CV | irenaart

Irena Keckes, Ph.D.

Professor of Art

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

2011 – 2015 PhD in Fine Arts, Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, New Zealand

University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship (2011-2015)

2003 – 2005 MFA, Printmaking, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan

MEXT Scholarship (2002-2005)

1994 – 2000 Bachelor of Arts, University of Zagreb, Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb, Croatia

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS / EMPLOYMENT

2025 – Present Professor of Art, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, University of Guam

2019 – 2025 Associate Professor of Art, University of Guam, CLASS / CMFA

2015 – 2019 Assistant Professor of Art, University of Guam, CLASS / CMFA

ACADEMIC AWARDS

2025 Creative Scholarly Research Grant (CSR), CLASS

2025 UOG Travel Grant to present paper and art in SGCI 2025, Puerto Rico

2024 CLASS Grant for creative research and practice

2022 CLASS Travel Grant for presenting and exhibiting at IMPACT 12 multidisciplinary and print media Conference in Bristol, UK

2021 CLASS Travel Grant for developing art projects and exhibitions

2020 CLASS Travel Grant for presenting at MPACT 11 international multidisciplinary and print media conference in Hong Kong

2019 CRS grant to participate artist in residency project in Bosnia and Herzegovina (CLASS)

2018 CLASS travel grant to present academic paper & art exhibition at IMPACT 10 International Printmaking Conference in Santander, Spain

2018 CRS grant for Artist in Residency program in Grieta Negra Taller, Puebla City, Mexico

2018 UOG Travel Grant to present paper and chair a panel on Printmaking in the Pacific, SGCI 2018 (Southern Graphic Council International) printmaking conference in Las Vegas, USA

2017 CLASS Travel Grant to present an artwork at SGCI 2017 in Atlanta, USA

2016 UOG Travel Grant to present research, SGCI 2016 in Portland, USA

2015 CLASS Travel Grant to present and two academic papers and exhibit an artwork at IMPACT 9 International Printmaking Conference in China Academy of Arts, Hangzhou, China

2013 University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor’s Arts Support Grant to present at MPACT 8 International Printmaking Conference, Dundee, Scotland UK

2013 National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI) Conference and Creative Events Funds (CCEF) for presenting at the IMPACT 8 International Printmaking Conference in Dundee, Scotland UK

2011 University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship

2004 Septini Award for best MFA student artwork, Tokyo University of the Arts

2022 Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT)

2000 Japan Foundation Grant, Mino Washi Artist in Residence project in Mino city, Gifu prefecture, Japan

1999 University of Zagreb Rector’s Award for best student research project

1996&1997 Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb Commendations for excellence in study

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / ACADEMIC EVENTS / ARTIST IN RESIDENCY PROJECTS

2025 IMPACT 13 International Printmaking Conference, Quebec, Canada (Paper Boats Projectexhibition)

2025 April 2-5, SGCI Puerto Rico, paper presentation on the Panel titled Experiences of Cultural Exchange through Printmaking, and group exhibition of large-scale prints on fabric title Printmaking with Steamroller In addition to Paper Boats Project exhibition

2025 47th CLASS Annual Research Conference, paper title Collaborative Practice Among Female printmakers by Femigraphic and MRC collectives

2024 5th IMC Conference (International Mokuhanga Conference), Inheritance and Innovation: Mokuhanga Artists Explore J Japanese paper, Echizen, Japan (https://2024.mokuhanga.org/), art exhibition

2022 IMPACT 12, Bristol UK. Paper titled Materiality and Virtuality, Touch and Distance from the (Femi) Graphic Perspective (I. Keckes & K. Zimna); Book Art exhibition; and Thinking of Placeexhibition

2021 4th IMC Conference, Sumi Fusion,Nara, Japan (https://2021.mokuhanga.org/imc-nara-theme/),

2020 MPACT 11, Hong Kong (https://www.impact11.hk/), Femigraphic Collective’s collaborative print installation exhibition titled Beads

2019 Artist in Residency Počitelj Art Colony in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2018 IMPACT 10, Santander, Spain (https://www.impact10.es/).

