Kjellgren Alkire Studio
P.O. Box 1, Lake City, Minnesota 55041
I make things to explore relationships in complex systems. I am fascinated by human organization and prioritization. My artwork celebrates and interrogates both natural and human-made structures. I tend to make things that reflect my interests in change management, urban planning, rural land use policy, misogyny, racism, color theory models, systematic theology, telecommunication infrastructures, energy grids, colloquialisms, aphorisms and neologisms.
I am a middle-aged dad who has always made and enjoyed drawings, jokes, wordplay, music and not-very-useful objects. I went to college and gradaute school for art and coummunity development. I worked as fulltime faculty in a handful of universities. My current professional work facilitates organizational change. I live in an idyllic small town on banks of the Mississippi River with the love of my life, our adolescent children and three dogs.
2015 Long Haul, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, Minnesota
2015 North of the 45th, DeVos Art Museum, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan
2010 Contemporary Forum, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
2010 Mirror Mirror, Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo, Utah
2009 Seriously Funny, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
2008 black Box white noise, Shemer Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Labyrint, Botkyrka Konsthall, Botkyrka, Sweden
2007 Complicity, ASU Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
2006 Transcending Borders, ASU Anthropology Museum, Tempe, Arizona
2025 White Noise, RCTC Gallery, Rochester Community & Technical College, Rochester, Minnesota
2018 Chapel, H.F. Johnson Gallery of Art, Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin
2017 Blanket Forts, Judith Rae Solomon Gallery, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
2017 Blanket Forts, Art Center Gallery, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
2016 Abundance, Bell Art Room, Winona Public Library, Winona, Minnesota
2016 Mount Pleasant, Johnson Gallery, Bethel University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2016 Abundance, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
2015 Mirror Darkly, Draewell Gallery, Judson University, Elgin, Illinois
2015 Come In Over, H. Williams Gallery, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2014 Roots, Joseph Gazzuolo Art Gallery, North Hennepin Community College, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
2014 Ten Four Good Buddy, the 410 Project, Mankato, Minnesota
2011 Oracle, Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center Gallery, Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota
2008 Confessional, eye lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Revival, Harry Wood Gallery, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Pulpit, eye lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
2006 The Art Rodeo, ELCA National Youth Gathering, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas
2005 Cootie Catcher vs. Calamity, Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center Gallery, Bethany College, Mankato, Minnesota
2004 Heartbreak, Louvin Gallery at the House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2003 BuildingsBotanyBodies, Clown Lounge, Turf Club, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2002 Logos, Dreamcoat Gallery, Stillwater, Minnesota
2001 Remarkable, Nina’s Cafe Gallery, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2001 Framed, Buetow Gallery, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
June 11, 2021 Sin-a-men, Hok Si La, Lake City, Minnesota
July 4, 2021 Big Bangs, Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, Minnesota
July 4, 2020 Barn Burning, Oakstreet Projects, Lake City, Minnesota
June 11, 2020 Driftwood, Hok Si La, Lake City, Minnesota
June 1, 2019 Bicycle Trailering, Village Park, Stockholm, Wisconsin
December 7, 2018 Emptying, Nelson-Trevino State Natural Area, Nelson, Wisconsin
October 20, 2018 Jarwood, Mirror Lake State Park, Lake Delton, Wisconsin,
August 29, 2018 Superior, Canal Park, Duluth, Minnesota
July 4, 2017 Driftwood, Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Sequim, Washington
April 7, 2017 AppleCore, Brush Creek, Kansas City, Missouri
March 1, 2017 Afflicting the Comfortable, Field of Dreams, Boardman, Ohio
May 13, 2016 Thriday Frirteenth, University of Central Missouri, Knob Nobster, Missouri
March 25, 2016 Beans cook slow. Eggs cook quick., Cloud Gate, Millennium Park, Illinois
October 22, 2015 Handling an excess of monofilament, Judson University, Elgin, Illinois
March 26, 2015 Getting Them to Retire, Herron School, IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana
March 19, 2015 Quitting is Easy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
September 27, 2014 Resisting the temptation to make Ruin Porn, Detroit, Michigan
July 25, 2014 Queen Anne’s Pills, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
November 2, 2013 Pair Craft, Decareaux-DeFord, Knoxville, Tennessee
June 8, 2013 Farmers Market Review, Northern Spark Festival, Saint Paul, Minnesota
June 3, 2013 Capitol Hill and Stick Horses, Seattle, Washington
May 31, 2013 Harumph Humphreys, Flagstaff, Arizona
April 5, 2013 Needing (Bau)Haus, Savannah College Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
November 10, 2012 Buggurgan, The Saguaro, Scottsdale, Arizona
July 7, 2012 Handfasting, Rosichelli-Evans, Helena, Montana
June 11–13, 2012Pasture, Allelu Farms, Lake City, Minnesota
