Artist's Statement

The art I make is centered around the act of drawing. I began my career as a traditional printmaker and the commitment to political/social commentary that informs the history of that discipline has remained an important element of my work. Over the years my practice has incorporated digital imagery, video projections, performance-based work, and collaboration with other artists and musicians.

I have always loved the idea of using visual art to create narratives, but I prefer to fragment my stories rather than rely on a traditional narrative structure. Many of the pieces I produce are vignettes and brief glimpses of a larger slapstick comedy world where decontextualized bits of reality mix with exaggerated environments and grotesque characters. The projects I create using this narrative approach tend to be big, loud, and accessible to the public. I have been fortunate to work with talented collaborators over the years and we have explored topics such as mental health, grief, toxic masculinity, white privilege/racism, issues of identity, spiritual practices, political discourse, ideological zealotry, homelessness and poverty, the human impact on the environment, and other social justice concerns common to the human experience.

My most recent body of work is a more personal meditation on the landscape and the historical monuments that have taken on increased significance in this era of re-evaluation and critique. In this series statues from antiquity, imposing propaganda pieces from totalitarian states, and figures from the racist past are slowly overtaken by the slow but persistent pace of ecological time.

Bio

Scott Kolbo was born in Washington State and grew up the Northwestern United States. As a kid he spent countless hours drawing to stave off boredom, and drawing continues to play a dominant role in all his work. He became interested in the tradition of satire by looking through art books in the library and realizing that he was most attracted to prints with funny looking people in them. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from Boise State University in 1996 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000. 

 Scott currently resides north of Bellingham Washington, working as a teacher in a variety of areas including; Printmaking, Drawing, Design, Video/Animation, and Contemporary Art History. His interests revolve around the study of culture, aesthetics, literature, film, and contemporary art. In his studio art work he is interested in the incorporation of new technologies into traditional art making strategies and mixing together elements from high and low culture. Scott exhibits his work locally, nationally, and in web-based formats (his work may be viewed at www.scottkolbo.net).

Resume


(full CV is available upon request)

EDUCATION

2000                       
M.F.A.  University of Wisconsin-Madison: Printmaking and Drawing

1996                       
B.F.A.  Boise State University: Painting and Printmaking

 SELECTED SOLO/TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2019

  • PASSAGES. Collaboration with musical group “Torch.” Triple Door Theatre. Seattle Washington

2017

  • ELEMENTS AND AETHER. Collaboration with musical group “Torch.” University of Puget Sound. Tacoma Washington

2016

  • ESCALATION DRONE PROJECT. Collaborative exhibit with Lance Sinnema. Saranac Art Projects. August 1-31, 2016. Spokane Washington

  • ELEMENTS. Collaboration with musical group “Torch.” Velocity Dance Center and Soma Space. May 20 and 21. Seattle and Bellevue Washington

2014                       

  • OUR ALLEY. Gallery4Culture. July 2014. Seattle Washington

  • ALLEY KIDS. Shoreline Community College Art Gallery. January 2014. Shoreline Washington

2013                       

  • ALLEY ARTIFACTS. Saranac Art Projects. May 2013. Spokane Washington

2012                       

  • YOUNG PUNKS, OLD FOOLS. Seattle Pacific Art Center Gallery. Seattle Pacific University. Oct.-Dec. 2012. Seattle Washington

  • ESCALATION. Collaborative exhibit with Lance Sinnema. Saranac Art Projects. Spokane Washington

  • THE SPOKANE YEARS. Tinman Gallery. Spokane Washington

2011                       

  • SONIC MEDICINE. Spokane Falls Community College Fine Arts Gallery. Spokane Washington

2010                       

  • ERICKSON/KOLBO – NEW WORKS. Saranac Art Projects. Spokane Washington

  • SMOKING RUIN. Washington State University Gallery II. Pullman Washington

  • SCOTT KOLBO – COMIC STORIES. Carr Gallery, Idaho Falls Arts Commission. Idaho Falls, Idaho

2009                       

  • CONFOUNDED. Cannon Gallery of Art, Western Oregon University. Monmouth Oregon

  • OVERRIPE APPLE PIE. Two Person Exhibition with Meagan Stirling. Saranac Art Projects. Spokane Washington

2007                       

  • WANDERING – SINKING – BURNING…. PRINTS AND DRAWINGS. Cone Center Gallery, University of North Carolina – Charlotte

  • A BUCK SHY. Two person exhibit with Howard Barlow. Lorinda Knight Gallery. Spokane, Washington

