Select Solo Exhibitions
2019 A Sidelong Glance. Lux Center for the Arts. Lincoln, Nebraska.
2018 Grounded Light: New Paintings by James Bockelman. Modern Arts Midtown. Omaha, Nebraska.
2016 New Work by James Bockelman. Circuitous Succession Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee
2015 Correspondences: New Work by James Bockelman. 1900 Park Creative Space, St Louis, Missouri
2013 Painting as Praxis: 10 Days in March. Performance in Lincoln, Amsterdam, and Berlin
2012 Diamonds and Squares. Norfolk Arts Center. Norfolk, Nebraska
2011 James Bockelman: New Work. Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Nebraska
2009 A Sidelong Glance. University of Nebraska Omaha Gallery, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Mapped Black. Nordstrom Gallery, Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska
2008 Satellite for Köln. Walker Art Gallery, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska
New Forms for New Spaces. Farnheim Gallery of Art, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa
2007 Sources and Territories. Kunstoffice, Berlin, Germany
Projekt Köln: Recent Work by James Bockelman. Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
Chandeliers and Superficial Surfaces. Fred Simon Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska
2005 Nebraska Now: James Bockelman. Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska
2002 An Organic Structure. Art Gallery Peru State College, Peru, Nebraska
2001 Sheldon Features: Installation and Recent Large Scale Drawings. Curated by Daniel Siedell, Sheldon Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska
1993 Beyond Black and White. Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
Select Group Exhibitions
2020 The Touch of Density, Curated by Ludwig Seyfarth and Hanna Hennenkemper, Drawing Room in Hamburg, Germany
Spontaneity: 10 Abstract Painters from Nebraska. Gallery 1516. Omaha, Nebraska.
OEAA Winter Visual Arts Showcase. Roberta & Bob Rogers Gallery. Omaha, Nebraska.
2019 The Briar Cliff Review Exhibition. Sioux City Art Center. Sioux City, Iowa.
Benefit Art Auction. Bemis Center for Contemporary Art. Omaha, Nebraska.
2018 Cleft: Collaborative Installation with Michael Ian Larsen. Project Project. Omaha, Nebraska.
Focus on Abstraction: Prunes Potatoes and Prisms. Milchhof Gallery. Berlin, Germany.
Three Painters. Focal Point Crosstown Concourse. Memphis, Tennessee.
Regional Art. Memphis College of the Arts in Memphis, Tennessee.
Concord. Faculty exhibition. Norfolk Arts Center. Norfolk, Nebraska.
2017 Independent Artist Fellowship in Visual Arts Exhibition. Museum of Nebraksa Art, Kearney, Nebraska
Drawing Performance: Abstraction from Berlin and the United States. Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Seward, Nebraska
2016 Drawing Performance: Abstraction from Berlin and the United States, Tugboat Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska
Bockelman & Vitale, Modern Arts Midtown, Omaha, Nebraska
2015 Bordering. Curated by Mariana Vieira and Jennifer Bockelman, Ironton Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Thomas Murray / James Bockelman / Kelli Tilton / Baleigh Kuhar. Circuitous Succession Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee
Art Seen: A Juried Exhibition of Artists from Omaha to Lincoln. Curated by Karin Campbell, Joslyn Art Museum’s Phil Willson Curator of Contemporary Art, and Bill Arning, Director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Joslyn Museum of Art, Omaha, Nebraska
These Referents Register: Recent Paintings by James Bockelman. Modern Arts Midtown, Omaha, Nebraska
Intentionality. Curated by Michela Bridger Hunt, Prescott Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska
Krause–Bock Mark Documentation. Biennial Faculty Exhibition, Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Seward, Nebraska
2014 Contributor, MEDICI Event. Eisentrager/Howard Gallery Richards Hall, University of Nebraska Lincoln
AXIS Gallery, 9th National Juried Exhibition. Juried by Jenny Gheith, assistant curator of painting and sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sacramento, California, August 2014
Works on Paper Benefit. Cuchifritos Gallery and Project Space, New York, New York, June
MEDICI event. Eisentrager • Howard Gallery Richards Hall, University of Nebraska Lincoln, February
2013 deLUX Art Gala. LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, Nebraska
2011 Faculty Art Exhibition. Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
2010 Köln Contract. Faculty Art Exhibition. Wolfram Gallery, International Center LCMS, St Louis, Missouri
2009 Culture? Bethel University Art Gallery, Bethel University, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2008 Process: James Bockelman and Jaqueline Kluver. Modern Arts Midwest, Lincoln, Nebraska
Kunstoffice-ziell V – Dezember 2007. Kunstoffice, Berlin, Germany
2007 State of the Art 2007: Nebraska Arts Council. Individual Artist Fellowship Recipients, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, Nebraska
9th Annual Fine Art Auction. Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, Nebraska
Night of 1000 Drawings. Artist Space, New York, New York
Sheldon Connections. Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska
2006 James Bockelman and Mo Neal: Recent Work. LUX Center of Art, Lincoln, Nebraska
Sioux City Art Center 60th Juried Exhibition. Juried by Valerie Cassel, Sioux City, Iowa