March 23, 2012 Embarcadero Sermon, Vaillancourt Fountain, San Francisco, California
February 11–12, 2011, Kidney Tree, Form+Content, Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 28, 2011 William, Welsey & Peter, Gammage Lawn, Tempe, Arizona
June 27, 2011 Rockinghorse versus The Rodeo, House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
March 18, 2011 Sam’s Fox & David’s Rox, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri
November 21, 2010 Ellis Epiphany, etc., Humble Walk, Saint Paul, Minnesota
November 5, 2010 Top of the Ladder, Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, Tennessee
November 22, 2008 Lame Duck Roundup, Teatro Caliente, The Phix, Phoenix, Arizona
May 3, 2007 SMoCA Hosts, Modified Arts, Phoenix, Arizona
March 16, 2007 A Liturgy for the Lost, Paulina Miller Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
December 31, 2006 The End of Reciprocity, House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
November 9, 2006 Jesus Is A Piñata, Teatro Caliente, Modified, Phoenix, Arizona
September 8, 2006 Lord, Build Me a Cabin, ASU Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
June 3, 2006 Sainting Vegas, Community Lutheran, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 25, 2006 Heart Detour, Modified Arts, Phoenix, Arizona
March 1, 2006 Ash Wednesday Mourning, Neeb Plaza, Tempe, Arizona
November 1, 2005 Three New Sermons, Ice House, Phoenix, Arizona
2019 4 Square, Magyar Studios, Rochester, Minnesota
2018 4 Square, Rochester Community and Technical College, Rochester, Minnesota
2017 Handle With Care, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, Minnesota
2016 Art Campers, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri
2016 Memory and Metaphor, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2015 POP < 5000, Morrison Gallery, University of Minnesota, Morris, Minnesota
2014 Jerome Fellows, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2013 Kinda Like Some Artists, Hamilton Ink Spot, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2013 Open Door 9, Rosalux Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2013 Faculty Exhibit, Watkins Gallery, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota
2013 Parts of A Whole, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2013 Alumni, H. Williams Gallery, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2013 Cinco De Mayhem: Eve Of Destruction, CO Exhibitions, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2013 25 Years Downtown, MonOrchid, Phoenix, Arizona
2013 University of Minnesota Morris Curated Biennial, Morris, Minnesota
2013 RACA Juried, Ridgewater College, Willmar, Minnesota
2013 Print Profs, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2011 Monster Drawing Rally, Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2011 Stations, House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2011 Sketchbook Project, Art House Co-op, Brooklyn, New York
2010 MFAs in the 00’s, Concordia Gallery, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2010 Foot In the Door 4, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2010 A-Buncha-Book-Artists, Phoenix Airport Museum, Sky Harbor International
2010 Yes No Maybe, Chambers Art Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2010 choose.THE.right, eye lounge contemporary art, Phoenix, Arizona
2010 Monster Drawing Rally, Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2010 Alumni, H. Williams Gallery, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2009 Offhand, Gallery 100, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2009 Love Letters, Modified Arts, Phoenix, Arizona
2009 Faculty Exhibition, Phoenix College, Phoenix, Arizona
2008 TXT MSGS, Harry Wood Gallery ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2008 Cold Sweat, Hotcakes Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2007 Desire for Normality, Union, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
2007 Re(a)d & Green Eco-friendly, Made Art Boutique, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Printmaking Students, Step Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Americas 2000, Northwest Art, Minot State University, North Dakota
2007 All Media Landscape, Foundry Art Center, Saint Charles, Missouri
2007 Rock Python Project, Oppikoppi Festival, Johannesburg, South Africa
2007 Interleaving, ALL Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut
2007 Reading Room: ABBA!, eye lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Desire for Normality, UGallery, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington
2007 Faith & Superstitions, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, California
2007 Print Stravaganza 2, Gallery 100, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Contemporary Printmaking, Brio Fine Arts Center, Scottsdale, Arizona
2007 Arizona Artists Guild, Paulina Miller Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Biblio Files, Paper Studio, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Visual Text Project: Triptych, @Central Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Art Detour Group Show, First Studios, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 We’re All in this Together, eye lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Inked, University of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
2007 Mercy Machine Project, House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2006 Desire for Normality, Step Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2006 Beyond the Frame, Phoenix Center Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