Paper titled The encounter. The process. The outcome? By Femigraphic Collective (I. Keckes & K. Zimna); Femigraphic’s collaborative print installation titled Bonding

2018 SGCI 2018, Las Vegas, Altered Landscapes; I chaired and presented on the panel titled Printmaking in the Pacific (https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/sgci2018/484242/)

2018 Artist in Residence in Grieta Negra Taller, Puebla City, Mexico

2017 3rd International Mokuhanga Conference Beauty of Mokuhanga: Discipline and Sensibility, Honolulu, Hawai’i (http://mokuhanga.jp/2017/about/)..Paper presentation and collective art exhibition, artwork exhibition

2017 International Printmaking Symposium Zureta, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan (https://hanga.tokyo/zureta/)

2017 SGCI 2017, Atlanta: Terminus: Arrivals & Departures, exhibition of the Homeward themed portfolio (http://sgciatlanta.com/)

2016 38th CLASS Annual Research Conference, I presented two papers: Aftermaths of the International Exhibition of Contemporary Print UOG 2016; and Convergence of Printmaking Praxis and Social Activism

2016 37th CLASS Annual Research Conference, two academic papers; first titled Expanded Print and second Contemporary Woodcut: Installation and Animation

2016 SGCI 2016, Portland, Flux: The Edge of Today and Tomorrow; Panel paper presentation Out of the Frame and Outside the Gallery (https://sgcinternational.org/event/sgci-conference-2016-flux-portland/)

2015 IMPACT 9, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China, International Multidisciplinary Printmaking Conference, academic paper titled Extended Forms of Print and illustrated talk titled Elam International Printmaking Workshop 2015 (https://www.uwe.ac.uk/sca/research/cfpr/dissemination/conferences/impact.html) and exhibition titled Print installation titled Mindful Repetitions, Hangzhou, Cina

2005 Haslla Art Symposium and Residency, Haslla, South Korea

2000 Artist in Residency, Mino Paper Village, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

FEATURED ARTWORK AND PUBLICATIONS

2024 Femigraphic exhibition (I. Keckes, M. Rzepecka, A. Vivoda, K. Zimna), Galleria Villa, Lodz, Poland, was recommended by College Art Association, Women in Arts: (https://www.collegeart.org/news/2024/06/11/cwa-picks-summer-2024/);

2023 Materiality and virtuality, Touch and Distance from the (Femi) Graphic Perspective, collaborative paper by Keckes & Zimna) published in IMPACT Printmaking Journal | IMPACT Proceedings Vol 1 | 2023

(https://impact-journal-cfpr.uwe.ac.uk/index.php/impact/article/view/122/100)

2020 Kiosk of Demokratie / Kiosk Democracy, Germany (online

publication: https://kioskderdemokratie.blogspot.com/2021/04/prints-2019-2020-irena-keckes-croatia.html)

2011 IMPACT 11, Hong Kong, online publication, collaborative project Beads

2022 IMPACT 12, The Printmaker’s Voice, online publication of paper and artwork

2017 IMC 2017 International Mokuhaga Conference, online paper publication

2015 IMPRINT, the quarterly journal of the Print Council of Australia INC. Summer 2015, Volume 50, Number 4

Artwork featured in Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop book by April Vollmer, Watson- Guptill Publications Berkeley, 2015 IMPACT 9 International Printmaking Conference, two papers published in a hard copy publication, Hangzhou, China Academy of Art Press, China

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 Never Ending Story, Gallery V. Karas, Karlovac, Croatia

Artist Books, Bristol, UK, IMPACT 12 International Printmaking Conference

2021 Beads, collaborative print installation (Keckes & Zimna), Hong Kong, IMPACT 11 International Printmaking Conference

Bonding, collaborative print installation presented, IMPACT 10 International Printmaking Conference, Casa Casoña, Santander, Spain Bonding, print installation, Isla Center for the Arts

2015 Dialogues & Evocations: Irena Keckes / Nim Flora Cha, Fo Guan Shan Buddhist Temple, Auckland, New Zealand

2014 Woodcuts, Art at Wharepuke, non-toxic print gallery, Kerikeri, NZ

Mindful Repetitions, George Fraser Gallery, Auckland, NZ

2013 Presence of Absence, George Fraser Gallery, Auckland, NZ

2012 Unlimited Resonance of Repetition, Elam Projectspace, Auckland, NZ

2011 Prints and Paintings, Gallery Saoh & Tomos, Tokyo, Japan

2010 Print exhibition, RBR Art Centre, Tokyo, Japan

2007 Energetic, Intuitive, Emotional, Gallery Karas, Karlovac, Croatia

2006 Inner Space, woodblock prints, Gallery Tomos, Tokyo, Japan

2005 Time, woodblock prints, Miura Art Gallery, Osaka, Japan

2025 Flags, outdoor print installation, Haslla, Korea

2004 Life Cycle, woodblock prints, Gallery Tomos, Tokyo, Japan

2004 Woodcuts, Paper’s Loft Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2002 Red Threads, paper threads spatial installation, Gallery Nova, Zagreb, Croatia

