Tethered (the soul’s connection), 2025, 12K gold-filled wire and silver-plated wire, 11 x 14 x 3”
Tethered (to the test of love), 2024, 12K gold-filled wire and silver-plated wire, 11 x 14 x 3”
Tethered (to be alive), 2025, 12K gold-filled wire and silver-plated wire, 11 x 14 x 3”
Tethered (alone I cannot be), 2024, 12K gold-filled wire and silver-plated wire, 16 x 20 x 3”
Tethered (there is a pain), 2025, 12K gold-filled wire and silver-plated wire, 11 x 14 x 3”
Nature the gentlest mother, 2024, 12K gold-filled wire and silver-plated wire, 10.5 x 8.5 x 8.5”
Love to an anterior life III, 2023, Gold-plated wire, 13 x8 x 8”
I can wade grief III, 2023, Plated wire and copper wire, 11 x 14 x 3”
Nature the gentlest mother II, 2025, Plated wire, 11 x14 x3”
Blossoms will run away II, 2023, Plated wire, 8.5 x 5.5 x 5.5”
STATEMENT
Anne Mondro creates objects of wonder that give permanence and structure to her experiences, honor the limitations of the body as well as the resiliency of the spirit, and explore the emotional terrain of caring for others. With each stitch, made perfect out of a deep respect for craftsmanship, her work asserts the power of art and artmaking to help us process and honor our stories and connect with others.
Mondro utilizes crochet for its design potential as well as its conceptual underpinnings. Crocheting is a lace making technique that involves using a hooked needle to create interlocking loops from one continuous thread; Mondro crochets with wire. She has spent years developing a synergy between the wire and her body, determining the proper placement and subtle movements of her hands and wrists to maintain the right amount of tension and slack needed to create each stitch. Sometimes dense, other times airy, Mondro’s sculptures require a bone-deep mastery of tension to create a precise stitch. In addition to translating her creative vision through the wire, her second nature understanding of tautness, of give-and-take, allows Mondro to transfer the tensions found in her personal experiences into the work—physically releasing stressors as she casts them into beauty, subtle and graceful in appearance.
The forms Mondro create are reminiscent of organic matter, explorations of flora and human anatomy. In her recent sculptures, flora and anatomy are often intertwined—as if growing together, healing together, or possibly mended—reflecting on the strength and complexity found in the natural world, including within our own bodies. Structurally strong yet visually and physically delicate, her sculptures invite viewers to consider the preciousness and the impermanence of life.
Mondro’s utilization of crochet in fine art elevates a craft historically minimized as “woman’s work” while centering the transformative power of care work undertaken by women. Her work honors artmaking and care work as labors of love.
Anne Mondro
www.annemondro.com
EDUCATION:
| 2002 | M.F.A. Kent State University, Kent, OH |
| 1999 | B.F.A. College For Creative Studies, Detroit, MI |
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
| 2011 – Present | Associate Professor, Stamps School of Art & Design, University of Michigan |
| 2005 – 2011 | Assistant Professor, Stamps School of Art & Design, University of Michigan |
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
| 2025 | Ceres Gallery, NYC Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville, TN |
| 2023 | University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA |
| 2022 | Ceres Gallery, NYC |
| 2020 | Michigan Medicine University of Michigan Hospital Gifts of Art Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2019 | Ceres Gallery, NYC |
| 2017 | North Campus Research Complex, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2016 | Ceres Gallery, NYC |
| 2013 | Ceres Gallery, NYC |
| 2012 | The Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO |
| 2011 | The Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO |
| 2008 | Vulnerable Series, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL Introspectional, Talley Gallery, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN Empatheia, Front Street Gallery, Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI |
| 2006 | Rumination, Mariani Gallery, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO |
| 2004 | Sarcinae de Corpus, The International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago, IL Aortic Emporium, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL |
| 2002 | Visceral Opulence, Mainstreet Gallery, Holland, MI Sarcinae de Corpus, Gallery 138, Kent, OH |
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
| 2024 | Ceres Gallery, Raising Women’s Voices, NYC ARC Gallery, New York/ARC Gallery Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| 2022 | Ceres Gallery,Women’s Voices: A New Day, Ceres Gallery, NYC Foster Gallery, Body Parts, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, WI Ceres Gallery, Hysterical, NYC |
| 2020 | Dunedin Fine Art Center, Vespertine, Dunedin, FL Ceres Gallery, Life as It Is Now, Ceres Gallery, NYC |
| 2018 | Ceres Gallery, Raising Women’s Voices, NYC Woman Made Gallery, Between the Seams, Chicago, IL |
| 2017 | SU Art Galleries, Nature/Nurture, Salisbury, MD |
| 2015 | Swords into Plowshares Gallery, The Art of Healing, Detroit, MI School of Arts, Renmin University, Displacements Exhibition, Beijing, China |
| 2014 | Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine and the Center for Care and Discovery, The Galaxy of the Brain, Chicago, IL Beverly Arts Center, BRAIN-ART Initiative, Chicago, IL Ford Gallery, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI (catalogue) Ceres Gallery, Ceres Summer Salon, NYC Oxbow Gallery, The Lake Effect: Contemporary Art at Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, MI |
| 2013 | Contemporary Art Center of China Millennium Monument, Pushing Boundaries & Chasing Challenges, Beijing International Contemporary Metal Art Exhibition, China (catalogue) Saraghi Art Space, Works on Paper, Phillip Island, Australia Scarab Club, Women Image Hot, Detroit, MI College for Creative Studies, Metals 2013, Detroit, MI |
| 2011 | Cranbrook Art Museum, No Object is an Island: New Dialogues with the Cranbrook Collection Bloomfield Hills, MI (catalogue) Powerhouse Museum of Science and Design, Love Lace: International Lace Exhibition Sydney, Australia (catalogue) Work Detroit Gallery, Perspectives on Pain, Detroit, MI |
| 2009 | 27th Annual Juried Exhibition, Pleiades Gallery, New York, NY Vital (A)(R)(T): A curated exhibition by the National Network of Depression Centers, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA (First site of traveling show) Bracken, Mondro, Brehm, Hochberg, Washington Art Association, Washington Depot, CT Spatial Narratives, Scarab Club, Detroit, MI RE/ACTION (S), Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO Being Mortal: Anne Mondro and Donovan Widmer, Haas Gallery of Art, Bloomsbury, PA |
| 2008 | Emerging Forces, American Contemporary Gallery, Annapolis, MD Convergence: The Human Experience, Howard County Center for the Arts, Ellicott City, MD Myth of Difference, Gallery Project, Ann Arbor, MI Signs, Symbols, Gestures, Gallery Project, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2007 | Why: Why we make creative work, from people who make it, Work Detroit Gallery, Detroit, MI The Studio and the Lab, Work Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI Some Assembly Required, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL SOFA New York 2007 exhibit by Mobilia Gallery, New York, NY Raising Voices: Mental Illness Inside Out, Work Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2006 | Life Insight: The Human Experience, Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft, Louisville, KY Functional: Work by Anne Mondro and Chris Whaley, Gallery 555, Detroit, MI The Edges of Grace: Provocative, Uncommon Craft, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA SOFA Chicago 2006: Crocheted Wire Jewelry exhibit by Mobilia Gallery, Chicago, IL Selected Works by Anne Mondro and Thomas Brewer, Seminole Community College, Sanford, FL Melissa Gwyen, Anne Mondro, Anthony Pontius, Bryan Ritchy, Sam Houston State University of Art, Huntsville, TX |
| 2005 | Body/Medicine, Kendall College of Art & Design of Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, MI Souvenirs, Vu-Master Gallery, Portland, ME Steven Friver, Anne Mondro, Ross Zirkel, Giles Gallery, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY Keith Johnson and Anne Mondro: Photography and Silversmith Exhibition, Munson Williams Proctor Arts, Institute, Utica, NY |
