Bio
Dennissa Young is a Chicago-based, Native New Mexican, relational artist and curator. With projects focusing on friendship, connection and collaborating, she has exhibited all across the US (Rock Hill, Boston and Charlotte to name a few), and internationally (from Bogota, Colombia to Istanbul, Turkey). She has been featured in numerous publications, including CLTure, Broadening the Narrative Podcast, York County Magazine, and the Art | Tea Podcast. Dennissa's work strives to foster intimacy, radical softness, and capture the spiritual journey of humanity. Her artistic practice creates time, space and honesty, where audience members can engage and participate however they see fit. Dennissa currently works as a Play and Learning Facilitator at the Children’s Museum and runs Monday Night Rattle with her friends.
CV
Education and Work
2024-present Programming Fellow, Latitude, Chicago, IL
Seasonal Play and Learning Facilitator, Chicago Children’s Museum, Chicago, IL
Curator, Yes Project Space, Chicago, IL
2023 Gallery Assistant, The Martin, Chicago, IL
2022-present Due to the Current Situation Podcast Host, Chicago, IL
2021-2023 Curatorial Assistant, The Martin, Chicago, IL
2020-present dfbrl8r Board Member, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
2020-2023 National Director of Cru Arts & Culture, Zoom, The internet
2020 Please Don’t Touch (the Artist), Zoom, The internet
2019-2020 York County Magazine, Art Scene Columnist, Rock Hill, SC
2017-2020 Friday Arts Project, Artist + Communications Manager, Rock Hill, SC
2015-2017 International Internship, Istanbul, Turkey
2011-2015 BFA, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Solo Performances
2023 “The Emotional Archivist Is In”, The Martin, Chicago, IL
2022 “DONE + DONE”, Mary Beth Minnis’ House, Austin, TX
“DONE + DONE”, Chicago Plants, Chicago, IL
“DONE + DONE”, The Martin, Chicago, IL
2021 “Step into my office”, Belong Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Step into my office”, The Martin, Chicago, IL
“Group Text, Text Dynamics”, IMessage/facebook messenger, Chicago, IL
2019 “Take what you need”, Transform Arts Open House, Fort Collins, CO
“Take what you need”, W.A.M.A. Dream Zine Release, Amelie’s Left Bank, Rock Hill, SC
“Will you hold my hand”, tell me, The Courtroom Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
2018 “Transparent”, Transient, The Courtroom Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
“Curated Conversation”, The House of Cindy Lu, Jamaica Plain, MA
2015 “What I like About My Body”, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
2014 “Summer Scenes”, Case Sensitive, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Collaborative Performances
2022 “Advice/Encouragement”, MdW Fair, Mana Contemporary, Chicago. IL | collaboration with Whitney LaMora
2020 “Cut From The Same Cloth”, Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC | collaboration with Lindsey Bargar + Alexis Lorraine Howard
“Take what you need”, Making Arrangements, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte, NC | collaboration with Anna Goldstein + Sara Simpson
Solo Exhibitions
2023 An Emotional Archive, The Martin, Chicago, IL
2024 Bureau of Friendship, Creative Coworking, Chicago, IL
Group Exhibitions
2024 “Mutual Agreements”, Expo Chicago, 6018 North, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Doomsday Apocalypse Now and Then, The McColl Center, Charlotte, NC
Beneath the Visible, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
Fuzz, Purple Window Gallery, Chicago, IL
2023 “Easy Exchange”, One night only show, The Joinery, Chicago, IL
“The Modern Amulet”, Amuleto, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
“Easy Exchange”, Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center, Chicago, IL
2022 “DONE + DONE”, Art Party, Rock Hill, SC
“DONE + DONE”, A Very Serious Gallery, Chicago IL
“DONE + DONE”, Dock 6 Design & Art 14, Chicago IL
No. HOT_L Istanbul 22 Edition, Istanbul, Turkey
“DONE + DONE”, Nubes Art Fair, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL
“DONE + DONE”, Splendor, Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee, WI
No. HOT_L Chicago 22 Edition, Zhou B Garden, Chicago, IL
Need a friend?, The Franklin, Chicago, IL
“DONE + DONE”, Expo, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Soft Gestures, The Courtroom Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
2021 Doomsday Clock, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte, NC
“Heartbreak lifeguard”, Beach Party, Holly and the Neighbors, Montrose Beach, Chicago, IL
Art Party 2021, Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill, SC
