Ellen Sheffield
Recently completing 14 years as an instructor of art at Kenyon College, Sheffield is a graduate of The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland Institute of Art. She is the owner of Unit IV Arts, and her work has been published in 500 Handmade Books Volume 2, (2012) and 1,000 Artists' Books: Exploring the Book as Art (2011).
Selected exhibitions include a solo exhibit at Ohio Wesleyan’s Gallery 2001, Delaware OH (2020) and group exhibitions at Carroll Gallery Tulane University, New Orleans, LA (2020), Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Educational Foundation, Cleveland, OH, (2019) Freed Formats: The Book Reconsidered Traveling Exhibition venues in NY/CT area (2019), CODEX V International Book Fair, Richmond, CA (2015), The Dairy Barn, Athens, OH (2014), J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (2014), Denison Museum, Denison University, Granville, OH (2013), The College of Wooster Art Museum, Wooster, OH. (2012), The Word and Image Gallery, Bright Hill Literary Center, Treadwell, NY (2012), and the School of Fine Arts Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (2011).
Sheffield has received two Ohio Arts Council Individual Arts Fellowships, and her work is represented in many collections around the country including the Beinecke Library, Yale Collection of American Literature at Yale University, the University of California Riverside, The College of Wooster and Kenyon College Special Collections.
Artist Statement
"Oh, oh," said Dick, "See Spot go." "Here comes Spot," said Jane. "Here comes Spot to the boat."
I learned to read during the era of the "Dick and Jane" primers—stilted syncopated narrative style reader that relied on the method of sight word reading and repetition.
Like all elementary school students, I progressed to readers that were accompanied by vocabulary flashcards where new words used in each story chapter were reproduced (in 72 pt Century font, I later learned) on oak tag rectangles. "Ahead." "Canyons." "Goldfish." Seeing the words isolated and out of context made them mysterious, yet more powerful as coded visual symbols. I was fascinated by the cards an never tired of handling the, rearranging them, and building phrase combinations. Words became things to hold, language as found object, and text as open ecology.
As a visual artist, a maker, and a noticer of surfaces, images, words and spaces, one of my affinities is for fossil records such as dictionaries and encyclopedias where words are alphabetized, indexed, and otherwise removed from traditional narrative structures. As noted in a recent feature article on artists' archives, if you look up "abacus," "alligator," or "akimbo" in an old Webster's dictionary, you will see my college faculty advisor's illustrations, "providing a visual definition of those words." Professor Anita Rogoff deepened my text/image obsession.
Many of my artist's books are rooted in these early experiences with wordplay and disrupted narrative. They are investigations of letterform perception, of reading comprehension, and of giving tangible form to the poet's quiet voice. By physically dismantling the book structure and recombining its parts (spine, page, table of contents, etc.), meaning is reframed through layered intersections of art, typography, and page design. This new configuration then become the larger field or "page" through which context is revealed or veiled, and our understanding of words and the reading process is altered.
Curriculum Vitae
ELLEN SHEFFIELD
sheffiel@kenyon.edu | www.ellensheffield.com
Areas of Specialization - Artist’s books & works on paper
Selected Exhibitions
2024 - CODEX IX International Biennial Art Book Fair & Symposium, Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA
2023 - Photobooks 2023, Spark Gallery, Dever, CO (juried)
2021 — Unseen, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art | form & concept gallery Santa Fe, NM (juried)
2021 — Nearby Voices, Gund Gallery, Kenyon College, Gambier OH (invitational)
2020 — Pages of Silence and Sound, Gallery 2001, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH (solo)
2020 — Intersections: Book Arts as Convergence, College Book Art Association, Carroll Gallery Tulane University, New Orleans, LA (members’s juried exhibition)
2019 — A Room of One’s Own, Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Educational Foundation, Cleveland, OH (artist in residence exhibition)
2019 — Freed Formats: The Book Reconsidered Traveling Exhibition venues in NY/CT area i(invitational curated by Alice Walsh & Chris Perry)