2006 Aphorism, Northlight Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2006 Seeing God, Dadian Gallery, Washington DC
2006 DasjahrlichoktoberABBA...fest!, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2006 Alumni Exhibition, William Gallery, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota
2006 Art Ed Benefit Exhibition, NAEA, NAU Chapter, Flagstaff, Arizona
2006 Caliente! , SMOCA Nights, SMOCA, Scottsdale, Arizona
2006 Nathan Cummings Travel, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2006 ABBA’s Greatest Hits, The Paper Studio, Tempe, Arizona
2006 Tomb Show, Mercy Seat, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2006 It’s the Love That Counts, bikini press international, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2006 Formerly Known As Prints, 3F Gallery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
2005 Separation Anxiety, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2005 Outside of the Dog, The Ice House, Phoenix, Arizona
2005 Art Ed Benefit Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2005 Speedbumps, NAEA, NAU Chapter, Flagstaff, Arizona
2005 CIVA Walk-In, Hayden Library, Tempe, Arizona
2005 Don’t Complain, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California
2005 Up & Coming, Tilt Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
2005 Print Stravaganza, Corcoran College, Washington D.C.
2005 The Heart Show, Step Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2005 Personal Refuge, Paper Heart, Phoenix, Arizona
2005 Codex Liberatus, The Ice House, Phoenix, Arizona
2004 Prints on Ice, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2004 Adversity & Faith, Highpoint Printmaking, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2004 New Graduates, Central Baptist Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2004 Alumni Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2004 Mid Summer Prints, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2004 Three, Highpoint Printmaking, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2004 Stations of the Cross, House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2002 Hope In the Midst of Suffering, Central Baptist Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2000 Juried Student Show, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2000 EEA, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2019 Minnesota Conference Scholarship, Americans for the Arts, Minneapolis/Saint Paul
2018 Blandin Community Leadership Program, Blandin Foundation, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
2017 Artist Residency, Sustainable Arts Foundation, Popps Packing, Hamtramck, Michigan
2016 Artist Residency, Art Camp, University of Central Missouri, Knob Nobster Park, Missouri
2013–2014 Emerging Artist Fellow, Jerome Foundation, MCAD, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2011 Artist Initiative, Minnesota State Arts Board, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2009 Artist Grant, Commission Contemporary Forum, Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona
2008 Emerging Educator Fellow, Thinktank 3, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois
2007 Graduate Student Association, GPSA, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2007 J. Babb Technology Scholarship, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Special Talent Fellowship, Fine Arts College, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Research Fellowship, Graduate College, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Fellowship, Arizona Designer Craftsmen, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Fellowship, Preparing Future Faculty, ASU, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Scholarship, Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Project Grant, Curatorial Award, Missouri Arts Council, St. Louis, Missouri
2004–2007 Teaching Fellowship, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2007 Project Grant, Art Verge, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
2003 Commission, Candelabra, House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2002 Commission, Nativity Print, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Amity Art Foundation Inc., Woodbridge, Connecticut
Botkyrka Konsthall, Botkyrka, Sweden
Central Baptist Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Concordia University, Portland, Oregon
Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
House of Mercy, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Lutherhaven, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Northlight Gallery, ASU Tempe, Arizona
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
Southern Graphics Council, Oxford, Mississippi
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Yesomi Umolu, catalog, 2013/14 MCAD-Jerome Foundation Fellowships for Emerging Artists, October 2014
Dan Collins, Adrienne R. Schwarte, Kjellgren Alkire, Pam Adkinson, Marco Rosichelli, Adam Kallish, “Social Networking for Learning Communities: Using e-portfolios, blogs, wikis, podcasts & other internet tools in foundation art studio.” FATE in Review, Vol. 29, pg 4-9. 2008
Sarah Hinckley Wilson, “Kjellgren Alkire Looks at Art,” The Lutheran Forum, Spring 2009
Johan Lundh, Labyrinth, Botkyrka Konsthall, Botkyrka, Sweden, 2008
Bethany Stolle (ed.), Akaloo Learning, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2007
Patricia C. Pongracz, Wayne Roosa, Museum of Biblical Art, The Next Generation: Contemporary Expressions of Faith, image on page 69, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005