ABOUT

Pooja Pittie’s work is a reminder that dreams are always obtainable. Born and raised in India, she trained as an accountant and moved to the U.S. in 1999. An MBA from the University of Booth School of Business led Pittie to a career in finance and entrepreneurship, but her lifelong passion was always art. She shifted her focus to painting full-time, despite battling an incurable and progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy. Her work explores the struggle for balance between a slow-moving body and an active mind. Inspired by pointillism and children’s books, Pittie paints with youthful expression. The whimsical and eccentric nature of her pieces touch our primitive emotions, fun, happiness, and joy. Pooja paints primarily with acrylic on canvas, sometimes adding textural interest with ground pumice stone and using iridescent pigments. Pooja’s practice is rooted in drawing and she sometimes works on paper/ mixed media.

CURRICULUM VITAE

POOJA PITTIE (b.1977, India) Lives and works in Chicago

SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 2021 Solo exhibition, McCormick Gallery, Chicago (upcoming) 2019 Moon Illusion, McCormick Gallery, Chicago 2018 Third Floor Gallery, The Union League Club of Chicago

PUBLIC ART: 2020 Simulation and Integrative Learning Institute, Collection of The University of at Chicago 2019 Public Art Commission, Art-in-Architecture Program, Illinois Capital Development Board, Triton College, River Grove IL 2018 Lighthouses on the Mag Mile, Public Art Display, The Chicago Lighthouse Discomfort Room, Installation, Anti-Selfie Experiment, lululemon to support I Grow Chicago

SELECT EXHIBITIONS: 2020 Thought Clouds, Chicago Public Library (upcoming) 89th Exhibition of Members, The Arts Club of Chicago Not Just Another Pretty Face, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago

2019 TEDxChicago Conference, Featured Artist Display, Chicago Stand Firm, Stand Here: an assembly of others, Oh!klahomo, Chicago Collage Office, Collaborative Project, The Franklin, Chicago

2018 The Art of Being Dangerous, Center Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago You Will Be the Archivist of Your Desires, HATCH Projects, Chicago Artists Coalition 88th Exhibition of Visual Arts Members, The Arts Club of Chicago

2017 Art at the Prudential Plaza, Mezzanine Lobby, Chicago Of Memories and Forgetfulness, HATCH Projects, The Chicago Artists Coalition Continuous Span, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago Ann Metzger Memorial National All Media Juried Exhibition, The St. Louis Artists’ Guild

2016 Juried Guest Exhibiting Artist, The Cornelia Arts Building, Chicago Juried Exhibiting Artist, stARTup Art Fair Chicago Edition

FAIRS/ AUCTIONS: 2020 Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, McCormick Gallery 2019 EXPO Chicago, McCormick Gallery Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, McCormick Gallery 2018 Art Miami, McCormick Gallery EXPO Chicago, McCormick Gallery Work in Progress, Benefit Auction, The Chicago Artists Coalition Art New York, McCormick Gallery Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, McCormick Gallery 2017 Art Miami, McCormick Gallery EXPO Chicago, McCormick Gallery Women Bring Change, Art Auction, Chicago

RESIDENCIES/ EDUCATION: 2020 3Arts Fellowship, Bodies of Work, University of Illinois at Chicago 2018 Center Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago 2017 HATCH Projects Artist Resident, The Chicago Artists Coalition Bridge Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago

2005 Master of Business Administration, Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business 1997 Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Accounting, University of Mumbai, India

AWARDS/ NOMINATIONS: 2019 3Arts Visual Arts Award Nominee, Chicago 2018 Joan Mitchell Foundation, Painters and Sculptors Grant Nominee, New York 3Arts Visual Arts Award Nominee, Chicago

COMMUNITY/ TALKS/ PRESS: 2019 - Director, Board of Directors, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago present Director, Board of Directors, Chicago Artists Coalition

2020 Artist Talk and Workshop, Balancing Act, AlterNarratives, 3Arts UIC Fellowship (upcoming) Public Engagement Workshop, 3Arts UIC Fellowship (upcoming) Collaboration with a public school, CPS Lives, Chicago (upcoming)

2019 Eruptions of Color, Review of Moon Illusion Exhibition, Chris Miller, Newcity Magazine, May 17th Artist Talk, Moon Illusion, Chicago Booth Women’s Network, McCormick Gallery Editor’s #1 Pick, Newcity Magazine, Art Top 5, May Issue Solo Exhibition Essay, Dr. Sally Metzler, Director, Art Collection, Union League Club of Chicago Equity Action Advisory Committee Member, Chicago Artists Coalition Bad at Sports Center, Chicago, Podcast Interview, Episode 690, May 7th Artist Talk, Collage Office, The Franklin, Chicago

2018 Panel Moderator, Access & Inclusion for Artists with Disabilities, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago Featured Artist, CBS News, Sunday Morning, Chicago Lighthouse Public Art Display Host Committee, Work in Progress Benefit Gala, Chicago Artists Coalition Artist Talk, Solo Exhibition, Union League Club of Chicago

2017 Artist Talk, Of Memories and Forgetfulness, The Chicago Artists Coalition Reclaiming Memory Focus of Group Exhibit, Article Moved to Paint Interview, Chicago Booth Magazine, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business