DECOY PRESS // ToDD HErzberg
My name is Todd Herzberg, a printmaker residing in Nashville, TN, who makes original, handmade relief, & lithographic prints that celebrate the absurdity of modern life
I was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, received my BFA from Central Michigan University in 2012 and my MFA from the University of Kentucky in 2018. After graduating, I was the Assistant Drawing Professor at Murray State University from 2018-2022,
I've worked predominantly in the processes of drawing, relief printing, lithography, and animation to create complex stories with absurdist overtones. My work has been exhibited in over 100 exhibitions, both locally, nationally, and internationally.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I’m just a guy sitting in a chair… waiting for something, anything, to happen; yet nothing ever does. I grab whatever the top shirt from the stack inside the dresser is, and I slide it on as I leave my apartment
Through the use of autobiographical tableaus, my Photolithographic prints question the definition of success as a fixed idea, the notion of meaninglessness as an integral part of the everyday, and attempts to embrace the awkwardness typical of growth.
My personal grasping for false signifiers that don’t exist extends into the prints through the character’s actions and demeanor.
The characters of the prints often appear stone-faced, performing meaningless tasks which they don’t understand or even believe in but are doomed to repeat these falsely perceived “important” undertakings in a reality that doesn’t exist, in order to succeed at something which might be indefinable or even nonexistent
Frozen in time, forced to forever repeat the same moment endlessly, these complex moments present themselves as absurdist stages, created to illustrate the paradigmatic human longing for meaning. The characters perform tasks hoping that something happens, searching for, perhaps validation, enlightenment, or resolve, but nothing ever does, and instead the scene is forever set to unfold in only two dimensions.
The type of bird doesn’t matter, the bird doesn’t matter in general, its just a mask that he found, its just a way for him to feel like he matters, he never changes, because this is just his world, this is just his meaning, and his answers might be different than yours. But that’s ok because in reality, life is weird, and then we die.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2018
Master of Fine Arts, Printmaking
University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
2012
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Printmaking
Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan
2008
Associate of Liberal Arts
Delta College // University Center, Michigan
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2021
Just a Guy Sitting in a Chair // Levee Contemporary // Princeton, Wisconsin
2019
Musical Chairs (Solo) // Murray State University, Mary Ed Mecoy Hall Gallery // Murray, Kentucky
2018
Throwing Bread At Geese: MFA Exhibition (Solo) // Bolivar Gallery, University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Throwing Bread At Geese (Solo) // Hatch Show Prints, Haley Gallery // Nashville, Tennessee
2017
Fables: Joel Feldman & Todd Herzberg // Living Arts and Science Center // Lexington, Kentucky
2016
Back Alley Press presents: In Relief // Lucille Little Fine Arts Library, University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Adulting (Solo) // 22 North Gallery // Ypsilanti, Michigan
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
27th Parkside National Print Exhibition // University of Wisconsin, Parkside Galleries // Kenosha, Wisconsin *
2020
Impressed // Art Gym // Denver, Colorado *
2019
Small Works Show // Terrain Gallery // Spokane, Washington**
The Red Show // Core New Art Space // Denver, Colorado*
Table Testaments // Arts Benicia // Benicia, California*
In Hawai’i // Hawai’I State Art Museum // Honolulu, Hawaii**
Pacific States Biennial North American Group Exhibition // Hilo Campus Center Gallery, University of Hawaii // Hilo, Hawaii **
2019 Mid-American Print Council Juried Members’ Exhibition // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky *
Art of the South // Memphis College of Art // Memphis, Tennessee *
Mixed Grit // Art Gym // Denver, Colorado **
10th Annual Drawing Discourse // University of North Carolina Asheville // Asheville, North Carolina *
Weather Appropriate // Levee Contemporary // Princeton, Wisconsin**