2005 Reductive Measures: Fontanna, Wolfram, Bockelman. Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, Nebraska
Biannual Concordia Faculty Exhibition. Marxhausen Gallery of Art Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
2004 New New 2: Holiday Group Show. Karolyn Sherwood Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa
New Directions III. Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Lincoln, Nebraska
Vis – Vis: Three Person Exhibition. Lo River Gallery, Beacon, New York
Two Person Exhibition. Hastings Art Gallery Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska
All About Drawing. Eisentrager-Howard Gallery University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
2003 RSVP/MONA: Contemporary Art Invitational. Curated, Josephine Martins, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska
Faculty Exhibition. Marxhausen Gallery of Art Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
2002 Fred Wells 23rd National Juried Exhibition. Elder Gallery Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska
2001 Bockelman, Strand and Towater. Haydon Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska
Faculty Exhibition. Marxhausen Gallery of Art Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
2000 On/Of Paper Juried Exhibition. Cloude Snook Gallery, Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado
1999 55th Sioux City Juried Exhibition. Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, Iowa
Faculty Exhibition. Marxhausen Gallery of Art Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
1998 Fred Wells 22nd National Juried Exhibition. Elder Gallery Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska
1997 The Ontological Form: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition. Richards Hall Gallery University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
Residencies
2013 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
1995, 1996 Artist in Residence, Evangelical Gymnazium Tisovek , Tisovec, Slovakia
Lectures, Readings, Workshops
2016 Design Finalist, Fred/Pamela Buffett Cancer Research Center Tower Commission in Omaha Nebraska Independent Artist Fellowship in Visual Arts, Nebraska Arts Council
Drawing Performance: Abstraction from Berlin and the United States. Concordia University. Seward, Nebraska.
2011 Best Practices for Integrating Art and Faith in Our Curriculum. Matter and Spirit: Art and Belief in A Digital Age. Biola University, La Mirada, California.
2010 Seeing is Believing: Art in the Worship, Liturgical Conference, Grace Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska.
2009 Banner Workshop, Topeka, Kansas
On Working with Museums, Visiting lecture, University of Nebraska – Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
A Sidelong Glance, Barbara Wilson Memorial Lecture, University of Nebraska–Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Consultant to Christ Lutheran Church, Norfolk, Nebraska
Contemporary Space in Church Architecture, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Holdrege, Nebraska
2008 The Transplendent Space, New York Center for Art and Media Study, New York, New York
A Satellite for Köln, Walker Art Gallery, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska
2007 Individual Artist Panel: Making Art in Nebraska, Sheldon Memorial Gallery of Art, Lincoln, Nebraska
Nebraska Art Teachers Association Spring Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska
2006 Slide Jam, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, Nebraska
Moderator for Drawing Panel, Sheldon Memorial Gallery of Art, Lincoln, Nebraska
2005 Nebraska Now artist presentation, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska
2003 Visiting lecture, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
2000 Texas Lutheran District Teacher’s Conference, Houston, Texas
1996 Central Lutheran Education Conference, St. Louis, Missouri
1995 Prairie Visions Institute, Lincoln, Nebraska
Iowa District West Youth Gathering, Sioux City, Iowa
1994 Artist in Residence Mt. Olive Lutheran School, Des Moines, Iowa
1992 Contemporary Music and Art, Florida District Teacher’s Conference, Orlando, Florida
Press
2019 The Briar Cliff Review. Volume 31. 2019. Briar Cliff University. Sioux City, Iowa.
James Bockelman’s ‘A Sidelong Glance,’ an illuminating exhibition curated from artist’s studio. Wolgamott, L. Kent. Journal Star. January 10, 2019.
Marxhausen Gallery’s ‘Who Do You Say I Am?’ rare effective exhibition exploring human identity.Wolgamott, L. Kent. Journal Star. March 7, 2019.
2018 A Grounded Light: Artist Bockelman’s vision filtered through layers of geometric abstraction. Farber, Janet. The Reader. July 29, 2018. Omaha, Nebraska.
Cleft, at Project Project. Hirschhorn, By Corbin. KVNO News. http://www.kvnonews.com/2018/09
cleft-at-project-project/
2017 Drawing Performance: Abstraction from Berlin and the United States. Self published catalogue and
essay for exhibition.
2016 These Referents Register: 2014–2016. Self published catalogue.
2015 Art Review: James Bockelman, Thomas Murray provide pleasant first impression at Circuitous. TeCommercail Appeal. Posted, 12:05 PM, August 12, 2015. Koeppel, Fredric.
Museum Quality Show: Joslyn raises the curtain, bar for 37 local artists in juried exhibition, ‘Art Seen’ .
Krainak, Michael. The Reader. August 5, 2015. Omaha, Nebraska.
Art Seen’ ‘- Superb survey of Lincoln and Omaha contemporary art at Joslyn. Ground Zero. July 18, 2015. Wolgamott, Kent, Lincoln Journal Star.