2002 Prints of Joy, print spatial installation Gallery V. Karas, Karlovac, Croatia

2000 Japanese washi and Prints, spatial installation Gallery V. Karas, Karlovac, Croatia

2000 Undersea World, linocuts, Gallery ZILIK, Karlovac, Croatia

1999 Print Media Exhibition, University of Zagreb Chancellor’s Award show, Gallery V. Nazor, Zagreb, Croatia

1998 Paintings, Gallery Zorin Dom, Karlovac, Croatia

1998 Recent Paintings, Club Jabuka, Zagreb, Croatia

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026 Thinking of Place IV, International Print Project, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2026 6th ACLASS Exhibition Genealogy of Knowledge, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2026 Art Faculty Biennial, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2026 Pressure Points, CAHA Guam - Magenta Research Collective collaboration (I. Keckes. C. Craig, K. Drake, M. Rzepecka, K. Zimna, F. Marima), Cafe Gallery, Guam Museum

Serpentine Flow, Femigraphic Collective Exhibition (I. Keckes. K. Zimna, A. Vivoda, M. Rzepecka), CAHA gallery

(Council on the Arts and Humanities) Guam

2026-2027 [Im]Possible Parallels, SGCI themed portfolio:

Exhibition at SGC International Conference 2027, Pittsburg; donating work to the host institution Carnegie-Melon University & inclusion in the SGCI Archives hosted by the Bernard A.Zuckerman Museum of Art, Georgia, USA.

[Im]Possible parallels exhibition at Projecto’ace, March 18-April 19, 2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2026 SGCI Juried Exhibition: Christine DeVitt Exhibition Hall of the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, Texas

2025-2026 A.B.S.T.R.A.C.T. Art Museum of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

2025-2026 Paper Boats Project, IMPACT 13 International Conference, Musee des Cultures du Monde in Nicolet Quebec Canada

2025 Pacific Perspectives, collective exhibition, Guam Museum

2025 Doors, Puerto Rico, large-scale print on fabric, SGCI

2025 Graphic Skin, Magenta Printmaking Collective exhibition (Keckes, Zimna, Rzpecka, Craig, Drake, Marima), International Print Triennial Society in Krakow, Poland

2025 Miniprints Asolo – Dialogues, La Fornace di Asolo Strada Muson 2, Asolo (Trevisio), Italy

2025 International Graphic Art Contemporary Exhibition, Miniprints Montebelluna, Italy

2024 Femigraphic: Print Installation by Femigraphic Print Collective (I. Keckes, K. Zimna, M. Repecka, A. Vivoda), Gallery Villa, Lodz, Poland (June6-September 1, 2024)

Thinking of Place III, King Exhibition Cases and Lithography Studio Exhibition Space at the University of Colorado, Boulder

Graphic Art Printmaking Biennial Čačak, Serbia, Juried exhibition

Inheritance & Innovation, International Mokuhanga Conference (IMC), Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan, Juried exhibition

50th Anniversary of ZILIK (Winter Art Colony), Gallery Karas, Karlovac, Croatia

5th ARC Exhibition, Tapestries of Resilience, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2023-2024 Fine Arts Faculty Biennial, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2023 2nd International Printmaking Biennial Mitrovica Print, Kosovo

Paper Boats: Flotilla, Latin Art Space & Taller Experimental de la Gráfica Havana, Havana, Cuba

22nd Mini Print International Juried Exhibition, The Ink Shop Printmaking Center, in Ithaca, New York

22nd Mini Print International Juried exhibition, part #2, The Menino Arts Center in Hyde Park, Boston, MA, USA.