Chautauqua National Exhibition: Truths and Consequences // Eastern Kentucky University // Richmond, Kentucky *
Drawn // Georgia Spiva Center for the Arts // Joplin, Missouri *
Legal Draft Vinyl Exhibition // Legal Draft Brewery // Arlington, Texas**
A Shrinking World // University of Dallas // Dallas, Texas *
Its Not Small Anymore // University of Wisconsin Parkside Gallery // Kenosha, Wisconsin*
Tangible Gestures // Terrain Gallery // Spokane, Washington *
Upbringing // Indiana University Kokomo // Kokomo, Indiana *
Domestic Oasis // Gallery 1010, University of Tennessee Knoxville // Knoxville, Tennessee *
32nd Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition // Grand Gallery, McNeese
State University // Lack Charles, Louisiana * *W. Gredge Gayle Sr. Purchase Award
2018
Southern Printmaking Biennale VIII // University of North Georgia // Dahlonega, Georgia *
Impression // d’Art Center // Norfolk, Virginia *
2018 Pacific States Biennial North American Printmaking Exhibition // Hilo Campus Center Gallery, University of Hawaii // Hilo, Hawaii * *First Place/ Purchase Award
From Matrices // The Emerge Gallery // Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho *
Lithografietage International // Münchner Künstlerhaus // Munich, Germany *
1000 Prints 4 // The Blue House Gallery // Dayton, Ohio
Art Now: Drawing 2018 // Ann Arbor Art Center // Ann Arbor, Michigan *
31st Annual McNeese Nation Works on Paper Exhibition // Grand Gallery, McNeese
State University // Lack Charles, Louisiana *
Behind the Hedges // Art Gym // Denver, Colorado *
Outlaws // Loudon House, Lexington Art League // Lexington, Kentucky +
Mirror, Memory, Identity // ArtsPlace Gallery, LexArts // Lexington, Kentucky *
Brutal Beauty // Loudon House, Lexington Art League // Lexington, Kentucky *
2017
PRINTWORK 2017 // Artist Image Resource // Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania *
Where we are // PIT Gallery, University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentuckyv
PRHB7N // Loudon House, Lexington Art League // Lexington, Kentucky *
Who Goes There // BreadBox Studios// Lexington, Kentucky **
Lay Off Me I’m Starving // Thunder-Sky Gallery // Cincinnati, Ohio **
Alumni Exhibition // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan**
The Alley Show // 808 North Limestone Gallery // Lexington, Kentucky **
Plus Ultra // Curris Gallery, Murray State University // Murray, Kentucky **
3rd Annual Hand Pulled Prints: The Current Practice in Printmaking // Site:Brooklyn // Brooklyn, New York *
Great Lakes Drawing Biennial // Eastern Michigan University // Ypsilanti Michigan *
Circa 1957 // Loudon House, Lexington Art League // Lexington, Kentucky *
1000 Prints 2 // The Blue House Gallery // Dayton, Ohio
36th Annual Michigan Fine Arts Competition // Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center // Birmingham, Michigan *
Lexington Guild of Printmakers: Third Annual Exhibition // Parachute Factory // Lexington, Kentucky +
Pressed for Time // Artist Attic // Lexington, Kentucky **
Printmaking NOW // Umpqua Valley Arts Association // Rosenburg, Oregon *
Young Artist Competition // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky * * Juror’s Award
EXIT 177 | 22 North Gallery // Ypsilanti, Michigan Deliberation // Zephyr Gallery //
Louisville, Kentucky **
2017 Guanlan International Print Biennial // China Printmaking Museum // Guanlan, China *
Santa Barbara Printmakers 2017 Juried Spring Exhibition // Santa Barbara JCC Gallery // Santa Barbara, California *
2016
Local Trace and Degraded Effects // Bolivar Art Gallery, University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky +
Dream or Nightmare // (SCENE) Metrospace, Michigan State University // East Lansing, Michigan *
The Drawing Show // Max and Mill Completive Art Gallery // Lexington, Kentucky * *The Drawing Award
PRHBTN // Loudon House, Lexington Art League // Lexington, Kentucky *
2016 Pacific States Biennial North American Printmaking Exhibition /// Hilo Campus Center Gallery, University of Hawaii // Hilo, Hawaii // Juror: Lloyd Menard *
Mid American Print Council Print Exchange // University of Louisville // Louisville, Kentucky
Little Free Print Exhibition // MAPC Conference // Louisville, Kentucky **
Play Matters // Baber Gallery, Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan **
Contemporary Print // The Firehouse Gallery // Baton Rouge, Louisiana *
1000 Prints // The Blue House Gallery // Dayton, Ohio **
CULT // The Parachute Factory // Lexington, Kentucky +
Skate Deck Art Show // The Bott Shoppe // Mamaroneck, New York *
