Amanda Cervantes (they/she) is a Chicago-based queer visual artist, curator, and writer. They center their artistic practice on exploring queer temporalities, family histories, and personal archives through image making. By archiving their family's ephemera, they build narratives that delve into familial mythologies, masculinity, and the discovery of queer threads within their own lineage. Cervantes has exhibited at the Gerber/Hart Library and Archive, Art at a Time Like This, Chicago Art Department, Harold Washington College President's Gallery, Ontario College of Art and Design, and Terrain Biennial. They have also done collaborative projects and public talks with The Overlook Place, The Curve Foundation, Engine for Art Democracy and Justice, and the Global Center for Advanced Studies Latin America. Currently, they work with the Digital Multimedia Design department at Harold Washington College.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2016 - BFA Studio Arts / University of Illinois Chicago / Chicago IL
Awards/Grants/Fellowships
2024 / DCASE Individual Artist Fund with Jose Luis Benavides / Amigas Latinas Forever
2022 / Ignite Fund Awardee with Jose Luis Benavides / Amigas Latinas Forever
2014 / UIC Academic Excellence Grant
2014 / Finalist Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellowship
Residencies
Sep - Oct 2017 - The Overlook Place / Artist-In-Residence / Chicago IL
Group Exhibitions
Oct 2023 - Art from the Archives / Gerber/Hart Library and Archives / Chicago IL
Aug 2023 - Amigas Latinas Forever / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
Mar 2023 - Essential Workers / Harold Washington College Presidents’ Gallery / Chicago IL
Sep 2021 - Eternal Network 2021 / Terrain Biennial / Oak Park, IL
Apr 2021 - Inner Lives Out: Archiving Queer Time/ Vidas Interiores Hacia Fuera: Archivando Tiempos Queer / Art at a Time Like This / New York, NY
Sep 2019 - Post Practice / Chicago Art Department/ Chicago IL
May 2019 - A Thousand Words / OCAD University / Toronto, CA
Feb 2018 - Process: What It Was When It Wasn't / The Overlook Place / Chicago IL
Nov 2017 - Bienvenidos Tú Y Yo w/ Jose Luis Benavides / The Overlook Place End of Residency Exhibition / Chicago IL
Apr 2016 – As Little Defined as Anything Else / BFA Thesis Exhibition / University of Illinois at Chicago / Chicago IL
Mar 2015 – As Witnessed / ACRE TV/ Chicago IL
Oct 2014 – Bare Bones / GBU/ University of Illinois at Chicago / Chicago IL
Mar 2014 – Peep Show / GBU/ University of Illinois at Chicago / Chicago IL
Public Talks
Oct 2024 / Just Below the Surface: Artist and Curator talk with Patric McCoy Diana Solis Carlos Flores and Cristobal Alday / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
June 2024 / SALA: A Living Room of Ideas with Marimacha Monarca Press and Jose Luis Benavides / Lumpen Radio / Chicago IL
Apr 2024 / Archiving Our History: The Importance of Lesbian Archives in Preserving, Celebrating, and Advancing Lesbian, Queer Women and Nonbinary People’s Visibility /The Curve Foundation / Oakland CA
Mar 2024 / Artist Talk - Queer Archives / Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice/ Vanderbilt University / Nashville/ TN
Oct 2023 - This Archive is Queer! / Gerber/Hart Library and Archives / Chicago IL
Sep 2023 Artist Talk: Bringing Archives to Life/ Sulzer Regional Chicago Public Library / Chicago IL
Sept 2023 - Gallery Walkthrough- Amigas Latinas Forever/ Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
Aug 2023 - Platica with Marimacha Monarca Press, / Chicago IL
June 2022 - ‘Y Ahora Qué?’ Encuentro Internacional 2022 - Intimidad Y Polvo / Global Center for Advanced Studies: Latinoamérica / Santiago CL
Jan 2022 - Conversation with Amigas Latinas / Gerber/Hart Library & Archives / Chicago IL
Sep 2021 - Archivando tiempos queer, Prácticas artísticas desde los archivos, Global Center for Advanced Studies: Latinoamérica / Santiago, CL
Oct 2020 - Lulu en el Jardin & The Cruising Monologues Filmmaker Q&A / Reeling LGBTQ+ Int. Film Festival / Chicago IL
Sept 2019 - Artist and Curator Talk w/ Pablo Serrano / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
March 2018 - Within The Walls / The Overlook Place / Chicago IL
Feb 2018 - In Session: LatinX Disambiguations / Threewalls / Chicago IL
Oct 2017 - Within The Walls w/ Jose Luis Benavides / The Overlook Place / Chicago IL
Aug 2016 - Screening The View Public Gallery Tour / Art Institute of Chicago / Chicago IL
July 2016 - Unexpected Art Public Gallery Tour / Art Institute of Chicago / Chicago IL
Curatorial Projects
May 2023 - This Is What We Build / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
Sept 2022 - Chicago Art Department at MdW Fair /Mana Contemporary/ Chicago IL
Oct 2020 - Long Time, No See / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
Sept 2019 - Post Practice / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
Aug 2019 - Despertares / Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
Apr 2016 – As Little Defined as Anything Else / BFA Thesis Exhibition / University of Illinois at Chicago / Chicago IL
Jan 2014 – Introspection: Anatomy of the Interior/ GBU/University of Illinois at Chicago / Chicago IL
Publications:
July 2025 - Amigas Latinas Forever / Buddy Chicago / Chicago IL
May 2023 - Garland Court Review / Harold Washington College / Chicago IL
Jun 2022 - “Artistic Practices from the Archive 2021” / Global Center for Advanced Studies - Latinoamerica/ Santiago, CL
Apr 2022 - “An Atlas” / Flatland / Chicago IL
Teaching Experience:
April 2021- Present - Digital Media Design Teacher's Assistant at Harold Washington College / Chicago IL
Nov 2022 - Visiting Lecturer / Pilsen Mural Walk / Freedom Middle School / Berwyn IL
March 2019 - October 2019 / Visiting Artist / Photoshop Demo at Wilbur Wright College / Chicago IL
June - August 2016 / Learning and Engagement Intern at the Art Institute of Chicago / Chicago IL
Additional Professional Experience
May 2024 - Present / Wedding and Portrait Photography / Chicago IL
June 2019 - Present / Independent Preparator and Curator / Chicago IL
June 2019 - Present / Arts Administration Intern at Chicago Art Department / Chicago IL
November 2019 - February 2020 / Fiber Artist Assistant / Chicago IL
January - May 2016 / Community Engagement/Public Programs Intern at Gallery 400/ Chicago IL