Resume
Education
2010
Master of Fine Arts in Photography, Emphasis in Visual Studies; University of California, Irvine
2007
Coro Fellowship Program in Public Affairs: Art & Public Policy; Coro Center for Civic Leadership
2004
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urbanism, Cum Laude; Smith College
1999 - 2000
Rural Hate Crime Witness Project and Queer Youth Initiative, Hampshire College International Social Justice Program, Managua, Nicaragua
ProFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2017 -
Associate Professor, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2023–2024
Global Arts and Humanities External Fellow, The Ohio State University
2016–2017
Visiting Assistant Professor, Scripps College
Solo Exhibitions
2024
The Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH / A Hole is Not a Void
2023
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL / MCA Stage 2023 Season: New Normal
2019
Aula Sergiu Chiriacescu Galerie, Brasov, Romania / Better or Equal Use
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL / New Normal, solo performance
2018
Mana Contemporary, Miami, FL / Please Enjoy a Drink Fresh From the Mountains
2017
Actual Size Gallery, Los Angeles, CA / Same Rock
2015
Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA / Jonas N.T. Becker: Westward Bound
The Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA / The Pile
2014
Nazarian / Curcio, Los Angeles, CA / Zol Zayn / What if?
2012
5118 York, Los Angeles, CA / 2012102: Apocalypse Now?
2011
Autonomie Gallery, Los Angeles, CA / Erasing Traces
CommonSpace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA / New Work: Nina T. Becker
2010
Room Gallery, Irvine, CA / Aninut (72 Hours)
Monongalia Art Center, Benedum Gallery, Morgantown, WV / Thank G-d for Mississippi
2008
European Graduate School Gallery, Saas-Fee, Switzerland / Huts
2006
Terminal Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA / Fellows
2002
Aztec Art Space, Santa Fe, NM / Contained
2001
Taos Gallery Pittsburgh, PA / Outlook/Inlook: Nicaragua
Select Group Exhibitions
2025
The Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA / Worlds In Process: Art from the SCMA Collection [upcoming]
2025
The Driehaus Museum, Chicago, IL / Materialities
2022
The Design Museum of Chicago, Chicago, IL / Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
2021
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Galleries, Chicago, IL / Earthly Observatory
2020
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL / The Long Dream
45Library, 45Library.com / The Canary Has Been Gone for a While
Fotofocus Biennial, Contemporary Art Center Cincinnati, OH / Light &
2019
PhotoLA, DeSoto Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018
MoCP, Chicago, IL / Viewfinder: Landscape and Leisure in the Collection
Louisiana State University, Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA / Sites of Build Up, Sites to Mine
2015
Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA / Incognito
LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions), Los Angeles, CA / Happening
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Solo Presentation
Silicon Valley Contemporary, Solo Presentation, San Jose, CA / Moving Image Experience, curated by Paul Young
2014
Part-time Gallery, Los Angeles, CA / Poor/Fancy, pt. 2
2012
LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions), Los Angeles, CA / ReVisions of LA: Mobile Projections
LA Road Project, Los Angeles, CA / Mulholland Dérive
2011
1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA / InLight 2011, curated by Matthew Lyons of The Kitchen
LA Art Mart, Los Angeles, CA / Vertigo
Foundation for Art Resources (FAR), Long Beach, CA / The De-socialized Landscape
2010
LAXART, Los Angeles, CA / Nine Stories
2009
Lycium Gallery, San Diego, CA / The Art of Photography, curated by Charlotte Cotton
2008
University Art Gallery, Irvine, CA / Betamax
2004
Janotta Gallery, Smith College, Northampton, MA / Senior Exhibition
2003
Smith Architects, Boston, MA / Build Boston
2001
Steel Valley Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA / Regional
Awards, Grants, and Fellowships
2025