Lexington Guild of Printmakers: Second Annual Exhibition // Parachute Factory // Lexington, Kentucky +
Impression // Wichita State University, Ulrich Museum of Art // Wichita, Kansas *
Great Impressions // Kentucky Artisan Center // Berea, Kentucky *
Triad // Max and Mill Completive Art Gallery // Lexington, Kentucky **
2015
Lexington Guild of Printmakers: First Annual Exhibition // Breadbox Studios // Lexington, Kentucky +
Back Alley Press Exhibition // Central Bank // Lexington, Kentucky +
1UP // Breadbox Artist Studios // Lexington, Kentucky +
P2 Surplus // Downtown Art Center Gallery // Lexington, Kentucky +
Exhibition With Teachers and Students // Inner Mongolia University // Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China *
Settle The Score // Pepper Mill Distillery // Lexington, Kentucky **
2014
One Little Artist Collective: Perpetual // Mount Pleasant Brewery // Mount Pleasant, Michigan **
Protect Ya’ Deck // Cup of Common Wealth Gallery // Lexington, Kentucky **
Art & Coffee// Cup of Common Wealth Gallery // Lexington, Kentucky **
The Columbus Invitational Arts Competition // King Arts Complex // Columbus, Ohio * *First Place in Craft & Second Place Overall
Press Print // Grand Theater // Frankfort, Kentucky *
PRHBTN // Manchester Music Hall // Lexington, Kentucky *
2013
New Acquisition Show // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan **
2012
Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan +
2012 Annual Juried Art Exhibition // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan *
2011
One Little Artist Collective: Black Tie Optional // Mount Pleasant, Michigan +
One Little Artist Collective: Glow Show: Set Your Phasers to Stun // Mount Pleasant, Michigan +
One Little Artist Collective: Greetings from the O.L.A // Mount Pleasant, Michigan +
2011 Annual Juried Art Exhibition // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan *
(*) Juried
(**) Invitational
(+) organized or curated exhibition
ART FAIRS
2024
St James Court Art Festival // Louisville, Kentucky
2023
Art in the Loop // Memphis, Tennessee
Heritage Foundation: Main Street Festival // Franklin, Tennessee
Dogwood Arts Festival // Knoxville, Tennessee *Artistic Excellence Award
Lamineur Sculpture Park Art Festival // St Louis, Missouri *Honorable Mention Award
Artsplosure // Raleigh, North Carolina
Porter Flea // Nashville, Tennessee
Plymouth in the Park // Plymouth, Michigan
Midsummer Farms Festical // Petoskey, Michigan
Bay Harbor Arts Festival // Bay Harbor, Michigan *Third place
Tomato Festival // Nashville, Tennessee
Woodland Art Fair // Lexington, Kentucky
Art in the Park // Marietta, Georgia
Big 4 Arts Festival // Louisville, Kentucky
ARTVILLE // Nashville, Tennessee
St James Court Art Festival // Louisville, Kentucky
Moss Rock Art Festival // Hoover, Alabama
Arts & Drafts // Nashville, Tennessee
2022
Tennessee Craft Fair // Centennial Park // Nashville, Tennessee *Merit Award
2017
Country Boy Autumn Bazaar // Country Boy Brewery // Lexington, Kentucky
Woodland Art Fair // Lexington Art League, Woodland Park // Lexington, Kentucky
Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2017 // Lexington Convention Center // Lexington, Kentucky
2016
Country Boy Autumn Bazaar // Country Boy Brewery // Lexington, Kentucky
2015
Country Boy Autumn Bazaar // Country Boy Brewery // Lexington, Kentucky
Down Town Art Market // Downtown Lexington Plaza // Lexington, Kentucky
NoLi Night Market // North Limestone // Lexington, Kentucky
2014
Country Boy Autumn Bazaar // Country Boy Brewery // Lexington, Kentucky
Down Town Art Market // Downtown Lexington Plaza // Lexington, Kentucky
Woodland Art Fair // Lexington Art League, Woodland Park // Lexington, Kentucky
NoLi Night Market // North Limestone // Lexington, Kentucky
TEACHING AND WORK
2023- Present
Founder // Decoy Press // Madison, TN
2022- Present
Director of Marketing & Exhibitions // Tennessee Craft // Nashville, TN
2022
Adjunct Instructor // Volunteer State Community College // Gallatin, TN // Drawing 1
2018-2022
Assistant Professor of Drawing and Foundations // Murray State University // Murray, Kentucky // Foundations, Drawing I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII VIII, Printmaking I
2018
Instructor of Record // Two Dimensional Surface // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Print Shop Manager // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
2017
