EDUCATION
2006
The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
2006
MFA, University of California San Diego
2003
BFA, The Ohio State University
SOLO & TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2013
2-Up #13: Zerek Kempf and Ben Kress, Jack Hanley Gallery, New York, NY
2012
Like this for a while, with Monika Zarzeczna, helper, Brooklyn, NY
2010
2-Up #3: Zerek Kempf and Cathy Park Hong, Triple Canopy, Brooklyn, NY
Weight of Fall (Waltz), Eyebeam, New York, NY
2006
Outfit for Single Run, Visual Arts Facility Performance Space, La Jolla, CA (cat.)
2004
Exchange, with Michael Podolak, Marcuse Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2003
Seventeen Scenes, Haskett Hall Gallery, Columbus, OH
All or part of the weight, with Jesse Hemminger, Ohio Art League, Columbus, OH
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
WALLFLOWERS, curated by Craig Drennen, Greene House Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2023
You’ve been had!, Snake House VT, Burlington, VT
2022
The Dream, curated by Peter P. Hopkins & Sarah Olson, Fortezza Orsini, Sorano, Italy
Occupy #3 – Networks, Consulate General of Greece, curated by Peter P. Hopkins & Sarah Olson, New York, NY
2021
The Coral Reef Principle, curated by Peter P. Hopkins & Sarah Olson, URSA Gallery, Bridgeport, CT
2020
HIGH FREQUENCY, Washington Project for the Arts, Washington D.C.
2019
Dot, Point, Period: a Curated Installation by Joseph Kosuth, Castelli Gallery, New York, NY
who knows one, curated by Haim Steinbach, Vistamare, Pescara Italy
2017
We Got Lucky, curated by Monika Zarzeczna, Chashama, Brooklyn, NY
2016
Lucky Draw, Sculpture Center, Queens NY
helper Tiki Video Bar, NADA Miami Beach, Miami, FL
‘Murikan Merkin, Novella, New York, NY
2015
Some False Moves, Present Co., Brooklyn, NY
White Rock Presented by Siebren Versteeg, New Release, New York, NY
Lucky Draw, Sculpture Center, Queens, NY
helper, UNTITLED Art Fair, Miami, FL
2014
helper in collaboration with Klemens Gasser and Tanja Grunert Gallery, Klemens Gasser and Tanja Grunert Gallery, New York, NY
2013
Show and Tell, The Artist’s Institute, New York, NY
ROSE, Cleopatra’s, Brooklyn, NY
Quick Response, Practice, Philadelphia, PA
2012
This is 2-Up, Bowery Poetry Club, New York, NY
Let’s Begin with a Line, Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL
The Big Thing, helper, Brooklyn, NY
From the Mezzanine, curated by Jennifer Dudley, Kresge Gallery, Ramapo College, Mahway, NJ
Millennium Magazines, Museum of Modern Art Library, New York, NY
2-Up: Folio, Soloway, Brooklyn, NY
2011
Skowhegan Alumni Exhibition, 92YTribeca, New York, NY
A Failed Entertainment, curated by Sam Ekwurtzel, Land of Tomorrow Gallery, Louisville, KY
iced, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Staten Island, NY
VIDEOROVER, NURTUREart, Brooklyn, NY
Out of the Woods, Regina Rex, Queens, NY
2-UP #8: Joe Winter & Christian Hawkey, Silvershed, New York, NY
The Dependent Art Fair, Sheraton Hotel, New York, NY
A Failed Entertainment, curated by Sam Ekwurtzel, VCU Fine Arts Building, Richmond, VA
Wish You Were Here, curated by Joe Winter, Westchester Gallery, White Plains, NY
2010
OFFMóstoles, CA2M Museum, Madrid, Spain
Booooooth, NADA Art Fair, Miami, FL
A Failed Entertainment, curated by Sam Ekwurtzel, Neiman Gallery, Columbia University, New York, NY
‘Round the Mulberry Bush, New York Art Residency & Studio Foundation, Brooklyn, NY
Arcadian Night, Racebrook Lodge, Sheffield, MA
2009
Dome Colony X in the San Gabriels, curated by Fritz Haeg, X-Initiative, New York, NY
Lost and Found, Waag Society, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Playing Through, Industry City, Brooklyn, NY
Juntos acordaron adelantar el oscurecer, Fundación Sa Nostra, Mallorca, Spain (cat.)
2008
Unreal City, Gallery Satori, New York, NY
2007
Locating Secret Psychological Space, curated by Joelle Dietrick, Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL (cat.)
The singer sucks, but the band… Finding the good in an otherwise dismal world, curated by Erick Michaud, Blue Theatre, Austin, TX
The singer sucks, but the band… Finding the good in an otherwise dismal world, curated by Erick Michaud, Sunday Gallery, New York, NY
2006
Supersonic, Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (cat.)