These Referents Register: Recent Paintings by James Bockelman at Modern Arts Midtown, The Reader
2008 Dreaming of Köln, Brown, Rick, Bravo: Guide to Entertainment, The Kearney Hub, Jan 24,
2007 Sheldon Connections Expands Exhibit to Include More Artists,
Nebraskstatepaper.com, August 6, Templeton, Adam
2003 Catalogue – RSVP/MONA: Contemporary Art Invitational, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska, Josephine Martins Curator
2002 Show Time: Annual Exhibition at NWU’s Elder Gallery Brings Diverse Work to Lincoln, Wolgamott, Kent, Lincoln Journal Star, April 4
2001 James Bockelman at the Sheldon: Pine Cones with Passion, Pagel, Anne, Nebraska Statepaper, August 31
Bockelman, Strand, Towater at Haydon: Elegance with an Edge, Pagel, Anne, Nebraska Statepaper, August 30
Here Today Gone Tomorrow: James Bockelman, Wolgamott, Kent, Lincoln Journal Star
1999 Sioux City Juried Exhibition Avoids Risks, Kyle MacMillan, Omaha World Herald, February
1994 Prairie Lights Showcase Not to Meet Its Goal, Kyle MacMillan, Omaha World Herald, Nov
Collage Techniques, Brommer, Gerald, Watson-Guptill Publisher
Exhibitions Curated
Unless otherwise noted, all of the following exhibitions were curated for the Marxhausen Gallery of Art,
the campus gallery of Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.
2020 All This and Not Ordinary – the Difference is Spreading. Marxhausen Gallery of Art. Concordia University Nebraska. Seward, Nebraska.
2019 Who Do You Say That I Am? Image as Identity. Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Seward, Nebraska.
2017 Drawing Performance: Abstraction from Berlin and the United States. Galerie Inga Kondeyne, Berlin, Germany Tugboat Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska
2014 Onset: Flora Wiegmann. Selections of video and film performance.
2012 Children’s Interactive Art Show: Featuring Children’s Art from the Concordia University Collection.
2012 Steve Rodin: Notations. Jones Bank Visiting Artist Series,
2011 Do You See What I See?: A Tribute to Reinhold Marxhausen. Drawn from Concordia’s Permanent Collection
2010 – ISMS: Concordia’s Permanent Collection in Context.
2010 A Joyous Protest: The Graphic Work of Corita Kent. Drawn from the collections of the Corita
Center in Holywood, California, Gordon Ahlschwede, Ontario, California, and Mr and
Mrs James Bockelman Seward, Nebraska
2009 Word and Image: Propaganda, Politics and the Poster in Art, Russian Poster Design.
2008 The Abstract Impulse: Prints and Multiples from the Permanent Collection.
2007 Monoliths – Receptors – Recordings: Paintings by Dave Harvey, Sarah Gamble and Jennifer Starkweather. Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Seward, Nebraska
2007 An American Narrative: 20th Century Black Art, Selections from the George N’Namdi Gallery. Detroit, Michigan and the Sheldon Memorial Museum of Art, Lincoln, Nebraska
2006 The Artist as Social Critic: Selections from Concordia University’s Permanent Collection.
2005 Town and Country: Selections from Concordia University’s Permanent Collection.
2005 Reductive Measures: Fontanna, Wolfram, Bockelman. Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, Nebraska
Awards
2020 Impact Grant. Concordia University Nebraska. Seward, Nebraska.
2016 Individual Artist Fellowship Merit Award, Nebraska Arts Council
2015 The 1% for Art Committee selected James Bockelman’s painting Great Mullin, to be a part of the University of Kearney/University of Nebraska Medical Center collection at the new Health Science Education Building in Kearney, Nebraska
2007 Individual Artist Fellowship Merit Award, Nebraska Arts Council
2006 Visiting Artist, LUX Center Summer Residency, Lincoln, Nebraska
Sabbatical, Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Nebraska
2003 Outstanding Teaching Award, Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
1998 Best of Show, 22nd Fred Wells National Juried Exhibition, Elder Gallery, Nebraska Wesleyan University,
1989 Painting Installation, Richard H. Young Hospital Chapel, Kearney, Nebraska
Gallery Affiliation
2011— Present Modern Arts Midtown, Omaha, Nebraska
2015 — Present Circuitous Succession Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee
2005 – 2011 Modern Arts Midwest, Lincoln, Nebraska
2007–2008 Kunstoffice, Berlin, Germany
2004 – 2007 Lo River Gallery, Beacon, New York
1999 – 2004 Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, Nebraska
Karolyn Sherwood Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa
1998–2001 Percival Galleries, Des Moines, Iowa
Professional Experience
1993 – present Professor of Art, Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Nebraska
2000 – present Curator, Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Nebraska
1989 – 1992 Teacher, Director of Art, Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, Ontario, California
Education
1997 Master of Fine Arts, Painting and drawing, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
1989 Bachelor of Science, Elementary education, Secondary education K-12 art, Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska