Heidi I. Norton
Heidi Norton (b.1977) is a New York based artist whose 1970’s upbringing as a child of New Age homesteaders in West Virginia resulted in a strong connection to the land, plant life and nature. She discusses this relationship to her art and culture in a recent feature in Art21’s Revolution issue Homesteading as Art and Revolution. Norton mounted a large early/mid career site responsive exhibition, Prismatic Nature, at Elmhurst Art Museum where she received a generous grant from the Illinois Art Council to serve as Artist in Residence. There she had the opportunity to curate the McCormick House -- one of three Mies van der Rohe’s residential homes in the United States. Norton is currently working with plant philosopher Michael Marder on the study of plant as thinkers and responders. Her recent interview in BOMB magazine discusses the ethics of plants and differentiates between the terms "nature" and "ecology." In 2013, Norton traveled to Bourges, France to participate in the exhibition Ghost Nature at the National School of the Arts. There she researched the natural water structures, primarily concentrating on the marsh systems. Those studies were focused into a large installation that traveled to University of Illinois at Chicago, Gallery 400. Norton’s solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art received much critical acclaim. Her work is in the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Joyce Foundation and numerous private collections.
She is the founder of Vantage Points and a professor at the International Center of Photography.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
Undulations, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
2019
Prisms, The Gallery at the ACE HOTEL, New York, NY
Music for Plants Disappearing, Pilot + Projects, Philadelphia, PA (two-person show)
2015
Germination, LVL3, Chicago, IL (three-person show)
The Grass Has Eyes, Comfort Station, Chicago, IL, Curated by Claudine Ise
2014
Prismatic Nature, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
to threptikon, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013
Light in the Dark, Mark Wolfe Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
2012
Chicago Works, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Reasons to Cut Into the Earth, Johalla Projects, Chicago, IL
2011
Not to Touch the Earth, NEIU Fine Art Center, Chicago, IL
Not to See the Sun, EBERSMOORE, Chicago, IL
Between New Moons, HungryMan Gallery, San Francisco, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
Infinite Growth, Beverly’s, NY, NY
Attuned, Swale House, Governors Island, NY, NY
2020
Vantage Points, GRIMM Gallery, NY, NY
A Subtropical Affair, Center for Subtropical Affairs, Miami, FL
Magic Edge, Co-Curated by Tillou Fine Art and Andy Cross, Troutbeck Hotel, Amenia, NY
EARTHLY DELIGHTS, Good Naked Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
A Kind of Compass, Transmitter Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Weird Nature, Greenpoint Terminal Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Art Mutters (Alone & United), Triangle Arts, Brooklyn, NY
2019
New Age New Age: Strategies for Survival, DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
By Our Own Hands, Camayuhs, Atlanta, GA
Soft Fascination, Elijah Wheat Showroom, Brooklyn, NY
A Brief Catalogue of Pansies and Other Invaders, Pablo de Lillo Estudio, Oviedo, Spain
2018
Mother, Dusty Rose, Brooklyn, NY
Easy Lover, Salena’s Mountain, Brooklyn, NY
The Reunion Tour, curated by Josh Reames, Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Mushroom Show, curated by Letha Wilson, Hudson, NY
Vitrine, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
2017
The Palest of Green, Pink and Mauve, Camayuhs, Atlanta, GA
Garden Dwellers, Regina Rex, New York, NY
Like Your Work, Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Newest Romantics: Sculptors of Botanical Photography, The New Art Center, Newton, MA
2016
Everything Real, HAP Gallery, Portland, OR
News and Weather, VOX Populi, Philadelphia, PA
WE GAVE OUR BEST...NOW THE REST IS UP TO THE HOPE CHEST, Im Ersten, Vienna, Austria
Winter Experiment: SAIC at MMG, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL
2015
Making an Entrance, Robert Blumenthal Gallery, NY, NY
Histronics, Annex Gallery, Rosenboom, NY
Regeneration: The Nature of Transformation, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Deerfield, NY
WE GAVE OUR BEST...NOW THE REST IS UP TO THE HOPE CHEST, Penelope Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2014
