Dawn Cerny

Dawn Cerny is an Adjunct Professor at Seattle University and a prominent contemporary artist known for interdisciplinary sculptural works exploring domestic spaces, materiality, and personal narratives. Born in Carpinteria, CA, she holds a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts (2002) and an MFA from Bard College (2012). Her practice merges theatricality with everyday objects, interrogating themes of caregiving, gender roles, and domestic labor through installations and sculptures.

Research interests include the intersection of sculpture with performative elements, material experimentation (e.g., glass, fiberglass, textiles), and the socio-political dimensions of domesticity. Notable works like Small Scale Proposition For Post Radiation Afternoons (2021) and Topical Rosacea Mobile (2021) reflect her engagement with health challenges and collaborative projects.

Awards include the 2022 Joan Mitchell Fellowship, 2020 Betty Bowen Award, and Bonnie Bronson Visual Arts Fellowship. Her work is featured in major collections including the Seattle Art Museum and Portland Art Museum. Recent projects include modular tabletop sculptures distributed to curators and artists, creating participatory narratives through object interaction.