Sociological Initiatives Foundation, Appalachian Prison Land Collaborative ($25,000)
2023–2024
The Ohio State University Research Fellowship, Global Art and Humanities ($65,000)
2022–2024
Artist Residency Award, Visual Arts, The Wexner Center for the Arts ($50,000)
2022
Magnum Foundation Counter Histories Award ($10,000)
2021
Aperture Baxter St Next Step Award Shortlist
Creative Capital Award Finalist, selected for On Our Radar recognition
Spudnik Press Residency Finalist
2020
Team Teaching Award for Black Diamonds: Extraction and Art throughout History, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2018–2020
Faculty Enrichment Grant, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2018
Diversity Infusion Grant, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2015
Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation Grant
2013
Nazarian Family Foundation Exhibition Grant
2011–2013
Six Points Two Year Artist Fellowship and Project Grant ($40,000)
2011
Artist Bailout Project Grant
2009
Claire Trevor School of the Arts Exhibition Grant
2008
The Center for Global Peace Studies Project Grant
Medici Scholars Summer Research Grant, UC Irvine
Studio Art Department Travel Grant, UC Irvine
2007 - 2011
Full Tuition Merit Scholarship and Stipend, UC Irvine
2006
Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs Merit Scholarship and Living Stipend
2005
First Place in Best Lesbian Photography Competition, Curve Magazine
2004
Hoxie Career Development Grant, Smith College
Smith Fund Award for Travel
2003
Calkins Fund ---for Photographic Work, Madrid, Spain
2001
Finalist, Photographer's Forum, Best of College Photographers
2000
Most Influential LGBT Youth Individual, Triangle Foundation, Michigan
1998
100 Most Influential Activists Under 25 Award, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Publications by Jonas Becker
2025
University Press of Kentucky, Queering Appalachia’s Visual History, “Better or Equal Use,” [forthcoming]
2024
Frieze, “Shooting Sinkholes,” November/December Issue 247
2020
West Virginia University Press, The Opioid Epidemic and US Culture: Expression, Art and Politics in the Age of Addiction, “A Hole is not a Void: Extraction, Addiction and Aesthetics”
2016
On-Curating, “Like When the Teacher Leaves the Classroom,” July Edition
Publications about Jonas Becker
2024
Free University of Bolzono Press, Soils Matter, “Reflections between Visual Arts, Soil and Science,” by Giovanni Aloi
2018
Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Walls Turned Sideways: Artists Confront the Justice System, by Risa Puleo
Louisiana State University, Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, Sites of Build Up, Sites to Mine, Essayby Kristine Thompson
2017
New Museum/MIT Press, Critical Anthologies in Art and Culture, Trap Door: Trans Cultural Production and the Politics of Visibility, “Dynamic Static,” by Nicole Archer
2014
Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, The Pile, Essay by Jenni Sorkin
press
2026
Transbordeur, “Carbon Captured: Jonas N.T. Becker’s Better or Equal Use,” 2026 Edition [forthcoming]
2025
Appalachian Journal, “An Interview with Jonas N.T. Becker,” Fall Edition [forthcoming]
Environmental Research: Energy, “Better or Equal Use: An Interview with Jonas N.T. Becker,” 2025 Focus on Global Coal Transitions Edition [forthcoming]
Chicago Tribune, “Review: ‘Materialities’ at the Driehaus Museum puts new Chicago art in an old Chicago mansion,” March 24
2024
The Brooklyn Rail, “Jonas N.T. Becker: A Hole is not a Void,” July/August Edition
Town and Country, “The Best College Art Museums in the Country,” August 7
Channel 10 WBNS, “The Wexner Center for the Arts hosts artists’ reactions to coal transition,” July 14
2023
See Chicago Dance, “The Museum of Contemporary Art celebrates three emerging artists in Chicago Performs 2023, ” September 5
2021
DAMN Magazine, “Road Tripping Through America,” January Edition
2019
Art Practical, “Faltering Towards Extinction,” November 6
2017
Art Practical, “The Tall Tales of Jonas Becker,” August 17
2016
Artillery Magazine, “Guest Lecture: Jonas N.T. Becker,” January Edition
Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles, “Women Talking About Barney,” January Edition
