Contact Randy
Email: randy@randyregier.com
Web: www.randyregier.com
Artist Statement
In 1928 the German literary critic Walter Benjamin wrote in his essay, The Cultural History of Toys, that, “Children do not constitute a community cut off from everything else…their toys can- not bear witness to any autonomous separate existence, but rather are a silent signifying dialogue between them [children] and their nation.” This is not only true for toys (of which much of my work is concerned), but for all manner of objects – artifacts – from our collective past that are formed and fabricated by human hands and intentions. This is the realm in which I work and play, and seek to understand my culture and history.
Biography
I was born in 1964 in Omaha, Nebraska. We moved around a bit through the Midwest, to Barcelona, Spain, back to Kansas and then to Oregon in 1971. I spent my youth in Oregon and eventually became a professional autobodyman and painter. I also married and our kids were born in the state. Eventually we left so I could pursue and obtain higher education, a BFA in Sculpture at Kansas State University and an MFA in Studio Arts and Theory at Maine College of Art. My entire life has been spent in the company of toys, cars and tools, but my mind has always wandered toward literature and questions about purpose and aesthetics. Thankfully, I’ve found the arts, where I can be who I need to be, as I come to know and understand what that is. It’s always in the becoming, it seems. As of this fall of 2018, my studio will be centered in Kansas City, Kansas.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
- 2007 MFA, Studio Arts: Maine College of Art
- 2003 BFA, Sculpture–Minor, Spanish: Kansas State University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Studio artist
- 2010/11 University of Maine-Orono – Graduate Studies Faculty, Orono, ME
- 2009 Bowdoin College–Adjunct faculty, Brunswick, Maine
- 2008/09 Maine College of Art–Adjunct faculty, Portland, Maine
- 2008 Assistant to the Curator, Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine
- 2004/05 Salina Art Center: Gallery Manager, Salina, Kansas
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS/INSTALLATIONS
- 2018 The Celestial Mechanic, Ulrich Art Museum, Wichita, KS
- 2018 Dreams of Flight, Open Spaces Biennial, Kansas City, MO
INSTALLATIONS
- 2016 NuPenny Toy Store, Jim Kempner Fine Arts, NY, NY
- 2015 NuPenny’s Last Stand, Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS
- 2014 The TYTON, Salina Art Center, Salina, KS
- 2014 NuPenny’s Last Stand, The Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS
- 2014 NuPenny’s Last Stand, Riverside, IL
- 2013 NuPenny’s Last Stand, Hays, KS
- 2012 NuPenny’s Last Stand, Art Miami, Miami, FL
- 2011 NuPenny Service Center, Wichita, KS
- 2011 NuPenny Toy Store traveling installation, Wichita, KS
- 2010 NuPenny Toy Store traveling installation, Saco, ME
- 2010 NuPenny Toy Store traveling installation, Portland, ME
- 2010 NuPenny Toy Store traveling installation, Waterville, ME
- 2009 Now Your Spaceship Will Be Your Peace, sponsored by Space Gallery, Portland, ME
- 2009 Hecho en Maine, El Elephante Del Rastro, Madrid, Spain
- 2009 The Fisher Fire Fly, Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head, ME
- 2008 Wish You Were Here, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
- 2002 Wish You Were Here, Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit: Yesterday’s Tomorrow, The Grassroots Art Center, Lucas, KS
- 2002 Wish You Were Here, The Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2013 But Wait, There’s More, Contemporary Art Works by Randy Regier, Diver Gallery, Wichita, KS
- 2013 Object Maker, Conklin Gallery, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
- 2012 Strecker‐Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS
- 2012 NuPenny Service Center: Wichita, Kansas
- 2011 H. Maxwell Fisher’s Underground Toy Emporium, Jim Kempner Fine Arts, New York, NY
- 2011 NuPenny Toys, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
- 2011 Dime Star! Space Gallery, Portland, ME
- 2010 The True Story of Dime Star! & Other Fictions, Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL
- 2010 Out of the Box, The Cassella Gallery, Wentworth Technological Institute, Boston, MA
- 2010 Hecho en Maine and Paradox Lost, Whitney Gallery, Portland, ME
- 2009 Lost & Found: Anna Isaak and the Cabot Mill, Coleman Burke Gallery, Brunswick, ME
- 2009 Hecho en Maine, Walker Art Gallery, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE
- 2007 Baseball, Apple Pie and Earl Browder: Selections from the Museum of the Other American Dream, Mulvane Art Museum, Topeka, KS
- 2005 The Clothes Make the Man, Lincoln Arts Center, Lincoln, KS
- 2003 Everything Must Go: The Toys of Randy Regier, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS
GROUP AND JURORED EXHIBITIONS
- 2018 Mark Arts Kansas Invitational, Mark Arts, Wichita, KS
- 2018 The Infinite Archive: NYPL, NY Public Library’s Harry Belafonte 115th Street branch, Brooklyn, NY
- 2015 Portland Museum of Art Biennial, Portland, ME
- 2015 The TYTON, True/False Film Festival, Columbia MO
- 2014/15 NuPenny’s Last Stand, State of The Art: Discovering American Art Now, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR
- 2014 Mummies Are Sitting Ducks, Cider Gallery, Lawrence, KS
- 2013 Museum of Wonder, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS
- 2012 rolemodelplaytime, David Winton Bell Gallery, Brown University, Providence, RI
- 2012 Unlived Histories, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
- 2011 Keeping Time, Albany International Airport, Albany, NY
- 2010 May Your Spaceship Be Your Peace, DeCordova Biennial Exhibition, DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, ME
- 2010 Black Is, Black Ain’t (traveling through 2010)
