Biography
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Carly Riegger (they/she) is a chronically ill and disabled artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan where they took a strong interest in ceramics in high school. They attended Bowling Green State University and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a specialization in Ceramics. During their junior year, they studied abroad at Studio Arts International College (SACI) in Florence, Italy. Carly’s artwork has been featured at Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati OH, Philly Art Collective in Philadelphia, PA, and Houseguest Gallery in Louisville, KY. Their writing was featured in a large installation in Grand Rapids, MI called My Dearest Friends Project, which was created by Oaklee Thiele. Carly is currently finishing a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ceramics at Indiana University Southeast. In 2021, they put together their first Solo Exhibition called Invisible Test Subject. Carly is dedicated to continuing their artwork to advocate for those with disabilities.
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Artist Statement
I create my work in response to my experiences with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which has been ongoing for nine years. EDS is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissue throughout the body. I am in constant, severe, widespread pain that builds to overwhelming flares which often debilitate my day-to-day life. My body undergoes repeated exposure to chronic pain which results in an increased sensitivity to that agitation. These invisible bodily malfunctions are imperceptible and incomprehensible to others around me.
My artwork captures a moment of the body in extreme pain. It is created to document, preserve, and express my inner turmoil and disability. I use ceramics to make my invisible experiences an undeniable physical reality. Clay is a material I can embed my disabled hands into and leave for generations to come. In contrast, I also use fiber to portray the delicate and impermanent state of ill bodies. Yarn and fiber materials can very closely relate to internal structures such as muscle; it can unravel and become loose or tight with tension. In my sculptures, I can connect with people experiencing pain or illness, and show the importance of disability awareness for all people. Through my eyes, chronic pain is about the constant cycle of destruction and recreation. I restitch, sew, and mend myself back together to heal, to reclaim my body, and to reform my sense of self.
My artwork captures a moment of the body in extreme pain. It is created to document, preserve, and express my inner turmoil and disability. I use ceramics to make my invisible experiences an undeniable physical reality. Clay is a material I can embed my disabled hands into and leave for generations to come. In contrast, I also use fiber to portray the delicate and impermanent state of ill bodies. Yarn and fiber materials can very closely relate to internal structures such as muscle; it can unravel and become loose or tight with tension. In my sculptures, I can connect with people experiencing pain or illness, and show the importance of disability awareness for all people. Through my eyes, chronic pain is about the constant cycle of destruction and recreation. I restitch, sew, and mend myself back together to heal, to reclaim my body, and to reform my sense of self.
Education
2025 The City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY Master of Arts in Disability Studies
2022 Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ceramics
2020 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio BFA in Studio Art focused in Ceramics
2018 Studio Arts College International (SACI), Florence, Italy Semester Abroad
2022 Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ceramics
2020 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio BFA in Studio Art focused in Ceramics
2018 Studio Arts College International (SACI), Florence, Italy Semester Abroad
Organizations
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Exhibitions & Shows
2021 Invisible Test Subject: A Solo Exhibition by Carly Riegger
Indiana University Southeast, The Space Lab, New Albany, IN
2021 Annual Juried Fine Arts Student Exhibition
Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN
2021 IUS Printmaking Showcase
Carnegie Art Museum, New Albany, IN
2021 My Dearest Friends Project
Disabled quote included in large banner installation
www.mydearestfriendsproject.org
Grand Rapids, MI
2021 Bed Zine, Issue Two, A Collection of Artwork by Disabled Artists
Print
2021 Artists with Disabilities Showcase
Philly Art Collective, Philadelphia, PA
Online and In-Person
2021 Press Pause. IUS Ceramics Exhibition
Online and in-person at Houseguest Gallery, Louisville, KY
2021 BO/DY Exhibition and Zine
Nefarious Contemporary
Available Online
2020 16th Annual Rites of Passage, National Emerging Artists Show 2020
Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Available Online
2020 Sheroes in Quarantine
Online Art Exhibition by Lon-Art
2020 Art in Isolation
Envision Arts Online Exhibition
Art Show
2020 BFA Thesis Exhibition
Bowling Green State University, Dorothy Uber Bryan
Gallery, Bowling Green, Ohio.
Online Exhibition here.