2018 — Know How, 2018 Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Educational Foundation, Cleveland, OH (summer workshop instructors exhibition)
2017 — Utopia/Dystopia: Inspiration and the Artist Book, 2017 Laramie County Book Arts Invitational, Cheyenne, WY
2017 — Conspire: Collaborations, Cooperation, Collection, College Book Art Association, Florida State University, Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL (members’ juried exhibit)
2016 — Artful Books, Concourse Gallery, Upper Arlington, OH (invitational)
2016 — Making Sense of the Senses, The Center for Book Arts, New York, NY
2015 — /mit da deta/: Source Materials Visualized, The Center for Book Arts, New York, NY
2015 — Ideation Experience, Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO
2015 — CODEX International Book Fair, Craneway Pavillion, Richmond, CA
2014 — Not Only Natural, The Gund Gallery, Kenyon College Art Department Faculty Exhibition, Gambier, OH
2014 — Present(ation) Public(ation) Install(ation), J Williard Marriott Library, University of Utah, College Book Art Association, Salt Lake City, UT (juried members exhibition)
2013 — Ohio + 5 The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
2013 — Book + Art: The Reading Room, Denison Museum, Denison University, Granville, OH (invitational)
2012 — Page by Page, Burton D. Morgan Gallery, The College of Wooster Art Museum, Wooster, OH (solo)
2012 — Trace Studies, The Word and Image Gallery, Bright Hill Literary Center, Treadwell, NY (solo)
2011 — The Language of Fiber, Schnormeier Gallery, Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, Mt. Vernon, OH (invitational)
2011 — Off the Page, Paper Circle Gallery, Nelsonville, OH (three artists)
2011 — Word Image Text Object, College Book Art Association, School of Fine Arts Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (juried members exhibition)
2010 — Pyramid Atlantic Artist Book Fair, Silver Spring, MD
2010 — Book Arts 2010 Invitational, The Word and Image Gallery, Bright Hill Literary Center, Treadwell, NY
2010 — Faculty Exhibition Kenyon College Art Department, Olin Art Gallery, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
2010 — Spreading the Influence Girl’s Club & Olin Art Gallery, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
2009 — Heavenly Day Schnormeier Gallery, Mt.Vernon Nazarene University, Mt. Vernon, OH
2009 — Art, Fact, and Artifact: The Book in Time and Place College Book Art Association, University of Iowa Center for the Book, Iowa City, IA (juried members exhibit)
2009 — Beyond Words: Bookfest 2009 Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ (invitational)
2008 — Art in Fibers Root Art Center, Mt. Vernon, OH (invitational)
2008 — Faculty Exhibition Kenyon College Art Department, Olin Art Gallery, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
2005 — Artists’ Books The College of Wooster Art Museum, Wooster, OH (invitational)
2005 — Bookfest The Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York, NY
2004 — Bookworks 5 Cincinnati Book Arts Society, Cincinnati Public Library, Cincinnati, OH
2004 — Third Annual Bright Hill Press North American Juried Book Arts Exhibit, Word and Image Gallery, Treadwell, NY
2004 — Bookfest The YWCA Lexington at 53rd, New York, NY
2004 — An Open Book Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH
2004 — Mining the Lloyd: Book Artists Reveal Secrets and Treasures from the Lloyd Library and Museum Lloyd Library and Museum, Cincinnati, OH (invitational exhibit)
2003 — Convergence The College of Wooster Art Museum, Wooster, OH
2001 — Wall Pieces, On Paper, Shaker Heights, OH (solo)
2000 — Fables & Tales, St. Matthews School, Santa Monica, CA (solo)
2000 — Something to Hold, Pomerene Center for the Arts, Coshocton, OH (three artists)
2000 — Forced Associations, ABC Corporate Offices, Los Angeles, CA (solo)
2000 — Paper in Japanese Culture, Dublin Recreation Center, Dublin, OH
1998 — Fables & Tales, Bistro Zeeto, Atlantic Highlands, NJ (solo)
1998 — Bound & Folded On Paper, Columbus, OH (solo)
Professional Experience
2017 - 2021 — Instructor of Art, Department of Art, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
2007 - 2017 — Visiting Instructor of Art, Department of Art, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Courses taught:
Book Arts: an introductory studio arts class exploring the intersection of text, image and book. Structures, surface treatments and conceptual practices are taught.
Visible Language: Art & Text Re-mix: an intermediate studio arts class exploring typography, design and works on paper using images & words.
Introductory Drawing: beginning level drawing course exploring mark-making, basic drawing skills and material experiments on paper.