2020 Centerline, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
The 31st Annual Juried Competition, Dalton Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
Feeding Broke, The Slab Gallery + Studio Space, Rock Hill, SC
“its for you”, LadyFestCLT, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte, NC
2019 OFF-BRAND, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte, NC
“Take what you need”, Performance Expo, Concerts at the Courtroom, Rock Hill, SC
Friends of Friday Arts Project, Courtroom Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
ACYC Studio Artists Showcase, Dalton Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
Reflecting Her Story, Perimeter Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
Tin Ceilings and Other Specifics, The Magenta Suite, Exeter, NH
The 30th Annual Juried Competition, Dalton Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
Astigmatism, Full Disclosure at the Hangar, Columbia, SC
2018 Chairs and the People in Them, The Courtroom Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
2017 Be Our Neighbor, Kadikoy Studio, Istanbul, Turkey
2015 Medal Award Gala, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Graduating Students Show, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
“A Friendship Workshop”, Strategic Plan 2025, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Dept. of Drama and Dance Annual Design Exhibit, Tufts University, Medford, MA
Acts Screening, Park Street Church, Boston, MA
Small and Wise, Park Street Church, Boston, MA
Titanium Medici President Dinner, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Woman at the Well Screening, Park Street Church, Boston, MA
2014 unDOCUMENTA, Khaki Gallery, Boston, MA
Split Decisions Screening, Park Street Church, Boston MA
2013 Multi Media Makeout, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
The Narcissism of Aesthetics in the Age of the Selfie, Howard Art Project, Dorchester, MA
Area Photo Show, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
2012 Text Case, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Residencies & Grants
2023 Collaborative Seed Grant, City Seminary, New York, New York
Center Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
2014 SMFA Presidents Grant, Boston, MA
Curated Exhibitions
2024 Full & Fragmented Affections, Yes Project Space, Chicago, IL - Curator
Ambulatory, Yes Project Space, Chicago, IL - Curator
Condition Report, Yes Project Space, Chicago, IL - Curator
Birthday Sweethearts, Yes Project Space, Chicago, IL - Curator
Barely Here, Yes Project Space, Chicago, IL - Co-Curator
2023 Threads of Echoes, The Plan, Chicago, IL - Co-Curator
Dock 6: Design & Art 15, Dock 6 Collective, Chicago, IL - Curator
2022 Performance Night, Art Party, Rock Hill, SC - Curator
Splendor, Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee, WI - Curator
Need a friend?, The Franklin Outdoor, Chicago, IL - Co-Curator
2021 Locus VIII, The Martin, Chicago, IL - Curatorial Assistant
love, lament & solidarity, Zine, Zoom - Co-Curator
Locus IX, The Martin Chicago, IL - Curatorial Assistant
Swimmer, The Martin, Chicago, IL - Curator
2019 OFF-BRAND, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte, NC - Curator, Organizer
Performance Expo, Gettys Art Center, Rock Hill, SC - Curator
Published Work
2020 “Coping with Corona”, Cedar Street Vol 1, Rock Hill, SC
2019 “Rapture”, W.A.M.A. apocalypse zine, Rock Hill, SC
“A thought by Dennissa Young”, Lackadaisy Literary Magazine, Rock Hill, SC
“Pet Resume”, W.A.M.A. pet zine, Rock Hill, SC
“Foresee Frames Performance”, W.A.M.A. dream zine, Rock Hill SC
Speaking Engagements
2023 Guest artist, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
“Grant? Who is he?”, Zoom, Chicago, IL
2022 “DONE + DONE: a performance about shredding emotions” presentation, Art School, Chicago IL
2020 “Innovation in Uncertainty: Creativity, COVID & Courage” seminar, Zoom Via Salisbury, MD
Broadening the Narrative Podcast Guest, Zoom via Rock Hill, SC
Food & Art: From Our Table to Yours, Zoom via Rock Hill, SC
Art | Tea Podcast Guest, Charlotte, NC
2019 “Bob Ross and Fostering craft”, Hub Meeting, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
2018 “What is performance art?” Seminar as part of Art Party, Rock Hill, SC
“This is a Non Formal Presentation (how to make the most of your art degree)”, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Collectives
2019-present We Also Make Art (W.A.M.A.)
2015-2017 Tell Me How You Really Feel (The Collective)
2014-present The Prom Queens with artist and friend Madeleine Kobold