2020 Representation Matters: I See Me Exhibition
Indiana University Kokomo, IUK Art Gallery,
Kokomo, Indiana.
2019 Acceptance and Attendance at Propel Ohio at
Bowling Green State University in Fall Semester,
Bowling Green, Ohio.
2018 Fall Semester Exhibition at Studio Arts College
International (SACI) in Florence, Italy.
2018 67th Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition at
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green
Ohio
2018 The Millennial Show, Dayton, Ohio
2018 Featured Poetry in Bowling Green State University
Arts Village Zine, Bowling Green, Ohio
2017 66th Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition at
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green,
Ohio
Indiana University Southeast, The Space Lab, New Albany, IN
2021 Annual Juried Fine Arts Student Exhibition
Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN
2021 IUS Printmaking Showcase
Carnegie Art Museum, New Albany, IN
2021 My Dearest Friends Project
Disabled quote included in large banner installation
www.mydearestfriendsproject.org
Grand Rapids, MI
2021 Bed Zine, Issue Two, A Collection of Artwork by Disabled Artists
2021 Artists with Disabilities Showcase
Philly Art Collective, Philadelphia, PA
Online and In-Person
2021 Press Pause. IUS Ceramics Exhibition
Online and in-person at Houseguest Gallery, Louisville, KY
2021 BO/DY Exhibition and Zine
Nefarious Contemporary
Available Online
2020 16th Annual Rites of Passage, National Emerging Artists Show 2020
Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Available Online
2020 Sheroes in Quarantine
Online Art Exhibition by Lon-Art
2020 Art in Isolation
Envision Arts Online Exhibition
Art Show
2020 BFA Thesis Exhibition
Bowling Green State University, Dorothy Uber Bryan
Gallery, Bowling Green, Ohio.
Online Exhibition here.
2020 Representation Matters: I See Me Exhibition
Indiana University Kokomo, IUK Art Gallery,
Kokomo, Indiana.
2019 Acceptance and Attendance at Propel Ohio at
Bowling Green State University in Fall Semester,
Bowling Green, Ohio.
2018 Fall Semester Exhibition at Studio Arts College
International (SACI) in Florence, Italy.
2018 67th Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition at
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green
Ohio
2018 The Millennial Show, Dayton, Ohio
2018 Featured Poetry in Bowling Green State University
Arts Village Zine, Bowling Green, Ohio
2017 66th Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition at
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green,
Ohio
Accomplishments
2021 Executive Vice Chancellor's Purchase Award
IUS Annual Juried Student Exhibition, New Albany, IN
2021 Kentucky Mudworks Award
IUS Annual Juried Student Exhibition, New Albany, IN
2021 We’re Still Here Micro Grant, Suffering the Silence
2020 James W. Strong Studio Achievement Award
BGSU, Bowling Green, OH
2020 James W. Strong Outstanding Senior Award
BGSU, Bowling Green, OH
IUS Annual Juried Student Exhibition, New Albany, IN
2021 Kentucky Mudworks Award
IUS Annual Juried Student Exhibition, New Albany, IN
2021 We’re Still Here Micro Grant, Suffering the Silence
2020 James W. Strong Studio Achievement Award
BGSU, Bowling Green, OH
2020 James W. Strong Outstanding Senior Award
BGSU, Bowling Green, OH
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2019 Merit Award from the Toledo Arts Commission
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2018 Jules Maidoff Award for Best Student
Artwork in Fall Semester
2018 Honorable Mention in Painting Category at
the 67th Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition
at Bowling Green State University, Bowling
Green, Ohio
2017 First place in the First Year Program
Category at the 66th Annual Undergraduate Art
Exhibition at Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, Ohio
2017 Freshman Bravo Talent Award from Bowling
Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
2016 Incoming Freshman Bravo Talent Award from
Bowling Green State University, Bowling
Green, Ohio
Artwork in Fall Semester
2018 Honorable Mention in Painting Category at
the 67th Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition
at Bowling Green State University, Bowling
Green, Ohio
2017 First place in the First Year Program
Category at the 66th Annual Undergraduate Art
Exhibition at Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, Ohio
2017 Freshman Bravo Talent Award from Bowling
Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
2016 Incoming Freshman Bravo Talent Award from
Bowling Green State University, Bowling
Green, Ohio
Download CV
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