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Joseph Ayers is an artist, educator and curator currently living in Beacon, NY.  In his work, Ayers uses a combination of traditional media, new technology, video, sound, sculpture and animation to explore both connections and disparity between cultural and psychological perceptions. The subjects in his work vary from personal to political, often creating abstract narratives between diverse and disparate elements. Ayers grew up in rural Gulf Coast Florida, and after 5 years in the United States Air Force Ayers earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in New Media at the University of New Orleans.  In 2007 Ayers earned his Masters degree in Fine Arts from Hunter College, City University of New York, and began teaching thereafter.  Currently Ayers teaches interdisciplinary courses at Parsons the New School of Design in NYC. 

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CV


b. 1972

Education   

United States Air Force, 1992-1997


BA, New Media, University of New Orleans. New Orleans, LA. 2003

MFA, Combined Media, Hunter College. City University of New York, NY.   2007

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Teaching

 

Parsons the New School, 2014 - Present

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2 Person and Collaborative Exhibitions

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OTHERNESS.  Holland Tunnel Gallery.  Newburgh, NY (2022)

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Embodied Time.  Kunstalle Beacon KUBE.  Beacon, NY (2019)

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Transparent Girl.  The Oculus at World Trade Center.  New York, NY (2019)

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Survivors and True Lies.  Neumann/Wolfson Art. NY, NY (2018)

 


Solo Exhibitions

Embodied Time.  Oculus World Trade Center.  NY, NY (2019)

 

Dark Times. Theo Ganz. Beacon, NY (2017)

Lost and Found. Theo Ganz. Beacon, NY (2014)

Our Loss. Westchester Community College. Peekskill, NY. (2014)

Dark Walls. KuBe, Kunsthalle Beacon, NY (2013)

A Shadow is a Dull Reflection. Franklin Parrasch Gallery. New York, NY. (2011)

Dark Ships in the Forest. Franklin Parrasch Gallery. New York, NY. (2009)

New Works. Franklin Parrasch Gallery. New York, NY. (2008)

 

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Group Exhibitions
 

Celebration of Trees.  Southampton Arts Center.  Southampton, NY (2022)

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Birds of a Feather. Ethan Cohen Gallery.  Beacon, NY (2022)

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Glenlily Grounds.  Newburgh Open Studios.  Newburgh, NY (2022)

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Alter Ego.  Grand Street Gallery.  Newburgh, NY (2022)

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Darkest Before Dawn.  KUBE Art Center.  Beacon, NY (2021)

 

Good Trouble.  White Box Harlem.  NY, NY (2021)

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It's Virtually Here.  Neumann/Wolfson Art.  NY, NY (2021)

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Wink Vol 3. Time In Time Out.  Beacon, NY (2021)

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EXODUS V: Aesthetics in the Political.  White Box Harlem (2020)

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White Box Auction Benefit.  White Box Harlem.  NY, NY (2020)

 

Scope Art Fair.  Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC (2020)

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Scope Miami.  Miami, FL  (2019)

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Expo Chicago.  Chicago IL  (2019)

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Glen Lily Grounds: Newburgh Open Studios (2019)

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Eustatia.  Global Art Museum.  Beacon, NY (2019)

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Ad Art Show.  The Oculus at World Trade Center.  New York, NY (2019)

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Orphans of Painting.  Kunstalle Beacon KUBE.  Beacon, NY (2019)

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Glen Lily Grounds: Newburgh Open Studios (2018)

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Potpourri.  Neumann/Wolfson Art.  NY, NY (2018)

Goodbye Columbus.  SPRING BREAK ART FAIR.  NY, NY (2018)

Downstairs.  Ethan Cohen Fine Art.  NY, NY (2017)

Post-Millennial Tension.  Bushwick Open Studios.  Brooklyn, NY (2017)

First We Take Manhattan.  Ethan Cohen Fine Art.  NY, NY (2016)

Parsons First Year Program Faculty Exhibition.  Parsons the New School, NY, NY (2016)

Glen Lily Grounds: Newburgh Open Studios (2016)

In the Cloud. Ethan Cohen Fine Art. NY, NY. (2015)

Faculty Show. Dutchess Community College. Poughkeepsie, NY. (2014)

BBBBBREEZE. Ethan Cohen Fine Art. NY, NY (2014)

Roll’n on the River. Garrison Art Center. Garrison, NY (2014)

Scope Miami with Ethan Cohen Fine Art. Miami, FL. (2014)

GlenLily Grounds. Newburg, NY (2014)

Principals/Principles.  KuBe, Kunsthalle Beacon, NY (2014)

Wayfinder Film Festival. NY, CT, NJ, PA.  (2014)

Cape Dorset and Points South. Theo Ganz Studio. Beacon, NY. (2014)  

UV Protfolio. Matteawan Gallery. Beacon, NY. (2013)

Sharper Image. Artstrand Gallery. Provincetown, MA. (2013)

Pulse Art Fair. New York, NY. (2013)

TURN ON. Kunsthalle Beacon. Beacon, NY. (2013)

Elegy. Theo Ganz Studio. Beacon, NY. (2103)

Home Coming. Kunsthalle Beacon. Beacon, NY. (2103)

Scope Miami with Ethan Cohen Fine Art. Miami, FL. (2013)