Fragments of an Unknowable Whole, Urban Art Space, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Exhuming Influences, Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL
Ghost Nature, La Box, National School of Art Bourges, Bourges, France
Ghost Nature, Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
2013
My Future Ex, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Point of Departure, Arcade Gallery, Chicago, IL
Plant Life, Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL
2012
NADA Art Fair, Acre, Miami, FL
MDW Fair, Gurl Don’t be Dumb, Chicago, IL
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi, Industry of the Ordinary, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Controlled Environments, Mark Wolfe Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
NEU!, Ebersmoore, Chicago, IL
2011
Glass House, NUDASHANK, Baltimore, MD
Chain Letter, Samson Projects, Boston, MA
NADA Fair, Invisible Exports, curated by Philip von Zweck, Hudson, NY
The World as Text, designed under the direction of John Preus, Center for Book and Paper Arts, Chicago, IL
MDW Fair, EBERSMOORE, Chicago, IL
MixArt Session Anniversary at the James Hotel, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL
Soft Smoke Rises in Gay Rings Above the Roof, curated by Joe Jeffers, Bodega Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2010
Ah Wilderness, EBERSMOORE, Chicago, IL
Welcome to the Neighborhood, William H. Cooper warehouse, coordinated through Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Chicago, IL
MixArt Session at the James Hotel, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL
Group Show in conjunction with NEXT Art fair, Swimming Pool Project Space, Chicago, IL
NEXT Art Fair, Swimming Pool Project Space, Chicago, IL
Landscape, Portrait, Still Life curated by Philip von Zweck, HungryMan Gallery, Chicago, IL
2009 and earlier
Site Unspecific curated by Jessica Cochran, Dominican University, Chicago, IL
NEXT Art Fair, Swimming Pool Project Space, Chicago, IL
How Do I Look, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL
PanSonic curated by Heather Weber, NIU Gallery, Chicago, IL
Undershorts Film Festival, Congress Theatre, Chicago, IL
E-Girls, Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts, Los Angelis, CA
The Witching Hour, Bucket Rider Gallery (presently Andrew Rafacz Gallery), Chicago, IL
Square Pegs Photography Slide Show, Ladyfest East, New York, NY
Observatori Festival, Museum of Sciences, Valencia, Spain
Project #002, The Knitting Factory, New York, NY
International Open Image 2003, Deluxe Gallery, London
MFA Thesis Exhibition, 847 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL
Juried Group Show, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
Fluid Interfaces, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
Juried Group Show, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
SNAPSHOT, Contemporary Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD
Between, Mill River Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Up and Coming Artist, Gomez Gallery, Baltimore, MD
CURATORIAL
2019
By Our Own Hands, Camayuhs, Atlanta, GA
2014
Group Exhibition in conjunction with Prismatic Nature, McCormick House designed by Mies Van der Rohe, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2015
Unilever Artist Residency, New York, NY
2014
Illinois Art Council, Individual Art Support Grant, Chicago, IL
Elmhurst Art Museum Artist Residency, Chicago, IL
2012
Visiting Artist, New City, Chicago, IL
2011
Artists' Cooperative Residency and Exhibitions (ACRE), Steuben, WI
VISITING ARTIST AND LECTURES
2015
Emerge Group, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, New York, NY
Lecture for Unilever Corporation, Artist Residency, New York, NY
2014
Various Workshops and Programs taught in conjunction with solo exhibition at Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Visiting artist, Interlink Visiting Artist Program, SAIC, Chicago, IL
Panel for to threptikon, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, IL
Symposium, Following Non-Human Kinds, La Box, Ecole Nationale d'Art de France de Bourges
Panel for Ghost Nature Exhibition at UIC, Gallery400, Chicago, IL, Moderate by Andrew Yang
2012
Women’s Board, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL October 2012
Visiting Artist, New City, Chicago, IL, September 2012
Cultural Catalyst, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, August 2012
WRITING AND ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
2020
Maake Mag, Conversations, January 2020
2018
The Faceless Plant: A Sketch for Timothy Morton, BOMB Magazine, September 2018.
