Exhibits and Awards
Education:
Post-graduate studio arts, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Graduate Studies in Art History, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Graduate Studies in Art History, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
BFA, Painting and Drawing, Millikin University, Decatur, IL; Studied under Marv Klaven,
Preston Jackson, and Harvey Sadow
Awards:
2017
FILA/Canson Award, Pastels Chicago 2017, Sixth Biennial National Juried Exhibition, Oak Brook, IL
Collector’s Purchase Award, Pastels Chicago 2017, Sixth Biennial National Juried Exhibition, Oak Brook, IL
2016
Blick Art Materials Award, Strokin VI, Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Member Juried Exhibition.
Director’s Award, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest Art Fair
2015
Director’s Award, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest Art Fair.
2009
3rd Place, Park Forest Art Fair, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
2008
4th Place, Park Forest Art Fair, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
2007
4th Place, Park Forest Art Fair, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
2004
Merit Award, 61st Annual Salon Show, Northern Indiana Arts Assoc., Munster, IN
Merit Award, Works on Paper, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Hts., IL
2003
Allied Artists of America Award, Pastels Only, Pastel Society of America, NY, NY
Best of Show, Planet Earth: Landscapes & Vistas, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
2002
First Place, Park Forest Art Fair, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
2nd Place, Celebration of the Sun, Art Barn Gallery, Valparaiso, IN
Merit Award, Liturgical & Sacred Art, Springfield Arts Association, Springfield, IL
Merit Award, The Dance, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
Merit Award, Art Comp 2002, Chesterton Art Center, Chesterton, IN
2000
3rd Place, Park Forest Art Fair, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
1999
First Place, Illiana Artists Annual Juried Show, Munster, IN
Purchase Award, Park Forest Art Fair, Park Forest Art Center, Park Forest, IL
Purchase Awards (2), Area Artists’ Association Exhibit, John J. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
1997
Award of Excellence, Crete Art Fair, Crete, IL
1996
First Place, Southland Juried Exhibit, Park Forest Art Center, Park Forest, IL
Merit Award, Drawing, 53rd Salon Show, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN
4th Place, Illiana Artists’ Open, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN
Honorable Mention, Other Side of the Lake Exhibition, Gallery North, New Buffalo, MI
Purchase Award, Other Side of the Lake Exhibition, Gallery North, New Buffalo, MI
Paine Webber Purchase Award, Area Artists’ Assoc. Exhibit, John J. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
1994
Purchase Award, Crete Women’s Club, Crete Art Fair, Crete, IL
1991
Art Center Purchase Award, Park Forest Art Fair, Park Forest, IL
1990
Award of Excellence, Northwest Indiana Art Classic, Atrium Gallery, Gary, IN
1989
Centre Purchase Award, Park Forest Art Fair, Park Forest, IL
1988
People’s Choice Award, Park Forest Art Fair, Park Forest, IL
Selected Juried Shows and Invitationals:
2021
JOY: Color, Light, Essence, Energy, Tall Grass Arts, Park Forest IL
2020
Journey into Pastels, Frankfort Arts Center, Frankfort, IL
2019
Pastels Chicago 2019, 7th Biennial National Juried Exhibition, The Arts Center, Highland Park IL
Landscape Encounters, Gallery 201, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont IL
2018
Recollections, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2017
Plein Air 17-The Results Show, Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery, Lockport, IL
Pastels Chicago 2017. Sixth Biennial National Juried Open Exhibition, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook, IL
Winter Wonderland, Schoenherr Gallery, North Central College, Naperville, IL
Peace on Earth, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
Syncopation, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
Union Street Gallery Invitational, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2016
Open, Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery. Lockport, IL
Strokin VI, Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Member Juried Exhibition, Orland Park, IL
A Winter’s Tall, Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, Park Forest, IL
New Explorations, Old Traditions, Vogt Visual Arts Center, Tinley Park
2015
From Nature, The Art Center, Highland Park, IL
2014
Strokin' V!, Chicago Pastel Painters Fifth Biennial Member Juried Exhibition, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
Natural Associations, select works by Union Street Gallery Studio Artists, White Ripple Gallery, Hammond, IN
Visions of Duneland, Indiana Dunes Visitors Center, Porter, IN
Spring At Last!, McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, Palos Park, IL
Earth & Sky, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2013
