ABOUT

Emma Schwartz (b. 1999, Lincoln, NE) is a mixed media artist currently based in Upstate New York. Her figurative work melds painting and soft sculpture together creating a liminal space where explorations of sex, devotion, and relationships occur outside of the repressive doctrines of Midwestern Evangelicalism. Purple clouds, cowgirl adornments, piercings, and red hair, are all recurring motifs in her work that signal to her past and the continual feminist lens that she views the world through. She incorporates saturated colors, fabric, and rhinestones to dramatize the Biblical stories, Christian iconography, and personal narratives that she reimagines in her work. Within cropped and expansive scenes she highlights the instances of devotion and connection on sexual and platonic levels that help her navigate the deconstruction of her faith and rebuild a sense of community and self-acceptance.

EDUCATION

2022 to 2025 - Syracuse University, MFA in Studio Art

2018 to 2022 - IUPUI (Herron School of Art + Design), BFA in Drawing & Illustration with a Minor in Art History

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023

The Word Upon Your Heart, Biblio Gallery, Syracuse, NY

The Acts of the Flesh, Storage Space Gallery , Indianapolis, IN

TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2024

Trinity and Colt: Godly Body, Citrus Gallery, Syracuse, NY

The Space Within You and Me, Biblio Gallery, Syracuse, NY

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026

Nebraska Now, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE

Feet Pics, RUBY/DAKOTA, New York, NY

2025

Borders + Edges, Upstate Art Collective x Barrett Fine Art Gallery, Utica, NY

MyMA “Dolce Far Niente, MyMA, Virtual

Transitions, Central New York Arts - Art in the Atrium, Syracuse, NY

Summer Invitational, Central New York Arts - Art in the Atrium, Syracuse, NY

Love Letter Show, Rusha & Co., Los Angeles, CA

Flower and I, Flowing Space Gallery, New York, NY

Unforeseen II, Warehouse Gallery, Syracuse, NY

Liminal Cartographies, Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition, Brooklyn, NY

Slumber Party, RUBY/DAKOTA x Loft Projects, New York, NY

2024

RESISTANCE, LIMBO, Margate, UK

My Body, My Choice, SOHO20, Virtual

The Collective II, Visionary Projects, New York, NY

Dress Up, Harsh Collective, Brooklyn, NY

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS, Shug Gallery, Norwich, United Kingdom

Volume, Black Brick Project, Brooklyn, NY

Citra’cuse, The Gear Factory Gallery, Syracuse, NY

Chronique Scandaleause, The Yards Collective, Rochester, NY

TAKEOVER, Downtown Artist Cellar, Malone, NY

March Collection, Collect Bean, Virtual

The Big Softie, Soft Times Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2023

The Collective, The High Line Nine x Visionary Projects, New York, NY

Diverging Paths, Colonels Row Building 403 on Governor’s Island, New York, NY

2022

Objects of Agency, Hera Gallery, Virtual

ART IN THE TIME OF CORONA, Dabster Art Inc., Virtual

House Fire, Hank & Dolly (Harrison Center), Indianapolis, IN

Art From The Heartland, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN

Red: A Color Exhibition, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN

The Figure, Site: Brooklyn, Virtual

Senior Capstone Exhibition, Herron Galleries, Indianapolis, IN

Look/See, Herron Galleries, Indianapolis, IN

Hoosier Women in Art: Identity, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN

Growth, Lost Dog Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

Genesis Release Party, Lily Auditorium, Indianapolis, IN

No Rest for the Artists Group Show, Hoy Polloy Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

2022 NSAL Visual Arts Competition & Exhibition, The FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, Bloomington, IN

Boosting the Signal: Women’s History in Art, Nickel Plate Arts, Stephenson House, Noblesville, IN

The Love Show, Celestial Arts & Antiques, Indianapolis, IN

Sidewalk Galleries, The Arts Council of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

