Artists’ Collaboration, The Chestnut Hill Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational
(catalog)
Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2007, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Juried Exhibition
National Spring Open Juried Exhibition, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Juror: Mark Van Proyen, San Francisco Art Institute
2006
CraftForms: 12th Annual International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Juror: Gretchen G. Keyworth, Fuller Craft Museum
(catalogue)
Combining Forces, Howard County Art Center, Ellicott City, MD
Juried Exhibition
Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2006, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Juried Exhibition
Craft Art: Western New York 2006, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo, NY
Juror: Lloyd E. Herman
(catalogue)
1999
73rd Annual International Competition, The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibtion
(catalog)
1998
Articles of Faith: Sacred Objects and Secular Narratives, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational
Curator: gerard brown
26th Biennial Juried Exhibition, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA
Juror: Paul Master-Kamik
1997
Painted Words: The Intersection of Art and Language, Borowsky Gallery at the Gershman Y, Philadelphia PA
Invitational
1996
Bodyworks, Cheryl Harper, Co-Editor, Broadcast channel 12 WHYY, Philadelphia PA
Invitational
1995
4th Biennial Works on Paper, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA
Juror: Paul Wong, director of Dieu Donne Paper Mill, NY
(catalog)
1994
Color Now, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
Juror: Laura Rosenstock, Museum of Modern Art
1992
23rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA
Juror: Cheryl Brutvan, Albright Knox Gallery
1991
Hilo National Drawing Exhibition, University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI
Juror: Howardena Pindell
1990
Paper/Fiber XIII, Iowa City, IO
Juror: Norma Minkowitz
Artist's Bibliography
"First Look," Museum Magazine, p.8 image March-April, 2020
Newhall, Edith, "It worked for Manet and Cezanne, Now Philly has its own Salon de Refuse," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 18, 2019
Harper, Cheryl, "Passages: A work in Progress," Cleaver Magazine, Summer 2019
Marks, Jon, "Dreyfus Affair the Theme of Art Exhibit," October 12, 2017
Holahan, Jane, “A Thinking Person’s Art: Cheryl Harper’s 3-D works convey ideas on death, politics,” Lancaster Daily News, January 26, 2017
Bellantoni, Ralph J., "Ahead of an election: Political portraits during a presidential race", mycentraljersey.com
Munden, Christopher, Blog post, Phindie.com, September 15, 2016
Roan, Liz, "A Maritime Feast – All Aboard Artship Olympia", inliquid.org, August 29, 2016
Newhall, Edith, "'Artship Olympia' makes a battleship into an artwork", Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15, 2016
Newhall, Edith, "Galleries: Cheryl Harper has fun at the 7-Eleven", Philadelphia Inquirer, December 13, 2014
Stone, Kelly and Erica Minutella, Interview, Paperclips215, December 12, 2014
Schwartz, Chip, Review, "Cheryl Harper Solidifies Social and Political Absurdity at James Oliver Gallery," Knight Arts, December 5, 2014
Findlay, Lauren, "Dark Vanities-Cheryl Harper at the James Oliver Gallery," Artblog, December 3, 2014
“Post Modern Icons” cover illustration, Bucks County Courier Times, April 19, 2013 and April 21, 2013, D3
Rice, Robin, “Obama-rama,” ART News, April 2009, p. 121
Illustration
Rice, Robin, “Hot off the Prez,” Philadelphia City Paper, February 10, 2009
Campello, F. Lennox, “Went to Projects Last Friday,” Daily Campello Art News, Sunday, February 8, 2009
Newhall, Edith, “Threesome,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, November 2, 2008, Arts and Entertainment H8
Higgens, Ed, “New, serious artists emerge in Fleisher Art Memorial’s series,” Icon Magazine Philadelphia, November, 2008, Cover and page 1 and 12
Fallon, Roberta, “Weekly Update – Social commentary at Fleisher Challenge 1,” Artblog, October 29, 2008
Fallon, Roberta, “The first Wind Fleisher Challenge tackles political and social issues,” Philadelphia Weekly, October 29, 2008
Wilton, Kris, "R. Luke DuBois in New York," Artinfo.com, October 2, 2008