- The Renaissance Society, Chicago, IL
- MOCAD, Detroit, MI
- H & R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
- Amistad Center for Art and Culture at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT
- 2009 Comic-al, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
- 2008 Transformations, The EcoTarium, Worcester, NH
- 2007 Intervals, Fort Andross Mill, Brunswick, ME
- 2007 Anna Isaak: Subterranean Aspirations, Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
- 2007 Brickbottom 20th Anniversary Open Studios, Somverville, MA
- 2006 Governor’s Inaugural Show, Leopold Gallery, Topeka, KS
- 2006 Michael Oatman’s “Model Citizens – Giant Size”, Public Art/Moving Site project
- Albany Int’l Airport Gallery, Albany, NY
- Rockingham Arts & Museum Project, Bellows Falls, VT
- Artspace Annex, New Haven, CT
- Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge, MA
- 2006 New Friends, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
- 2006 Funny-Scary-Happy-Sad: Contemporary Clown Art, Ubu Studio, Portland, ME
- 2005 Meca-nized: A photo exhibit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- 2005 Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
- 2005 Randy Bolton & Randy Regier: Better Than New, Gray Matters Gallery, Dallas, TX
- 2005 Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS
- 2004 The Yellow Line, The Art Corridor II, Tarrant County College
- 2004 Gray Matters Gallery, Dallas, TX
- 2004 Wish You Were Here, Dennis Morgan Gallery, Kansas City, MO
- 2004 A Kansas Art Sampler, Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS
- 2004 ART CHICAGO, Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 2004 Counterfeiting Pennies, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS
- 2003 Recent Work, Dennis Morgan Gallery, Kansas City, MO
- 2003 Gray Matters Gallery, Dallas Texas
- 2003 Holiday, Big Cat Gallery, New York, NY
- 2003 ArtSpace, Lindsborg, KS
- 2003 Beyond Oz…Dorothy Goes Fab 50’s, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS
- 2003 The Yellow Line, Art Corridor II, Tarrant County College, Arlington, TX
- 2001 Salina Art Center Annual Exhibition, Salina Art Center, Salina, KS
VISITING ARTIST LECTURES/WORKSHOPS
- 2014 Texas A & M University at Commerce, Commerce, TX
- 2014 St Mark’s School of Texas, Dallas, Tx
- 2014 Washburn University, Topeka, KS
- 2014 Creative Rush, Wichita, KS
- 2013 Art Chatter of USD 259 Art In Service, Wichita, KS
- 2013 Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
- 2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
- 2013 Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
- 2013 Ulrich Museum of Art ‘Senior Wednesday,’ Wichita, KS
- 2013 Seltzer Elementary School Sculpture Collaboration, Wichita, KS
- 2013 University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- 2012 Wichita Art Museum ‘Art Chatter,’ Wichita, KS
- 2012 Murdock Society, Wichita, KS
- 2012 Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS
- 2011 Emporia State University, Emporia, KS
- 2010 Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
- 2008 Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
- 2008 University of Maine, Orono, ME
- 2007 Central Maine Community College, Auburn, ME
- 2007 Washburn University, Topeka, KS
- 2007 Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
- 2006 Central Maine Community College, Auburn, ME
- 2006 Maine College of Art, Portland, ME -The Museum of the Other American Dream
- 2006 Maine College of Art, Portland, ME – Art History Lecture Series
- 2005 Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, KS
- 2005 Smoky River Arts Festival, Salina, KS, Juror
- 2004 Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS F Sponsored by the Kansas Arts Commission
- 2004 Emporia State University, Emporia, KS
- 2003 Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS – Gallery Talk
- 2003 Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS – Teacher’s Workshop
- 2002 Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, KS
- 2002 The Grassroots Art Center, Lucas, KS
- 2002 Ladies Literary League, Abilene, KS
- 2001 Salina Art Center, Salina, KS – Gallery Talk
RESIDENCIES
- 2013 Workshop Residence, San Francisco, CA
- 2011 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
COLLECTIONS
- Numerous private collections
- The Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, KS
- Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO
- Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, Portland, ME
- Emprise Bank Collection, Wichita, KS
- Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS
- Mulvane Art Museum, Topeka, KS
- Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS
COMMISSIONS
- 2014 Salina Arts Commission – Medallion for The Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS
- 2013 Wichita Public Library Foundation, Wichita, KS
- 2013 Salina Arts Commission – Medallion for The Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS
- 2012 Wichitoy, Private Collector
- 2012 Salina Arts Commission – Medallion for The Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS
- 2010 Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS
- 2008 Transformation, The EcoTarium, Worcester, NH
GRANTS, HONORS & AWARDS
- 2013 Newcity Art: Eye Exam: Top Art Picks for Chicago and the Midwest 2013, by Pedro Velez for NuPenny’s Last Stand
- 2011 Best of New England, The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research
- 2009 Harry S. Faust Maine Public Art Sculpture Grant
- 2009 Maine Arts Commission “Visual Arts Fellow”
- 2009 Art Matters Foundation
- 2008 Maine Arts Commission “Good Idea” Grant
- 2007 Maine Arts Commission “Good Idea” Grant
Press & Published Articles
- DeBerry, Linda. “Shouting to the World: An Interview with Randy Regier.” Crystal Bridges Blog. 20 August 2014. Online.
