• ----- Upcoming Exhibitions -----

  • Threads and Granules - Joanne Aono and Sofía Fernández-Díaz

    Threads and Granules - Joanne Aono and Sofía Fernández-Díaz

    Threads and Granules
    Joanne Aono and Sofía Fernández-Díaz
    Curated by Jennifer Mannebach

    O'Connor Art Gallery at Dominican University
    7900 W. Division Street, River Forest, Illinois
    January 15 - February 19, 2025
    Opening Reception: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 4-6pm
    Artist Talk at 4:30pm
    Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 – 5, Saturday*, 11 – 4, Free and open to all
    *Please note that you may need to access Lewis Hall through the side entry of the library on Saturdays
    More Information

  • Symphonia: Dialogues of Landscape, Ritual and Resilience

    Symphonia: Dialogues of Landscape, Ritual and Resilience
    Joanne Aono, Karen Azarnia, Jon Seals, and Michelle Wasson

    Yale Institute of Sacred Music
    Miller Hall, 406 Prospect Street New Haven, CT 06511
    January 22 - March 6, 2025
    On view Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12-4pm
    Opening Reception: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 5pm

    Co-curated by Karen Azarnia and Jon Seals
    Sponsored by the Institute of Sacred Music’s Religion, Ecology, and Expressive Culture Initiative
    More Information

  • ----- Previous Exhibitions, Projects, and News Items -----

  • Panel Discussion: How to Make a Scene

    Panel Discussion: How to Make a Scene

    Join us Saturday, July 27th from 3-5pm at Co-Prosperity!

    How to Make a Scene is a conversation series about artist-run cultural ecosystems of the 1980s and 1990s in Chicago.
    Moderator:
    Jen De Los Reyes
    Panelists:
    Joanne Aono (Cultivator - Chicago Art Exhibitions & Farm Art Projects)
    Brian Holmes & Claire Pentecost (Watershed Art and Ecology)
    Live and in-person at Co-Prosperity
    Saturday, July 27, 2024
    3:00pm-5:00pm CDT
    Talk is at 3:30-4:30
    3219 S MORGAN ST, Chicago, IL 60608

  • Arts Midwest Article and Video

    Arts Midwest Article and Video

    Article written by Lydia Moran and film produced by Eric Scott Fisher about how my art, curating, and farm all come together.
    JoanneAonoArtsMidwestLink

  • Past Perfect Print Fundraiser

    Past Perfect Print Fundraiser

    As part of the Riverside Arts Center's team, I'm honored to be asked to provide a piece of art for the Print Fundraiser, curated by Paul D'Amato. The limited edition, signed prints are available for a few short weeks as part of portfolio or as individual prints. Joined by fellow artists, Alice Hargrave, Erin Washington, Laura Husar Garcia, Oli Watt, Michelle Wasson, Tony Phillips, Nancy Hejna, Paul D'Amato, Kelli Connell & Natalie Krick, Jennifer Taylor, and Riva Lehrer, it's a thrill to be able to support a venue for artists.
    Purchase

  • Prairie Harvest

    Prairie Harvest

    Prairie Harvest
    Solo exhibition in the Dickson Window Project Space, Waubonsee Community College
    4S783 IL-47, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
    August 3 - October 13, 2023
    Artist Talk Slide Presentation: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 2pm

  • In Reciprocity, Humans & Nature

    In Reciprocity, Humans & Nature

    In Reciprocity, Humans & Nature
    Visual Arts Gallery at Governors State University
    1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois
    Exhibition with Joanne Aono, Christine Forni, and Deanna Krueger, curated by Sherri Denault
    March 8 - April 7, 2023
    Artist Talk and Closing Reception: Thursday, April 6, 2023 at noon
    Contact me if you'd like to meet at the gallery.