Pirro, J.F. and Dawn E. Warden, “Art Appreciation,” Main Line Today, August 18, 2008, p. 92
Illustration
Donohoe, Victoria, “Local artists make mark on exhibit,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Friday, August 1, 2008, Weekend W36 ill
“Wonkette,” DC gossip, February 11, 2008
Donohoe, Victoria, “Local artists make mark on exhibit ‘Art of the State’ has one of its best displays, with many regional works,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, February 10, 2008, Section L14
Illustration
Wojcik, Sarah, “Political, provocative: Harper’s work in Sloan,” The Eagle’s Eye, November 14, 2007
Illustration
Bitts, Maryalice, Lancaster Online, August 7, 2007
Donohoe, Victoria, “Local Pride at Harrisburg Show,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, July 29, 2007, Section L
Illustration
Fowler, Marie, “Wayne Art Center display features the fanciful and the topical,” Suburban and Wayne Times Main Line Times Ticket June 28, 2007
Donohoe, Victoria, “Local Pride at Harrisburg Show,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, June 29, 2007, Section L
Illustration
Donohoe, Victoria, “Focus is on the figure at Wayne,” Philadelphia Inquirer Weekend, Sunday, June 24, 2007
Donohoe, Victoria, “A Grand Slam on the Main Line,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, December 17, 2006, Section L
Philadelphia Inquirer (W31), Friday, September 30, 2005
Illustration
Rosen, Jennifer, “Main Line artist explains ‘Mental Pictures’: Three simultaneous exhibits keep Cheryl Harper busy,” Main Line Life, April 13, 1995
Art Matters, Cheryl Harper “Ruminations,” May 1993
Chambless, John, “Artist Cheryl Harper explores grim history,” Daily Local News, October 12, 1991
Awards and Honors
2018
Fellow at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst, VA
2011
National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop, “Black Mountain College: An Artistic and Educational Legacy” Scholar
2009
Anderson Ranch Presidential Scholarship Award
“The Gilded Age” Scholar, National Endowment for the Humanities Landmark and Culture workshop, Washington, DC
2008
Fleisher Challenge, Philadelphia Museum of Art Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
First Prize in Sculpture, Art of the State, Harrisburg, PA
Professional Experience
2004 - Present
Independent Curator
1998 - 2004
Gershman Y, Philadelphia, PA
Curator of Galleries
1994 - 1998
Gershman Y, Philadelphia, PA
Curator, Borowsky Gallery
Find Cheryl's Curated Exhibitions Here
Lectures
2020
Maier Museum, Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA
2018
Sweetbrier College, Amherst, VA
2017
"Dada Hashpeh: The Jewish connection to an Avant-garde Movement," Philadelphia Avant-Garde Studies Consortium, University of Pennsylvania Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
"Making Israel Real" lecture series, Temple Judea Museum, Elkins Park, PA
"A Corner Cupboard Spills Family History," Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
2016
"Avant-garde at the Gershman Y in the 1960s: Never Underestimate the Power of Bored Housewives," Philadelphia Avant-Garde Studies Consortium, University of Pennsylvania Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
"How Women of the Main Line Reinvented Themselves and Brought Pop to Philadelphia First," Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
2012
"Inappropriate Bodies," Cornell University Graduate Symposium, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
2008
Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
2007
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
2006
Agnes Irwin School, Radnor, PA
1996
Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
1995
Cheltenham Art Center, Jenkintown, PA
Job Corps Awards Ceremony, Region III
1994
Job Corps Awards Ceremony, Region III
1992
Philadelphia Art Guild
1991
Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA
West Chester University, West Chester, PA
Education
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
M.A. in Art History, Modern and Contemporary Art
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
M.F.A in Printmaking
Tyler School of Art of Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
B.F.A in Printmaking
Summa Cum Laude
Drew University, Madison, NJ
B.A. in Studio Art and Art History
