Arnold Joseph Kemp

Arnold Joseph Kemp is a Professor and Presidential Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he teaches Painting and Drawing. He holds an MFA from Stanford University (2005) and a BA/BFA in English Literature/Studio Art from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1991). As Dean of Graduate Studies, he bridges administrative leadership with artistic mentorship.

• Research & Practice: Kemp’s work interrogates the intersection of psychoanalysis, materiality, and Black queer identity through sculpture, drawing, performance, and writing. His explorations of reflective materials like aluminum foil symbolize the fragility of representation and the repression of Black male bodies.
• Awards: Highlights include a Guggenheim Fellowship (2012), Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship (2001), and Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant (2020). Residencies include the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (2005) and Vermont Studio Center (2011).
• Artistic Themes: His solo exhibitions, such as STAGE (2023) and I would survive. I could survive. I should survive. (2021), dissect resilience, identity, and abstraction. Collaborations and group shows span Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean, reflecting his transnational influence.
• Publications: Kemp contributes to journals like October and Spike Art Magazine, emphasizing decolonization, art criticism, and interdisciplinary dialogue. His solo exhibitions often feature accompanying catalogs and critical essays.