EDUCATION

1989
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, MFA
1984
University of Texas, Austin, TX, BFA
1979-1981
Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
1979
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, TX

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2013
“Uncommon Ground,” John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygen, WI
2012
“Carolyn Ottmers: Splice,” Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
2010
“Carolyn Ottmers,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
2009
“as we live and breathe,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Works from Gallery Stable,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
2008
“SCULPTURE,” Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN
2007
“Faculty Exhibition,” Betty Rymer Gallery, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2006
“FE 2006,” Fifth International Conference on Cast iron Art, Ironbridge Gorge Museum,
Coalbrookdale, UK
2005
“TINY, Huge,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Reflective Structures,” Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chicago, IL
“Carolyn Ottmers,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
2004
“Outside In – Sculpture for the Natural World,” Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Art in the Garden,” Outdoor garden installations sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Department of Cultural Affairs. Grant Park, Chicago, IL
“Hot Topic: A Contemporary Invitational,” Walker Art Gallery, University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE
2003
“Iron Tribe 2003,” New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM
“Functional, Wearable, Sculptural,” Vesuvius Art Gallery, Glenn, MI
2002
“2300F 2002, Contemporary Sculpture in Cast Iron,” Invitational exhibition,
Grounds for Sculpture Museum, Mercerville, NJ
“Fire to Form, Grounds for Sculpture,” Domestic Arts Building, Mercerville, NJ
2001
“Earth Works: An Exhibition of Environmental Art,” The Chicago Athenaeum,
Schaumburg, IL
“Cast Iron Invitational,” Riverside Arts Center, Freeark Gallery, Riverside, IL
2000
“Genesis,” Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
“Interior Spaces Still Lives,” McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
1999
“Botanica: Contemporary Art and the World of Plants,” Tweed Museum of Art,
Duluth, MN; Traveling Show
1998
“Transformations: Metal as Medium,” Vesuvius Art Gallery, Glenn, MI
“Sculpture,” Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL
“Ferroscious,” Body Builder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Klein Art Works/Art 1998 Chicago,” Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
1997
“Art Toys,” Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Milwaukee, WI
“Animate/Inanimate,” William E. Gahlberg Gallery Arts Center, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
“Klein Art Works/Art 1997 Chicago,” Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
1996
“Abstract: Chicago – A Comprehensive Survey of Contemporary Abstraction Created in Chicago and Vicinity,” Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
“Casts of Character,” John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
“Sculpture: Inside/Outside,” Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
“Cast Metal Invitational Exhibition,” Humanities Fine Arts Center Gallery, University
of Minnesota, Morris, MN
“Second Nature,” Vesuvius Gallery, Glenn, MI
“Contemporary Abstraction,” Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
1995
“Playground,” Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
“Contemporary Cast Works,” San Jose City College, San Jose, CA
“The Sculptural Environment,” Art Center of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, MI
1994
“Nature into Culture,” Visual Arts Gallery, Sangamon State University, Springfield, IL
“Garber, Monteith, Nardi, Ottmers,” Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
“Out of the Fire: Contemporary Cast Iron,” Betty Rymer Gallery, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL
“Ferrously Yours: Contemporary Cast Iron,” 2nd International Conference on
Contemporary
“Cast Iron Art,” Visual Arts Gallery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
“Flora 94,” Chicago Botanical Garden, Glencoe, IL. Award of Merit
“Abstract, Chicago – A Comprehensive Survey of Contemporary Abstraction,”
Created in Chicago and Vicinity, Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
“From Chicago Drawings,” Madeira Public Library, Madeira, Portugal
“Field Notes,” Gallery 2, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1993
“Women, Fire, and Iron,” Wilensky Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1992
“Carolyn Ottmers/Barbara Koenen,” Ten-in-One Gallery, Chicago, IL
“XVIII Triennale Milano,” International Exposition “Life between Artifact and Nature:
Design and the Environmental Challenge, Milano, Italy
“Flora 92,” Chicago Botanical Garden, Glencoe, IL
1991
“Trees: Rural Setting,” The Leelanau School, Glen Arbor, MI
“Trees: Urban Setting,” MWMWM Gallery, Chicago, IL
1990
“Harvest,” Kiehle Gallery, St. Cloud University, St. Cloud, MN
“Sculpture,” Betsy Rosenfield Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Chicago International Art Exposition,” Outdoor Installation, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
“Just a Touch,” Junior Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
“Art and Ecology: The Artist’s Response,” UpFront Gallery, Bloomington, IL
1989
“Cultural Climate,” MoMing Dance and Art Center, Chicago, IL, Lisa Erf, Curator
“Contemporary Cast Sculpture,” School of the Art Institute of Chicago,
Columbus Drive Gallery, Chicago IL
1986
“Alice & Arthur Baer Art Competition,” Beverly Art Center, Chicago, IL
Roger Brown, Juror. Honorable Mention
“New American Talent,” Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Austin, TX
Peter Plagens, Juror
1983
“The Watermelon Show,” Brazos Gallery, Austin, TX. David Earl Leslie, Curator

COLLECTIONS and PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI, Kohler Co., Kohler, WI
2004
“EQUILIBRIUM.” Art in the Garden, Grant Park, Chicago, IL
1999
“FULL CIRCLE.” Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI
1998
“INTERSECT.” Exterior plaza, 911 Emergency Communications Center, Chicago, IL

REVIEWS

Grand Rapids Press, 3/20/95, “Group Show by Four Area Sculptors is Well Worth a Trip to
Battle Creek,” Roger Green
New Art Examiner, Feb 95, “Four Sculptures,” Timothy Porges
Chicago Tribune, 11/6/92, “Ottmers Adds Ambiguity – On Purpose,” David McCracken
Chicago Sun-Times, Mar 1991, “Galleries,” Margaret Hawkins
Dialogue, Nov/Dec 1990, “Exhibition Reviews,” John Brunetti
Contemporanea, Oct 1990, “Chicago,” Timothy Porges
Chicago Tribune, 6/8/90, “Six Local Sculptors Find a Home – For Now,” David McCracken