Born in Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1954
Lives in Sausalito, California
Education
1977-1978San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco
1975–1976Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
1973–1974Worcester Museum School, Worcester, MA
1971–1973Guilford College, Greensboro, NC
Associations
Research Associate of the Library and the Department of Aquatic Biology at the California Academy of Sciences
One-Person Exhibitions
2011“NOVA,” Feature Inc., New York
2008“NOVA (New Species): Paintings by Isabella Kirkland,” Toledo Art Museum, Toledo OH
“Taxa: Paintings by Isabella Kirkland,” National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC
2006Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Sun Valley, ID
2005Feature Inc., New York
2003Feature Inc., New York
Selected Group Exhibitions
2009“NeoRococo Show,” Shore Institute of Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, NJ
2008“Trouble in Paradise: Examining Discord between Nature and Society,” Tucson Museum of Art (catalog)
2007“Painting as Fact – Fact as Fiction,” de Pury & Luxembourg, Zurich; curated by Robert Nickas
2006“The Way of All Flesh,” BravinLee Productions, New York
2005“ECO: Art About the Environment,” Fine Arts Gallery, San Francisco State University,
San Francisco
2004“Continuities: Themes from the Fine Art Collection Reflected in Recent Northern California Art,”
Richard L. Nelson Gallery, University of California, Davis, CA
“Natural Histories: Realism Revisited,” Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2002“Isabella Kirkland and Michael St. John,” Feature Inc., New York
2001“The Metal Party by Josiah McElheny; Preserve by Ellen Gallagher; Taxa by Isabella Kirkland,”
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
2000“Beauty on the Wing: The Double Lives of Butterflies,” Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA
“6th Anniversary Group Exhibition,” Heritage Fine Arts, San Jose, CA
1999“Natural World Observed 1999,” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lescher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
1995“Animals and Artists,” Joan Robuck Gallery, Lafayette, CA
1992“Still Lives,” Zen Hospice Guest House, San Francisco
1991“LOCOmotion,” ArtSpace, San Francisco
“Isabella Kirkland and Chris Force,” The Living Room, San Francisco
1989“Nepotism,” Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY
1987“Perdurabo,” Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
1986“Night of Fog,” Cat Club, New York
1985“Payola,” MO David Gallery, New York
1984“Pandora’s Box: SFAI Annual,” New Langton Arts, San Francisco
1983“Sacred Artifacts, Objects of Devotion,” Alternative Museum, New York
“Micronic Obsessions,” Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
1980“Micronic Problems,” 80 Langton Street Gallery, San Francisco
“Untitled,” Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco, CA
Selected Bibliography
2008Pollick, Steve. “250 New Plants, Animals at Art Museum,” Toledo Blade, 7 September >link
2006Ames, Michael. “Going, Going, Almost Gone,” Idaho Mountain Express, 15 February, C1
Bossick, Karen. “‘Gone,’ ‘Back’ and ‘Nova,’” Wood River Journal, 15 February, B2
2004Nilsen, Richard. “How Real Can It Get?,” Arizona Republic, 30 May, E:1, 10 (reproduction)
Tropiano, Dolores. “Natural World Show,” Scottsdale Republic, September (reproduction)
2002Nickas, Bob. “Best of 2002: Top Ten,” Artforum, December, 116–117
2001Bonetti, David. “Three Artists Who Grapple with History,” San Francisco Chronicle, 20 November, D1
2000Brand, Stewart. “Whole Earth Covers,” Whole Earth, Fall, 58–59
Publications, Portfolios, Projects, and Reproductions of Artwork
2008Bioneers annual conference materials (reproductions of artwork)
National Academies Press seasonal book catalog (reproductions of artwork)
2006Merckling, Catherine. Éco-Art (Strasbourg: Université Marc Bloch) (reproduction)
Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction (reproductions of artwork) >link
2005Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Summer, 67, 72, 76 (reproductions of artwork)
American Butterflies 13: no. 1 (Spring), 44–45 (reproduction and artist’s statement)
2003Grand Street, no. 71 (Spring), Grand Street Press, New York, 92–96 (portfolio)
2002Wilson, Edward O. The Future of Life (New York: Knopf) (cover art)
2000Whole Earth, Fall (front and back cover art)
Grants
2004Individual Artist Grant, George Sugarman Foundation
2004Individual Artist Grant, Marin Arts Council