I am a Chicago based photographer and artist – I studied photography and printmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and my work has been published in Le Nouvel Observateur (l’Obs, France), The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Reader, Newcity, Red Eye, The Daily Southtown, The American Legion Magazine, and The Guardian (UK). I strive to capture my clients needs with honesty and clarity to provide memorable images that tell compelling stories.
Solo exhibitions include Modern David at the Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, and American Legion at Firecat Projects and the Chicago Public Library Irving-Austin Branch.
In 2017, 24 images from Modern David were included in the exhibition Gendered at the Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC and 30 images at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the DCASE 50x50 Invitational - The Subject is Chicago: People, Places, and Possibilities. In 2016, 22 images from Modern David were included in Masculinity, a group show curated by Exhibition Projects (Chicago) at Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL. Other group exhibitions include 2020 Member's Exhibition at the Arts Club Chicago; FotoDocument at After Nye Gallery, London; Midwest Contemporary at LillStreet Art Center, Chicago; PhotoMidwest at the Overture Center, Madison, WI; Filter Photo Festival, Chicago, IL; UNBOUND3! at Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA; and Help Us Help You Help Us at Firecat Projects, Chicago.
I am a recipient of a 2016 DCASE Individual Artist Grant from Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, was a 2016 Sponsored Artist with High Concept Labs at Mana Contemporary, Chicago; a finalist for 2018 Lucie Foundation’s Photobook of the Year Award; Photolucida's Critical Mass 2016, 2017, and 2018; shortlisted for the 2015 and 2018 Lucie Foundation’s A Photo Made Scholarship and 2018 A Photo Taken Scholarship; a finalist for the Marilyn Stafford PhotoReportage Award; American Legion Department of IL Public Relations Award; named a winner for Best of ASMP 2015 and third place for Best of ASMP 2019.
As a member of ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) since 2013, I currently serve on the Board of Directors and as acting Treasurer for the Chicago/Midwest Chapter. As a Chair of the Chapter’s Fine Arts Committee, I organize and execute events and exhibition opportunities for photographers in the Midwest region. I am also a member of the Arts Club of Chicago and a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 319 in Cody, NE.
Portrait by Chris Guillen
Awards and Honors
Best of ASMP: Image Series
2019 third place
Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award
2018 finalist
Lucie Foundation Photobook of the Year
2018 finalist - independent publishing
Lucie Foundation Photo Taken Emerging Scholarship
2018 shortlisted
Information Exchange Award, The American Legion Department of Illinois
2018
Individual Artist Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
2016
High Concept Labs Sponsored Artist
2016
Photolucida Critical Mass
2016, 2017, & 2018 finalist
Lucie Foundation Photo Made Emerging Scholarship
2015 and 2018 shortlisted
Best of ASMP
2015
Press
EXIT Photo Magazine
#72 - Masculinity
November 2018
Guest on The 21st
Niala Boodhoo, Illinois Public Radio
November 12, 2018, rebroadcast August 26, 2019
Is Your Name David?
FotoRoom
November 2018
Author Talk: American Legion
Make It Better Magazine
July/August, 2018
What's In A Name: The Modern David Project of Mariah Karson
Esthetic Lens Magazine
March 20, 2018
Familiar/Familial
Photo-Emphasis, Rachel Jump
June 2018
Loomis and Logan
Bob Logan, Crest Ink
January, 2018
Legion Towns: Through the Lens
The American Legion Magazine
October, 2017
Review: American Legion at Firecat Projects
Tom Mullaney, New Art Examiner
August 7, 2017
Guest on Nocturnal Journal
Dave Hoekstra, WGN Radio 720am
July 22, 2017
How Do You View Gender?
Barbara Schrieber, Charlotte Observer
June 27, 2017
What GENDERED was Like and Why you Should go
CLT Tales
June 29, 2017
Light Leaked - Constructing Narrative
Curated by Dana Stirling and Yoav Friedlander
May 2017
Searching for Modern David
Jessi Virtusio, Daily Southtown
March 31, 2017
After Michelangelo
David Hammond, Newcity Art
February 23, 2017
Virilites La Cause du Desir 95
Cover image, French Revue of Psychoanalysis
Spring 2017
Light Leaked - America
Curated by Roger May
November 2016
Freeport Museum Offers Different Takes On Masculinity
Guy Stephens, Northern Public Radio
June 8, 2016
Freeport Art Museum Unveils a Topical Exhibit on Masculinity
Jane Lethlean, Journal Standard
May 21, 2016
Central Structure and School’s Out Forever PostIt Journal of Literature and Art
Issue 9
March 2016
Review, Midwest Contemporary
Michael Weinstein, New City Magazine, Chicago, IL
June 18, 2013
Editorial Publications
Chicago Reader
"A New Battleground"
Essay and Photos, April 2019
AOPA Magazine
"Former Engineer Now Builds Pilots"
Jill W. Tallman, February 2019
Macalester Today
"When The Science Is Personal"
Andy Steiner, Summer 2019
"Theatrical Practice"
Julie Hessler, Spring 2019
"Bringing Congress Together"
Jan Shaw-Flamm, Fall 2018
Le Nouvel Observateur (L'Obs, France)
“Mike, Jeune, Noir... Et Mort”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2599, September 2014
“Comment Les Etats-Unis Ont Repare Leur Economie”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2596, August 2014
“Sur Un Air Latino”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2502, October 2012
“Gare a la Dette Etudiante!”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2531, May 2013
“Transgenres: Est-ce Une Fille Ou Un Garcon?”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2573, February 2014
“Detroit, Ruine Et Renaissance”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2567, January 2014
"Ruee Sur L’or Noir!"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2493, August 2012
“Ventres a Louer”
Natacha Tatu, No. 2519, February 2013
"Classe Moyenne"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2502, October 2012
"Etats-Unis, View a Credit"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2461, January 2012
"L’ecole de la Tolerance"
Natacha Tatu, No. 2461, January 2012
Pediatric Annals, Vo. 43, No. 6, June 2014
“Tipping Points in Caring for the
Gender-Nonconforming Child and Adolescent”
Robert Garofalo, MD, MPH
Sun-Times Media, October 21, 2013
“Chicago Red Hots Fast Roller Derby Ablaze for National Title”
Andy Frye
The Guardian (UK), July 2012
“When School is Out: Gay Friendly Education in the U.S.”
