CV
Affiliations
Director & Founder, Well Well Projects, Portland, OR
Co-Organizer, Thunderstruck Collective, Nomadic USA
Founder, Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR
Education
Jun. 2026 (Expected) M.Ed. Secondary Education, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Art Endorsement
2013 MFA, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Studio Art
2008 BFA, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Printmaking, Museum Studies
Exhibitions
*** solo, ^^ two-person, ~~~ collaborative
2026
Forthcoming in Portland, OR ***
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
Artist-in-Residence, Caldera, Blue Lake, OR, 2018
Artist-in-Residence, Kala Art Institute, Berkely, CA, 2015
Artist-in-Residence, Vermont Studio Center, Burlington, VT, 2017
Artist-in-Residence Fellowship Grant, Women’s Studio Workshop, Rosendale, NY, 2009
Artist’s Grant, Vermont Studio Center, 2017
Career Opportunity Grant, Ford Family Foundation & Oregon Arts Commission, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015
Graduate Travel Grant, College Art Association, 2012
Micro-Residency Award, Portland Art Museum, 2017
Philip Halley Johnson Scholarship in Printmaking, University of Oregon, 2012-2013
Precipice Fund Grant, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, 2020
Professional Development Grant, Portland State University, 2024, 2023, 2021, 2019
Publication Fellowship, Peripheral Vision, Dallas, TX, 2012
Raymond Bates Scholarship, University of Oregon, 2012
Scholarship, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, 2015
University of Oregon Graduate Fellowship Award, 2012-2013
Visiting Artist Lectures
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
Well Well Projects in Portland, OR
Co-directs an artist-run gallery in Portland with a team of three, providing opportunities for 15 member artists and over 178 non-member artists through curated exhibitions, a call for proposals program, and collaborations. We’ve exchanged exhibitions with SOIL and Vestibule in Seattle and partnered with organizations like the Center for Art & Research and Converge 45. I’ve programmed Ekphrastic Practice workshops and launched an art press fair, Form.a, with Marcelo Fontana. Previously, I managed digital content, promoting exhibitions and opportunities while coordinating fundraising events and community outreach. Active Director 2021-Present.
Form.a, Portland, OR
Collaborated to launch, develop, and organize the first 2023 iteration of Form.a, an art press fair focused on artist-run spaces in Portland, Oregon. Lead and supported administrative needs through communications and outreach to over 40 local organizations. Fairs 2023 & 2024.
Wave, Portland, OR
Participated with a group of Portland-based artists in bi-weekly art critiques, exhibition proposal writing, and exhibiting artwork. Active 2020-2023.
Carnation Contemporary, Portland, OR
Collaborated to establish and operate an artist-cooperative gallery with regional member outreach. Managed digital content and social media marketing for 20 members, overseeing gallery schedules, internal communications, and monthly meetings. Facilitated partnerships with Tropical Contemporary (Eugene, OR) and Outback Arthouse (Los Angeles, CA). 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. Active Member 2017-2022.
Thunderstruck Collective, Nomadic USA
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. Active Organizer 2018-2022.
Professional Experience
Art Instructor (field placement), Benson High School, Portland, OR, 2025-current, Courses: Beginning 2D, Beginning 3D, Advanced Sculpture
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 2018-current, Courses Taught: CORE Surface, Digital Tools
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, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR, 2022-2024, Courses Taught: Introduction to Drawing, MFA Mentor
Adjunct Faculty, Linn-Benton Community College, Corvallis, OR, 2017-2023, Courses Taught: Introduction to Drawing, 2D Design, Screen Printing, and Understanding Art
Adjunct Faculty, 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
Pre-College Art Instructor, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 2017-2022
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