- Demuth, Gary. “Sub Culture: Futuristic homage to toys of the 1950s features a soundtrack created by Salina writers and actors.” Salina Journal. 24 May 2014. B1+. Print.
- Demuth, Gary. “A ‘TYTON’ imagination.” Salina Journal. 24 May 2014. Online.
- “NuPenny Toy Store.” Refreshing Riverside. 07 January 2014. Online.
- Uphues, Bob. “In Your Dreams: Kansas artist’s mysterious ‘toy store’ pops up in downtown Riverside.” Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. 23 December 2013. Online.
- Velez, Pedro. “Eye Exam: My Top Art Picks for Chicago and the Midwest 2013 | Newcity Art.” Newcity Art RSS. N.p., n.d. Tue. 17 Dec. 2013.
- “Randy Regier Artist Talk & Opening.” Workshop Residence. 11 Dec. 2013. Online.
- Jackson, Matthew Brent. “Genuinely Artificial: The Art of Randy Regier.” kawsmouth.com. 30 October 2012. Online.
- Huber, Tim. “Genuine Fiction.” Mennonite World Review [Newton] 14 Oct. 2013: 12-13. Print.
- Turner, Lauren. “Unlived Histories.” Flanders Gallery. October 2012.
- Walter, Holly. “Store Causes People to Stop, Think.” Hays Daily News. 16 Sept. 2013: A1+. Print.
- Landi, Ann. “Out of This World.” ARTnews June 2012: 72-81. Print.
- North, Bill. “Underground Toy Emporium and Spaceship Parking: Incredible art by Randy Regier.” BoingBoing. 30 November 2011.
- Smith, Peter A. “Artist, Craftsman, Sculpture, Dreamer.” Arts Guide Portland 2011: 64-65. Print.
- Cook, Greg. “NEJAR’s Picks for Best Art of 2010.” New England Journal of Aesthetic Research. N.p., 05 Jan. 2011. Web.
- Larmon, Annie. “Regier’s NuPenny Hits Portland.” Portland Phoenix 18 June 2010: 5. Print.
- Farrell Roulo, Robyn. “Enter the Firecat.” ArtSlant Chicago. 20 December 2010.
- Larmon, Annie. “Toys Are Us.” Portland Phoenix 14 May 2010: 14. Print.
- Smith, Peter A. “Randy Regier. Artist, Craftsman, Sculptor, Dreamer.” Maine. The Magazine. May 2010: 84-87. Print.
- “The Most Influential People in Town.” Portland Phoenix 12 Feb. 2010: 16. Print.
- Keyes, Bob. “The Imaginarium of Randy Regier.” Maine Sunday Telegram [Portland] 31 Jan. 2010: D1+. Print.
- Smee, Sebastian. “All Over The Map.” Boston Globe 29 Jan. 2010: 12-13. Print.
- Deitsch, Dina, Julie Barry, Nina Bozicnik, and Emily Isenberg. The 2010 DeCordova Biennial: January 23-April 11, 2010: DeCordova Sculpture Park Museum, Lincoln, MA. Lincoln, MA: DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 2010. 56+. Print.
- Paige, Ian. “Living the Dream. Talking with Artful Dodger Randy Regier.” Portland Phoenix 13 Feb. 2009: 14. Print.
- Space Gallery. Windowkammers. Portland: Space Gallery, 2009. Print.
- Bernard, Andy. “Bowdoin Artwork Takes off in Portland’s Space Gallery.” Bowdoin Orient [Brunswick] 23 Jan. 2009: 10. Print.
- “Randy Regier Visual Arts Fellow.” Maine Arts Magazine, Winter 2008: 15-18. Print.
- Adams, Allan. “Maine Artists Descend on Bangor.” Themaineedge.com [Bangor] 19 Nov. 2008: 12-13. Print.
- “Four Artists Win Prestigious Awards.” Maine Sunday Telegram [Portland] 26 Oct. 2008: C3. Print.
- Regier, Randy. “A Unified Theory of Auto Painting, Kansas, and Conceptual Physics.” Change July-Aug. 2008: 55-56. Print.
- Dickson, Deborah. “Spishak Would Be Proud.” Review Magazine Mar. 2004: 56. Print.
- Salina Art Center. Salina Art Center Annual Exhibition. Salina: Salina Art Center, 2001. Print.