Capturing the Dunes, The Gallery of Contemporary Art, Indiana University Northwest, Savannah Center, Gary, IN
SYNC, Pop-Up Art Exhibit by Union Street Gallery Artists, Homewood, IL
Anthology: Works by Union Street Gallery Artists, Gallery 7, Joliet, IL
Illinois Artisans Atrium Exhibition,
Illinois Museum Society, The Thompson Center, Chicago, IL
2012
Spirits, Saints and Souls, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
Sanctuary - Works by Union Street Gallery Artists, Atrium Gallery, South Shore Arts, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, IN
2011
Tragic Wonder, McCord Gallery & Cultural Arts Center, Palos Park, IL
2010
Synergy, Works by Union Street Artists, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
Fabulously Focused, Gallery Artists’ Exhibition, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
2009
Process, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2008
Winter Solstice, Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, Park Forest, IL
this good earth, Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, Park Forest, IL
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, McCord Gallery & Cultural Arts Center, Palos Park, IL
2006
Pastel Painters Invitational, McCord Gallery & Cultural Arts Center, Palos Park, IL
A Perfect 10, Celebrating The Christopher Art Gallery’s 10th Anniversary, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
2005
1st Annual International Juried Exhibit, Taiwan Center, Flushing, NY
Pastels USA, Pastel Society of the West Coast, San Luis Obispo Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA
The Landscape, Art at the Center, Overland Park, KS
Sacred Art Exhibit, First United Methodist Church, Evanston, IL
2004
Allied Artists of America 91st Annual Exhibition, The National Arts Club, New York NY
Hilton Head Art League 2004 National Juried Art Exhibition, W. Greer Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC
Municipal Art League of Chicago Biennial-Midwest Fine Art Competition, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
Culture and Agriculture, New Visions Gallery, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
2003
Pastels Only, Pastel Society of America, NY, NY
16th Annual Women’s Works, NW Area Arts Council, Old Court House Arts Ctr., Woodstock, IL
Portrait of Music, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Governor’s State University, University Park, IL
Planet Earth, Landscapes & Vistas, Christopher Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Chicago Art Open, Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago, IL
2002
Interpreting Landscape, Fulton Street Gallery, Troy, NY
Motherhood International, Upstream People Gallery, Omaha, ND
26th Annual Alice & Arthur Baer Art Competition & Exhibition, Beverly Art Center, Chicago, IL
Art Comp 2002, Chesterton Art Center, Chesterton, IN
Liturgical and Sacred Art, Springfield Art Center, Springfield, IL
Gallery 2002, Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL
Celebration of the Sun, Art Barn Gallery, Valparaiso, IN
The Dance, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
2 X 2 X 2, a National Juried Show, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
Illiana Artists Annual Regional Exhibition, Munster and Gary, IN
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
Culture and Agriculture, New Visions Gallery, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
Annual Juried Exhibition, The Art Barn, Valparaiso, IN
2001
Chicago Art Open, Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago, IL
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Art in the Park, Overland Park, KS
Twelve Squared, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
2000
Pastel Passion, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
Chicago Art Open, Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago, IL
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Art in the Park, Overland Park, KS
Annual Juried Exhibition, The Art Barn, Valparaiso, IN
Fermilab: Barn + 1= Art, The Fermilab, Batavia, IL
First Lady’s Art Series NIAA, Governor’s Residence, Indianapolis, IN,
1999
Art In the Park, Overland Park, KS
Black & White and Shades of Grey, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IL
Millennium, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
1998
Liturgical and Sacred Art, Springfield Art Center, Springfield, IL
Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
1997
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
1996
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
1995
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
1993
Works on Paper, Contemporary Art Center, Arlington Heights, IL
1992
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
Premier Exhibition, Maximus Gallery, Chicago, IL
1991
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
1990
Area Artists’ Assoc. Annual Juried Exhibit, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN
Perceptions of the Other, Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art, Peace Museum & South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
1989