  • Prairie Passage Solo Exhibition

    Prairie Passage Solo Exhibition

    Geneva Center for the Arts
    321 Stevens Street, Suite Q, Geneva, Illinois
    On View: January 3 - February 9, 2023
    Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday noon - 3pm
    (I'll be there on Wednesdays noon - 3pm)
    Reception: Friday, January 20, 2023
    Artist Talk: Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2PM
    Curated by Rita Grendze
    Prairie Passage is a solo exhibition consisting of drawings and an installation referencing the wild and cultivated plants that have grown on the prairie, providing food for the area’s inhabitants throughout history. The installation will create a passageway alluding to time, food sources, and nature along the Fox River and former Potawatomi trail.
    Chicago Reader Review by Parker Yamasaki
    Daily Herald Article
    Fox Valley ArtBEAT article

  • Prairie Past Solo Exhibition

    Prairie Past Solo Exhibition

    Geneva Public Library
    227 South 7th Street, Geneva, Illinois
    December 11, 2022 - February 9, 2023
    A small satellite exhibtion in conjunction with the solo exhibition at the Geneva Center for the Arts.
    Artist Talk: Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 7PM
    Joanne Aono will discuss her art, its relationship to living and working on a small farm, and how that informed her art about nature and food sources of the prairie.

  • Nature Lovers Group Exhibition

    Nature Lovers Group Exhibition

    South Shore Arts
    1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana
    Nature Lovers Group exhibition curated by Linda Dorman and Tom Torluemke with artists Joanne Aono, Em'rynn Artuian, Zbigniew Bzdak, Tony Fitzpatrick, Corey Hagelberg, Peggy Macnamara, William Nichols, Casey Roberts, and Catherine Schwalbe
    June 23 - August 27, 2022
    Opening Reception: Thursday, June 23, 5:30pm-8:00pm
    Nature Stories: Thursday, July 7, 7:00pm
    I'll be presenting at the 20 x 20 slideshow night of micro talks relating to stories about nature.

  • boundary Five Year Anniversary Exhibition

    boundary Five Year Anniversary Exhibition

    boundary Project Space
    2334 West 111th Place, Chicago, Illinois
    Group exhibition of past boundary artists curated by Susannah Papish
    June 18 - July 30, 2022
    Opening Reception: Saturday, June 18, 6-9pm

  • Curator of Unseen Things Are Still There

    Riverside Arts Center Freeark Gallery + Sculpture Garden
    March 27 - April 9, 2022
    Featuring Alexandra Antoine, JB Daniel, Kate Ingold, Esau McGhee, and Elsa Muñoz
    I wrote an essay and produced the exhibition catalogue
    The exhibition was reviewed by Kerry Cardoza for Newcity

  • Guest Curator of "Care" at the Geneva Center for the Arts

    I'm honored to be asked to curate the first exhibition at the new Geneva Center for the Arts. Care features the art of Karen Azarnia, Brenda Barnum, and Cydney M. Lewis.
    321 Stevens Street, suite Q, Geneva, Illinois
    October 15 - November 19, 2021
    Opening Reception Friday, October 15, 2021, 6-8pm
    Curator and Artists' Talk Thursday, November 11, 2021
    Fox Valley ArtBEAT article on curating Care

  • Curator of Cultivator - Steven Carrelli and Yoonshin Park

  • Solo exhibition - Harvesting Ethnic Roots

    Solo exhibition - Harvesting Ethnic Roots


    boundary
    2334 West 111th Place, Chicago
    Curated by Susannah Papish
    April 17 - June 5, 2021
    Masked and physically distanced viewing by appointment
    Outdoor Closing reception Saturday, June 5th 6-9pm (no appointment needed)
    This program partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
    "Harvesting Ethnic Roots" Review in Visual Art Source by Robin Dluzen
    "Harvesting Ethnic Roots" article in Chicago Tribune's Daily Southtown written by Carol Flynn
    Top V Weekend Picks - Bad at Sports

  • Lumpen Magazine

    Artist and farmer at heart, Catherine Schwalbe asked us to write about our rural life on Bray Grove Farm, Cultivator, and art.
    Five Midwest Folks pages 34-36.