2005                 

  • THINGS BRIEFLY SEEN - SCOTT KOLBO AND KEVIN HAAS. Lorinda Knight Gallery, Spokane Washington

2004                  

  • MEAN TOWN. Huneke Gallery at the Spokane Art School, Spokane Washington

  • COLLABORATION. Two Person Exhibition with Gordon Wilson. Gallery 76, Wenatchee Valley Community College, Wenatchee Washington

  • COLLABORATIVE DRAWINGS. Two Person Exhibition with Gordon Wilson. Chase Gallery, Spokane City Hall, Spokane Washington

  • SCOTT KOLBO AND GORDON WILSON. Two person Exhibition. Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, Pasco Washington

2002                  

  • SEQUENTIAL NARRATIVES ABOUT STREET PREACHERS, HOMELESS WOMEN, SLAPSTICK COMEDY, STINKY FEET, AND A VERY LARGE TROJAN HORSE. Koehler Gallery, Whitworth College, Spokane Washington

2000                  

  • COME SEE THE SHOW. M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Seventh Floor Gallery. Madison, Wisconsin

  • SEVEN TIMES IN THE RIVER. Solo Exhibition. Porter Butts Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin

SELECTED GROUP/INVITATIONAL/JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2022

  • POINTS OF DEPARTURE III. Portfolio exchange and exhibit. Southern Graphics International Conference. Wisconsin Union Galleries. Madison Wisconsin

  • UW-MADISON PRINTMAKING ALUMNI EXHIBITION. Southern Graphics International Conference. Class of 1925 Gallery. Memorial Union Terrace. Madison Wisconsin.

  • A GLIMPSE THROUGH THE MATRIX: A SURVEY OF REGIONAL CONTEPORARY PRINTMAKING. Helen South Alexander Gallery. Northwest Museum of Art and Culture. Spokane Washington

2021     

  • BAM BIENNIAL 2021: ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN. PASSAGES. Collaboration with musical group “Torch.” Triple Door Theatre. Seattle Washington Bellevue Arts Museum. Bellevue Washington

  • CONSTRUCTED MYSTERIES. OIson Gallery, Bethel University, Minneapolis Minnesota 

2020     

  • OVERSEAS. Kutscherhaus Recklinghausen, Recklinghausen, Germany

2019

  • MOVING IMAGES. Sheehan Gallery. Whitman College. Walla Walla Washington

2017

  • THE PERFORMANCE OF PLACE. The Gallery at Shoreline City Hall. Shoreline, Washington.

2016

  • ESCALATION: ELECTION YEAR BATTLE. Performance with Lance Sinnema. Soil Gallery. August 7, 2016. Seattle Washington.

  • SEATTLE PRINT ARTS - THE PRINT EXCHANGE DECADE. First Congregational United Church ArtReach Gallery. March 30th – April 1st , 2016. Portland Oregon.

  • TOURISTS FOLLY. Cascade Gallery. Southern Graphics International Portfolio Exchange. Portland Community College. March 1 – 31, 2016. Portland Oregon.

2015

  • PIGMENT+PAPER. Bellevue College. Bellevue Washington. Curator: Margaret Bullock

  • ANACORTES ARTS FESTIVAL FOCUS GALLERY. Anacortes Arts Festival. Anacortes Washington.

2014                       

  • INK THIS: CONTEMPORARY PRINT ARTS IN THE NORTHWEST. Tacoma Art Museum. Tacoma Washington. Curator: Margaret Bullock

  • PRESENTER EXHIBITION. Yuma Art Center. Yuma Arizona.

  • MONKEY BUSINESS. Seattle Community College. Seattle Washington.

2013                       

  • LATENT LIMINAL IMPROBABLE EXUBERANCE: FILMS BY GALA BENT, BRITTA JOHNSON, SCOTT KOLBO AND VIS-A-VISA SOCIETY. Rendezvous Jewlebox Theatre. Jan. 9, 2013. Seattle Washington

  • SEATTLE PRINT ARTS MINATURE PRINT EXHIBITION. Columbia City Gallery, Seattle Washington.

  • TAKE THREE: AN EVENING OF FILM, VIDEO,AND ANIMATION SHORTS. Northwest Film Forum. September 26th, 2013. Seattle Washington.

  • OTHER/SELF. Anchor Space Gallery. June 2013. Anacortes, Washington.

