Melissa Ann Pinney is a fine art photographer based in Evanston, Illinois. She is a Guggenheim Fellow and has work included in the permanent collections of the following museums, among many others:
Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
George Eastman House (Rochester, NY)
International Center for Photography (New York, NY)
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles, CA)
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)
Museum of Fine Arts (Houston, TX)
Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY)
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, CA)
Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY)
Melissa's major book publications include Regarding Emma (2003), Girl Ascending (2010), TWO (2015) and In Their Own Light (2023).
Curriculum Vitae
Grants/Awards
2021-22 Diane Dammeyer Fellowship
2022. Faculty Development Grant, Columbia College Chicago
2018-2020 Artists of CPS Lives Foundation Grant
2020 Faculty Development Grant Columbia College Chicago
2018 Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Grant
2018 Faculty Development Grant Columbia College Chicago
2016 Faculty Development Grant Columbia College Chicago
2012 Nominee, Anonymous Was A Woman Award
2011 Forward Thinking Museum, Photography Award Winner
2007 Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award
2006 Photography Now: One Hundred Portfolios
1999 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship
1997 La Salle National Bank, Chicago Marathon Project Commission
1992 Chicago Women in Philanthropy, Mac Arthur Foundation
1989 Illinois Arts Council Artists Fellowship Award
1987 National Endowment for the Arts, Midwest Regional Fellowship
Illinois Arts Council Artists Fellowship Award
Community Arts Assistance Program, Chicago, IL
Changing Chicago Documentary Project, Chicago, IL
1981 Illinois Arts Council Project Completion Grant
1980 Illinois Arts Council Project Completion Grant
Selected Permanent Collections
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Fort Worth, TX
Bank of America Collection, Chicago, IL
Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ
Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL
Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio
deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, Lincoln, MA
George Eastman House, Rochester, NY
Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
International Center for Photography, New York, NY
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Milwaukee Museum of Art, Milwaukee, WI
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA
St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Exhibitions
2024
Arts Club of Chicago 91st Exhibition of Visual Artist Members January 23 - February 21
In Their Own Light: Photographs from Chicago Public Schools. April 4-June 1 Pictura Gallery, Bloomington, IN
Women Work 2024, Engage Projects, Chicago. August 2 - September 7. Four Person Exhibitiom
2023
“The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today,” Orlando Museum of Art, Ackland Art Museum, D’Armour Museum of Fine Arts, Grand Rapids Art Museum.
“Selections from the Collection” Eastman Museum April 29 -September 24
“In Their Own Light: Photographs from Chicago Public Schools.” Glass Curtain Gallery, Columbia College
“In Their Own Light: Photographs from Chicago Public Schools.” St.Xavier Univ. Gallery,
Chicago, IL August 21- September 12.
2022
“Outwin 2022 American Portraiture Today” National Portrait Gallery, D.C.
“ Signals & Mysteries: Photographs from Chicago Public Schools” Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR
“New Photography III” Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
2021
“Vantage Points: Contemporary Photography from the Whitney Museum” Asheville Art Museum, 12’18- 3’15
“Vantage Points: Contemporary Photography from the Whitney Museum” Taubman Museum of Art, VA
2020
“School Pictures” solo exhibit. Gallery 901, Evanston, IL. March 7- April 30
“A Girl’s World,” with painter, Judith Raphael. Hofheimer Gallery, Chicago. February 7-29.
2019
“Vantage Points: Contemporary Photography from the Whitney Museum” Peoria
Riverfront Museum. Peoria, IL Sept-Nov.
“Go Down Moses” group exhibit curated by Teju Cole, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago. July 18th-September 29th.
“A History of Photography”, group exhibit, Eastman Museum, Rochester, NY
“Forever Young: Representations of Childhood & Adolescence” Newport Art Museum
2018
“Girl Transcendent” solo show. Schneider Gallery, Chicago. September-October
“Girl Transcendent” solo show. Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. June-August
“Not An Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library” group exhibit. Annenberg Space for Photography, LA Spring 2018
“A History of Photography”, group exhibition. George Eastman Museum Collection
2017
“American Photographs, 1845 to Now” Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Aug. 2016-Feb. 2017
“Bodies in Water” deCordova Museum. Lincoln, MA . Group show, October 2017- April 2018
2016
“The Gender Show”, Fundación Canal, Madrid, Spain, group exhibition.
“Not Just Another Pretty Face” group exhibit. Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago. Nov’16-Feb’1
2015
“Recent Work” Solo Exhibit. Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL. Sept.4- Sept. 30
“TWO” Solo Exhibit. Union League Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL April 2-30
Klotz Gallery, group show at AIPAD. NYC. April 15-19
2014
“Girls of Summer” Solo exhibit. Winton Bell Gallery, Brown Univ. RI.