Gary Younge
Chicago Reader, June 21, 2012
“Best Roller Derby Nickname”
Kevin Warwick
Chicago Reader, February 23, 2012
“Arriver”
Monica Kendrick
Brooklyn Vegan, January 10, 2012
“Anatomy of Habit”
Zach Pollack
Red Eye, December 7, 2011
“Scary Humor”
Andrea Jablonski
Brooklyn Vegan, November 9, 2011
“Anatomy of Habit”
Zach Pollack
Exhibitions
The Arts Club, Chicago, IL
89th Professional Members Exhibition
January 18 - February 22, 2020
After Nye Gallery, London, UK
Marilyn Stafford Photo Reportage Exhibition
July 23 - 30, 2019
Splashlight Studios, New York, NY
Lucie Foundation Photobook of the Year Award
October 27, 2018
Overture Art Center, Madison, WI
PhotoMidwest 10th Biennial
Curated by Alex Garcia
September 1 - December 2, 2018
Chicago Public Library, Austin-Irving Branch, Chicago, IL
American Legion
July 1 - September 30, 2018
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL
American Legion
July 28 - August 18, 2017
Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, NC
Gendered, Modern David
June 16 - July 21, 2017
Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
The Subject is Chicago: People, Places, Possibilities, Modern David
February 11 - April 9, 2017
Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Palos Hills, IL
Moraine Valley Community College
Modern David Solo show
March 26 - April 25, 2017
Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
Masculinity, Modern David
Curated by Exhibition Projects
May 27 - August 6, 2016
Candela Books, Richmond, VA
Unbound3!
curated by Gordon Stettinius
2014
Midwest Contemporary, Chicago,IL
Curated by Natasha Egan and Karen Irvine
2013
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL,
Help Us Help You Help Us
curated by Stan Klein
2013
The Compound, Chicago, IL
Santa’s Village Part Deux
collaboration with Nina Faile
2008
The Compound, Chicago, IL
Santa’s Village
collaboration with Amy Small
2007
Additional Experience
Artist Talk
Made by Women
PhotoLab: 4x5: The Stories Behind the Frames.
4 photographers share the stories behind 5 of their favorite images.
Apple Store Michigan Avenue, Monday, March 11, 2019
Artist Book Fair
FOTO Mercado
Ace Hotel, Chicago, 2019
Discussion Panel
Patriotism, Community, and Social Action
Discussion lead by Michael Elsey, Senior Instructor & Director of Digital Media for the Great Books Foundation
Panelists include Dale Tippett Sr, Past Commander of Billy Caldwell Post 806, 9th District Sr. Vice Commander; Brent M. Webb, Commander of Tattler Post 973, 9th District Jr. Vice Commander; Moki Tantoco, Education and Programs Manager, National Veterans Art Museum.
Chicago Public Library Irving-Austin Branch, Monday, July 23, 2018
Artist Talk
American Legion Artist Talk
Union League Club American Legion Post 758, Chicago, IL 2018
Artist Talk
American Legion Artist Talk
American Legion Department of IL Convention, BOS Center, Springfield, IL 2018
Artist Talk sponsored by ASMP Chicago/Midwest
American Legion Artist Talk with Stan Klein
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL 2017
Artist Talk
American Legion Artist Talk with Commander Brent M. Webb
National Veterans Art Museum, Chicago, IL 2017
Speaker
Artist Talk for CPS AP Photography Program
Gallery 37, Chicago, IL 2017
Speaker
American Legion and Modern David Artist Talk
Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL 2017
Juror
Student Artwork Showcase
Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL 2017
Speaker
Artists in Conversation with Steven Schapiro
Loyola Museum of Art, Chicago, IL 2016
Curator
In Between Drinks, Gil Leora
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL, June 2013
Curator
Eastern, Adam Siegel
Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park, IL, October 2010
Curator
Embroideries, Peter Frederiksen
The Compound, Chicago, IL, July 2009
mariahkarson@gmail.com
+1 773 470 8571 US / WhatsApp
+351 915 533 953 Portugal
Let's work together
Contact me about wedding, events, custom portraits, or current projects. You can see basic pricing under COMMISSIONS.
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