2021

Holiday Group Show, Sun King Brewery Local Craft, Indianapolis, IN

No Theme For the Holidays, Storage Space Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

Encounter: A Sci-Fi and Fantasy Exhibition, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN

Women’s Work, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN

Green: A Color Exhibition, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN

Indy Post-it Show, Chromatic Collective, Indianapolis, IN

2020

Meet Me on Main, Carmel Art and Design District, Carmel, IN

AWARDS & GRANTS

2025, Upstate Art Collective Artist Stipend, Upstate Art Collective, Utica, NY

2025, George Vander Sluis Painting Award, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2025, PAC Grant Spring, GSO Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2025, Creative Opportunity Grant Spring, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2024, VPA Student Grant Program Fall, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2024, Creative Opportunity Grant Fall, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse NY

2024, George Vander Sluis Painting Award, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2024, VPA Student Grant Program Spring, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2024, Creative Opportunity Grant Spring, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2024, Graduate Student Memorial Scholarship Spring, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2023, PAC Grant Fall, GSO Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2023, Creative Opportunity Grant Fall, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2023, Graduate Student Memorial Scholarship Spring, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2023, Creative Opportunity Grant Spring, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2022, Tuition Scholarship, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2022, VPA Graduate Scholarship, VPA Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

2021, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Writing Award, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN

ARTIST TALKS

2024

The Yards Collective, “Chronique Scandaleuse” Artist Panel, Rochester, NY.

Perception Magazine Launch, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2025

(forthcoming) The Barn “Canceled Appointments”, Cazenovia, NY

2025

Citrus Gallery “PCRF Fundraiser”, Virtual.

Citrus Gallery “Double Dare Ya”, Syracuse, NY.

Citrus Gallery “All I Think About Now”, Syracuse, NY.

2024

Random Access Gallery “Just Like Heaven”, Syracuse, NY.

2023

The Wall @ Syracuse University “Ghosts Again”, Syracuse, NY.

The Wall @ Syracuse University “Interzone”, Syracuse, NY.

PUBLICATIONS

2026

(forthcoming) "Temper & Testimony” in The Vassar Review.

2025

“Issue 15” in New Visionary Magazine Curated by Etta Harshaw (Harsh Collective).

“2025 Issue” in Intertext Syracuse University.

Girl Diaries, The Diary, Vol. 1.

“2025 Issue” in Abstract Archive, Syracuse University, 2025 Issue.

2024

“Vol. 1 Fall Issue” in People We Meet on the Bus.

“Spring Issue” in Perception Magazine.

2023

“Issue 5: The Women’s Issue” in New Visionary Magazine.

2022

“Vol. 1” in Random Access Zine.

“Spring Issue” in Genesis: Literary and Art Magazine.

2021

“Fall Issue” in Genesis: Literary and Art Magazine.

“IUPUI” in Color Your Campus.

“Spring Issue” in Genesis: Literary and Art Magazine.

EXPERIENCE

2022 to Current

Instructional Assistant at Syracuse University (Stevenson Educational Center for Student-Athletes), Syracuse, NY.

2025.

Set Decorator/Scenic/Shopper for Vampvision LLC (Blood Bank: Red Ink), Syracuse, NY.

Set Decorator for Porter Bay Productions (The Wretched Devours), Syracuse, NY.

Summer Intern at Sargent’s Daughters, New York, NY.

Studio Assistant for Delavan Studios, Syracuse, NY.

Co-Founder/Director of Citrus Gallery, Syracuse, NY

2022 to 2025

Teaching Assistant at Syracuse University (Painting Department, Second Year Studio, Art in Context), Syracuse, NY.

2023

Art in LA Week (Syracuse University), Los Angeles, CA.

2021

Gallery Assistant at Herron School of Art + Design, Indianapolis, IN.

RESEARCH

2021

“Gender Roles and Women in Ancient Mesoamerica.” IU Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Conference.