I am a Chicago based photographer and artist – I studied photography and printmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and my work has been published in Le Nouvel Observateur (l’Obs, France), The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Reader, Newcity, Red Eye, The Daily Southtown, The American Legion Magazine, and The Guardian (UK). I strive to capture my clients needs with honesty and clarity to provide memorable images that tell compelling stories.

Solo exhibitions include Modern David at the Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, and American Legion at Firecat Projects and the Chicago Public Library Irving-Austin Branch.

In 2017, 24 images from Modern David were included in the exhibition Gendered at the Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC and 30 images at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the DCASE 50x50 Invitational - The Subject is Chicago: People, Places, and Possibilities. In 2016, 22 images from Modern David were included in Masculinity, a group show curated by Exhibition Projects (Chicago) at Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL. Other group exhibitions include 2020 Member's Exhibition at the Arts Club Chicago; FotoDocument at After Nye Gallery, London; Midwest Contemporary at LillStreet Art Center, Chicago; PhotoMidwest at the Overture Center, Madison, WI; Filter Photo Festival, Chicago, IL; UNBOUND3! at Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA; and Help Us Help You Help Us at Firecat Projects, Chicago.


I am a recipient of a 2016 DCASE Individual Artist Grant from Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, was a 2016 Sponsored Artist with High Concept Labs at Mana Contemporary, Chicago; a finalist for 2018 Lucie Foundation’s Photobook of the Year Award; Photolucida's Critical Mass 2016, 2017, and 2018; shortlisted for the 2015 and 2018 Lucie Foundation’s A Photo Made Scholarship and 2018 A Photo Taken Scholarship; a finalist for the Marilyn Stafford PhotoReportage Award; American Legion Department of IL Public Relations Award; named a winner for Best of ASMP 2015 and third place for Best of ASMP 2019.

As a member of ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) since 2013, I currently serve on the Board of Directors and as acting Treasurer for the Chicago/Midwest Chapter. As a Chair of the Chapter’s Fine Arts Committee, I organize and execute events and exhibition opportunities for photographers in the Midwest region. I am also a member of the Arts Club of Chicago and a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 319 in Cody, NE.

Portrait by Chris Guillen

Awards and Honors

Best of ASMP: Image Series 
2019 third place

Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 
2018 finalist

Lucie Foundation Photobook of the Year
2018 finalist - independent publishing

Lucie Foundation Photo Taken Emerging Scholarship
2018 shortlisted

Information Exchange Award, The American Legion Department of Illinois
2018

Individual Artist Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
2016

High Concept Labs Sponsored Artist
2016

Photolucida Critical Mass
2016, 2017, & 2018 finalist

Lucie Foundation Photo Made Emerging Scholarship
2015 and 2018 shortlisted

Best of ASMP
2015

EXIT Photo Magazine
#72 - Masculinity
November 2018

Guest on The 21st
Niala Boodhoo, Illinois Public Radio
November 12, 2018, rebroadcast August 26, 2019

Is Your Name David?
FotoRoom
November 2018

Author Talk: American Legion
Make It Better Magazine
July/August, 2018

What's In A Name: The Modern David Project of Mariah Karson
Esthetic Lens Magazine
March 20, 2018

Familiar/Familial
Photo-Emphasis, Rachel Jump
June 2018

Loomis and Logan
Bob Logan, Crest Ink
January, 2018

Legion Towns: Through the Lens
The American Legion Magazine
October, 2017

Review: American Legion at Firecat Projects
Tom Mullaney, New Art Examiner
August 7, 2017

Guest on Nocturnal Journal 
Dave Hoekstra, WGN Radio 720am
July 22, 2017

How Do You View Gender?
Barbara Schrieber, Charlotte Observer
June 27, 2017

What GENDERED was Like and Why you Should go
CLT Tales
June 29, 2017

Light Leaked - Constructing Narrative
Curated by Dana Stirling and Yoav Friedlander
May 2017

Searching for Modern David
Jessi Virtusio, Daily Southtown
March 31, 2017

After Michelangelo
David Hammond, Newcity Art
February 23, 2017

Virilites La Cause du Desir 95
Cover image, French Revue of Psychoanalysis
Spring 2017

Light Leaked - America
Curated by Roger May
November 2016

Freeport Museum Offers Different Takes On Masculinity
Guy Stephens, Northern Public Radio
June 8, 2016

Freeport Art Museum Unveils a Topical Exhibit on Masculinity
Jane Lethlean, Journal Standard
May 21, 2016

Central Structure and School’s Out Forever PostIt Journal of Literature and Art
Issue 9
March 2016

Review, Midwest Contemporary
Michael Weinstein, New City Magazine, Chicago, IL
June 18, 2013

Editorial Publications

Chicago Reader
"A New Battleground"

Essay and Photos, April 2019

AOPA Magazine

"Former Engineer Now Builds Pilots"
Jill W. Tallman, February 2019

Macalester Today

"When The Science Is Personal"
Andy Steiner, Summer 2019

"Theatrical Practice"
Julie Hessler, Spring 2019

"Bringing Congress Together"
Jan Shaw-Flamm, Fall 2018



Le Nouvel Observateur (L'Obs, France)

“Mike, Jeune, Noir... Et Mort”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2599, September 2014