2012                       

  • BORDERS. Confluence Gallery. Twisp Washington

2011                       

  • Curiously Aligned:Contemporary Drawing Practices featuring Kris Hargis, Angela Katona-Batchelor, Scott Kolbo, MaLynda Poulsen, Cheryl Shurtleff, and Charles Timm-Ballard. Sheehan Gallery. Whitman College. Walla Walla Washington

  • TWENTY UNDER FOURTY. Tinman Gallery. Spokane Washington

  • FACULTY EXHBIT. Bryan Oliver Gallery. Whitworth University. Spokane Washington

2010                     

  • BLUEPRINTS. Saranac Art Projects. Spokane Washington

2009                     

  • NORTHWEST EMERGING ARTISTS: SEATTLE CITY LIGHT PORTABLE WORKS PART 1. Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery. Seattle Washington

  • DWG: A LOOK AT CONTEMPORARY MARK MAKING. OHGE Ltd. Seattle Washington

  • FIT TO PRINT: A PRINTMAKING INVITATIONAL. Peggy Lewis Gallery, Allied Arts of Yakima Valley. Yakima Washington

  • EXHIBIT SPOKANE. Jundt Museum, Gonzaga University. Spokane Washington

  • UNDER THE WIRE: GROUP EXHIBITION. Saranac Art Projects. Spokane Washington

  • A HOUSE DIVIDED: THE LAGACY OF LINCOLN. Group invitational Exhibition. The Chase Gallery, Spokane City Hall, Spokane Washington

  • BROKE. Group Invitational Exhibit. Clearstory Gallery, Spokane Washington

  • ARE YOU WHAT YOU EAT? Print Portfolio exhibition.

  • John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Gallery, Reno, Nevada

2008                      

  • THE VANCOUVER PROJECT. Residency Exhibition. Fat Tiger Studio, 619 Ave. Western Arts Building. Seattle Washington

  • 19th NATIONAL DRAWING AND PRINT COMPETITIVE EXHIBITION. Gormley Gallery, College of Notre Dame of Maryland

  • TERRAIN. Alternative Space Exhibition. The Vault, Spokane Washington

  • EMBRACING THE GIFT. CIVA 2005 juried Exhibition. Azusa pacific University, Azusa California. Juror: James Stambaugh.

  • ARE YOU WHAT YOU EAT? Print Portfolio exhibition. Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton Oregon. Stevens Gallery, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington

  • LOCALS. Spokane Falls Community College Gallery. Spokane Washington

  • 40 ARTISTS/40 PORTRAITS. Gallery One Visual Arts Center. Ellensburg, Washington

  • ARE WE THERE YET? Print Exchange Portfolio Exhibition. Southern Graphics Council Annual Conference 2008, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia

  • PRINTMATTERS. 5ive & 40urty Gallery, Winston - Salem North Carolina

  • IN HOUSE. Whitworth University faculty Exhibit. Koehler Gallery. Spokane, Washington

2006                  

  • HONKY TONKS AND MNEMONIC: TO AID THE MEMORY. Centro Cultural Antiguo Colegio Jesuita, Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

  • Rik Nelson, Annon Nesse, Choling Taha, Scott Kolbo. Chase Gallery, City Hall, Spokane Washington

  • BODY/BODY QUESTION PRINT EXCHANGE EXHIBITION.

                  Southern Graphics Council Annual Conference 2006, Madison Wisconsin                

  • CROSSING GENE: AMERICAN AND KOREAN PRINTMAKING EXCHANGE EXHIBITION. Humanities Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison Wisconsin. Sun Contemporary Gallery, Seoul Gallery, Korea

  • PRINTMAKING. Boswell Hall Corner Gallery, North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

2005                  

  • NORTH BANK ARTISTS COMMUNITY PROJECT. North Bank Gallery, Vancouver Washington

  • LKG ARTISTS. Prichard Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow Idaho

  • FACULTY EXHIBIT. Whitworth University faculty Exhibit. Koehler Gallery. Spokane, Washington

2004                       

  • DRAWN TO THE WALL II. Jundt Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane Washington

  • BEPPYU GALLERY EXHIBITION. Pacific City, Oregon

  • YMCA JACK, WILL, AND ROB CENTER EXHIBITION. Camas Oregon

2003                

  • NORTHWEST PRINT ARTISTS. Carnegie Art Center, Walla Walla Washington

  • CANTINAS AND HONKEYTONKS PRINT EXCHANGE AND EXHIBITION. Taller Mestizarte Studios, Chicago Illinois.

