CV
Affiliations
Carnation Contemporary
Education
2026, M.Ed. Secondary Education, Art Endorsement, Portland State University, Portland, OR
2013, MFA, Studio Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
2008, BFA, Printmaking & Museum Studies, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Exhibitions
***solo, ^^ two-person, ~~~ collaborative
2027
Forthcoming in Portland, OR ***
2026
Attention Shoppers, Minimall, Portland, OR
The Space Between, Maryhill Museum, Goldendale, WA
2025
Around Oregon Biennial, The Art Center, Corvallis, OR
2024
Sleepless Nights, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA
Inner Sun, Well Well Projects, Portland, OR ^^
2023
Dandelion, Well Well Projects, Portland, OR ***
Companions, The Vestibule, Seattle, WA
Portland Showcase, Museum of Museums, Seattle, WA
Pacific Northwest Drawers, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR
AFK, Never Art Lab, Portland, OR ***
Mood Ring, Nightengale Gallery, Le Grande, OR ^^
Between Spaces, Wavelength Space, Chattanooga, TN
2022
Nexus of Here, Sator Projects, Portland, OR
Where the Future Can Meet, collaborative installation project with Marcelo Fontana, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR ~~~
To dog a portal, Well Well Projects, Portland, OR
Wave - A Provocation, After/Time Collective, Portland, OR
2021
When your sweat smells like heavy metals, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR ***
Black hole sun, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR ~~~
SEEDED, Test Site Projects, Las Vegas, Nevada
What’s Different, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA
What Do We Have Here?, Well Well Projects, Portland, OR
2020
Future Landscapes, Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, Borders International Art Fair, Venice, Italy
IF/THEN, Tropical Contemporary, Eugene, OR
2019
|||Thunderstruck|||, NARS Foundation, Brooklyn, NY ~~~
Fresh Air, Outback Arthouse, Los Angeles, CA
|||Thunderstruck|||, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR ~~~
<SCRIPT>, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR
2018
At the Horizon, Littman + White Gallery, Portland, OR ***
Artifacts: a Plane of the Possible, One Grand Gallery, Portland, OR
Bloom In, Outback Arthouse, Los Angeles, CA
Great Hope, Annex Gallery, Monterey, CA; Tiny Town Gallery, Tucson, AZ; Union Art Gallery, Amherst, MA
First Date, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR
Ink + Press, ANX Gallery, Portland, OR
Things I’ve Found, UNA Gallery, Portland, OR
Prop for Another, Woodshop Gallery, Corvallis, OR ***
Portland Prints, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
Subtext Index, Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR ^^
2017
Mute Acquiescence, Kathrin Cawein Gallery, Forest Grove, OR
2016
Artists’ Annual, Kala Art Institute Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2015
Talk Show, Project Space of Salem Arts Association, Salem, OR
2014
Speaking Between, Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, Portland, OR
Light Out, The White Box, Portland, OR
3rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
2012
Constructions, Eugene Contemporary Art Gallery, Eugene, OR ***
2011
(A)Muse, Lavern Krause Gallery, Eugene, OR
The Middle Child, Lavern Krause Gallery, Eugene, OR
Laudatory Fictions, Lavern Krause Gallery, Eugene, OR ^^
2009
Faculty & Staff Exhibition, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Reworks, Hastings College, Hastings, NE
2008
6th International Paper Triennial, Musee de Charmey, Charmey, Switzerland
Grants, Awards, and Residencies
2026, Curator of Ed Award, The Space Between, Maryhill Museum, by Sorcha Meek Paul
2025, Recognition of Excellence Award, Around Oregon Biennial, The Arts Center, selected by Scott Malbaurn, The Steele Family Endowment
2019-24, Professional Development Grant, Portland State University
2020, Precipice Fund Grant, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
2015-19, Career Opportunity Grant, Ford Family Foundation & Oregon Arts Commission
2018, Artist-in-Residence, Caldera, Blue Lake, OR
2017
Artist-in-Residence, Vermont Studio Center, Burlington, VT
Artist’s Grant, Vermont Studio Center
Micro-Residency Award, Portland Art Museum
2015
Artist-in-Residence, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA
Scholarship, Anderson Ranch Arts Center
2012
Publication Fellowship, Peripheral Vision, Dallas, TX
Raymond Bates Scholarship, University of Oregon
Graduate Travel Grant, College Art Association
2010-13
Philip Halley Johnson Scholarship in Printmaking, University of Oregon
Graduate Fellowship Award, University of Oregon
2009, Artist-in-Residence Fellowship, Women’s Studio Workshop, Rosendale, NY
Visiting Artist Lectures
Oregon Contemporary, Portland, OR (2025), University of Nevada-Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, NV (2024) Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR (2023) Portland State University, Portland, OR (2023)
Collections
Soho House Portland (2023) Private Collection - Portland, OR (2021) Private Collection - Aspen, CO (2020) Oregon State University-Cascades (2019) Kala Art Institute (2016) Interlochen Center for the Arts (2008) Women’s Studio Workshop (2009)
Bibliography
Shell, Blake. “Where the Future Can Meet.” Conversations: Exploring Crossover. Web. 4 Feb. 2023
Redmond, Eden. “A Place for Reimagining.” Overlap and Outliers. Print. 31 Aug. 2022
Costello, Lindsay. “Facing the sun (tunnels).” Oregon Artswatch. Web. 21 Sept. 2021
