Angela Dufresne

Angela Dufresne is a Professor in the Painting Department at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Originally from Connecticut and raised in Olathe, Kansas, she is a painter and video artist whose work explores non-hierarchical, joyous narratives through painting, drawing, and performative practices. Her art addresses themes of fear, power, and possession, creating porous, polymorphous worlds.

• Education: BFA from Kansas City Art Institute, MFA from Tyler School of Art

Her research focuses on contemporary art practices that challenge traditional hierarchies and embrace heterotopic storytelling. Dufresne’s exhibitions span prestigious institutions such as the Hammer Museum, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

Scientific Awards & Residencies

• Guggenheim Fellowship (2016)
• Purchase Award at The National Academy of Arts and Letters (2011)
• Jerome Foundation Fellowship (1992)
• Residencies: Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Yaddo, Siena Art Institute, Fine Arts Work Center (Provincetown), Headlands Center for the Arts

Dufresne’s work is held in collections including the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Museo de Arte de Ponce, American Academy of Arts and Letters, and Harvard Business School. She has upcoming projects such as a solo exhibition at the Kemper Museum (fall 2018) and inclusion in the traveling exhibition Piece by Piece (2019–2020).