1996 – present — Artist/owner Unit IV Arts, book art & design studio, Gambier, OH. Produces commissions, collaborative artists books with poets, writers and printmakers and artist books containing my own poems
2006 - 2000 — Director of Programs, The Kenyon Review, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. Responsibilities included coordinating and directing all aspects of The Kenyon Review’s Writers Workshop and Young Writers Workshop. Developed and implemented a Writers Workshop program in Vitorchiano, Italy.
2005 - 2002 — Artist in Residence Program Artist, Ohio Arts Council, Columbus, OH
2005 - 1998 — Artist-in-Schools Program Artist, The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Columbus, OH
2000 - 1999 — Interim Curator, College of Wooster Art Museum, Wooster, OH
1997 - 1989 — Gallery Director, Olin Art Gallery, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
1995 - 1983 — Arts Attorney, Sheffield & Sheffield Attorneys at Law, Gambier, OH
Grants/Fellowships/Residencies/Awards
2023 - KALA Art Institute Residency, Berkeley, CA
2021 — Librarian’s Choice Award for “Geography of Lost” in Unseen, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art | form & concept gallery Santa Fe, NM (juried)
2021 — In Cahoots Artist Residency, Petaluma, CA
2018 — Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Foundation Artist Residency, Cleveland OH
2002 — Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship
2000 — Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship
Workshops/Lectures Presented
2023 - Virtual workshops taught for Maine Media College, New York Center for the Book, Minnesota Center for Book Arts. California chapter of Guild of Bookworkers & (in-person) San Francisco Center for the Book
2022 — Virtual workshops taught for Minnesota Center for Book Arts, New York Center for Book Arts, San Francisco Center for the Book, and The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Foundation
2021 — Virtual workshops taught for Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, San Francisco Center for the Book, The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Foundation, New York Center for the Book
2020 — Virtual workshops taught for Minnesota Center for Book Arts, New York Center for Book Arts
2020 — College Book Art Association Conference “Generative Measures: Teaching Research & Writing in Book Arts Courses” New Orleans, LA
2019 — Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Foundation Workshop Instructor “Unfolding Narratives: Writing for Artist’s Books” (winter 2019)
2018 — Gund Gallery Kenyon College Workshop Instructor “Zines Now” (fall 2018) Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Foundation Workshop Instructor "Art & Text Remix" (summer 2018)
2015, 2014 — Workshop Instructor for Kenyon Review Student Associates 1939 Press Broadside Workshop (fall 2015, 2014)
2016 - 2013 — The Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, “The Art of Text” Gambier, OH (co-taught with Gretchen Henderson)
2014 - 2009 — The Kenyon Review Young Writers, “Handmade Journals & Adhesive Transfers” workshop, Gambier, OH
2011 — Kenyon College Art Department, Professor Gregory Spaid’s Photography Course Mesaros Visiting Artist workshop “Enclosures” Gambier, OH
2011 - 2010 — The Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, “Verbal to Visual” workshop, Gambier, OH
2008 — Kenyon College English Department, Professor Janet McAdams’ Advanced Poetry Workshop“Found Object and Altered Books” Gambier, OH
2008 — The Kenyon Review Literary Festival, “Artist Books” Gambier, OH
2005 — Kenyon College English Department, Thomas Writer in Residence Professor Fanny Howe’s Poetry Workshop, “Book Arts” Gambier, OH
2004 - 2002 — Columbus College of Art and Design, Professor Edward Lentz’s Creative Writing course, “3-D Poetry” Columbus, OH
2002 — University of Michigan, School of Art and Design, Professor Linda Gregerson’s MFA Art and Poetry Hybridity course, “Found Object Book Workshop” Ann Arbor, MI
2002 — The Ohio State University Department of Art, Professor Rebeka Modrak’s, Book Art Class,“ Paste-paper, papermaking and bookbinding” Workshops, Columbus, OH
Workshops Attended
2023 - Kenyon Review virtual Writers Workshop, poetry workshop with Tiana Clark, Richie Hofmann, Natalie Shapiro
2019 - The Ohio State University Department of English, Advanced Poetry Workshop with Marcus Jackson, Columbus, OH (fall semester)
2019 — Womens Studio Workshop Woodblock Printing in the Shadow of Mt. Fuji with Katie Baldwin and Yoonmi Nam, MI-LAB, Yamanashi Perfecture, Japan
2018 — Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, poetry workshop with Natalie Shapiro, Gambier, OH
2017 — Paper & Book Intensive, workshops with Katie Baldwin, Anne Corvell, & Barbara Tetenbaum, Ox Bow, Saugatuck, MI
2013 — Analog to Digital workshop with Tricia Treacy, Wells College Book Arts Center, Aurora, NY
2010 — Work in Progress, workshop with Susan King, Berea, KY
2008 — Paper & Book Intensive, workshops with Hedi Kyle & Matthew Liddle, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2007 — Frederick W. Goudy Workshop with Harriet Bart, Scripps College Press, Claremont, CA
2007 — Letterpress Printing and Fine Press Publishing Seminar for Emerging WritersThe Center for Book Arts, New York, NY (scholarship recipient)
2005 — Book Arts Tutorial with Angela Lorenz, Bologna, Italy
2001 — Poetry Workshop with Janet McAdams, The Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, Gambier, OH.