“Millennium Park: An Anatomy in Photographs. group exhibit Chicago, IL
2013
“The Gender Show”, group exhibition. George Eastman House, Rochester, NY
“Not Just Another Pretty Face” group exhibit. Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago
“Girl in the Silver Dress, Solo Exhibit ”Brick City Gallery, Missouri State Univ., Springfield, MO
“The Unseen Child”, group exhibition. McIninch Art Gallery, SNHU, NH
“Big Pictures”, group exhibition. Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, TX
“Character Study”, group exhibition. deCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA
2012
“Flesh and Bone” group exhibition. Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
“Juried Member’s Exhibition” Houston Center for Photography, Houston, TX
“Figurism :Narrative & Fantastic Art from the Illinois State Museum Collection” Chicago, IL
“Worldwide Photographic Biennial Exhibition” Buenos Aires, Argentina. Award winner. Jan.18 - Feb. 15
2011
“Eye Wonder: Photography from the Bank of America Collection" National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.
“Safety in Numbers? Images of African American Identity & Community”. Portland Art Museum
“Not Just Another Pretty Face” group exhibit. Salt Lake Art Center, UT.
2010
“Girl Ascending”, solo exhibit, Baldwin Gallery, MTSU, Tennessee.
“Not Just Another Pretty Face” group exhibit. Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago.
“Girl Ascending”, solo exhibit, Salt Lake Art Center, Utah
“Summer Stages” group exhibit, Michael Foley Gallery, NY
2009
“Recent Work”, solo exhibition, Alan Klotz Gallery. New York, NY
"Seeing Ourselves: Masterpieces of American Photography from George Eastman House”
“The Art of Caring” New Orleans Museum of Art. National tour followed.
2008
“Made in Chicago: Photographs from the Bank of America LaSalle Collection” Chicago Cultural Center
“Girls on the Verge” The Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL
“ICON” International Center for Photography, Benefit Auction, New York, NY
2007
"Male & Female: Gender Performed in Photographs from the George Eastman HouseCollection."
"Presumed Innocence: Photographic Perspectives of Children." De Cordova Museum, Lincoln, MA
"Recent Work" solo exhibition, Alan Klotz Gallery. New York, NY
"Suburban / Domestic" Salina Art Center, Salinas,Kansas
2006
"Middle Ground: Photographs from the Whitney Museum of American Art" Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, NY
2005
"Paris Photo" Le Carrousel Du Louvre, Paris
"Melissa Ann Pinney: Regarding Emma" Blue Sky Gallery, Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts, Portland, Oregon
“Little Rascals: Images of Children in Contemporary Art,” Linda Ross Contemporary Art + Projects, Huntington Woods, MI
2004
“Inside Out: Portrait Photographs from the Permanent Collection,” Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
“Regarding Emma,” Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Women's Worlds,” Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona Beach,
“Innocence Exposed: Children in Modern Photography,” Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN
“Pool Party,” Yossi Milo Gallery, New York, NY
2003
“Contemporary Photographs”, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
"By The Sea" Yossi Milo Gallery, Summer Show. New York, NY
2002
“The View From Here: Pictures from Central Europe & The American Midwest”, Ludwig Museum, Budapest, Hungary; The Stone Bell Gallery of Prague
“The Wedding Show,” Alan Klotz/PhotoCollect New York, NY
1997
“Feminine Identity” Photographs by Melissa Ann Pinney, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
“Melissa Ann Pinney: Recent Work” Stuart B. Baum Photography, Chicago, IL
“Photo Forum,” Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
1993
“The Family Seen,” SF Camerawork, San Francisco, CA
“My/Self: Your/Other,” Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, NY
1992
“Summer Pleasures,” Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York, NY
1991
“Pleasures and Terrors of Domestic Comfort,” The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
1990
“Photographs by Melissa Ann Pinney,” Midtown Y Photography Gallery, New York, NY
1989
“Changing Chicago Up Close,” Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
1988
“Sunshine & Other States: Photographs 1984-1987,” Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Changing Chicago: The City Inside & Out,” Art Institute of Chicago
“Mothers & Daughters,” Aperture Traveling Show, Field Museum, Chicago, IL
“Road & Roadside: American Photography 1930-1986,” Art Institute of Chicago
1987
“Social Life,” Center for Photography, Woodstock, NY
“The Animal Show,” PhotoCollect, New York, NY
1986
“New Work: Photographs by Melissa Pinney,” Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, IL
1985
“Recent Work: Photographs by Melissa Pinney,” Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Illinois Photographers '85,” Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
1984
“A Year in Chicago's Grant Park,” Museum of Contemporary Photography,
1983
“Remembrances,” Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
1982
“Remembrances,” Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
“Illinois Photographers '82,” Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
1981
“The Contemporary Figure,” Artists Guild, Chicago, I
1978
“Melissa Pinney, Portraits of Evanston Artists,” Evanston Art Center, IL
“Illinois Photographers '78,” Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
1975
“Breath of Vision: Portfolios of Women Photographers,” Fashion Institute of Technology Galleries, NYC
1974
“Exposure '74,” The Darkroom Gallery, Chicago, IL
Publications
2020 “A Girls’ World” Exhibition Catalog. essays by Tony Phillips, Judith Raphael & Melissa Ann Pinney
2018 Celebrating Girlhood & Feminine Identity, NYT Lens
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/lens/melissa-ann-pinney-girl-transcendent.html
