Bio and Resume

Monica Sheets creates platforms for communication as a means of civic engagement for herself and other participants. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, and her experiences growing up in America’s Rust Belt were pivotal to her decision to work directly with participants, coming from a desire to reach audiences who might not normally visit galleries and museums.

Click here to download a PDF version of my resume.

Selected Exhibitions
Solo and Two-person
2022 Das Fundbuero — Civics Lessons, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
2017 Reaching Forward, Reaching Backward: Tracing Histories, Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Fridley, MN
2015 Das Fundbuero — 1000 Little Things, Paul Watkins Art Gallery, Winona State University, Winona, MN

In Public Space
2017 Here and There, neon installation on the roof of The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN
2014 Free City Flint, Installation at Chevy Commons, Flint, MI
2013 Fireworks and Smokebombs, Site-specific Installation at the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, Leipzig, Germany
2010, 2007, 2006 Art Shanty Projects, Medicine Lake, Plymouth, MN
2008 The American Politics Sideshow, Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
2008 The UNConvention, performance in Peavy Plaza, Minneapolis, MN
2007 Art to A-maze, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
2006 Red Hot Art Festival, installation in Stevens Square Park, Minneapolis, MN
2005 Visible Fringe, site specific installation at Gaviidae Commons, Minneapolis, MN

Group
2024 Are We There Yet?, Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH
2022 1989: The Postcollapse in Art and Culture, Cerritos College Art Gallery, Norwalk, CA
2018 107th Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN
2018 Land Body Industry, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2009 MAUERFALL, Galerie im Malzhaus, Kunstverein Plauen-Vogtland, Plauen, Germany
2008 Künstler, erklärt euch solidarisch mit der Kunst, marke.6, Weimar, Germany
2008 Translating Politics, Northrup King Building Art Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2006 Gettin’ Above Yer Raisin’s, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN
2004 The Presidency, Exit Art, New York City, NY
2004 Upper Midwest Juried Sculpture Show, Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
2003 The Mighty Midwest Biennial, New Visions Gallery, Marshfield, WI
2003 Divine Object, Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Morehead State Univ., Morehead, KY
2002 Domestic Politick, FiberScene Gallery, www.fiberscene.com
2002 Visions International Competition, Art Center Waco, Waco, TX
2002 Small Worlds, Expanding Universes, Stubnitz Gallery, Adrian College, Adrian, MI
2001 October International Competition, Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL
2001 Fiberart International, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
2000 Three Rivers Fine Art Exhibition, Various Locations, Pittsburgh, PA

Fellowships, Grants and Awards
2022 Minnesota State Arts Board, Creative Support for Individuals
2022 Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Arts Impact for Individuals
2019-2020 A Blade of Grass Foundation Fellowship for Socially Engaged Art
2019 Puffin Foundation Ltd., Project Grant
2017, 2015 Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist’s Initiative Grant
2013, 2011 Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony, Socio-cultural Project Grant
2010 Shortlisted for the Cartier Award at the Freize Art Fair
2010 Bauhaus Universität-Weimar Graduiertenförderung des Freistaates Thürigen
2009 Santo Foundation Individual Artist Award
2009 Bauhaus Universität-Weimar Abschlussstipendium
2008 Bauhaus Universität-Weimar Frauen Förderung
2006-2007 MCAD/Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Artists
2005 FORECAST Public Artworks Public Art Affairs Grant
2005 Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist’s Initiative Grant

Residencies
2023 18th Street Arts Center, Santa Monica, Calif.
2019-2020 Weisman Art Museum Target Studio for Creative Collaboration, Minneapolis, Minn.
2015-2017 Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Fridley, Minn.

Selected Bibliography
Bartlick, Silke, „Künstlern blicken auf die Völkerschlacht“ Deutsch Welle Online. 16.October 2013. View Here.
Bollwahn, Barbara, „Es sind erst 20 Jahre vergangen: US-Künstlerin über DDR Erinnerungen“ die taz, 29. September 2013. View Here.
Ossyra, Tobias, „Die DDR wirkt spürbarer noch, visuell wie seelisch.“ Kreuzer. March 2013, 24-25.
Hildebrandt, Ingrid, „Verspielte Fundstücke“ Leipziger Volkszeitung. 16. July 2012.
Trendala Braun, „Geschichte günstig abzugeben.“ 3Viertel. November 2011.
Petzl, Martin, „Amerikanerin mit Ost-Faible.“ Leipzig Volkszeitung. 5. September 2011, 24
„Mauerbau hinterm großen Teich.“ Hallo Leipzig. 13. August 2011, 3
Katrin Molnar, „Deutschland: Gemeinsam erhalten.“ Yourope. Arte. Baden-Baden. April 24, 2011. View Here.
Mareike Gries, „Wächterläden.“ SWR2. Baden-Baden. August 24, 2010.
Ralf Julke, „Das Fundbuero: Eröffnung für ein Erinnerungs-Kunstprojekt am 4. September in Lindenau.“
Leipzig Internet Zeitung. August 18, 2010. View Here.
Franziska Schaaf, „Neue Ladenhüter: Wächterläden animieren Leipzigs totgesagte Hauptstraßen.“ Kreuzer. August 2010.
„Wächterläden – leerstehende Ladengeschäfte im Dornröschenschlaf.“ Leipzig Fernsehen. Leipzig. July 29, 2010. View Here.
Linda Dietze, „Straßen weiter beleben: Nach Wächterhäusern kommen nun Wächterläden.“ Leipziger Volkszeitung. July 26, 2010.
Jana Zündel, “Verloren und wiederendeckt.” Thüringische Landeszeitung. July 15, 2009. WE2
Stefen Wilke, „Projekt: Das Fundbüro.“ Regional Magazin. Salve TV. Weimar. April 23, 2009. View Here.
Jana Zündel, “Die Vergangenheit kritisch zu überdenken.” Thüringische Landeszeitung. Apr. 21, 2009. WE1
Heiner Koch, Interview über Das Fundbuero. Radio Lotte. Weimar. March 27, 2009.
Michael Helbing, “Die Stimme des Volkes.” Thüringer Allgemeine. March 25, 2009. WE3
Mary Abbe, “More than meets the eye,” Star Tribune, November 9, 2007, F10
Peg Meier, “Artist makes impression with temporary tattoos,” Star Tribune, Dec. 12, 2005, E1 & E3
Anna Pratt, “Tattoos for You,” Downtown Journal, October 31, 2005, 1, 24-25
Graham Shearing, “Fiberart International 17th Biennial Exhibition,” American Craft, Vol. 61, No. 6, Dec. 2001/Jan. 2002, 54-57

Writing
2022 Review: “Anti-Social Art: Experimental Practices in Late East Germany”. Art Margins. View Here.

Invited Talks
2010 The Role of the Object in Das Fundbuero
Presented at the conference: „Reise in ein fernes Land? Die DDR als Teil gesamtdeutscher Geschichte in der Bildungspraxis” (Travel in a far away land? The GDR as part of German history in educational practice), hosted by the Bildungswerk der Humanistischen Union NRW in cooperation with the Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur

Education
2009 Bauhaus-University Weimar, Weimar, Germany     MFA in Public Art and New Artistic Strategies
1996 Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH     BFA in Photography

Mediation Training
2017 Circle Training with Kay Pranis, at Community Mediation & Restorative Services, New Hope, MN
2017 Civil Mediation Training, at Community Mediation & Restorative Services, New Hope, MN
2008 Cross Cultural Competence and Constructive Conflict Resolution, Weimar, Germany