Karen Hirsch
Education:
1975 University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana - M.A. Spanish Literature
1973 University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana - B.A. Teaching of French
1972 Université de Rouen - France - 3ème degré
1974 -1975 University of Barcelona, Spain - Spanish Studies
1971-1972 University of Rouen, France - French Studies
Fellowships
1975 Fulbright Extension - Photographic Workshop at Spectrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
1974-1975 Fulbright Grant - Travel Grant to Spain - First Teaching Assistant Exchange
between the University of Illinois and the University of Barcelona
Grants
2003 Illinois Arts Council
1994 Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs - IL Photography Grant
1990 Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs - IL Photography Grant
Awards
2013 Masters Cup International Color Photo Competition - Nominee-Abstracts
2012 International Photography Awards - Honorable Mention - Fine Art/Abstract series
2011 The Art-Exchange - Winner of “Your Art on Your Website” Competition
2010 First Place-Alteration of Reality - Fort Dearborn International Photography Competition
2009 Black & White Spider Awards - Nominee - Abstracts
2009 International Photography Awards- Honorable Mention/Fine Art
2009 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris - Honorable Mention/Profession
2007 International Color Awards Masters Cup - Two Nominees in Sports
2007 Black & White Spider Awards - Architecture, Abstracts, Silhouettes, Sports
2006 Adobe Digital Imaging International Competition - Honorable Mention
2004 Adobe Digital Imaging International Competition - Honorable Mention
2003 International Photography Awards - Portraits-Honorable Mention
2003 Honored by the Women’s Apparel Board as Contributor to the Arts in Chicago
2001 Finalist in the Millennium Project - Worldwide project involving 3000 photographers
2000 Participant in City 2000 Project - documenting Chicago in the year 2000
1999 ASMP/Fuji Astia Competition - Grand Prize
1993 Communication Arts Photo Annual
1992 Named Illinois Artisan by the State of Illinois
1992 Studio Magazine Awards - Two Merit Awards Group
1991 Best of Show - Silver - Creative People Awards - Chicago
1990 Best of Show - Creative People Awards - Chicago
1989 Third Place - Impact Through Applied Photography National Competition
1980 Special Merit Award - Ilford International Competition
1977 Special Merit Award - Eastman Kodak Competition
1977 First Place - Chicago Daily News Competition
1973 Phi Beta Kappa
Special Projects:
Rizhao in the Eyes of Foreign Photographers 2007 - One of ten photographers invited by the Chinese government to photograph the city of Rizhao
Co-organizer - “The Millennium Project Exhibit” O’Hare Airport - Chicago 2001
Producer - Lecture Series -Fort Dearborn Chicago Photo Forum 2000
Producer - "24 Hours in Chicago” 1987
Organized 24 hour photo shoot of Chicago in which 87 photographers created l4,000 im ages resulting in traveling photo exhibit and calendar -fundraiser for not-for-profit photo group
Solo Exhibitions:
2013 Millennium Fine Art Gallery - Chicago, IL “Shape, Rattle & Roll”
2003 Richard J. Daley Civic Center - Chicago, IL “My Chicago”
1993 University Club of Chicago - Chicago, IL
1990 FCB Center, Chicago, IL
Group Exhibitions:
2012 - Los Angeles Center for Digital Art - Snap-to-Grid Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
2012 - Chicago Community Bank - Chicago, IL - Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum Exhibit for Chicago Artists Month
2012 - Raymond James - Chicago, IL
2011 - Raymond James Art Exhibit - Chicago, IL
2011 Morpho Gallery - Chicago, IL Winners - Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum’s International Competition
2010 Museum of Contemporary Art - Chicago, IL GraphiStudio Exhibit
2008 Center of Fine Art Photography - Fort Collins, CO
2005 Around the Coyote - Chicago, IL
2002 The Other Boat Show - FlatFile Gallery - Chicago, IL - Featured Photographer
2002 The Illinois Artisans’ Exhibit - James R. Thompson Center- Chicago, IL
2001 The Millennium Project - O’Hare Airport - International Terminal -Chicago, IL
2000 Farnsworth House Exhibit by Chicago Architectural Foundation - Chicago, IL
1996 Causes Exhibit - Marshall Field’s on State Street - Chicago, IL
1995 The Concept House - River Woods, IL
1994 True Colors Exhibit - Partners Against Racism - House of Language - Chicago, IL
1992 Art Gallery of Ontario - Toronto, Canada
1992 Creative People Awards - Lorenzo Rodriguez Gallery - Chicago, IL