2015
Art Ltd., “A Patchwork Quilt,” March Edition
KCRW (NPR): Art Talk, “Man Made Quilts and Jonas Becker,” February 12
LA Weekly, “Art Picks: Five Free Art Shows You Should See in L.A. This Week,” February 4
LA Times, “Datebook: Vintage Car Design, Objects of Desire, Flight of the Bumblebee,” January 22
2014
LA Times, “Shulamit Gallery Shows Jonas N.T. Becker Debut,” February 9
Artillery Magazine, “Jonas N.T. Becker at Shulamit Gallery,” January 29
Jewish Journal, “Time is of the essence in ‘Zol Zayn’ Exhibition,” February 26, 2014
The Yiddish Daily Forward, “News from Los Angeles,” January 22
KCRW (NPR): Which Way, LA?, “A Video Meditation on One of Life’s Big Questions,” January 10
2012
LA Weekly, “Art Picks: Five Artsy Things to Do This Week,” December 19
KCRW (NPR): All Things Considered, “Get Onboard the Mobile Pinhole Project,” May 31
2011
Good Magazine, “Community Arts Organizations Get Their Bailout Money,” December 12
2010
Octopus Journal: The Journal of the Visual Studies Program at the University of California, Irvine: “72 Hours”
Lilith Magazine, "Deep in the Valley": Fall Edition
Dominion Post, "Becker Showcase Opens": March 31
2009
"The Art of Photography," curated by Charlotte Cotton
San Diego News Network, "Review: 'Art of Photography' a lens into life.": Sept. 24
2008
The Forward Newspaper, "Everything Old is New Again": August 1
2003
Morning Edition NPR: "Revisiting How the Birth of the Atomic Bomb at New Mexico's Trinity Site Changed History": February 27
Residencies
2022–2024
Film/Video Studio Residency at the Wexner Center, Columbus, OH
2019–2020
Latitude Artist Residency, Chicago, IL
2018–2019
Mana Contemporary Curatorial Residency, Chicago, IL
2016–2019
Montalvo Art Center Lucas Artists Residency, Saratoga, CA
2018
Mana Miami Residency, Miami, FL
2017–2018
Mana Contemporary Studio Residency, Chicago, IL
2016
Transart Summer Residency, Berlin, Germany
Heart of Los Angeles Artist Residency, Los Angeles, CA
2015
Saas-Fee Summer Art Institute hosted by the European Graduate School, Saas-Fee, Switzerland
2012–2013
Yiddishkayt Artist in Residence, Los Angeles, Belarus & Poland
2010
Klezkanada Filmmaking Residency, Lantier, Quebec, Canada
Public Collections
.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Mana Contemporary
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Midwest Photographers Project
Nazarian Family Foundation
Smith College Museum of Art
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2017-present
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL - Associate Professor
Photography Department
2016-2017
Scripps College, Claremont, CA - Visiting Assistant Professor
Photography
2012 - 2017
Art Institute, North Hollywood, CA & Art Institute, Los Angeles, CA - Adjunct Faculty
Photography, Video, and Art Theory
2011 - 2017
Mobile Pinhole Project, youth photography workshop, Los Angeles, CA - Director and Lead Instructor
The Mobile Pinhole Project brings experiential photography workshops to youth in neighborhoods across Los Angeles using an innovative tool—a van turned into a giant pinhole camera—allowing youth literally inside the camera to explore culture and place.
Exploring Identity through Photography workshop series, Various Locations - Instructor
Developed workshops for Beth Am Synagogue, Yiddishkeit Helix Program, Alexandria House After school, Kol Ami Youth Program and others
2013
Scripps College, Claremont, CA - Adjunt Professor
Introduction to Black & White Photography
2011 - 2013
Artworx LA, Los Angeles, CA - Teaching Artist & Curriculum Design
Visual Mapping Course; Re-Designing New Spaces for Exhibition Course
2011 - 2012
Hollywood Media Arts Academy High School, Los Angeles, CA - Instructor
Photography, Video, and Art History
2011
Holga Inspire, Los Angeles, CA - Instructor
Holga Camera Photography Course
2010
University of California, Irvine, CA - Instructor
Introduction to Photography
2009 - 2010
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA - Teaching Fellow
Community College Teaching Fellowship :Responsibilities included substitute teaching, editing a text- book, and developing curriculum.