| 2004 | Blue: The History of Color, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA SOFA Chicago 2004: Sculptural Jewelry exhibit by Mobilia Gallery, IL |
| 2003 | Fabrication, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA SOFA Chicago 2003: The Teapot Redefined exhibit by Mobilia Gallery, Chicago, IL |
| 2001 | Fold to Make, The Sculpture Gallery, Cleveland, OH, 2001 Color on Metal, OXOXO Gallery, Baltimore, MD, 2001 |
ARTIST RESIDENCIES:
| 2015 | Artist in Residence, Icelandic Textile Center, Blönduós, Iceland |
| 2009 | Artspace Visual Arts Center, Sydney, Australia 2009 |
| 2006 | University of Michigan Health System Gifts of Art Program Artist in Residence, Ann Arbor, MI |
SELECTED GRANTS & AWARDS:
| 2024 | Arts Research: Incubation & Acceleration (ARIA) Grant, University of Michigan |
| 2019 | Stamps Research & Creative Work Development Grant, University of Michigan Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (Collaborator), University of Michigan |
| 2018 | University of Michigan Office of Research Grant, University of Michigan |
| 2017 | National Endowment for the Arts – Art Works Grant |
| 2014 | MCubed Research Grant, University of Michigan |
| 2013 | 2013 Scholar in Amherst Award, Emily Dickinson International Society |
| 2011 | Love Lace: Powerhouse Museum International Lace Show, Overall Winner, Sydney, Australia |
| 2008 | Rackham Faculty Research Grant, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2007 | Office of the Vice President for Research Faculty Grant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Arts on Earth Project Grant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS:
| 2009 | Visiting Artist, MFA Graduate Program, Washington University, St. Louis, MO Visiting Artist, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA |
| 2007 | Presenter, “Dragon of Wishes, Hopes, and Dreams: Creating Hospital Community Art”, Society for the Arts in Healthcare Conference, Nashville, TN Presenter, “Art & Health”, Arts on Earth Symposium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2006 | Presenter, “Creativity, Health, Community”, Symposium for Social Justice in Healthcare, William Monroe Trotter Multicultural Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Presenter, “Art & Medicine”, Health Sciences Scholar Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Workshop, “Color on Metal”, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH |
| 2005 | Presenter, “Body Adornment”, Fashion Imaging Department, Ming Dao University, ChangHua Taiwan Visiting Artist, Kendall College of Art & Design of Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, MI Presenter, “Creativity & Research”, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Workshop, “Surface Embellishment Techniques”, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI |
SELECTED PRESS
| Struck, K. (2024, February 8). The beauty and quiet strength of nature heals those dealing with cancer. [Web post.] | |
| Stuck, K. (2024, January 24). Quiet strength of nature heals those dealing with cancer: A nature-centered exhibition provides a peaceful, therapeutic space for cancer patients, survivors, and visitors. [Web post.] | |
| Fair, D., & Polich, D. (2019, August). Creative:impact – Creating joy and meaning even after a memory loss diagnosis. WEMU 89.1 creative:impact. | |
| Jobson, C. (2016, May 16). Crocheted wire anatomy by Anne Mondro. Colossal: Art, design, and visual culture. [Web post]. | |
| Majeske, D. (2015, August 31). Being human: The art of Anne Mondro. The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal: Southeast Michigan’s Conscious Living Magazine. | |
| Ward, L. (2011). Love Lace–Powerhouse Museum International Lace Award (pp. 96, 160-161). Sydney: Powerhouse Publishing. | |
| Wittkopp, G. (Ed.). (2011). No Object Is an Island (pp. 40). Bloomfield Hills: Cranbrook Art Museum. | |
| Fisch, A. (2006). Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs & Projects by Leading Artists (pp. 11, 61-63, 114, 117). New York: Lark Books. |