1992 Eastman Kodak Exhibit - Photo Midwest - McCormick Place - Chicago, IL
1992 Visions of Hope - United Way Traveling Exhibit
1990 ASMP Exhibit - Chicago, IL The 150th Year
1992 Lorenzo Rodriguez Gallery - Chicago, IL Creative People Awards Exhibit
1991 Chicago Architectural Foundation - C. D. Peacock - Chicago, IL
1991 Creative People Awards Exhibit - Erie Street Gallery - Chicago, IL
1990 The Chicago Show 2 - Willie Gallery - Chicago, IL
1988 State of Illinois Building -Chicago, IL 24 Photos from 24 Hours in Chicago,
1989 Dearborn Station - Chicago, IL 24 Photos from 24 Hours in Chicago
1988 City Hall - Chicago, IL 24 Photos from 24 Hours in Chicago
1977 Eastman Kodak International Gallery - New York, NY
1977 Photographics Gallery - Chicago, IL
Published Photos - Magazines and Newspapers
Advertising Age
Adweek
Avenue M
Architectural Digest
Blinker Magazine
Brandweek
Chicago Magazine
The Chicago Sun Times
The Chicago Tribune
Create
Commonwealth Edison Magazine
Editor & Publisher
First Chicago Directory
Forbes Magazine
Foto Scene (Germany)
Four Seasons Magazine
Great Lakes Sailor
Horse & Horseman
Illinois Travel Guide
Inside Print
Media Decisions
Michigan Avenue Magazine
Men’s Fitness
Millimeter Magazine
Nexus
OBG Management
Photo District News
Rangefinder Magazine
Sail
Sailing World
Screen
Shutterbug Magazine
Soundings
Travel/Holiday
Travel Pages
Where Magazine
Woman's World
Wrigley Company Magazine
Yachting
Published Photos -Books and Calendars
Black & White International Spider Awards Calendar - 2007
Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die - 2006 Stewart, Tabori & Chang
Chicago-City in the Spotlight - 2001 Towery Publishing
Dawn of the 21st Century - 2000 - Smashing Times Publishing
This Land is Your Land - 2000 - Harry Abrams Publishing, for the Smithsonian
Illinois Calendar 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, l997 - Graphic Arts Center Publishing
Chicago - Heart and Soul of America -1998- Towery Publishing
The Farnsworth House -1997- Lohan Associates
Lake Michigan - 1997 - Franklin Watts Press
New York City-1997 -Towery Publishing
DuPage County-Illinois - 1996- Towery Publishing
Colorado Springs - Rocky Mountain Majesty -1995 - Towery Publishing
Chicago - Second to None 1993 - Towery Publishing
Graphis Photo 1989
Best of Photography Annual l990, l989 - Serbin Publications
Encylopaedia Britannica
Broadcast
WTTW -Chicago Tonight -2003 - Interview with Bob Sirott
Bibliography
Maria Piscopo “Can You Make It As a Travel Photographer,” Shutterbug Magazine 2012
The Lab Apollo - Featured Photographer of the Month - Karen I. Hirsch 2010 (Online)
Marcy Mason “Chicago’s Photo Documentarian Gets Another Moment in the Spotlight” Chicago Tribune Front Page Temp Section 2003
Cara Glatt “Photographer Sets Town to Lights” Hyde Park Herald 2003
Al Debat “Portfolio - Karen I. Hirsch” ASMP Loupe 1995
Lectures/Presentations
2011Chicago Area Photo School - Chicago, IL “The Who, What, When, Where and How of Marketing”
2008 Calumet Photo - Chicago, IL “Rizhao China, In the Eyes of Foreign Photographers”
Workshops/Portfolio Reviews
2012 Klein Artist Works - Business of Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2011 Palm Springs Photo Festival - Palm Springs, CA
2006- FotoFusion- Palm Beach Workshop - Delray Beach, FL
1996 FotoFusion- Palm Beach Workshop - Delray Beach, FL
1990 Maine Photographic Workshop - Arnold Newman Class - Rockport, ME
1988 Anderson Ranch - Jay Maisel Class - Aspen, CO
1987 Maine Photographic Workshop - International Congress - Rockport, ME
1983 Maine Photographic Workshop - Ernst Haas Class - Rockport, ME
Associations
Present : Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum Board of Directors
2008-2010 Fort Dearborn Chicago Photo Forum - President
2001 Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce - Chair of Technology Interest Group
1991-1999 American Society of Magazine Photographers/Chicago/Midwest -Board of Directors
Collections:
Arthur Anderson
CSC Index
Center for Fine Art Photography - Fort Collins, Colorado
Corner Bakery
Motorola
Rush Prudential
Numerous Private Collections
Professional Experience
1983-1991 In-house Photographer/Magazine Editor for Foote, Cone & Belding Advertising - Chicago, IL
Related Education
2013 University of Chicago - Chicago, IL Business for Artists - Lynn Basa instructor
2001 Wright College, Skokie, IL - Painter software
1994 Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, IL Computer Graphics
1977-1980 Columbia College, Chicago, IL Film and Video