  • BREAD UPON THE WATERS. Christians in the Visual Arts traveling Exhibition

  • VISUAL ARTS CENTER EXHIBITION. Newport Oregon

  • PRINT EXHIBITION. Southern Oregon University, Ashland Oregon.

  • 18TH ANNUAL WORKS FROM THE HEART CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION AND AUCTION. Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane Washington

  • WHITWORTH COLLEGE FACULTY EXHIBITION 2003. Koehler Gallery, Whitworth College, Spokane Washington

  • PAST AND PRESENT NORTHWEST: SELECTIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. Jundt Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington

  • GEORGE ROBERTS ALUMNI INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION. Boise State University, ID

  • INLAND NORTHWEST PRINTMAKERS. Lorinda Knight Gallery. Spokane, Washington

  • NORTHWEST PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION, WSU Vancouver, Vancouver Washington

  • *ART RAGEOUS 2002 JURIED EXHIBITION. Cornerstone Festival, Cornerstone Farm, Bushnell IL. Award: Second Place. Juror: Nancy Hughes, Museum of Contemporary Religious Art at St. Louis University

  • AMERICAS 2000 PAPER WORKS COMPETITION. Northwest Art Center, Minot State University, Minot, North Dakota. Juror: Cynthia Osborne

  • 15TH PARKSIDE NATIONAL SMALL PRINT EXHIBITION. Juried Exhibition,University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Juror: Warrington Colescott and Frances Myers

  • SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL PORTFOLIO. American Print Alliance Traveling Exhibition

  • 17TH ANNUAL WORKS FROM THE HEART CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION AND AUCTION. Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane Washington

2001                  

  • NORTHWEST PRINT COUNCIL'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW. Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland Oregon

  • 3rd ANNUAL SMALL ARTWORKS INVITATIONAL. Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

  • * 28th BRADLEY NATIONAL PRINT AND DRAWING EXHIBITION. Peoria, Illinois. Award: Best of Show, Printmaking, Juror: Mark Pascale

  • * PRINTS USA. Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri. Cash Award: Juror: Daniel Perisol, Curator of Prints and Drawings, New Orleans Museum of Art

  • 14TH PARKSIDE NATIONAL SMALL PRINT EXHIBITION. Juried Exhibition, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Juror: Beauvais Lyons

  • NORTHWEST PRINT COUNCIL NEW MEMBERS 2001 EXHIBITION. Northwest Print Council Gallery, Portland Oregon

  • FACULTY EXHIBIT 2001. Koehler Gallery, Whitworth College, Spokane Washington

  • RAW SPACE ARTIST ORGANIZED EXHIBITION. City Terminal Gallery, Spokane Washington

2000                  

  • 2nd ANNUAL SMALL ARTWORKS INVITATIONAL. Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

  • PRINT PLAGUE. Graduate StudentPrintmaking Exhibition. 734 University Gallery, Madison Wisconsin

  • 2000 PACIFIC STATES BIENNIAL NATIONAL PRINT EXHIBITION. Juried Exhibit. University of Hawaii, Hilo

  • LAGRANGE NATIONAL XXI EXHIBITION. Biennial Juried Exhibition. Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, La Grange Georgia

  • WHAT IS DRAWING NOW? A National Exhibition. Weber State University, Ogden Utah

  • 21st ANNUAL PAPER IN PARTICULAR NATIONAL EXHIBITION. Columbia College, Columbia Missouri

  • 13TH PARKSIDE NATIONAL SMALL PRINT EXHIBITION. Juried Exhibition, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Juror: Art Weger

1999                

  • PRE-MILLENNIUM CREATIONS. Student Art Show, Madison Wisconsin

  • 27th BRADLEY NATIONAL PRINT AND DRAWING EXHIBITION

  • GRAPHICS: RECENT WORK BY U.W.-MADISON GRADUATE STUDENTS. Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota

  • FRAMELESS 99. Works On Paper National Juried Exhibition, Southeastern Community College, Whiteville, North Carolina

  • PUSHING THE ENVELOPE. National Student Printmakers Portfolio Exchange, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

  • WORK IN PROGRESS, SOUTHERN GRAPHICS COUNCIL GRADUATE STUDENT EXHIBITION. Arizona State University

  • 2.0: SECOND YEAR GRADUATE STUDENT REVIEW. University of Wisconsin-Madison

1998                  

  • PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION. Tyler School of Art, Temple University

  • TRIAL SIZE. First year graduate review, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • LAGNIAPPE 2. PRINT PORTFOLIO EXCHANGE AND EXHIBITION. Louisiana State University

