Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2005
University of California San Diego, Master of Fine Arts, Computing in the Arts
2002
University of Colorado at Boulder, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art Summa Cum Laude
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
FILE Festival / Sāo Paulo, BR
Prismatic / Dairy Center for the Arts / Boulder, CO
2022
The Distance Between Words / New Collection / Denver, CO
Love, public artwork installation / Berkeley, CA
2020
OPEN, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art / Boulder, CO
2019
Eight-and-a-Half-by-Eleven, David B. Smith Gallery / Denver, CO
Binary Pronouns video commission, 150 Media Stream / Chicago, IL, curated by Yuge Zhou
In Other Words, Republic Plaza / Denver, CO curated by Andra Archer
2017
Marginalia, Dairy Center for the Arts / Boulder, CO
Sticks and Stones, David B. Smith Gallery / Denver, CO
2016
Corruption, Media Live Festival University of Colorado Boulder Art Museum / Boulder, CO, two-person exhibition with Steven Frost, curated by Maya Livio
2015
Polysemic MOA: Museum of Outdoor Arts / Englewood, CO
A.K.A. David B. Smith Gallery / Denver, CO
2014
XYZ, David B. Smith Gallery / Denver, CO
Joel Swanson: Left to Right, Top to Bottom, Museum of Contemporary Art / Denver, CO, curated by Nora Burnett Abrams
2013
Joel Swanson: Work Inspired by the Media Archaeology Lab, Counterpath / Denver, CO
2011
Formalisms, RedLine / Denver, CO
2008
Binarisms, ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado Boulder / Boulder, CO
2004
Confessions: A Fictional Overhaul of Saint Augustine, Marcuse Gallery / San Diego, CA
HyperX at ALTX.com / online altx.com/hyperx, curated by Mark Amerika
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
Between the Columns, Codaworx Summit / McNichols Building / Denver, CO
LIKE LIKE / Rotunda Gallery, Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design / Lakewood, CO
Resilience: A Visual Proclamation / Upstart Modern / San Francisco, CA
Word Into Art, Boulder Public Library / Boulder, CO, co-curated by Jim Johnson and Jennifer Heath
2021
Word Play, Arvada Center / Arvada, CO, curated by Collin Parson
Luminaries, Frederic C Hamilton Fine Art Gallery, Children’s Hospital Colorado / Aurora, CO, curated by Jasmine Chu
Dallas Art Fair. courtesy of David B. Smith Gallery / Dallas, TX
Untitled, Pirate Contemporary Art / Lakewood, CO, curated by Amber Cobb and Mario Zoots
The Anniversary Exhibition, Selections from the MOA Collection, Museum of Outdoor Arts / Englewood CO
2020
Why Sentience?, International Society for Electronic Arts / Montreal, QC
Plasticine, Art Students League of Denver / Denver, CO, curated by Kalliopi Monoyios
2019
Knockout, Dairy Block / Denver, CO, curated by Scott Young
Choreographies, Night Lights Denver / Denver, CO, curated by David Moke nightlightsdenver.com
Peripheries, Glucksman / Cork, IE, curated by James O’Sullivan
Real Life: An Installation, Counterpath / Denver, CO, curated by Julie Carr reallifeaninstallation.com
CauseArt / Google Boulder Campus / Boulder, CO
2018
Making Headlines, Firehouse Art Center / Longmont, CO, curated by Brandy Coons and Jessica Kooiman Parker
Between Us in conjunction with Happy Cities Denver / Denver, CO, curated by Cortney Lane Stell
SixtyDoors, Real Life: An Installation / curated by Julie Carr reallifeaninstallation.com
Dimensions Variable, Lakewood Cultural Center / Lakewood, CO, curated by Laine Godsey
MediaLive, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art / Boulder, CO, with Liat Berdugo, Hyphen Labs, and Pinar Yoldas, curated by Maya Livio
21st Century Cyphers, 516 Arts / Albuquerque, NM, with Nina Katchadourian, John Phillip Abbott, and Hayal Pozanti, curated by Claude Smith
Redline 10X / Denver, CO, curated by Cortney Stell
Banff Independent Artist Residency Open Studios Exhibition, Banff Centre for the Arts / Banff, AB
Paintings, Sculpture and Snapshots: Works for the Permanent Collection, Museum of Outdoor Arts / Englewood, CO
2017
Faculty Art Exhibition, University of Colorado Boulder Art Museum / Boulder, CO, curated by Sandra Q. Firmin and Hope Saska
Denial as the Leading Principle, Film Festival / Dordrecht, NL
Cabinet, David B. Smith Gallery / Denver, CO, curated by Adam Milner
Personal Structures, official satellite show of the 57th Venice Biennale / Venice, IT, curated by Cortney Stell
2016
Ideas 16, International Digital Media Arts Association juried exhibition / Winona, MN, curated by Christiane Paul and Dene Grigar
Writ Large University of California, Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz, CA
101 Mediapoetry Festival / St. Petersburg, RU
Art of the Maker CultureHaus and the Denver Art Museum / Denver, CO
