Joe Miller
Joe Miller received his MFA from the University of Chicago in 2008, where he worked with Catherine Sullivan and Theaster Gates on a number of multi-media and public projects. His own work consists primarily of large-scale mural projects in both domestic and public venues throughout Chicagoland.
As 2010 artist-in-residence at Chicago’s High Concept Laboratories, Miller had a solo show entitled Browntown, a multi-media series on the city working critically with the same brown paint used to efface urban graffiti. During his residency he also collaborated with J. Thomas Pallas and the students of East St, Louis’ Unity Elementary on The UNITY Project, an ongoing series of paintings, videos, and multi-media installations supporting the developmental and civic strategies of the school. Group shows include “Heads on Poles” at Western Exhibitions (2011) and “Arte no es Fácil” at Links Hall (2011).
Recent public works include “Philosophers,” a privately-commissioned street project depicting portraits of Freud and Nietzsche in Chicago’s Humboldt Park, as well as murals and installations for Threadless, Akira, and Odd Obsession. Miller has also created murals for Spy Bar and Market Rooftop Bar, and his commemorative and interactive projects for the venue The Empty Bottle are ongoing.
In 2011, Miller art directed Apolo y Jacinto (Mozart’s Apollo and Hyacinth) at the Téatro National in Panama City. His commercial forays into art direction also include set design for Chicago’s Lollapalooza and North Coast music festivals, set and costume design for Hood Internet, and album cover art for Art Department.
Miller works on privately-commission work in Panama, New York, and Chicago; as well, he is very involved in holding workshops and speaking on public art practices. Miller also volunteers his time to engage with urban youth throughout the Midwest on collaborative mural projects.