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

  • Washington State Art Collection

  • City Lights Portable Works. City of Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs

  • Boise State University. Boise Idaho

  • University of Wisconsin Student Union. Madison Wisconsin

  • Jundt Museum. Gonzaga University, Spokane Washington

  • Whitman College, Walla Walla Washington

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2012 - 2023  

  • PROFESSOR: Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Washington

2000 - 2012        

  • ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR: Whitworth University, Spokane Washington

2004-2005            

  • ARTIST TEACHER: Union Institute and University Vermont College. MFA in Visual Art Program

1999-2000            

  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Drawing 2. Instructor of Record

1998-1999            

  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Drawing 1. Instructor of Record

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE             

2018 – Present

  • Common Tone Arts. Board of Directors

2013-2017

  • SEATTLE PRINT ARTS, Board of Directors and Secretary.

2004-2011

  • LOOP PRESS DIRECTOR: NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS GRANT PROJECT DIRECTOR

    • Master printer of fine art printmaking press

    • Coordinating and working with visiting artists

    • Community liaison

2002-2010           

  • GALLERY DIRECTOR, WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY

    • Installation and curatorial duties

    • Design and publication of promotional materials

    • Coordination of visiting artist lectures and selection of exhibitions

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/PRESENTATIONS/LECTURES

2020

  • ARTIST WORKSHOP AND PRESENTATION. Tennessee Tech University. Cookeville Tennessee. March 1-5, 2020

2018

  • PANEL PRESENTATION. Community + Concept. Rock Mountain Printmaking Alliance Conference, Pullman Washington. April 20, 2018

  • ARTIST IN RESIDENCE. Jentel Foundation. Wyoming

2016

  • Making Procedures Messy through Public Policy, Program Administration, Visual Art, and Research Methodologies. Rhetoric and Change Conference, Rhetoric Society of America, Atlanta Georgia. May 28, 2016

2014                            

  • VISITING ARTIST. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. September 2014. Collaborative drawing workshop and Lecture

  • WHAT MASK DO YOU WEAR? The J. Paul Getty Museum of Art. August 2014. Small linoleum relief used in public educational activities.

  • DOEL REED CENTER FOR THE ARTS VISITING ARTIST. June 2014. Public lecture and demonstration. Taos New Mexico.

  • ANIMATION WORKSHOP LEADER. Shoreline Community College. Shoreline Washington. January 25th, 2014

  • PRESENTER. Yuma Symposium. Yuma Arizona. February 20 - 23rd, 2014

2013                            

  • VISITING ARTIST. University of Oregon. Eugene Oregon.

  • PANEL DISCUSSION. Visualizing Stories: A Conversation with Randy Bolton, Mita Mahato, and Scott Kolbo. University of Puget Sound. Tacoma Washington. November 4, 2013

2012                            

  • VISITING ARTIST. Sheehan Gallery. Whitman College. Walla Walla Washington

  • VISITING ARTIST AND PRINTMAKING PROGRAM REVIEWER. Kendall College. Grand Rapids Michigan.

2011                            

  • LECTURE. “Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction.” Society for Photographic Education Northwest Regional Conference 2011. Spokane Washington

  • WORKSHOP LEADER. Inland Northwest Craft Warnings. Spokane Washington

  • VISITING ARTIST. Spokane Falls Community College. Spokane Washington

2010                            

  • VISITING ARTIST. Western Oregon University. Monmouth Oregon

  • COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP LEADER. Corban College. Salem Oregon

  • WORKSHOP LEADER. Idaho Falls Arts Commission. Idaho Falls, Idaho

  • STATE OF THE VISUAL ARTS SYMPOSIUM LEADER. Saranac Art Projects, Spokane Washington

2008                            

  • BY/FOR ARTISTS RESIDENCY CO-DIRECTOR. Vancouver B.C.

2007                            

  • VISITING ARTIST. University of North Carolina, Charlotte

2005-2011       

  • NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ART AND CULTURE ART COMMITTEE MEMBER

2005                     

  • CIVA SUMMER WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR. Gordon College, Wenham Massachusetts

2004                     

  • STUDENT EXHIBITION JUROR AND VISITING ARTIST Columbia Basin College, Richland WA

1999                     

  • NON-TOXIC LITHOGRAPHY DEMONSTRATION AND VISITING ARTIST LECTURE. Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Milwaukee, WI

1998                     

  • PRINTERS ASSISTANT: Tandem Press, Madison Wisconsin

1996                     

  • PRINTMAKING LAB ASSISTANT: Boise State University



 

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