2001 — Advanced Poetry Workshop with John Kinsella, Kenyon College Department of English, Gambier, OH (spring semester)
2000 — Book Arts with Keith Smith and Scott McCarney, Anderson Art Ranch, Snowmass, CO (scholarship recipient)
1996 — Word and Image with Janet Zweig, Anderson Art Ranch, Snowmass, CO
1994 — Alternative Photo Processes with John Woods and Laurie Snyder, Anderson Art Ranch, Snowmass, CO
1993 — Collage and Book Arts with Clarissa Sligh, Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY
Education
1981 — J.D. The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio
1976 — B.S. Art Education, Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
Collections
Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory and Foundation
Arizona State University Library, Special Collections
Depaul University, Richardson Library, Special Collections
University of Central Florida, Hitt Library, Special Collections
Tufts University, SMFA Library, Special Collections
Emory University, Woodruff Library, Special Collections
University of Georgia, Hargrett Library, Special Collections
Lafayette College, Skillman Library, Special Collections
University of Utah, Marriot Library, Special Collections
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Scripps College, Denison Library, Special Collections
Yale University, Bienecke Library, Yale Collection of American Literature
University of California Riverside, Tomas Rivera Library
Kenyon College, Olin Chalmers Memorial Library, Special Collections
College of Wooster, Andrews Library, Special Collections
Denison University, William Howard Doane Library, Special collections
Rhode Island School of Design, Fleet Library Special Collections
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Special Collections
Baylor University, Central Libraries Special Collections
University of California, Santa Cruz, McHenry Library Special Collections
Wellesley College Special Collections
University of Puget Sound, Collins Library, Special Collections
Private collections in Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans
Selected Commissions
2018 — Cover Art for Seek After / On Seven Modern Lyric Poets, edited by David Baker, Steven E. Austin State University Press, Nacogdoches, TX
2011 — Matriculation Book, designed for Kenyon College Special Collections, Gambier, OH
2008 - 2005 — Sculptural book art centerpieces for the Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement, annual gala dinners, Four Seasons Restaurant, New York, NY
Bibliography
2013 — 500 Handmade Books Volume 2, Lark Crafts (my work published in this book)
2012 — 1000 Artists’ Books: Exploring the Book as Art, Sandra Salamony and Peter and Donna Thomas, Quarry Books(my work published in this book)
2011 — Sheffield Integrates Law and Language, Molly Gray, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, featured alumnus in “Career Paths” alumni magazine, All Rise, winter issue
1998 - Modern bookmaker packs big worlds in small space, Kay Koeninger, The Columbus Dispatch, review of Bound & Folded solo exhibit
Exhibitions Curated
“Troubling: Artists’ Books that enlighten and disrupt old ways of being and seeing” 3/4/22 - 6/22/22 Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Bainbridge Island, WA co-curated with Tia Blassingame (catalog) for info please see here
"The Book as a Work of Art: Contemporary Artists' Books from Kenyon's Collection" 8/17/16 - 10/21/16 Greenslade Special Collections & Archives, Olin Library, Kenyon College
Representation
Vamp & Tramp Booksellers, Birmingham, Alabama
Abecedarian Artists’ Books, Denver, CO
Professional Organizations
College Book Arts Association
Center for the Book, New York, NY
Guild of Bookworkers