  • Artist's Talk for Arts on the Block

    I was happy to present to Arts on the Block, a Washington DC based arts organization providing hands on training for youth to develop artistic and real-world skills for their futures.

  • Slowly, With Care

    Slowly, With Care

    O'Connor Art Gallery, Dominican University
    7900 W. Division St, River Forest, Illinois
    Group exhibition with Sherri Denault, Holly Holmes, Kate Ingold, Jeffly Gabriela Molina, and Gwendolyn Zabicki, curated by Karen Azarnia
    January 29 - March 6, 2020
    Opening Reception Wednesday, January 29, 4 - 7pm, Artists' talk at 4:30pm

  • Wetlands Elegy - Solo exhibition

    Wetlands Elegy - Solo exhibition

    Mosnart, 11319 S. St Lawrence Ave, Chicago, Illinois
    Host and Curator, JB Daniel
    Terrain Biennial
    October - December 2019
    Chicago Magazine Article by Malvika Jolly
    Bad At Sports Top V Weekend Picks

  • Members' Show

    Riverside Arts Center, Freeark Gallery
    32 East Quincy, Riverside, Illinois
    June 23 - July 27, 2019

  • Untitled (House) Exhibition

    Illinois State Museum
    Norton Building, 201 West 10th Street, Lockport, Illinois
    Art from the Diane and Browne Goodwin Collection
    October 28 - April 9, 2019

  • I Am American

    Freeport Art Museum
    121 North Harlem Avenue, Freeport, Illinois
    Group exhibition curated by Sergio Gomez
    March 1 - April 13, 2019

  • Guest Curator and Catalogue Essay for Riverside Arts Center

    Gathering - Indira Freitas Johnson and Garland Martin Taylor
    Riverside Arts Center
    32 East Quincy Street, Riverside, Illinois
    September 7 - October 6, 2018
    In addition to curating the exhibition, I wrote the essay and produced the catalogue (available for purchase).

  • Members Show

    Riverside Arts Center Freeark Gallery
    32 East Qunicy Street, Riverside, Illinois
    July 1 - 28, 2018

  • Interview with Voyage Chicago

  • I AMerican

    Tallgrass Arts Association Gallery, Park Forest, Illinois
    Group exhibition curated by Sergio Gomez
    June 15 - July 21, 2018

  • Terrain Biennial

    October 10 - November 5, 2017
    277 and 280 Gage Road, Riverside, Illinois
    Collaborative outdoor installation for the Terrain Biennial with Kristine Aono
    Curated by Anne Harris
    Reception and artists' talk Sunday, November 5, 3-5pm

  • Dreaming Bigger in Strange Times

    Woman Made Gallery
    Lacuna in Pilsen, 2150 S Canalport # 4A-3, Chicago
    November 10 - December 16, 2017
    Group invitational curated by Joyce Owens

  • I AMerican

    Gallery 201 at Argonne National Laboratories, Lemont, Illinois
    Curated by Sergio Gomez
    June 28 - September 15, 2017

  • A Woman's View

    Gallery 201 at Argonne National Laboratories
    March 15 - June 9, 2017
    Curated by Mary Bookwalter, Janice Meister, and Carol Weber
    Group exhibition with Joanne Aono, Jennifer Cronin, Sherri Denault, Lisa Goesling, Laura Lein-Svencner, Joyce Morishita, and Beth Shadur

  • Attention is the Beginning of Devotion

    Victorian House Art Gallery, Bourbonnais, Illinois
    Two person exhibition with Kate Ingold, curated by Sherri Denault
    April 3 - May 4, 2017
    Review by Nicole Pilbeam for the Daily Journal

  • The Mind's I

    Anne Harris' Drawing Project
    Ed Paschke Art Center
    5415 West Higgins Avenue, Chicago
    February 4 - May 21, 2017

  • I AMerican - Group Exhibition

    Schoenherr Gallery, North Central College, Naperville, IL
    Curated by Sergio Gomez
    October 21 - December 11, 2016