Love is Love, Emmanuel Gallery / Denver, CO, curated by Jacquelyn Connolly
A Few Final Words selected works from the Mark & Polly Addison Collection / Boulder, CO, curated by Mark Addison
2015
DecoSlut, Gildar Gallery / Denver, CO
2014
More than Friends, Ironton Studios / Denver, CO
Culture Catalyst, McNichols Building / Denver CO curated by Jacquelyn Connolly
Miami Projects, satellite art fair of Art Basel / Miami, FL
Text, DAVA: Downtown Aurora Visual Arts / Aurora, CO
Recognizable Disguises, Firehouse Gallery / Longmont, CO, curated by Jessica Kooiman Parker
2013
Digital Graffiti Alys Beach / Pensacola, FL, curated by Brett Phares
Ice Breaker 4, Ice Cube Gallery / Denver, CO
Not Exactly, RedLine / Denver, CO
B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beamer) / Denver, CO
2012
One Square Foot Redline Contemporary Art Center / Denver, CO
Material Engagements, RedLine Contemporary Art Center / Denver, CO curated by Harmony Hammond
Postscript: Writing After Conceptual Art, Museum of Contemporary Art / Denver, CO with Glenn Ligon, Fiona Banner, Jen Bervin, Erica Baum, Kenneth Goldsmith, Marcel Broodthaers and others, curated by Nora Burnett Abrams and Andrea Andersson
Show also traveled to:
The Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, 2014 / Lansing, MI
The Power Plant. 2013 / Toronto, ON
Blacktop Art Festival / Denver, CO
Optic Nerve, Museum of Contemporary Art / North Miami, FL
Digital Graffiti Alys Beach / Pensacola, FL, curated by Brett Phares
Museum of Glitch Aesthetics, Abandon Normal Devices Festival / Manchester, EN collaboration with Mark Amerika, Rick Silva, and others
Urban Encounters: SightLine / Denver, CO
Interlife Crisis, Fictilis Gallery / Seattle WA
Terminal Net.Art Austin Peay University / Clarksville, TN
2011
Au: Exchange, RedLine Contemporary Art Center / Denver, CO curated by Cortney Lane Stell
Design for the Other 90% / Denver, CO
Frame of Mind / Denver, CO
B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beamer) / Denver, CO
2010
Informal Show, RedLine Contemporary Art Center / Denver, CO
Cross Ties Across Time / RedLine Contemporary Art Center / Denver, CO
2009
Binarisms, Digital Arts and Culture Conference, Electronic Literature Gallery / Irvine, CA
The Last Book, Multimedia Book Performance, Schindler House / Los Angeles, CA
2008
The 86 Collective, Beta Nightclub / Denver, CO
Ruckus, Repeat, Ruckus: Visual Noise, The Lab / Belmar, CO
2007
The Last Book, Multimedia Book Project, MAK Center / Los Angeles, CA, with Steve Fagin, Mary Gaitskill, Leslie Thorton, Davina Semo, and others
LA Freewaves / Los Angeles, CA
Synesthesia, online Empyre.com
Confessions, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art / Orange County, CA
2005
Supersonic, Los Angeles Design Center / Los Angeles, CA
Now Happening, University Gallery / San Diego, CA
2004
FILE, Electronic Language International Festival / Sao Paulo, BR
Digital N@arrative, UCLA Hammer Museum / Los Angeles, CA, curated by Jessica Pressman
2003
AIM (Art in Motion), Susquehanna Art Museum / Harrisburg, PA
9th Floor, Graduate Relocation Project / Los Angeles, CA
Life By Design Conference Exhibition, University of California Irvine / Irvine, CA
Emerging Artists Digital Art Show, The Dairy Center / Boulder, CO curated by Polly Addison
2002
AIM (Art in Motion Festival) / University of Southern California / Los Angeles, CA
Full Frontal, University of Colorado Boulder Art Museum / Boulder, CO
Korean Web Art Festival / Seoul, KR collaboration with Mark Amerika
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022–present Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
ATLAS Institute
Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society
Courtesy Faculty Intermedia Arts, Writing and Performance Program
2015–2022 Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
2015–present Assistant Professor, ATLAS Institute and Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society, University of Colorado Boulder
2008–2016 Faculty Director, Technology, Arts, & Media Program, University of Colorado Boulder
2012–2015 Senior Instructor, ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado Boulder
2005-2012 Instructor, ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado Boulder
2002-2005 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of California San Diego
COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
2022
Love, Public Art Commission for The Laureate / Berkeley, CA
COLAB/ New Collection / Denver, CO
2021
HASHTAG, commission for Twitter Office / Boulder, CO
2020
BLINK/BLANK, commission for Tilt/West Journal, Art & Language / Denver, CO
Y/OURS, public commission, installation refurbished and extended / Denver, CO
