DANNY HOUK
Bio
I craft re-imagined everyday objects to open up dialogues between our closely held beliefs and alternative perspectives that may be hiding in plain sight. Playful and accessible imagery becomes a trojan horse for smuggling in more politically and religiously charged ideas. My art is often a critique of structures that threaten human flourishing, especially economic injustice, white Christian nationalism, and their impacts on children. Rather than furthering divides between political or religious affiliations, I offer my handmade, punchy, graphical spins on the quotidian to reflect on our shared human experiences.
Curriculum Vitae
Exhibitions
2025 Spinners, Pawns, and Players solo exhibition, Wolz Ruzicka Hallway Gallery,
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO
Restraining Order group exhibition, Noise Box Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
Varsity Art 29 group exhibition, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
2024 Memento Mori group exhibition, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Arrivals and Departures group exhibition, Heyde Center for the Arts,
Chippewa Falls, WI
MASTER PIECES group exhibition, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Beyond the Scars online group exhibition, Art Fluent, Boston, MA
Group exhibition, Edwardsville Public Library, Edwardsville, IL
Are You Really Winning? public art competition, Carbondale, IL
Making Our History group exhibition, NIU Art Museum, DeKalb, IL
Annual Juried SIUE Student Exhibition Art and Design West Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
2023 Off the Block Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
Sk8 Show Vacancy Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Annual Juried SIUE Student Exhibition Art and Design West Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
2022 The Art of Whimsy Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, IL
Small Works Art Competition Wood River City Museum, Wood River, IL
Making Our History: Artists Render Lincoln's Legacies group exhibition, Abraham
Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, IL
Shrode Fine Art and Craft Competition Exhibition, Shrode Art Center, Mt. Vernon, IL
November Group Art Show Jones Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2019 Small Press Expo comics vendor, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, MO
2017 Comics Central comics vendor, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, MO
River Des Press Expo comics vendor, South Broadway Athletic Club, De Peres, MO
2016 Mini Comic-Con comics vendor, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, MO
2014 33March group exhibition, The Old Orchard Gallery, Webster Groves, MO
2009 Reanimate Energy group exhibition, Del Paso Works Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Radiant Energy group exhibition, Del Paso Works Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2008 Refuse group exhibition, Luminary Center for the Arts, St. Louis, MO
2007 Consternation senior exhibition, UC Davis Basement Gallery, Davis, CA
Group exhibition, UC Davis Basement Gallery, Davis, CA
Group exhibition, First Covenant Church, Sacramento, CA
2006 Group exhibition, UC Davis Basement Gallery, Davis, CA
Better Together group exhibition, First Covenant Church, Sacramento, CA
2005 Group exhibition, the 1050 Loft, Sacramento, CA
Solo exhibition, First Covenant Church, Sacramento, CA
2003 Juried student show, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA
2000 Juried student show, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA
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Residencies
2024 Farwell House, Frederick, IL
2021 Making Our History, virtual residency, University of Illinois at Springfield
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In the Media
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Interview on CanvasRebel
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Podcast appearance on Monster in the Mirror episode “Facing the Mirror”
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Short film on “Making Our History: Artists Render Lincoln's Legacies” UIS virtual residency
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Featured artist in “After That!” quarterly comics zine (August and July 2021)
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Regular contributor to comics section of Gesso Magazine (2019 - 2021)
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Awards and Education
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2024 - Painting and Drawing Association Award
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2023 - William Justin Brown Memorial Award in Sculpture (SIUE Juried Exhibition)
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2022 - MFA Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (expected graduation June 2025)
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2021 - Sculpture acquired into University of Illinois at Springfield permanent collection
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2007 - AB, Studio Art from UC Davis
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2003 - Outstanding Student in 3D Art, Sierra College
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2003 - "Best in Show" and "Sierra Pine Award," juried student show, Sierra College
