Erica Criss
Owner / Curator
About
Erica Criss is an independent curator, web designer, and founder of CRISS Collaborations which offers support to artists, specifically those transitioning from emerging to professional status. Previously, she was the Operations Director of the Manhattan Graphics Center (2015-2021), a non-profit printmaking studio where she curated 10 national and international exhibitions annually.
Some of her most recent curatorial projects include, Womanhood 102, Space 776, NYC, Leftover and Over, SPRING/BREAK Art Show 2022, NYC, and The Women’s Printmaking Invitational 2022, The Lemmon Visiting Artist Gallery at Kent State University at Stark, featuring one hundred works by 27 contemporary women printmakers.
Criss received her MFA in Printmaking from Kent State University. She serves on the advisory board of the Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA), NYC, and acts as webmaster to the K. Caraccio Print Collection (NYC) and Robert Kipniss Studio (NYC) online archives.
Key Skills
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Independent Curator
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Web Designer (Wix Partner)
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Consultant for Artists, Art Organizations, & Galleries
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Arts Administrator/Project Manager
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Non-profit Management & Program Development Specialist
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Proficient in Adobe Suite such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro
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Experienced Digital Marketer for Social Media & online campaigns (Mailchimps/Constant Contact)
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Excellent Communicator
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Skilled Strategic Planner & Researcher
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2012 Kent State University (KSU)
Master’s Degree
Fine and Studio Arts, MFA
Printmaking
WORK EXPERIENCE
2021-Pres CRISS Collaborations, Independent Curator & Consultant, Queens, NY
2015-2021 Manhattan Graphics Center (MGC), Director of Operations/Chief Curator, New York, NY
2016-2018 Rubber City Prints, Independent Curator, Akron, OH
2013-2015 Penumbra Foundation: The Center for Alternative Photography, Education Director/Office Manager, New York, NY
EXHIBITIONS
2023 Monumental Conversations: The George Washington Bridge Series, prints by Trisha Gupta, virtual exhibition at crisscollaborations.com, Co-Curator, April 6 – May 4
2023 What Shapes Us, a selection of prints by Beth Fein, virtual exhibition at crisscollaborations.com, Co-Curator, January 24 – March 31
2022 Midas and Persephone, woodcut and intaglio woodcut prints by Adam Pitt, virtual exhibition at crisscollaborations.com, Co-Curator, November 1 - December 31
2022 Leftover and Over, SPRING/BREAK Art Show 2022 NYC, featuring artists Lesley Bodzy and Andrew Orloski, Co-Curated with Dr. Giovanni Aloi, September 7 - 12
2022 “Mini Gems” A National Mini Print Exhibition, The Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA), NYC, Juror, June 1 – July 31
2022 Women’s Printmaking Invitational 2022, The William J. and Pearle F. Lemmon Visiting Artist
Gallery at Kent State University at Stark, Canton OH, Curator, February 9 - March 4. This exhibition featured approximately 100 prints by 27 contemporary women printmakers.
2019 The 4th New York International Miniature Print Exhibition, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC,
Curator, November 1-30, Juried by Sarah Kirk Hanley, Independent expert, curator, & critic of fine art prints and editions
2018 The Print Effect: Small Works/Big Impact, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC, Curator, November 1-30, Juried by Lothar Osterburg, Master Photogravure Artist
2018 Divergent Ink, Rubber City Prints, Akron OH, Juror, October 1 – November 30
2017 The 3rd New York International Miniature Print Exhibition, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC,
Curator, October 26 - November 28, Juried by Jennifer Farrell, Curator of Modern and Contemporary
Prints, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
2016 The 2nd New York International Miniature Print Exhibition, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC, Curator, November 4 - December 18, Juried by David Kiehl, Curator of Prints and Special Collections, The Whitney Museum of American Art, NY
2016 Color High, Rubber City Prints, Akron OH, Juror, March 1 - 31
2015 The 1st New York International Miniature Print Exhibition, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC, Curator, November 1 - December 18, Juried by Sarah Suzuki, Curator of Drawings and Prints, Museum of Modern Art, NY
2014 CAP Instructor’s Show, Center for Alternative Photography, Penumbra Foundation, NYC, Curator, September 5 – October 28
2012 No More Writing on the Merry-Go-Round, Kent State University Gallery, Kent OH, Artist Curator, March 5 - April 27
2008 4x5=1, Kent State University Gallery, Kent OH, Artist Curator, October 23 - December 5
FUNDRAISERS & PUBLIC EVENTS
2022 Women’s Printmaking Invitational: Talk with the Curator, Kent State University, Curator, OH
2020 Members Only, a weekly virtual art club for MGC Members, Event Host & Producer, NYC
2019 Paddle8 Online Fundraiser, fine art print auction, Event Coordinator, NYC
2019 Artist Talk: Kathy Caraccio, Manhattan Graphics Center, Event Producer, NYC
2019 Car Free Earth Day, hosted by the NYDOT, Printmaking Demonstration Booth, Event Coordinator, NYC
2019 Open House, Manhattan Graphics Center, Event Producer, NYC
2018 Artist Talk: Cynthia Back, Manhattan Graphics Center, Event Producer, NYC
2018 PaperView, Fundraiser for MGC, Westbeth Gallery, Event Producer, NYC
2017 Artist Talk: James Siena, Manhattan Graphics Center, Event Producer, NYC
2017 Big Ink + MGC, Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, live demonstration, Event Coordinator, NYC
2016 Car Free Earth Day, hosted by the NYDOT, Printmaking Demonstration Booth, Event Coordinator, NYC
2016 PaperView, Fundraiser for MGC, Private Gallery in the West Chelsea Building, Event Producer, NYC
2015 Photoville, Tintype Portrait Studio, Penumbra Foundation, Event Producer, NYC
2014 Open House, Penumbra Foundation: Center for Alternative Photography, Event Producer, NYC
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2015-21 Instructor, Visiting Printmaker Workshop, Manhattan Graphics Center, NYC
2011-12 Adjunct Professor, Lithography, KSU, Kent, OH
2010-12 Printmaking Instructor, Graduate TA, KSU, Kent, OH
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & GRANT MANAGMENT
2015-2021 Visiting Printmaker Workshop, an NYC Cultural Affairs Grant Program, Program Director, NYC The Visiting Printmaker Workshop is a five-day program to introduce high school students to the art of fine art printmaking.
AFFILIATIONS
The Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA), Advisory Board Member
The Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC), Member, Independent Curator
College Art Association of America (CAA), Member
Certifications