Ecofeminism: Faith Wilding Interviewed by Heidi Norton, BOMB Magazine, February 2018.
2017
Essay Contribution to book Why Look at Plants, editor Giovanni and Michael Marder.
2015
Picard, Caroline. Ghost Nature, The Journal for Artistic Research (JAR). Issue 7.
Heidi Norton interview with Vincent Uribe, Chelsea Culp and Ben Foch. OFLUXO.
2014
A Field Guide to Prismatic Nature, Design by Frederick Eschrich, Elmhurst Art Museum.
Ghost Nature, Editor Caroline Picard, Published by Green Lantern Press.
Homesteading as Art and Revolution, Revolutions. Art21, With Caudine Ise, November 2014
Heidi Norton and Michael Marderr, Interviewed by Monica Westin, Bomb Magazine. 24 Mar 2014
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brock, Hovey. “Vantage Points”. Brooklyn Rail. October 2020.
Khemsurov, Monica. “A Group Show of Four Women Artists Affirms Our Admiration of the Post-Covid Art World”. Sight Unseen. September 2020.
Neave, Kate. Open Lab Recommends Vantage Points. Open Lab. September 2020.
Brock, Hovey. “Soft Fascination”. Brooklyn Rail. October 2019.
Moyano, Jade. "Music for Plants Disappearing". Trendland. February 2019.
The Reunion Tour. Art Viewer. September 2018.
Lockner, Logan. "The Palest of Green, Pink and Mauve at Camayuhs". The Rib. December 2017.
Hammond, Alexandra. Garden Dwellers. The Brooklyn Rail. August 2017.
Baker, Sarah. The Newest Romantics: Sculptors of Botanical Photography. Art New England. March/April 2017
Critics Picks: The Newest Romantics, Boston Globe, January 29, 2017
"HEIDI NORTON interviews VINCENT URIBE, CHELSEA CULP and BEN FOCH". OFLUXO. August 2015
Moyano, Jade. "Exploring the Instability of Time". Trendland. May 2015
Coulibaly, Aurelie. "Chi City". Twin Magazine. Issue X1. January 2015
Connors, Thomas. "Art House". Chicago Social. August 2014
Dluzen, Robin. "Communal Curiosity in the Suburbs of Chicago: Heidi Norton at Elmhurst Art Museum". ARTFCITY. August 2014
Picard, Caroline. "The Field Notes Aesthetic: Heidi Norton at the Elmhurst Art Museum". Art Slant. July 2014
Pure Wow. "Art Imitates Nature at the Elmhurst Art Museum". June 2014
Sierzputowski, Kate. Studio visit with Heidi Norton. Inside/Within. June 2014
Elifritz, Pat. to Threptikon. Reviewed and Top Pick. New City. 4 March 2014
Foumberg, Jason. “21 Art Gallery Exhibits to See in see in Chicago”. Chicago Magazine. February 2014
Foumberg, Jason. “The 18 Best Shows in Chicago Art Galleries”. Chicago Magazine. January 2014
Mackenzie, Alexis. “Conversation: Heidi Norton at Mark Wolfe Contemporary, San Francisco”. SFAQ. December 2013
Khemsurov, Monica. Featured artist for “Studio Visit”. Site Unseen. October 2013
Germanos, Paul. “Chicago Art in Pictures: Best of 2012- Year in Review”. Bad at Sports. 23 July 2013
Pearson, Laura. "Plant Life at Western Exhibitions". Time Out. 14 February 2013
De La Hez, Ryan. “Plant Life at Western Exhibitions”. Beautiful Decay. 1 March 2013
Foumberg, Jason. “Top 5 Shows of 2012 in Chicago”. Looking Back, Looking Forward. Frieze. January 2013
Velez, Pedro. “Eye Exam: Top 20 Picks for 2012 in Chicago and the Midwest, MCA”. Newcity. 20 December 2012
Velez, Pedro. “Just Another Day”. Scene and Heard. Art Forum. 1 October 2012