  • An Unexpected Pause

    Collaboration with Kate Ingold, Group invitational of site specific outdoor art, Sherri Denault curator
    Perry Farm Park, Bourbonnais, Illinois
    August 26 - October 7, 2016

  • Olivet Nazarene Biennial Juror

    Applications accepted through July 15, 2016
    Opening Reception with Juror's remarks October 14, 6-8pm

  • 23rd Evanston + Vicinity Biennial

    Evanston Art Center
    Lela Hersh, Monique Meloche, and Lorelei Stewart, Jurors
    July 15 - August 28, 2016

  • Neutral Ground: Somewhere Between Black and White

    Tallgrass Arts Association Gallery, Park Forest, IL
    Group exhibition curated by Mary Bookwalter
    June 17 – July 23, 2016

  • Cut & Sown

    Firecat Projects
    Two-person exhibition with Raeleen Kao
    February 26 - March 19, 2016
    Jason Foumberg selects our show for Chicago Magazine's Best of February list
    Reviewed in Louise and Maurice

  • Sabina Ott - Who Cares for the Sky?

    Hyde Park Art Center Chicago
    Invited by Sabina Ott to submit a small piece to her monumental installation.
    February 21 - May 1, 2016

  • One Inspired Evening

    Benefit Auction for Inspiration Corporation
    Juried by Stan Klein, Deborah Maris Lader, and Steven E. Gross
    March 19, 2016

  • What Is Drawing?

  • I AMerican - Group Exhibition

    Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa
    November 12, 2015 - January 1, 2016

  • The People's Show

    Illinois State Museum Lockport
    July 31 - October ?, 2015

  • Moonlight Masquerade

    Art Auction for Riverside Art Center
    Saturday, October 17, 2015
    Online Auction

  • FORM: Art + Floral

    Benefit for Snow City Arts
    Chez, 247 East Ontario, Chicago
    April 14, 2015

  • Pro-Text Art: When Words Enter Visual Art

    Illinois State Museum Springfield Gallery
    Curated by Robert Sill
    Reception Friday. March 13th 5:30-8pm
    March 8 - September 13, 2015

  • I AMerican - Group Exhibition

    Zhou B Art Center, Chicago
    Curated by Sergio Gomez
    I AMerican
    January 16 - February 14, 2015

  • Pro-Text Art: When Words Enter Visual Art

    Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery
    James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph Street
    Curated by Robert Sill
    September 8, 2014 through February 6, 2015
    Doug Stapleton, Gallery Talk, Wednesday, September 24 noon
    Robert Sill, Curator's Talk, Wednesday, October 15 noon
    Artists Joanne Aono & Kate Ingold, in conversation with Doug Stapleton, Wednesday, November 19 noon
    Chicago Tonight, WTTW write-up by Marc Vitali

  • Inside Space - Group Exhibition

    Riverside Art Center
    Curated by Anne Harris
    September 7 - October 4, 2014
    Artists Panel Discussion with Anne Harris, Joanne Aono, Paula Crown,
    Susanne Doremus, Carrie Gundersdorf, Jason Lazarus, and Jin Lee
    Saturday, September 27, 4-6pm

  • I AMerican - Group Exhibition

    Governor's State University Art Gallery, University Park, IL
    Curated by Sergio Gomez
    I AMerican
    August 25 - September 30, 2014
    Examiner review of my diptych by Jeff Stevenson and Jessica Roeda

  • Rockford Midwestern Biennial

    Rockford Art Museum
    William Lieberman, Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Juror
    May 16 - September 28, 2014

  • 22nd Evanston + Vicinity Biennial

    Evanston Art Center, 2603 Sheridan Road
    Allison Peters Quinn and Sergio Gomez, jurors
    June 8 - July 20, 2014

  • "I AMerican" Group Exhibition

    White Ripple Gallery, Hammond, Indiana
    Curated by Sergio Gomez
    I AMerican
    June 14 - August 2, 2014