2019
Choreographies, Night Lights Denver / public video projection mapping / Denver, CO, curated by David Moke / nightlightsdenver.com/
TRULY/RURAL, commission for Colorado Convention Center / Denver, CO
Ampersand, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, four work commission for MCA Board / Denver, CO
Octopus Initiative, 25 piece commission, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver / Denver, CO, curated by Nora Burnett Abrams
Binary Pronouns video commission, 150 Media Stream / Chicago, IL, curated by Yuge Zhou
North Boulder Library Public Art Commission Finalist / Boulder, CO
San Francisco Arts Commission’s Public Art Program Prequalified Artist / San Francisco, CA
2018
Homophone, commission / Denver, CO
ME/WE, commission for Quarterly Forum, Denver, CO
Standardized Car Scents, commission for Strada Advertising / Denver, CO
Y/OURS, public art commission by the Downtown Denver Partnership / Denver, CO
Codependent Algorithms, commission for MediaLive / Boulder, CO
Conjugation of Being public art commission for Redline 10X / Denver, CO
2017
DRINK, DRANK, DRUNK, commission for the The Elizabeth Hotel / Fort Collins, CO
T/HERE, public art commissions, Porte Cochère Installation, Born Hotel / Denver, CO, curated by Adam Lerner
27 piece artwork commission for the Born Hotel / Denver, CO, curated by Adam Lerner
RIGHT/WRITE/RITE, commission for law firm HuschBlackwell
2016
Ligature, commission for Twitter / Boulder, CO
Sincerely, public art commission, Halcyon Hotel / Cherry Creek, CO
2012
Terminal Net.Art commission From Here
Urban Encounter: Sightline, video art commission / Denver, CO
AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND RESIDENCIES
2021
Hangar Residency / Lisbon, PT
2019
Colorado Creative Industries Grant for Eight-and-a-Half-by-Eleven exhibition / Denver, CO
Center for Humanities and arts GCAH Grant for Eight-and-a-Half-by-Eleven exhibition / Boulder, CO
Octopus Initiative, Selected Participant, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver / Denver, CO
2018
Banff Independent Artist Residency / Banff, AB
2017
Black Cube Fellowship blackcube.art/fellow/joel-swanson
Center for Arts and Humanities Grant for Personal Structures exhibition / Venice, IT
Colorado Creative Industries Grant for Personal Structures exhibition / Venice, IT
2015
Nominated for Louis Tiffany Comfort Award, louiscomforttiffanyfoundation.org / New York, NY
Museum of Outdoor Arts Grant / Englewood, CO
2014
Best of Westword Award: “Best Show Combining Thinking and Seeing, Left to Right, Top to Bottom,” curated by Nora Burnett Abrams / Denver, CO
2013
Media Archeology Lab Artist in Residence / University of Colorado Boulder / Boulder, CO
Best of Westword Award: “Best Member Art Show” Material Engagements, curated by Harmony Hammond / Denver, CO
Center for Arts and Humanities Grant for project, Logic Only Works in Two Dimensions / Denver, CO
Nominated for Yes Ma’am Colorado Artist Grant / Denver, CO
Invited Juror, Digital Graffiti / Alys Beach, FL
Digital Graffiti Artist Residency / Alys Beach, FL
2012
“Most Experimental” award winner at Digital Graffiti / Pensacola, FL
2011
Digital Humanities Research Seminar / University of Colorado Boulder
Research Award for invited seminar participation, Center for Arts and Humanities Grant for project Sol Lewitt’s Statements on Conceptual Art, Diagrammed / Denver, CO
Terminal Award / award for Internet Project, From Here
2010
RedLine Artist Residency, 2010–2012 / Denver, CO
2009
Visual Science: Technology, Aesthetics, Investigation / University of Colorado Boulder, Research Award for invited seminar participation
2006
ATLAS Leadership Award, ATLAS Institute / University of Colorado Boulder
2004
Humanities Grant / University of California San Diego
Graduate Research Grant / University of California San Diego
2003
Graduate Fellowship / University of California San Diego
Graduate Teaching Assistantship / University of California San Diego
2002
Summa Cum Laude Honors Thesis in Digital Art / University of Colorado Boulder
Dean’s List / University of Colorado Boulder
2001
Undergraduate Research Grant / University of Colorado Boulder
Addison New Media Scholarship / University of Colorado Boulder
COLLECTIONS
Born Hotel / Denver, CO
Colorado Convention Center / Denver, CO
Elizabeth Hotel / Fort Collins, CO
Electronic Literature Organization’s 4th Anthology
Halcyon Hotel / Denver, CO
Husch/Blackwell
Mark and Polly Addison Collection
Maauad Collection
Museum of Outdoor Arts
Pardon Collection, Newport Beach CA & Denver, CO
New Collection, Denver, CO
Twitter
University of Colorado Boulder Art Museum
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO