Statement
My photographic practice has always served as a facilitator for processing and making sense of the internal and external forces at play in my life. I tend to explore themes of flawed memory, loss, familial relationships, disappointment, and curiosity among others.
While my photos are a result of my personal experiences, the imagery allows viewers to join my exploration and still have room to attach their own interpretations to the work.
Biography
Alyss Vernon is an experienced contemporary art gallery director and photographer. She explores themes of life, loss, home, and belonging through photography, video, and book arts. Her work has been exhibited and held in private collections internationally. Alyss holds a BFA in photography and art history from New Mexico State University and an MA and MFA in photography from the University of Iowa.
CV
EDUCATION:
2013 Master of Fine Arts, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2012 Master of Art, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2010 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Emphasis in Photography, minor in Art History,
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
EXPERIENCE:
2017-Present Gallery Director, Olson-Larsen Galleries, West Des Moines, IA
Spring 2019 Interim Photography Lecturer, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
2013-2017 Office Manager and Post Production Coordinator, Monahan Photo Artist
2014-2016 Adjunct Professor of Photography, Grandview University, Des Moines, IA
2013-2015 Photography Instructor, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
2010-2013 Teaching Assistant, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
SOLO & TWO-PERSON SHOWS:
2024 Not Home, Midl Gallery, Newton, IA
2024 Not Home, Waldemar A. Schmidt Art Gallery, Wartburg Gallery, Waverly, IA
2021 Un | Familiar, Gallery 181, College of Design, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
2013 Reflecting on the Sublime, ABW Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2012 Begin Again, Porch Gallery, Iowa City, IA
GROUP SHOWS:
2018 Photo Sensitive, Olson-Larsen Galleries, West Des Moines, IA
2018 Wintertime, Don’t Take Pictures, online juried exhibition
2017 Greater Des Moines Exhibited XXIV, Polk County Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, IA
2017 Tahoe CoLab Juried Exhibition, SPE West/Southwest Retreat, Tahoe City, CA
2017 We Like Small Things, Filter Space, Chicago, IL
2016 Home, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
2016 A Sense of Place, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, VT
2015 On Fruited Plains, Hite Art Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
2015 Faculty Show, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
2015 Landscape: Juried Exhibition, Plates to Pixels, online gallery
2014 Faculty Show, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
2013 We’re Already There, ABW Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2012 Command Z, Drewelowe Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2012 PHOTOcentric, Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
2012 Multicultural Caucus Film Fest, SPENational Conference, San Francisco, CA
2012 Paper Trail, RSVP, Iowa City, IA
2012 Progression, ABW Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2012 11th Annual Joyce Elaine Grant Photo Exhibition, Texas Womans University, Denton, TX
2012 Juried Plastic Camera Show, RayKo Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012 On the Road:Travel Photography, PhotoPlace Gallery, Online Gallery
2011 Mix-Up, Times Club Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2011 New Work From the Field, Drewelowe Gallery, Iowa city. IA
2011 University of Iowa Museum of Art “First Fridays” Video Works Screening, Iowa City, IA
2010 Gnu/New Work: An Exhibition of Graduate Photographers, Iowa City, IA
2009 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, NMSU Art Gallery, Las Cruces, NM
2009 Save the Wells: An Exhibition of Art by Artists, Wells Hall, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM
2008 “Found Plates/ Altered States” a Show of Prints by NMSU Students, Mesilla, NM
2008 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, NMSU Art Gallery, Las Cruces, NM
AFFILIATIONS & HONORS:
2023 Artist Project Grant, Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Economic Development Authority
2022-Present Chair/Membership Chair, Art Noir advisory committee, Des Moines Art Center
2012 SPE National Student Scholarship recipient
2010-12 The University of Iowa Graduate Tuition Scholarships
2008-Present Society for Photographic Education Member
2008-10 Photographic Society 575 Member
LECTURES:
2024 Being a Professional Artist, Wartburg College, Waverly, IA
2014 Context, Guest Lecture, Des Moines Camera Club, Des Moines, IA
2013 Guest Lecture and Workshop, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
PUBLICATIONS:
2012 Caught on Film, 5th Annual RayKo Photo Center International Plastic Camera Show, Blurb Books
2012 On the Road: Travel Photography, Exhibition Catalog by PhotoPlace Gallery, Blurb Books
2009 Perceiving Loss, Blurb Books