Indigo Blue: Sacred Wisdom of Ocean and Islands, Hyatt Regency Guam

4th ARC art exhibition, Cross-currents in Conversations: Negotiating Place With/In Oceania, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

Altered Environments Portfolio Exhibitions:

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts - December 2, 2022-May 6-2023
Baltimore, Maryland, USA, May 15 to 19, 2023

Female Correspondence Project: venues in Croatia and Slovenia:

Split University Gallery, Split, Croatia
Gallery Flora, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Gallery Mahlerca, Kranj, Slovenia
Female Correspondence Exhibitions in cities: Zagreb, Pula, Varaždin, Croatia

2022-2024 Thinking of Place III printmaking exhibition project exhibitions:

NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Cairns, Qld, Australia
Printopia, Corban’s Estate Art Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Thompson Rivers University Gallery, Kamloops, Canada
Impact 12 International Print Conference, University of Western England, Bristol, United Kingdom
Gallerie Forma, Buenos Aries, Argentina
Limerick School of Art and Design, Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland
University of Kragujevac Gallery, The University Library in Kragujevac, Serbia (participating in Fete de l'Estampe printmaking festival)
ANZAAE Conference, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
Isla Centre for the Arts, University of Guam
Funen Printmaking Studio / Fyns Grafiske Værksted, Odense,
Ruffin Hall Gallery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
The Baird Gallery, Rangi Ruru Girl’s School, Christchurch, New Zealand
University of Colorado Gallery, Boulder, USA

2023-2024 Non-toxic printmaking exhibition, El Cántaro gallery, Argentina

2023 Fine Arts Faculty Biennial, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2022 Altered environments, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Maryland, USA

Paper Boats International Exhibition, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy

Retrospective of Visual Arts at UOG, ARC exhibition, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2021 Paper Boats, Museum of Art Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Female Correspondence, International Print Exhibition, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka, Croatia

Female Correspondence, print exhibition IMPACT 11, Hong Kong

WorldWide Prints project, exhibition in Villa Benzi, Montebelluna, Italy

Thinking of Place III, print exhibition IMPACT 11, Hong Kong

Japanese Washi and Printmaking Art Exhibition, Tokyo & Gifu Japan

10th International triennial of Graphic Art Bitola, North Macedonia

4th ARC Exhibition: Modern Issues, Traditional Solutions, Isla Cener for the Arts, Guam

2020 Female Correspondence, International Print Exhibition, Galerija Klović, Rijeka, Croatia

Confinados – Lockdown, virtual (online) art exhibition, La Biblioteca Los Mangos, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

3rd Mini Print International, Cantabria, Spain

4th Biennial of Graphic Arts, Čačak, Serbia

GRAPHIC Century XXI, contemporary printmaking exhibition, Kirov City, Russia,

Love And Music, Book Art Exhibition, Kirov City, Russia

ImMigration; a Collaborative Print Project, Self Help Graphics & Art, Los Angeles, CA

Paper Boats, Self Help Graphics & Art, Los Angeles, CA

Poeticas del Arte Contemporaneo, Museo de Antroplogia de Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

3rd CLASS ARC Exhibityon: Building Strength and Sovereignty in the Pacific, Isla Cener for the Arts, Guam

2019 –2020 Fine Arts Faculty Biennial, Isla Center for the Arts, UOG

2019 Poeticas del Arte Contemporaneo, Salon de Plasticas Mexicana, Mexico City

Panchina Rosa, contemporary feminist art exhibition, Sicily, Italy

Artist in Residence exhibition, Počitelj, Bosnia and Herzegovina (July-August)

2nd CLASS ARC Art Exhibition: I Tano, I Tasi, yan I Taotao siha: Boundaries, Balance, and Behaviors, Isla Center for the Arts

Frontera, Willow Street Gallery at DC Washington Arts Studios, USA

Frontera, Eastern Washington University – Cheney, Washington

Frontera, Denver School of the Arts – Main Gallery – Denver, Colorado

2018 Go West: A Collaborative Turn, Mid America Print Council Conference, University of Wyoming, Exchange Portfolio Exhibition, traveling exhibition

Frontera at Neltje Gallery – Sheridan College – Sheridan, Wyoming

Frontera portfolio at Isla Center for the Arts

9th D'ouro Print Biennial 2018, Portugal

1sr CLASS ARC Exhibition: Connections, Innovations, and Collaborations in the Pacific, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2017 UOG Fine Arts Faculty Biennial, Isla Center for the Arts, UOG, Guam

Beauty of Mokuhanga: Discipline & Sensibility, IMC 2017, 3rd International MokuhangaConference, University of Hawai’i, Manoa Art Gallery, O’ahu, Hawai’i