2008 - 2009
University of California, Irvine, CA - Teaching Assistant
Performance Art, Visual Culture, Advanced Photography, Contemporary Art Theory
2005 - 2006
International Center for Photography: The Point Outreach Center, Bronx, NY - Co-Instructor
Youth Photography and Art History Course
Speaking Engagements and Lectures
2024
Wexner Center for the Arts, Artist Talk: Jonas N.T. Becker in conversation with Laura Larson and Sheila ReStack, August 19
The Ohio State Conference on Global Coal Transitions and Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio: Artist Response to Coal Transitions, July 18
Wexner Center for the Arts, Opening Celebration Panel Discussion: Jonas Becker, Gina Osterloh and Judith Transue, May 31
2021
Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability Smith College, Northampton, MA: Artist Talk, April 8
Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL: Climate & Sustainability Symposium: Artist Talk, April 24
Filter Photo, Chicago, IL: “Nelson Morales in conversation with Jonas Becker,” December 10
2020
Filter Photo, Chicago, IL: “Tarrah Krajnak in conversation with Jonas Becker,” November 20
2019
Appalachian Carpathian International Conference, Brasov, Romania: “A Hole is not a Void,” October 8
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL: Art, Theory and Practice Visiting Artist Program: Artist Talk, May 6–8
Appalachian Studies Association Conference, Asheville, NC: Opioid Aesthetics Panel, “Ecologies of Extraction,” March 14
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA: Artist Talk, March 9
2018
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL: Artist Talk, July 18
DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL: Halfway to California: A Conversation about Midwest Aesthetics (panel): “Flyover Aesthetics,” July 11
2017
Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA: Claremont Discourse: Art, the Environment, and Social Justice Panel, February 8
2016
Radical Pedagogies Initiative and Bard Master of Arts in Teaching, Los Angeles, CA: Panel
Discussion on Radical Pedagogies in Practice: How Can Black Mountain College Matter to Schools Today?, April 6
2013
Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, CA: Enter a Camera, Photo on the Go, May 5
2012
Scripps College, Claremont, CA: Artist Lecture: Jonas Becker, October 12
2011
Scripps College, Claremont, CA: The Mechanical Eye: Photography from Science to Art, October 12
2010
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA: Intersections in Video Installation and Architecture, May 3
2009
University of California, Irvine: Interdisciplinary Panel on Authorship and Photography
Research and Curatorial Projects
2011- Present
Mobile Pinhole Project, Los Angeles, CA, Founding Director and Lead Instructor
The Mobile Pinhole Project brings experiential photography workshops to youth in neighborhoods across Los Angeles using a van turned into a giant pinhole camera—allowing youth literally inside the camera.
2018-2019
Non-Conforming Exhibition, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL, Curator
Non-Conforming featured Los Angeles-based artists whose projects “act out” against formal, cinematic, and social conventions.
2017
Technology, Mediation and Art Speakers Series, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, Organizer
Four speaker series and one 2-week workshop funded by J.C. Harper and O’Brien lecture funds.
2016
OnCurating, Zurich, Switzerland, Guest Editor, Issue 31
OnCurating is a print and online journal on curatorial practice and theory.
2009
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, Research Intern
Created an interactive map for New Topographics locating exhibited photographs in the U.S.
2008
Everywhere Gallery, Founder and Curator
A curated exhibition space viewed via mobile devices.
View Source Labs, Founding Member
A cross-disciplinary research lab in arts, computations, and engineering with a focus on authorship.
Professional Service
2020
National Consortium for Creative Placemaking, Appalachian Chapter, Member
2019–2023
Filter Photo, Chicago, IL, Board Member
Filter Photo Festival, Chicago, IL, Organizing Committee
Filter Photo, Chicago, IL, Members’ Exchange Host
Filter Photo, Chicago, IL, Filter Photo Annual Exhibition Juror
2021
Wexner Center for the Arts, Appalachian Initiative, Artist Advisor
Columbus College of Art & Design, Photography Department, Outside Reviewer
Art Journal, Trans Aesthetics edition, Peer Reviewer
2020
Prints for Hunger, Donated Artwork
2019
The College Art Association, Nominee for the Board of Directors
Relevant Professional Experience
2006–2008
American Apparel, International Division: architect
2004–2005
MOVK Design, New York, NY: junior architect
2002
Bostick and Sullivan Photographic, Santa Fe, NM: photographic chemical researcher