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
1988
Northern Indiana Arts Association Salon Show, Munster, IN
Municipal Art League of Chicago 1988 Biennial, Palette & Chisel Gallery, Chicago, IL
1986
Maryland’s Best 1986, Rockland Arts Center, Ellicott City, MD
Laurel Art Guild Annual Juried Show, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Laurel, MD
Oxon Hill Manor 4th Annual Multi-Media Juried Art Show, Oxon Hill, MD
National Cherry Blossom Festival Invitational Exhibition, Plaza One Building, Washington, DC
Arts Fest Invitational Exhibit, The Castle Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD
1985
Reflections of Washington, Washington Women’s Arts Center, Washington, DC
Objets d’Art Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD
First Annual ADD Arts Invitational Exhibition, A. Salon, Ltd, The Hecht Co., Washington, DC
Nice Things Come in Small Packages, R Street Gallery, A. Salon, Ltd., Washington, DC
1979-1985
Quarterly Juried Shows, Maryland Federation of Arts, Annapolis, MD
Solo Exhibitions:
2014
Sacred Spaces, Graphite Drawings by Marikay Peter Witlock, The Cliff Dwellers Club, Chicago, IL
2012
Governors State University, University Park, IL
2010
The Edge, Crete, IL
2009
Witlock Drawing Retrospective, McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, Palos Park, IL
2007
Cowley Fine Arts, New Buffalo, MI
2005
Shimmery Gallery, Munster, IN
2004
Grand Beach/Grand View, Grand Beach, MI
Ward Gallery, Harbour Springs, MI
2003
Bulthaup Corporation, Chicago, IL
Kirkland Fine Art Center, Millikin University, Decatur, IL
Paintings from the Dunes, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2001
Dwelling Places, Sacred Spaces, Christopher Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
2000
Sacred Spaces, Arts Club of Washington, Washington, DC
Witlock Pastels, Union League Club, Chicago, IL
Northern Indiana Arts Association, Crown Point Community Art Center, Crown Point, IN
1999
Vogt Visual Arts Center, Tinley Park, IL
Dorothea Theil Gallery, South Suburban College, South Holland, IL
18 Artists Gallery, Chesterton, IN
1998
Atelje Galleri, Geneva, IL (Two-Person Show)
1997
Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, Park Forest, IL (Two-Person Show)
1996
Atrium Gallery, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN
1995
Bridgeview Bank & Trust Company, University Park, IL
1993
Annex Gallery, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN
1989
Little Gallery, Park Forest Art Center, Park Forest, IL
1988
Chicago Heights Country Club, Chicago Heights, IL
1986
Natural Vistas, Oxon Hill Manor, Oxon Hill, MD
River Road Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD
Corporate Collections:
National Park Service, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter, IN; Indiana State University (five pieces), Terre Haute, IN; Purdue University North Central, Westville, IN; Phil Wicklander, Chicago, IL; James J. Salzman, Chicago, IL; Arthur Anderson, Chicago, IL; The Medical Group, Michigan City, IN; Village of Park Forest, Park Forest, IL; Konrady Plastics, Michigan City, IN; MNC Financial, Columbia, MD (commission); Paine Webber, James F. Lake, Indianapolis, IN; Trillium, New Buffalo, MI; The Centre, Park Forest, IL; Chicago Heights Country Club, Chicago Heights, IL; Tall Grass Art Association Permanent Collection, Park Forest, IL; The White Oak Group, Frankfort, IL; Crete Women’s Club, Crete, IL; Ruhe Chiropractic, Frankfort, IL; First Christian Church, Chicago Heights, IL
Artist-in-Residence Programs:
National Park Service, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter, IN 2002
The Fields Project, Bringing Artist and Agriculture Together, Oregon, IL 2000, 2001, 2002
Memberships:
Illinois Artisans Program, Chicago Artists’ Coalition, Tall Grass Arts Association, Union Street Gallery Studio Artists, Illiana Artists, The Art Institute of Chicago
Volunteer Curatorial Experience:
Union Street Gallery Curatorial Staff, 1998 to 2004, Board member, 2004 to 2011; Chicago Southland Visual Arts Coalition, Coordinator of “Art Trek”, a Studio and Gallery Walk, 1995-2000; Speaker, Careers in the Arts, Chicago Southland Jr. High and High School Districts, 1999-2005; Juror, SICA South Suburban College, 2005, Vogt Visual Arts Center, 1998 & 2000, Star Publications, 1999, District High School 1993 Competition, Moraine Valley Community College, 1993
Bibliography:
“She brings the outdoors in. Marikay Peter Witlock frames her career around nature”. Myra Eder, “YES! Magazine”. Myyesmagazine.com, December, 2013, pp 12-13.
“Traveling Treasures: Joliet, Chicago Heights artists swapping exhibit venues”. Casey Toner, “Southtown Star”, September 18, 2013.
Dreams of Duneland: A Pictorial History of the Indiana Dunes Region, Kenneth J. Schoon, Indiana University Press, 2013. pp. 102-105 and dust jacket illustration.
“McCord Gallery Features Artist, Conservator”, Chicago Tribune, March 5, 2009, TribLocal.
“Park Forest Art Fair nears”, The Star, September 6, 2007, First Look, p.4.
“Exhibit ‘A Perfect 10’”, Michael Drakulich, Star Publications, January 8, 2006.