Yule Shoot Your Eye Out. Kunsthalle Beacon. Beacon, NY. (2103)

Beacon Open Studios Kickoff Show. Beacon, NY. (2103)  

Abstract Currents: An Interactive Video Event. MOMA. New York, NY. (2103)

Fist Peoples. Howland Cultural Center. Beacon, NY. (2012)

Finding Our New Fort. KuBe. Beacon, NY. (2012)

Summer Blues. Theo Ganz Gallery. Beacon, NY. (2012)

Virtual Faculty Show. Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Pittsburg, PA (2012)

Faculty Show. Dutchess Community College. Poughkeepsie, NY. (2012)

Center for the Digital Arts Faculty Show. Peekskill, NY (2012)

Common Ground. Arthur Roger Gallery. New Orleans, LA. (2011)

Japan Tsunami Relief Charity Exhibition. Kravets/Wheby Gallery. NYC. (2011)

Savannah Billboard Project. Savannah, Ga. (2011)

Faculty Show. Mildred I. Washington Art Gallery, Dutchess Community College

Hudson Valley Artists 2010: Contemporary Art and Praxis. Samuel Dorsky Museumof Art, New Paltz, NY. (2011)

Superfine. Morgan Lehman Gallery. New York, NY. (2010)

Dream Body. Kansas City Jewish Museum, TheEpsten Gallery. Kansas City (2010)

Acria’s Unframed Benefit. 15 Union Sq. West. New York, NY. (2010)

Art Basel. Miami Beach, FL. (2008)

Automatic. Franklin Parrasch gallery. New York, NY. (2007)

Thesis Exhibition, Times Square Gallery, NY. (2007)

Time Based. Hunter College Times Square. New York, NY. (2007)

Postcards from the Edge. Sikkema Jenkins & Co. New York, NY. (2006)

Program Review. Time Square Gallery, Hunter College. New York , NY (2006)

Postcards from the Edge. Robert Miller Gallery. New York, NY (2005)

Summer Shade. Karluv University Gallery. Prague, Czech Republic (2003)

Ernest and Shirley Svenson Drawing Competition. UNO Galley (2003).

Senior Project Exhibition. University of New Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA (2003)

Exhibitions Curated

 

Birds of a Feather.  Ethan Cohen Gallery at the KUBE.  Beacon, NY (2022)

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Survivors and True Lies.  Neumann/Wolfson Art.  NY, NY (2018)

Goodbye Columbus.  SPRING BREAK ART FAIR.  NY, NY (2018)

Blackbird Sings at Twighlight: MATT KINNEY.  Hudson Beach Gallery. Beacon, NY (2017)

Post-Millennial Tension.  Bushwick Open Studios.  Brooklyn, NY (2017)

First We Take Manhattan.  Ethan Cohen Fine Art.  NY, NY (2016)

ESCAPE ROUTE: Paintings by Jeffrey Spencer Hargrave. Bronx Museum, NYC Curated with Isaac Aden (2015)

BBBBBREEZE. Ethan Cohen Fine Art.  NY, NY (2014)

Principals/Principles. KuBe, Kunsthalle Beacon, NY (2014)

MICA THEN / NOW (Assistant Curator at Kunsthalle Beacon) Beacon, NY (2013)

TURN ON. Kunsthalle Beacon. Beacon, NY. (2013)

Yule Shoot Your Eye Out. Kunsthalle Beacon. Beacon, NY. (2103)

Finding Our New Fort. Kunsthalle Beacon. Beacon, NY. (2012)

Selected Bibliography

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Highland Current (2022)  https://highlandscurrent.org/2022/08/19/the-holland-tunnel-reaches-newburgh/

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Shoutout Miami (2021)  https://shoutoutmiami.com/meet-joseph-ayers-artist-and-educator/

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WhiteWall Art (2020)  https://www.whitewall.art/art/checking-in-joseph-ayers-is-cooking-up-inspiration-at-the-ayers-uekawa-cafe
 

Cronogram (2019)  https://www.chronogram.com/hudsonvalley/the-surrealist-leanings-of-5-contemporary-hudson-valley-artists/Content?oid=9354965

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Interview with The Native Society (2016)

New York Times, Metropolitan (2015)

Mid Hudson Times. (2014)

Philipstown Paper. 2014   http://philipstown.info/2014/04/11/theo-ganz-studio-exhibits-emotionally-startling-art/

Philipstown Paper. 2013   http://philipstown.info/2013/08/25/turn-on-exhibit-adds-to-beacon-art-scene/

Bloomberg News. 2013   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-15/beacon-sheds-crummy-image-with-galleries-dia-train.html

Poughkeepsie Journal. 2012   http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20121026/ENT01/310260014/One-Native-Americans

New Orleans Gambit 2011   http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2011/08/17/review-common-ground-expo-at-arthur-roger-gallery

New York Times 2007   http://i1.exhibit-e.com/franklinparrasch/0789f554.pdf

 

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Honors And Awards                                                                

  President’s Showcase Award. Hunter College, NY. (2008)
  Trish-Hollis Scholarship for Design (2003)
  Student Ambassador Award Scholarship (2003)
  The Overture of the Cultural Seasons Scholarship (2003)


 

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