Photo by Jessica Mallios
BIO
Raymond Uhlir was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1979. He earned his BFA in Studio Art from the University of Texas – Austin in 2002 and his MFA in Studio Art from the University of California – Santa Barbara in 2010. He has been active in several artistic collectives and had his work exhibited at various galleries and museums across the United States. He currently lives and works in Austin, TX.
Statement
My recent work begins with drawings from direct observation, a practice deepened during my Arctic Circle residency in landscapes and experiences acutely shaped by a changing climate. I digitally rework these studies, defamiliarizing the subject to create images that balance between representation and abstraction. Translating them into paintings transforms the virtual back into the tangible thereby anchoring fleeting impressions in a shared, physical space where memory, invention, and the shifting realities of our environment converge.
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Wack! Hot•Bed, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Landscapes, Portraits and Still Lives. Dorf, Austin, TX
2016 Staycation. Mass Gallery, Austin, TX
2014 Texan American. Kristy Stubbs Gallery, Dallas, TX
2014 Left Hand First. Beefhaus, Dallas, TX
2013 Group Show. The Brandon, Houston, TX
2012 Future Regions. Visual Arts Center, University of Texas – Austin, Austin, TX
2011 Collective Intelligence: Early Human Narratives. Platform, University California- Santa Barbara
2010 Faith Gay and Raymond Uhlir. D Berman Gallery, Austin, TX.
2010 Visible Spectrum. MFA Thesis Exhibition, University Art Museum, University California - Santa Barbara
2009 Relatively Epic. Project 4, Washington, D.C
2009 Texas Biennial. Women and Their Work, Austin, TX
2009 Show #21: Protagonist. And/Or Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008 New Art in Austin: 20 To Watch. Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX
2008 Parachutists are the Loneliest People. The Joanna, Houston, TX
2008 Twelve. The Ridley Tree Education Center, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
2007 Aqua Art Fair. Project 4, Miami Beach, FL
2007 Chasing Tales. Project 4, Washington, D.C
2007 Few, Some, Several, Many, More. Creative Research Laboratory, Austin, TX
2006 Forefathers. Deborah Colton Gallery, Houston, TX.
2006 Texas Redistricting. Art Palace, Austin, TX
2005 Hooray for Sanctimony. Deborah Colton Gallery, Houston, TX.
Awards, Fellowships and Residencies
2025 The Arctic Circle Residency, Svalbard, Norway
2010 IHC Individual Research Grant, University of California - Santa Barbara
2010 Special Regents Fellowship, University of California - Santa Barbara
2010 UCSB Academic Senate Outstanding Teaching Assistant (Nominated)
2009 Research Travel Grant, University of California - Santa Barbara
2009 Special Regents Fellowship, University of California - Santa Barbara
2008 Special Regents Fellowship, University of California - Santa Barbara
2001 College of Fine Arts Study in Italy Scholarship, University of Texas – Austin
2000 Marshall F. Wells Scholarship and Fellowship in the College of Fine Arts, University of Texas – Austin
Artist Talks
2025 The Arctic Circle Residency. Svalbard, Norway. May 23rd, 2025.
2010 Faith Gay and Raymond Uhlir. D Berman Gallery, Austin, TX. July 24th, 2010
2009 Elastic Images: Recent Developments in Contemporary Painting. University of California - Santa Barbara
2008 New Art in Austin. Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX. April 24th, 2008
Reviews and Publications
• Reese, Christina and Brandon Zeck, "Top Five." glasstire.com, May 10, 2018
• van Ryzin, Jeanne Claire, "Our West Austin Studio Tour picks." sightlines.org, May 5, 2018
• van Ryzin, Jeanne Claire, "Critic’s Notebook: Six Austin painters exhibit fresh talent." Austin American Statesman, February 18, 2016. {ill.}
• Rebecca Marino, "STAYCATION at Mass Gallery." conflictofinteresttx.com, February 3, 2016
• Wakefield, Harry (ed.), "You Play Beautifully." mocoloco.org, December 31, 2014. {ill.}
• Lauren Smart, "5 Art Exhibitions to See This Weekend."www.dallasobserver.com, November 5, 2014
• Nakra, Manik, "Monster Show Seven @Domy Books (Austin)." fecalface.com, November, 28, 2012. {ill.}
• Boehl, Dan. “Faith Gay & Raymond Uhlir at D. Berman Gallery.”www.artlies.org, Issue 66. Summer, 2010. {ill.}
• Faires, Robert. “Texas Biennial 2009 – DIY: Double Wide.” The Austin Chronicle, April 10, 2009, p. 70
• Mendoza, Manuel. "And/Or Gallery: Raymond Uhlir." artandseek.org, February 2, 2009. {ill.}
• Schultze, Troy. “Clever, Funny and Disturbing.” Houston Press, May 19, 2009
• Castillo, Salvador. “That Was Then, This is Now.” The Austin Chronicle, April 11, 2008, p. 44
• Douberly, Amanda. “Raymond Uhlir.” 20 to Watch: New Art in Austin, Austin, TX: Austin Museum of Art, 2008 pp. 46-47. {ill.}
• Fisch, Sarah. “Grip River and Austin Fever.” San Antonio Current, November 12, 2008
• Johnson, Kirby, Ed. “Ecstatic Calamities.” Nano Fiction, Vol. 2, No. 2, Fall 2008, pp. 29-33 {ill}
• Koper, Rachel. “Warning: Bears Spotted in Austin.” Odic Force Magazine, March-April 2008, pp. 26-28. {ill.}
• Ramanathan, Lavanya. “No Dough? No Problem!” The Washington Post, Saturday, January 5, 2008. p. C12
• Rhodes, Dusti. “Johannaversary: Parachutists Are the Loneliest People.” Houston Press, July 23, 2008
• Castillo, Salvador. “AC Pick.” The Austin Chronicle November 16, 2007, p. 86
• Riley, Heather. “Artist Survey No.7.” Box Magazine September 2007, pp. 22-29. {ill.}
• Capps, Kriston. “Raymond Uhlir at Deborah Colton.” www.grammarpolice.net, August 18, 2005. {ill.}
• Koper, Rachel. “East, at Ease.” The Austin Chronicle November 17, 2006. p. 38 {ill}