“Brash, Bawdy, but Brilliant”, Myra Eder, Star Publications, August 4, 2005, Weekend Look, p. 14, 17, 19.
“Gallery Trail”, Chicago Southland Visitors Guide, 2005, p. 18.
Taiwan Center First Annual International Pastel Open Juried Exhibition, May 19-28, 2005, Exhibition Catalog, Taiwan Center, Flushing NY 2005, p.80.
“Arts Calendar, Painting by Marikay Peter Witlock”, The Times, December 5, 2004, p. F3.
“Coming together”, Rena Fulker, The Star, August 22, 2004, Dimensions, p. B 1.
“Down-to-Earth Exhibit”, The Times, October 11, 2003.
“Union of Art, Industry”, Myra Eder, The Star, October 9, 2003, First Look, p.14, 16.
“Trek exposes suburbs’ artistic side”, Vickie Snow, Daily Southtown, October 8, 2003, p. D 1-2.
“PSC presents Earth landscapes exhibit for Art Trek”, The Star, September 28, 2003, p. A 11.
“Paintings from the dunes”, The Star, May 29, 2003, First Look.
“Dunes residency captured on canvas”, Eloise Marie Valadez, The Times, May 29, 2003.
“Dunes Paintings”, The Star, May 15, 2003, First Look, p. 5.
“Violins used as canvasses to benefit Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra”, Kimberley Mathisen, The Star, February 16, 2003, p. B6.
“Halleluiah, Marikay Peter Witlock’s Moonrise…”, The Star, December 12, 2002, Weekend Look, p. 2.
Interpreting Landscape, Exhibition Catalog, Fulton Street Gallery, Troy, NY, 2002.
“PSC exhibit explores the nature of place, space”, The Star, February 1, 2001, First Look, p. 23.
‘Gallery, Marikay Peter Witlock’. Flashquake, Volume 1, issue 2, Winter 2001, published by River Road Studio, Albany, NY.
“Sacred Spaces, an exhibit of drawings by Marikay Peter Witlock”, The Times, ILL, November 5, 2000, p. F5.
“Museum-quality work arrives at Prairie State”, Terry Loncaric, The Star, June 22, 2000, Weekend Look, p. 3.
“Sacred Spaces, the graphite drawings of Marikay Peter Witlock”, Sarah Weiskirch, Cover Magazine, May 2000, vol. 1, no. 8, p. 23-24.
“Maximum effect. Local artist takes fine art online”, Jo Ann Mathews, The Star, April 13, 2000, p. B-1.
“Witlock’s Inspiration is Always Nature”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, March 23, 2000, Weekend Look, p. 3, 5.
“Santa 2000, Area artists…”, The Star, December 2, 1999, p. F-4.
“Vanishing Vistas”, Elizabeth Kaufman, Daily Southtown, September 5, 1999, D1, 4.
“Witlock Exhibit”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, March 4, 1999, Weekend Look, p. 3.
“Capturing the Purity of Nature”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, February 21, 1999, F1, 3.
“Birth of a Notion”, Nina Koziol, Chicago Tribune, February 7, 1999, Tempo Southwest, Section 17, p. 1-2.
“Art Sale”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, Dec. 3, 1998, Weekend Look, p. 3.
“Artistry on display”, The Star, Park Forest edition, September 20, 1998, p. 1.
“Artists of Differing Styles Remain Committed to Making Business Go”, Danielle Strenke, Star Publications, June 25, 1998, D-1, 2.
“Art Exhibit”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, March 6, 1997, Weekend Look.
“’Art and Soul’ Sheds Light on Strong Female Work”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, October 10, 1996.
“Chicago Heights Nature Artist Featured in Munster”, Terry Loncaric, Star Publications, August 8, 1996, Extra Look, p. 10
“Artist displays work at open house”, The Star, December 15, 1994, p. 19.
“M. Peter Witlock, ‘The Prairie Series’”, The Creative Woman, vol. 12, no. 3, Fall/Winter, 1992-93, p. 28-29, published by Governors State University, University Park, IL.
“Chicago Heights Artist at Center”, Star Publications, May 4, 1989, p. 1.
“Marikay Peter Witlock of Chicago Heights hangs one of her oil paintings…”, The Star, March 20, 1988, p. F-10.
“M. Peter Witlock, ‘Two Blacks’”, The Washington Post, August 29, 1985, Washington Home, p. 24.
“Arundel Artists”, The Capital, Annapolis, MD, May 24, 1985.