Johnna Marcil Eck is an artist living and working in Omaha, NE. Her BFA in drawing and painting is from Creighton University. Subsequent to that she was awarded a half-tuition merit scholarship to Graduate School at the University of Chicago. There she studied with Vera Klement and Herbert George and graduated with an M.F.A. in painting. Immediately following, she was invited to exhibit her artwork at Midway Studios and the David and Alfred Smart Gallery of Art in Chicago. Upon returning to Omaha to study art education, she was hired to join the faculty at Creighton University where she was Lecturer of Fine Arts. Post-graduate courses recently completed at the School of the Art institute of Chicago and the Kansas City Art Institute, Johnna Eck is Adjunct Art Instructor at Metropolitan Community College, teaches art at Skutt Catholic High School and exhibits her work throughout the region.
cv – Johnna Marcil Eck
12720 Leavenworth RD, Omaha NE, 68154
johnna.eck@gmail.com | 402.889.0863
1987 MFA, University of Chicago, Chicago IL
1985 BFA,Creighton University, Omaha NE
1990 BSEd, University Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha NE
POST GRADUATE STUDY
2024
Fearless Abstraction: Painting Intensive–5 1/2 days and Portfolio Review with Jane Burton. Santa Fe Artist Getaway, Santa Fe, NM
2021
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Creighton University, Omaha, NE Christian Spirituality
2020
Studio Incamminati Philadelphia School of Contemporary Art Workshop through Creighton University, Omaha NE
2019
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City MO
2017
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
2015
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL
2010
Certificate of Catholic School Leadership, Creighton University, Omaha, NE
1995-96
Wayne State College, Wayne, NE Industrial Arts and Computer-Aided Design
WORK EXPERIENCE
2017-Present
Metropolitan Community College, Elkhorn NE- Adjunct Art Instructor
2015-Present
University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha NE AP Dual Enrollment Honors Art Instructor
2001-Present
V.J. & Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha NE Art Instructor
1990-2001
Omaha Public Schools Omaha, NE Art Instructor
1988-1990
Creighton University Omaha NE-Lecturer of Fine Arts
EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
2024
Scholastic Art Magazine, March Issue: Student and his artwork selected for the Student Spotlight Feature page.
2023
LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE Nebraska Art Teacher Association Invitational
Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE, 2023 Nebraska Biennial
Split Gallery, Omaha NE, BOLD Invitational
Educator Award, National Scholastics Art & Writing Awards
2022
Norfolk Art Center, Norfolk, NE Nebraska Art Teacher Association Invitational
2021
Nicholas Street Gallery, Omaha, NE Nebraska Art Teacher Association Invitational
2020
Secondary Art Teacher of the Year Award, Nebraska Art Teacher Association
NATA Artist Educator Exhibit, Virtual Juried Exhibition, Omaha, NE
2019
Kimmel Harding Nelson Arts Center, Nebraska City NE Nebraska Art Teacher Association Invitational
Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE- Nebraska Biennial Juried Exhibition
2018
Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha NE Benefit Art Auction Juried Exhibition
Walker Art Gallery, University NE-Kearney, Kearney NE Artist Educator Juried Art Exhibit
Noyes Art Gallery, Lincoln NE Focus Gallery Invitational
Metropolitan Community College, Elkhorn NE Faculty Art Exhibit
2017
Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE- Bemis Center’s Benefit Art Auction Juried Exhibition
Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE- Nebraska Biennial Juried Exhibition
Elder Gallery, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE- Nebraska Art Educator Association Invitational
Noyes Art Gallery, Lincoln, NE Focus Gallery Invitational
Kansas City Art Institute Painting Gallery, Kansas City, MO Invitational
2015
Educator Award, National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Weber Fine Arts Gallery, University of NE-Omaha Nebraska -Art Educator Association Invitational Exhibit
Betty Rymer Gallery at The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL- Group Exhibit
Apollon Art Space, Omaha NE participating artist
Ferguson Studios, Omaha NE participating artist
Hot Shops Studios, Omaha NE participating artist
2014
Lounsberry-Williams Studios, Omaha NE participating artist
2013
Lounsberry-Williams Studios, Omaha NE participating artist
2012
Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha NE commissioned paintings in commons
2009
Omaha Artists and Beyond, artists’ social networking group founder with over 1.4K members
1997
Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE-Exhibiting Member
1996
Lied Center for Education in the Arts-Creighton University, Omaha, NE-Purchase Award, Invitational
1995
Creighton University Art Gallery, Omaha, NE Women’s Invitational
Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE-Exhibiting Member
1994
Hillmer Art Gallery, College of St. Mary, Omaha NE Invitational
Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha NE-Exhibiting Member
1993
Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha NE-Exhibiting Member
1990
Creighton University Art Gallery, Omaha, NE Two person Invitational
1987
David & Alfred Smart Gallery, Chicago, IL Invitational Exhibition
Midway Studios, University of Chicago, Chicago IL Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibit
1985
University of Chicago, Chicago IL Half Tuition Merit Scholarship for Graduate Study in Art
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE Full Tuition Merit Scholarship with Stipend for Graduate Study in Art
Artist Statement
Reaction to my subject matter, or to the latest layer of paint, is the driving force of my creative process. Either way, I’m compelled to respond with expressive line, exaggerated color, and dynamic juxtaposition. Bright alternates with dull, cool with warm, dark with light, and smooth with rough. Scraping through these layers accentuates the visual contrasts. This push and pull of acrylic, oil, or mixed media demand solutions based on my reactions. Ultimately the completed artwork continues the conversation with each viewer. Expressive artists such as Vera Klement, Joan Mitchel, Gerhard Richter, Sam Gilliam and Willem de Kooning fuel inspiration for my process.
J. Marcil Eck 