jacqueline surdell
Jacqueline Surdell was born in Chicago, IL. Growing up in a family of athletes and artists, Surdell spent her early life between the court and studio. Surdell played ten years of competitive volleyball and was recruited to play at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA where she earned her BFA with cum laude honors. Since then, she has created work fusing fibers, found-objects, video, performance, and installation. Surdell earned her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2017). Surdell lives and works in Chicago, IL.
Surdell’s work has been shown at South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend, IN; Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago, IL; Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL; Apparatus Projects, Chicago, IL; Union League Club, Chicago, IL; Lithium Gallery, Chicago, IL; Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL; Cleve Carney Art Gallery, Glen Ellyn, IL; Boardwalk Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Weingart Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, and Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, QB. Surdell was awarded residencies at Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL, ACRE, Steuben, Wisconsin, and is currently a Hatch Projects Artist in Residence at Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago, IL.
CNL: What is one thing you feel you have learned or experienced as an artist that you feel you can share with your peers and emerging artists in the field?
JS: Two careers never the same, but one can learn something from everyone’s path. That said, find your mentors (or your network, or board of directors, or whatever you want to call it) and learn something from each of them. A huge part of my career has been mentors sharing with me their very personalized experiences working in the art world. Their guidance, advice, and vastly differing experiences help shape the beginnings of understanding. If possible, I would love to share my experiences / advice to anyone who may be interested. This field is such an unbound path wrought with the craziest twists and turns — if my experiences can offer some solace, or I can give advice, I can turn my negative experiences into a positive learning experience for others.
Untitled VI {full} Naturally Nasty Goes Dark, braided cotton cord, acrylic, bronze, 2019
CNL: What’s something that you’re seeking from others in the field to support your practice?
JS: I would love to hold casual critique sessions and/or monthly dinners with creatives in Chicago and beyond. Something positive resting in-between the social rush of a gallery opening and the intimacy of a one on one studio visit.
CNL: What’s a piece of advice you would share with other artists or cultural producers in your field?
JS: Take care of your precious body. Working out (I’m talking light—walking and stretching) everyday. It seems silly but it is an investment in ourselves as humans making art for decades to come. Artists don’t retire when they are sixty—if we are lucky we will work until the day we die!