2015 TWO, Photographs by Melissa Ann Pinney. Edited and Introduction by Ann Patchett.
2014 Oxford American, Spring Issue
2012 REAL SIMPLE Magazine, Julyand October Issue.
2011 Girl Ascending, Essay by David Travis. Center for American Places at Columbia College Chicago
O, The Oprah Magazine “Live Your Best Life” May Issue
Marie Claire Magazine, “ Starvation Nation” July Issue
Photo District News: Photo of the Daysee links
Time Magazine, “ Girls, Interrupted” VOL 178, NO.17, 2011
2010 The New York Times Sunday Magazine April 18: “The Way We Live Now”
REAL SIMPLE Magazine, Family issue, “Keepsakes” September
REAL SIMPLE Magazine, “ Christmas Portfolio” December
2009 Marie Claire Magazine, April “First Person: Jennifer Wilkov”
2008 The New York Times Sunday Magazine, February 9th; "Domains"
Marie Claire Magazine, December. International Report “Why I Went AWOL”
2007 Presumed Innocence: Photographic Perspectives of Children. Exhibition catalogue.
Essay by Anne Higonnet, Professor of Art, Barnard College
“O, The Oprah Magazine” August and September 2007
2006 The New York Times Sunday Magazine, June 16; "The Way We Live Now"
The New York Times Sunday Magazine, July 23; "After the Bell Curve"
2004 "Illusions of Innocence: The Child in Modern Photography" Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN. Essay by Rod Slemmons, Director, MOCP
2003 Regarding Emma: Photographs of American Women & Girls, Center for American Places & Columbia College Chicago
The New York Times Sunday Magazine, October 19 10-19-03 Lives
2002 The Spirit of Family, by Al and Tipper Gore. Henry Holt & Co. NY
The View From Here: Pictures from Central Europe & The American Midwest
The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Aug. 18 and Jan. 27
2001 “Regarding Emma,” DoubleTake Magazine, Fall 2001
2000 “Works in Progress,” DoubleTake Magazine Winter 2000
“Reconfiguring the Heroic,” Essay by Carol Becker, Artemesia Gallery Chicago,
1997 “Feminine Identity,” Exhibition Catalogue with essay by Barbara Michaels
1991 Pleasuresand Terrors of Domestic Comfort, TheMuseum of Modern Art, New York
Naming the Daytime Moon: Stories & Poems by Chicago Women
US News and World Report
New York Times Book Review
1988 Changing Chicago: A Photo documentary, University of Illinois Press
1987 Chicago Magazine
1978 Chicago Reader
1975 Ms. Magazine; Popular Photography Annual
Selected Reviews
2014 http://bellgallery.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/melissa-ann-pinney/
2011 Chicago Tribune “Mother captures girls ‘Ascending’ by Courtney Crowder Jan.28
WBEZ Interview for Girl Ascending.
WGN Interview for Girl Ascending
2008 “Becoming Subjects” by Janina Ciezadlo. Afterimage, Spring 2008
“Age of Anxiety” by Lauren Weinberg. Time Out Chicago, January31- February 6, 2008
2004 "Pinney Looks at Womanhood, Identity" by Lauren Viera. Chicago Tribune, January 23
Gallery Glance "Regarding Emma" Chicago Sun-Times January 23, 2004
2003 “Twice Upon A Time” by Beth Kephart. Chicago Tribune, Book Section. Nov. 2, 2003
"Girls Will Be Girls" by Lisa Lenoir. Chicago Sun-Times November 23, 2003
“Midcontinental Spirit” The Prague Post, April 2, 2003
1997 “Art People: Using a Feminist Lens,” Deanna Issacs. Chicago READER, November 2
1992 Village Voice Choices “Summer Pleasures at Howard Greenberg Gallery” by Vince Aletti.
1991 “Photography,” New York Times Book Review, December 1
“The Twilight Zone,” New York Magazine, October 14
1989 “Sins of Omission,”
After Image, December“Chicago in Focus,” Chicago Sunday Tribune, March 26
1986 “Melissa Pinney Photographs,” New Art Examiner, September
1978 “Melissa Pinney,” New Art Examiner, November
“Broad Views, Fond Faces in Evanston,” Chicago Sun Times, October 1
Education
1988 University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, Master of Fine Arts in Photography
1977 Columbia College Chicago, IL, Bachelor of Arts in Photography
1971-1973 Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY. Liberal Arts Curriculum
Teaching Experience
1984 - present Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, Photography Professor
1993 - 1995 Institute of Design, IIT, Chicago, IL, Photography Professor
1991 School of the Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois, Photography Professor