Bella Kiser is an interdisciplinary mixed-race Filipino American artist from Chicago, IL currently based in Detroit, MI. She uses fibers, sculpture, performance, virtual reality, and sound to build her world of Soft Architecture. Her work explores topics such as identity, memory, otherness, and home. Kiser is a graduate of Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Combined Degree Program where she received a BFA in Studio Art and BS in Environmental Studies.
CV
Education
BFA, Studio Art
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, Boston, MA
2021
BS, Environmental Studies
Tufts University, Medford, MA
2021
Study Abroad, Studio Art
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
Spring 2019
Grants, Awards, and Scholarships
2022, Tufts University Alumni Association Professional Development Award
2021, SMFA Joyce McDaniel Award for Excellence in Sculpture
2021, SMFA Dean’s Research Award
2020, SMFA Photography Award
2020, Peter J. Wade Scholarship Recipient
2019, Peter J. Wade Scholarship Recipient
2019, SMFA Dean’s Research Award
2018, SMFA Dean’s Research Award
Solo Exhibitions
2022, Bella Kiser // Xhibition, Xhibition, Detroit, MI
Select Group Exhibitions
2023, Community Power: Artists Demand More from DTE, Swords Into Plowshares, Detroit, MI
2023, More Than Lumpia, Conde Art Project, The Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2023, Mending the Net, Fibers Club*, The Convent, Detroit, MI
2023, Threads, Bliss on Bliss Art Projects, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, IL
2023, B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Collection), Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI
2022, Season One Gallery: Part Two, FourtuneHouse, Chicago, IL
2022, An Observation of Comfort Objects, Collective Behaviors, Detroit, MI
2021, It’s Right There in Front of You, Downtown 500, Garver Feed Mill, Madison, WI
2021, Media Arts Annual, SMFA at Tufts, Online Exhibition (Juried by Luis Arnias, Melissa Ferrari, and Shaka Dendy)
2021, Proximity, Senior Thesis, SMFA at Tufts, Boston, MA
2020, SMFA Art Sale, SMFA at Tufts, Boston, MA (Juried by Akili Tommasino, Shinique Smith, and Nina Johnson)
2020, Poeisis, SMFA at Tufts, Online Exhibition
2020, STP Fashion Week, Serving the People, Online Exhibition
2020, Public Art Walk, Villa Art Walk, The Villa Neighborhood, Chicago, IL
2020, Second Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA (Juried by Tim Manalo, Emily Gephart, Anja DuBois, and Jennifer Schmidt)
2019, Synergy, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago, IL (Curated by Cesar Conde and Sergio Gomez)
2019, Qu’est-ce Que Tu Fais?, ENSBA, Paris, France
2019, First Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2018, The Art of Sway, Sway Dance, Chicago, IL
Residencies
2024, Selected Resident for Post-Bac Artist Residency, Modern Ancient Brown Foundation, Detroit, MI
2022, Selected Resident for eTextile Spring Break, Prairie Ronde, Vicksburg, MI
2022, Selected Resident for the Creative Talent Fund, Deviate/Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan/Xhibition/Ponyride, Detroit, MI
Artist Talks
2023, Rice Box (Work in Progress), Open Source Gallery, New York, NY
Curation
2021, Proximity, Senior Thesis, SMFA at Tufts, Boston, MA
2020, Second Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2019, First Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2019, Local Landscapes, T.A.C.O., Chicago, IL
Publications
2022, Boston Art Review Issue 09: Burnout
2021, Filipino/American Artist Directory
2020, Social Distan[Zine]
2020, Voices: Asian American Literary Magazine
Commissions
2022, Public art installation for Big Sean’s Detroit’s On Now Weekend
2021, Soul Sipper music visualizer animation for the song “Star Drop”
2020, Soul Sipper music visualizer animation for the song “Morning Glory Remix”
2020, Ruby LaPorta music video animation for the song “Habits”
2017, Stride and Saunter Podcast promotional animation
CV
Education
BFA, Studio Art
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, Boston, MA
2021
BS, Environmental Studies
Tufts University, Medford, MA
2021
Study Abroad, Studio Art
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
Spring 2019
Grants, Awards, and Scholarships
2022, Tufts University Alumni Association Professional Development Award
2021, SMFA Joyce McDaniel Award for Excellence in Sculpture
2021, SMFA Dean’s Research Award
2020, SMFA Photography Award
2020, Peter J. Wade Scholarship Recipient
2019, Peter J. Wade Scholarship Recipient
2019, SMFA Dean’s Research Award
2018, SMFA Dean’s Research Award
Solo Exhibitions
2022, Bella Kiser // Xhibition, Xhibition, Detroit, MI
Select Group Exhibitions
2023, Community Power: Artists Demand More from DTE, Swords Into Plowshares, Detroit, MI
2023, More Than Lumpia, Conde Art Project, The Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2023, Mending the Net, Fibers Club*, The Convent, Detroit, MI
2023, Threads, Bliss on Bliss Art Projects, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, IL
2023, B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Collection), Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI
2022, Season One Gallery: Part Two, FourtuneHouse, Chicago, IL
2022, An Observation of Comfort Objects, Collective Behaviors, Detroit, MI
2021, It’s Right There in Front of You, Downtown 500, Garver Feed Mill, Madison, WI
2021, Media Arts Annual, SMFA at Tufts, Online Exhibition (Juried by Luis Arnias, Melissa Ferrari, and Shaka Dendy)
2021, Proximity, Senior Thesis, SMFA at Tufts, Boston, MA
2020, SMFA Art Sale, SMFA at Tufts, Boston, MA (Juried by Akili Tommasino, Shinique Smith, and Nina Johnson)
2020, Poeisis, SMFA at Tufts, Online Exhibition
2020, STP Fashion Week, Serving the People, Online Exhibition
2020, Public Art Walk, Villa Art Walk, The Villa Neighborhood, Chicago, IL
2020, Second Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA (Juried by Tim Manalo, Emily Gephart, Anja DuBois, and Jennifer Schmidt)
2019, Synergy, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago, IL (Curated by Cesar Conde and Sergio Gomez)
2019, Qu’est-ce Que Tu Fais?, ENSBA, Paris, France
2019, First Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2018, The Art of Sway, Sway Dance, Chicago, IL
Residencies
2024, Selected Resident for Post-Bac Artist Residency, Modern Ancient Brown Foundation, Detroit, MI
2022, Selected Resident for eTextile Spring Break, Prairie Ronde, Vicksburg, MI
2022, Selected Resident for the Creative Talent Fund, Deviate/Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan/Xhibition/Ponyride, Detroit, MI
Artist Talks
2023, Rice Box (Work in Progress), Open Source Gallery, New York, NY
Curation
2021, Proximity, Senior Thesis, SMFA at Tufts, Boston, MA
2020, Second Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2019, First Annual Combined Degree Exhibition, Tower Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2019, Local Landscapes, T.A.C.O., Chicago, IL
Publications
2022, Boston Art Review Issue 09: Burnout
2021, Filipino/American Artist Directory
2020, Social Distan[Zine]
2020, Voices: Asian American Literary Magazine
Commissions
2022, Public art installation for Big Sean’s Detroit’s On Now Weekend
2021, Soul Sipper music visualizer animation for the song “Star Drop”
2020, Soul Sipper music visualizer animation for the song “Morning Glory Remix”
2020, Ruby LaPorta music video animation for the song “Habits”
2017, Stride and Saunter Podcast promotional animation