“Comment Les Etats-Unis Ont Repare Leur Economie”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2596, August 2014

Sur Un Air Latino”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2502, October 2012

“Gare a la Dette Etudiante!”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2531, May 2013

“Transgenres: Est-ce Une Fille Ou Un Garcon?”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2573, February 2014

“Detroit, Ruine Et Renaissance”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2567, January 2014

"Ruee Sur L’or Noir!"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2493, August 2012

“Ventres a Louer”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2519, February 2013

"Classe Moyenne"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2502, October 2012

"Etats-Unis, View a Credit"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2461, January 2012

"L’ecole de la Tolerance"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2461, January 2012

Pediatric Annals, Vo. 43, No. 6, June 2014
“Tipping Points in Caring for the
Gender-Nonconforming Child and Adolescent”

Robert Garofalo, MD, MPH

Sun-Times Media, October 21, 2013
“Chicago Red Hots Fast Roller Derby Ablaze for National Title”
Andy Frye

The Guardian (UK), July 2012
“When School is Out: Gay Friendly Education in the U.S.”
Gary Younge

Chicago Reader, June 21, 2012
“Best Roller Derby Nickname”
Kevin Warwick

Chicago Reader, February 23, 2012
“Arriver”
Monica Kendrick

Brooklyn Vegan, January 10, 2012
“Anatomy of Habit”
Zach Pollack

Red Eye, December 7, 2011
“Scary Humor”
Andrea Jablonski

Brooklyn Vegan, November 9, 2011
“Anatomy of Habit”
Zach Pollack

The Arts Club, Chicago, IL
89th Professional Members Exhibition

January 18 - February 22, 2020

After Nye Gallery, London, UK
Marilyn Stafford Photo Reportage Exhibition
July 23 - 30, 2019

Splashlight Studios, New York, NY
Lucie Foundation Photobook of the Year Award

October 27, 2018

Overture Art Center, Madison, WI
PhotoMidwest 10th 
Biennial
Curated by Alex Garcia
September 1 - December 2, 2018

Chicago Public Library, Austin-Irving BranchChicago, IL
American Legion
July 1 - September 30, 2018

Firecat ProjectsChicago, IL
American Legion
July 28 - August 18, 2017

Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, NC
Gendered, Modern David
June 16 - July 21, 2017

Chicago Cultural CenterChicago, IL
The Subject is Chicago: People, Places, Possibilities, Modern David
February 11 - April 9, 2017

Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Hills, IL
Moraine Valley Community College
Modern David Solo show
March 26 - April 25, 2017

Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
Masculinity, Modern David
Curated by Exhibition Projects
May 27 - August 6, 2016

Candela Books, Richmond, VA
Unbound3!
curated by Gordon Stettinius
2014

Midwest Contemporary, Chicago,IL
Curated by Natasha Egan and Karen Irvine
2013

Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL,
Help Us Help You Help Us
curated by Stan Klein
2013

The Compound, Chicago, IL
Santa’s Village Part Deux
collaboration with Nina Faile
2008

The Compound, Chicago, IL
Santa’s Village
collaboration with Amy Small
2007

Additional Experience

Artist Talk 
Made by Women
PhotoLab: 4x5: The Stories Behind the Frames.

4 photographers share the stories behind 5 of their favorite images.
Apple Store Michigan Avenue, Monday, March 11, 2019

Artist Book Fair
FOTO Mercado
Ace Hotel, Chicago, 2019



Discussion Panel 
Patriotism, Community, and Social Action
Discussion lead by Michael Elsey, Senior Instructor & Director of Digital Media for the Great Books Foundation
Panelists include Dale Tippett Sr, Past Commander of Billy Caldwell Post 806, 9th District Sr. Vice Commander; Brent M. Webb, Commander of Tattler Post 973, 9th District Jr. Vice Commander; Moki Tantoco, Education and Programs Manager, National Veterans Art Museum.
Chicago Public Library Irving-Austin Branch, Monday, July 23, 2018

Artist Talk 
American Legion Artist Talk 
Union League Club American Legion Post 758, Chicago, IL 2018

​​Artist Talk 
American Legion Artist Talk 
American Legion Department of IL Convention, BOS Center, Springfield, IL 2018

Artist Talk sponsored by ASMP Chicago/Midwest
American Legion Artist Talk with Stan Klein
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL 2017
​​​​​​​

​​​​​​Artist Talk 
American Legion Artist Talk with Commander Brent M. Webb
National Veterans Art Museum, Chicago, IL 2017

Speaker
Artist Talk for CPS AP Photography Program
Gallery 37, Chicago, IL 2017

Speaker 
American Legion and Modern David Artist Talk
Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL 2017

Juror 
Student Artwork Showcase
Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL 2017

Speaker
Artists in Conversation with Steven Schapiro
Loyola Museum of Art, Chicago, IL 2016

Curator
In Between Drinks, Gil Leora
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL, June 2013

Curator
Eastern, Adam Siegel
Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park, IL, October 2010

Curator
Embroideries, Peter Frederiksen
The Compound, Chicago, IL, July 2009

Buy the book
The AMERICAN LEGION project has been compiled into a 252 page hardcover book. $35 + $6 shipping and handling.
(10.25% sales tax for Illinois residents)
accolades