  • Words We Live By

    Multi-venue group show curated by Larry Lee
    White Box Studio Gallery, 4813 N Central Park
    June 6 - July 4, 2014

  • "I AMerican" Group Exhibition

    Water Street Studios Gallery, Batavia, Illinois
    Curated by Sergio Gomez
    January 24 - March 30, 2014

  • One Inspired Evening

    Benefit Auction for Inspiration Corporation
    Juried by Stan Klein, Deborah Maris Lader, and Steven E. Gross
    March 7, 2014

  • One & 1 - Solo Exhibition

    Images Gallery, Chicago
    January 27 - February 23, 2014
    Read Sergio Gomez's blog entry about the show here

  • Hyperallergic Review of 1 & One

    Article by Philip Hartigan on my solo exhibition at the Lee Dulgar Gallery
    An Artist Who Merges Minimalisms

  • 1 & One - Solo Exhibition

    Lee Dulgar Gallery
    South Holland, Illinois
    September 23 - October 18, 2013
    Artist Talk - Wednesday, October 2
    1 & One Portfolio
    Installation Images
    Video link

  • Living Our Culture: A Celebration of Japanese American Art and Culture

    Floating World Gallery, Chicago
    Curated by Laura Kina
    June 6, 2013

  • Inspiration Corporation - One Enchanted Evening

    Benefit Juried Auction, Stan Klein, Steven E. Gross, Deborah Maris Lader Jurors
    March 8, 2013

  • Group Show

    Prak-Sis Gallery, Chicago
    December 2012 - January 2013

  • The Mind's I

    Julius Caesar Gallery, Chicago
    Anne Harris Drawing Project
    November - December 2012

  • South Shore Arts 69th Salon

    South Shore Arts, Munster Indiana
    Juried by Daniel Schulman
    September 16 - October 28, 2012

  • Ravenswood Artwalk

    Open Studio at 4636 North Ravenswood, #204
    Saturday, September 29th and Sunday, September 30th

  • Ways of Making

    Visual Arts Gallery, Governors State University, University Park, IL
    Aaron Ott and Jason Foumberg, jurors
    June 4 - 23, 2012

  • Continuing On and On . . .

    Dayton Street, Chicago
    Exhibition with Neha Vedpathak, Kate Lewis, and Karen Appleton
    May 19, 2012

  • Dualities Exhibition

    Brenda Barnum & Joanne Aono
    Eyeporium Gallery, Chicago
    January 13 - February 29, 2012
    Art review by Paul Klein in Huffington Post

  • RavensHood 2011, 2-Person Exhibition

    Images Gallery, Chicago
    June 2012
    Art Letter review

  • 34th Beverly Art Exhibition

    Chicago
    Jurors Linda Warren and Don Southard
    November 5 - December 27, 2010

  • BamBUDDHAed!

    Portage ARTspace, Chicago
    Curated by Johanna Silva and Larry Lee
    October 16 - November 20, 2010

  • In Other Words

    Solo Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings
    South Shore Arts, Munster, Indiana
    August 13 - October 10, 2010
    Northwest Indiana Times Review
    Artist Talk, September 27, 2010, 10am

  • Continuing On . . .

    Solo Exhibition
    303 West Erie Art Space
    Chicago's River North Gallery District
    April - June 2010

  • Studio Visit Magazine

    December 2009

  • International Art Open

    Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Yolanda Lopez -Juror
    March 6 - April 16, 2009

  • Neoteric Art Interview

  • 65th Annual Salon Show

    South Shore Arts, Munster, Indiana
    William Lieberman, Zolla Lieberman Gallery -Juror
    Founders Award Recipient
    September 28 - November 2, 2008

  • Chicago Art Open

    Merchandise Mart, Chicago
    October 3 - 19, 2008

  • Juried Group Show

    Woman Made Gallery, Chicago
    Corrine D. Peterson -Juror
    August 1 - 28, 2008

  • Summer

    Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago
    June 27 - August 8, 2008