Homeward Printmaking Exhibition, BUMF Gallery, Arts University Bournemouth,

Poetry Broadsides, creative writing and printmaking students interdisciplinary project exhibition, Isla Center for the Arts, UOG, Guam

Departures, Homeward Portfolio SGCI International Printmaking Conference 2017, Atlanta, Terminus: Arrivals &, Atlanta, Georgia US

3rd Global Print 2017, Portugal

Tribuna Grafika Exhibition 2017, Romania

International Art Forum Graphics Leopolis, Ukraine 2016 International Printmaking Biennale, Northern Print, Newcastle

International Exhibition of Contemporary Print UOG 2016, Isla Center for the Arts (curation project and exhibition)

Festival of Pacific Arts, Guam Museum & Isla Center for the Arts

UOG Fine Arts Faculty Biennale, Isla Center for the Arts, Guam

2015 Mindful Repetitions, IMPACT 9, International Printmaking Conference, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China

Wansolwara II, Franklin Art Centre, Auckland New Zealand

Elam International Printmaking Exhibition, Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

2014 The 28th Kyoto Art Festival, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Japan

International Art Exhibition, Keifu Art Gallery, Kyoto, Japan

Wansolwara: Print Here and Now, Nathan Homestead, Auckland, NZ

International Mokuhanga Exhibition titled Mokuhan Zomeki" - What happened in Japan?, Tokyo University of the Arts

2013 The 3rd Art at Wharepuke International Printmaking Show, Kerikeri, NZ

Pangaea 2: Continental Drift, Japanese Consulate-General in Melbourne, Australia

2012 The 26th Kyoto Art Festival, Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto, Japan

Tallinn Triennial of Drawing, Tallinn, Estonia

2009 Evolution & Change, OT Gallery, Tustin, California, USA

Two Artists show, KILU studio, Santa Barbara, California

SBCC group exhibition, Atkinson gallery, Santa Barbara, California

2006 Three Artists Print Show, Gallery 52, Tokyo, Japan

International Contemporary Art Fair, Prague, Czech Republic

U-35 International Exhibition-Kyoto, Kyoto Art Centre, Japan

U-35 /60 Artists Exhibition, Nagoya, Japan

2005 Vol2 U-35 International Exhibition, Akarenga Souko, Yokohama, Japan

Haslla Art Camp, Haslla Art World, Haslla, Korea

Six Faces, Ginza OS Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2004 Tokyo Geidai Graduation Show, Tokyo Geidai Art Museum, Tokyo

2004 Tokyo Geidai MFA Show, Machida Art Museum, Machida, Japan

2002 The 3rd Croatian Triennial of Drawing, Contemporary Art Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia

2001 The 2nd Croatian Triennial of Watercolor, V. Karas Gallery, Karlovac, Croatia

2021 International Festival of Theatre and Visual Arts, Tzew, Poland

2001 Kunstvolle Kraft Neuer Aufgang, Munchen, Germany

2000 Paper Art Village Project, Mino Washi Museum, Mino, Japan

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2026 Serpent Flow, CAHA Art Gallery, Guam, Magenta Research Collective (I. Keckes, C. Craig, K. Drake, Marima, M. Rzepecka, K. Zimna, I. Papadouli)

2025 Thinking of Place IV, international project & traveling exhibition; project coordinator for Guam region

2025 Miniprints Asolo – Dialogues, La Fornace di Asolo Strada Muson 2, Asolo (TV), Italy; group leader – I organized and prepared UOG student and alumni to participate

2025 International Graphic Art Contemporary Exhibition, Miniprints Montebelluna, Italy; group leader – I organized and prepared UOG student and alumni to participate

2023 Female Correspondence, co-curatorial exhibition (with T. Karlovic, and M. Rusak), Isla Cener for the Arts

2023 Thinking of Place III, international project & traveling exhibition; project coordinator for Guam region

2025 The Island Voices: UOG Alumni & Student Printmaking Exhibition, Isla Center for the Arts

2018 Cotemporary Mexican Printmaking & Bonding: Print Installation (Keckes & Zimna), Isla Cener for the Arts

2017 Zureta, International Symposium, coordinator for Guam region

2017 Poetry Broadsides: A Printmaking and Creative Writing Collaboration, Isla Center for the Arts

2016 International Exhibition of Contemporary Printmaking, gathering artists from New Zealand, Japan, the US, and Guam, Isla Center for the Arts

LANGUAGES

Native and Fluent Level: Croatian, English, Japanese