Picard, Caroline, “Goal-less Living Things: The Plants of Heidi Norton”. Art21. 25 September 2012
WBEZ. Chicago Amplified. Cultural Catalyst. MCA. August 2012
Hodgins, Ruth, “Heidi Norton at Chicago Works Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art”. Daily Serving. August 2012
Gossert, Stephen, “Chicago Works: Heidi Norton”. Flavorpill. August 2012
Mercurio, Franck, Critics’ Picks, “Chicago Works: Heidi Norton”. Time Out. August 2012
Mackenzie, Alexis. “Interview with Heidi Norton”. Fecal Face. 09 March 2012
Westin, Monica, “Reasons to Write into Art. On Textual Collaboration with Artist Heidi Norton”. Art21. 21 February 2012
Zulz, Emily, “Heidi Norton. Reason to Cut into the Earth”. Chicago Artist Archive Sixty Inches from Center. Feb 2012
Richie, Abraham. "Reasons to Cut into the Earth". Flavorpill. February 2012
Barros, Luan. Make Space Studio Visit. February 2012
Weinberg, Lauren. "Top 10 Art and Design shows of 2011". 25 December 2011
Velez, Pedro. "Best Solo Show in a year or so". 15 December 2011
Foumberg, Jason. "Not to See the Sun". Frieze Anniversary Issue. September 2011
Waxman, Lori. "An Alternative Reading List". Chicago Tribune. July 13th 2011
Ise, Claudine. Artist Profile "Heidi Norton". Art ltd. May/June 2011
Weinberg, Lauren. "No to See the Sun". Time Out, Issue 321, 21-27 April 2011
"On our Chicago Watchlist". Art Slant. May 2011
Weinstein, Michael. "Not to See the Sun". Newcity. 11 April 2011
Westin, Monica. "Not to See the Sun". Flavorpill. April 2011
Ise, Claudine. "Freebies of the Week, Heidi Norton", Chicago Magazine, 6 April 2011
Kirsch, Corrina. Shifter Magazine. Issue 17. Matt Metzger guest editor, April 2011
"My Green City". Published by Gestalten. February 2011
Christian, Ryan Travis. “Heidi Norton”. Beautiful Decay. February 2011
Today's Issue, Issue 97, http://todaysissue.org
Ruby Magazine. Issue 48. October 2010
Coldberg, Jim. "Heidi Norton". The Conscientious. September 2010
Fremderman, Bea. . "Heidi Norton". i heart photograph. September 2010
Zavos, Allison. "Heidi Norton". Feature Shoot. September 2010
Uribe, Vince. LVL3 Artist of the Week. September 2010
Ruiz, Steve. Chicago Art Review. Studio Visit. May 2010
Ise, Claudine. Q & A. Bad at Sports. April 2010
Ruiz, Steve. Chicago Art Review. Site Unspecific at Dominican University. November 2009
Ovation TV. “Art & the City: Chicago”. September 2007
Time Out. Art Reviews: “How Do I Look” at Monique Meloche. July 2007
Time Out. Art Reviews: “Pan-Sonic” NIU Art Museum Chicago Gallery. Dec. 2005
Workman, Michael. “The Witching Hour”. New City. July 2004
Pabellon DD. Catalogue and DVD for Observatori International Festival. 2003
Snapshot. A CD-Rom Catalogue Produced by the Contemporary Museum. 2000
COLLECTIONS
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Unilever Corporation, New York, NY
Joyce Foundation, Chicago, IL
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
Midwest Photography Project, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Elgin College, Elgin, IL
SOHO House, Chicago, IL
EDUCATION
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
Master of Fine Arts, 2002
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bachelor of Art, 1999