Waldron-Brinton, Sarah. “Thunderstruck Collective.” PARC Collective. Web. 15 Oct. 2021
Curci, Luca. “Interview with Katherine Spinella.” Future Landscapes. Web. 15 Jun. 2020
Herron-Root, Raechel “Shining a Light on Portland’s Art Scene: 10 Exciting Venues.” Hyperallergic, Web. 23 Oct. 2019
Connelly, Brittney. “Mining the Recycling Bin: Katherine Spinella.” Script Podcast. Apple Podcasts. 16 Feb. 2019
Spinella, Katherine. “Career Futures: Artist-Run Spaces.” Panel Discussion at the University of Oregon. 2019
DiTillo, Jessi. “Thunderstruck.” Printed Matter. Print. 15 Jul. 2019
Gilsdorf, Bean. “Portland’s Artist-Run Spaces Thrive Under The Radar.” Art in America. Web & print. 12 Dec. 2018
Branfman-Verissimo, Lukaza. “Optimism.” Endless Editions. Print. 15 Dec. 2017
Gleeson, Scott. “Issue 7.” Peripheral Vision. Web. 4 Sept. 2016
Spinella, Katherine. “Zines 101” Workshop for CORE Digital Art course at Oregon State University. 2016
Collaborative Community-Based Projects
Founder, Director, Communications and Partnerships, Well Well Projects, Portland, OR, 2021-present
Co-directs an artist-run gallery in Portland, providing opportunities for 17 member artists and over 178 non-member artists through curated exhibitions, a call for proposals program, and collaborations, sustained by a self-funded model in which member dues keep the doors open, and directors do not take a profit. One of two original founders is still active in leadership, now serving alongside two newer directors on a four-person team, cycling through different leadership roles and responsibilities to keep internal operations strong and build systems so any incoming director can step confidently into a role. Pitched and coordinated program initiatives including the gallery's annual open call for proposals, and currently leads press and communications. Fostered relationships and exhibitions with other small and artist-run initiatives such as SOIL and Vestibule in Seattle, partnered with organizations including the Center for Art & Research, Converge 45, and several others, and programmed Ekphrastic Practice workshops in relationship with the Independent Publishing Resource Center. Drawing on this gallery-organizing experience alongside Marcelo Fontana's work with Wave Contemporary, collaborated to launch, develop, and organize the first 2023 iteration of Form.a, an art press fair focused on artist-run spaces in Portland, leading administrative needs through communications and outreach to over 40 local organizations; the fair has run in 2023 and 2024.
Member, Wave Contemporary, Portland, OR, 2020-2023
Participated with a group of Portland-based artists in bi-weekly art critiques, exhibition proposal writing, and exhibiting artwork.
Founder, Marketing and Programs Coordinator, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR, 2017-2022
Co-founded an artist-cooperative gallery in Portland from the ground up with a small group of artists, now in its ninth year of independent operation. Established and built relationships with artists and writers on a local, regional, and national level, including partnerships with Tropical Contemporary (Eugene, OR), Outback Arthouse (Los Angeles, CA), and the Independent Publishing Resource Center, while managing digital content and social media marketing for a 20-member cooperative and coordinating gallery schedules, internal communications, and monthly meetings. Co-curated On the Tip of My Tongue with Kristin Hough, hosted Across Today's Tomorrow, and coordinated local arts writers for the 2020–21 exhibition cycle publication.
Co-Organizer, Thunderstruck Collective, Nomadic USA, 2018-2022
Collaborated with a small crew to plan, develop, and operate a recurring nomadic artist residency, conducting site research, grant writing, exhibiting, and assisting with the design of our print and digital presence.
Professional Experience
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 2018-current, Courses Taught: CORE Surface, Digital Tools
Art Instructor, Field Placement, Benson High School, Portland, OR, 2025-2026, Courses: Intermediate 2D, Beginning & Advanced 3D CTE
Mentor & Adjunct Faculty, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR, 2022-2025, Courses Taught: Introduction to Drawing, MFA Mentor
Visiting Faculty, University of Nevada -Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, NV, 2024, Courses Taught: Experiential Learning for MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Low-Residency Program
Adjunct Faculty, Linn-Benton Community College, Corvallis, OR, 2017-2023, Courses Taught: Introduction to Drawing, 2D Design, Screen Printing, and Understanding Art
Adjunct Faculty & Pre-College Art Instructor, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 2017-2022, Courses Taught: Introduction Screen Printing, Advanced Screen Printing, 2D Core Studio, Relief Printing, Printmaking Studio, and Color Theory
MFA Low Residency Mentor, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR, 2019
Studio Operations Manager & Instructor, Independent Publishing Resource Center, Portland, OR, 2014-2018
Adjunct Faculty, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 2013 & 2017, Courses Taught: Screen Printing, Introduction to Printmaking
Instructor of Record, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 2010-2013, Courses Taught: Introduction Screen Printing, Advanced Screen Printing, Relief Printing, Advanced Printmaking