Where:, Sundown Salon, Los Angeles, CA (co-curator)
The Elephant vs. The Termite, University Art Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2005
Fresh, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA
Outer Space: 6th College, Visual Arts Facility, La Jolla, CA
2004
Estación Tijuana, PASALE, Tijuana, MX
2003
Film and Video Showcase, Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH
Vertical Video, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
In conjunction with All or part of the weight, ROY G BIV, Columbus, OH
In conjunction with All or part of the weight, ACME Art Company Columbus, OH
In conjunction with All or part of the weight, The Michael Orr Gallery, Columbus, OH
In conjunction with All or part of the weight, BLD, Columbus, OH
2002
Ohio Art League Fall Juried Exhibition, Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus, OH
Video Showcase, The Blue Cube Gallery, Columbus, OH
Film and Video Showcase, Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH
Undergraduate Juried Exhibition, Hopkins Hall Gallery, Columbus, OH
Project Space, ACME Art Company, Columbus, OH
2001
Tentacion de Tecnologico, Skylab, Columbus, OH
Undergraduate Juried Exhibition, Hopkins Hall Gallery, Columbus, OH
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2023
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2015
The Fountainhead Residency, Miami, FL
2011
New York Art Residency & Studio Foundation, Brooklyn NY
2008
Atlantic Center for the Arts, with Rachel Harrison, New Smyrna Beach, FL
2006
The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Madison, ME
BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
2015
Space/Launch, published by Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, New York, NY, art repro. p. 7
Today We Should Be Thinking About: Jo Baer, Thomas Baylre, Jimmie Durham, Robert Filliou, Haim Steinbach, and Rosemarie Trockel, Koenig Books, London and The Artist’s Institute at Hunter College, NY, p. 515
2013
2-Up #13 by Zerek Kempf and Ben Kress, published by 2-Up, New York, NY
2012
2-Up: Folio, published by 2-Up, New York, NY
2010
2-Up #3 by Zerek Kempf and Cathy Park Hong, published by 2-Up, New York, NY
2009
Juntos acordaron adelantar el oscurecer, Published by Obra Social “Sa Nostra” Caixa de Balears, art repro. pp. 98-105, 198, 203, 204, 209
Having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds, by Zerek Kempf and Joe Winter. Onestar Press, Paris, FR
The Sundown Salon Unfolding Archive, Evil Twin Publications, Livingston Manor, NY, p. 167 (text) art repro. p.158 (pictures)
2008
Julio, DVD / Art magazine launched at ARCO Art Fair, Madrid, SP
2007
Locating Secret Psychological Space, FSU Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL
2006
Outfit for Single Run: an allegorical study of shape in time, catalog published in conjunction with “Outfit for Single Run”
Super | Sonic, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. art repro. p. 50
ARTICLES & REVIEWS
2024
Clare Gemima, WALLFLOWERS: Avantika Bawa, Namwon Choi, Zerek Kempf, and Shanna Zentner, White-hot Magazine, April 21, 2024 (art repro.)
2021
Brooklyn Rail, On the Spot with Zerek Kempf, February 20, 2021
2020
Simone Ciglia, who knows one, Flash Art Italia, No. 347, Vol. 52, Dec-Feb, 2019/2020
2016
Alina Cohen, Bring Your Luck-Not Your Money-to this Art Auction, The Creators Project, April 24, 2016 (art repro.)
2015
Scott Indrisek, Q&A: helper Studio’s Tiki Bar at Untitled Art Fair, Blouin Art Info, November 27, 2015
El Chapo Revenge en Art Basel, Univision, December 4, 2015
Martha Raoli, No Neutral Spaces: Material Art Fair 2015, The Miami Rail, Spring 2015
Matt Stromberg, In Mexico City, an Alternative Art Fair Builds Community, Hyperallergic, February 9, 2015
2013
Zoë Lescaze, Medieval Times at NADA, GalleristNY, May 10, 2013 (art repro.)
2012
Sarrita Hunn, helper, Temporary Art Review, July 18, 2012
Carolina A. Miranda, This Week: Must-See Arts in the City, WNYC.org, April 4, 2012 (art repro.)
2011
Will Brand, The Dependent Fair As Seen Through the Crowds, Art Fag City, March 7, 2011
Nicolas Linnert, The Dependent Art Fair at the Sheraton Hotel, Art Observed, March 5, 2011
Lynn Maliszewski, The Dependent, Whitewall, March 7, 2011
Andrew Russeth, The Dependent at the Four Points by Sheraton, 16 Miles of String, March 7, 2011
Benjamin Sutton, Armory Week 2011: Photos from The Dependent’s One-Night Takeover, The L Magazine, March 7, 2011
2003
Dionne Custer, Invisible Support, Columbus Alive!, (cover), February 06, 2003
Bill Mayr, Works the invite touch drive home creators’ points, Columbus Dispatch, February 13, 2003
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
2006
UCSD Center for the Humanities Graduate Student Fellowship
2005
Center for Teaching and Development TA Excellence Award, UC San Diego
Russell Foundation Graduate Research Grant, UC San Diego
2003
Full Tuition Scholarship, UC San Diego
2002
Undergraduate Honors Research Scholarship, The Ohio State University
Hoyt L. Sherman Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship, The Ohio State University
2001
Undergraduate Exhibition Juror’s Award, The Ohio State University