Instructor of Record // Two Dimensional Surface // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Print Shop Manager // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Print Assistant for Nathan Meltz // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Organizer and Curator, Carey Ellis Student Exhibition // University of Kentucky, School of Art and Visual Studies // Lexington, KY
2016
Instructor of Record // Drawing 1 // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky Print Shop Manager // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Summer Artist Assistant for Jonathan McFadden // Lexington, Kentucky
Artist Production Assistant for Mel Chin under Paul Rodgers // Lexington, Kentucky
Organizer and Curator, Carey Ellis Student Exhibition // University of Kentucky, School of Art and Visual Studies // Lexington, KY
2015
Teaching Assistant // Drawing 1 // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Print Assistant for Ericka Walker // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Print Assistant for Joseph Lupo // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Print Shop Manager // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
2014
President // Herzberg Press LLC // Lexington, Kentucky
Gallery Attendant // LexArts // Lexington, Kentucky
SERVICE // ARTIST TALK // WORKSHOPS // PANELS // RESIDENCIES
2023
Juror: Dogwoods Art Exhibition // Knoxville, Tennessee
2020
Visiting Artist // Jacksonville State University // Jacksonville Alabama
Artist Talk // Jacksonville State University // Jacksonville Alabama
Foundations Committee Chair // Murray State University
Juror: KyAEA Highschool Exhibition: Drawing Category // Murray State University
Residency // Pentaculum 2020 // Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts // Gatlinburg, Tennessee
2019
Foundations Committee Chair // Murray State University
Juror: KyAEA High School Exhibition: Drawing Category // Murray State University
2018
Foundations Committee Chair // Murray State University
Hickman Highschool Recruitment trip // Hickman, Kentucky
Dupont Highschool Recruitment trip // Louisville, Kentucky
Artist Talk // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Workshop: Photolithography // Central Michigan University // Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Panel: Print Beyond the Rectangle // SGCI Las Vegas // Las Vegas, Nevada
2017
Panel: Ultra Plus // Murray State University // Murray, Kentucky
Workshop: The Moving Image // Murray State University // Murray, Kentucky
Panel: Deliberation: Artist Talk // Zephyr Gallery // Louisville, Kentucky
Workshop: SeeArt Day // University of Kentucky // Lexington,
Graphic Design Tenure-System Search Committee // School of Art and Visual Studies // University of Kentucky
2016
Panel: Mash Up: Blending Digital and Analogue Techniques // Mid-American College Art Association // Cincinnati, Ohio
Demonstration: Color and Monoprint Photogravure // Mid American Print Council Conference // Louisville KY
Workshop: SeeArt Day // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
2015
Workshop: SeeArt Day // University of Kentucky // Lexington, Kentucky
Panel: Contemporary Print in the United States // Inner Mongolia University // Hohhot, China
Publication
2021
EPOCH (Cover Art) // Volume 69, Number 2 // Cornell University
2020
The Hand Magazine // Issue 29, August 2020
2019
The Hand Magazine (Cover Art) // Issue 24, April 2019 |
2016
BAP Zines // Volume 1 & 2 // Back Alley Press
2015
A Study In Spring (Cover Design) // Zoe Ryder White & Nicole Callihan // Rabbit Catastrophe Press
GROUPS AND AFFILIATIONS
2019
Vox Populi // Member
Mid American Print Council // Member
Southern Graphics Council International // Member
2018
Lexington Guild of Printmakers // Member / Founder
Art Studio Graduate Association // Vice President
Back Alley Press // President
Mid American Print Council // Member
Southern Graphics Council International // Member
2017
Lexington Guild of Printmakers // Member / Founder
Art Studio Graduate Association // Vice President
Back Alley Press // President
Mid American Print Council // Member
Southern Graphics Council International // Member
2016
Lexington Guild of Printmakers // Member // Founder
Art Studio Graduate Association // Vice President
Back Alley Press // President
Mid American Print Council // Member
Southern Graphics Council International // Member
2015
Lexington Guild of Printmakers // President
Art Studio Graduate Association // Vice President
Back Alley Press // Treasurer
Southern Graphics Council International // Member
2014
Lexington Guild of Printmakers // President/ Founder
Bluegrass Printmaking Cooperative // Member
Southern Graphics Council International // Member