About

Kristin Pluhacek lives and works in Omaha, Nebraska. Her drawings and paintings have been exhibited extensively in Midwestern fine arts galleries and museums, and her work is represented in numerous public and private collections. She is a frequent Artist-in-Residence, and has travelled as part of the State Department Arts Envoy program to Asmara, Eritrea where she worked with local artists on large-scale, collaborative paintings. Kristin works primarily in pastels, drawing directly from her subjects whenever possible in an attempt to capture both the stillness and the motion of life. She is a BFA graduate of Creighton University, where she is an adjunct drawing instructor, and she also teaches drawing at Metropolitan Community College.

Collections

  • Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE
  • Douglas County Justice Center, Omaha, NE
  • Think Healthcare, Omaha, NE
  • Ehrhart, Griffin & Associates, Omaha, NE
  • University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
  • Illumin, Omaha, NE
  • Wayne State College, Wayne, NE
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
  • Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE
  • Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, NE
  • Union Bank, Omaha, NE
  • Countryside Village, Omaha, NE         
  • Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
  • WSI Industries, Omaha, NE
  • Creighton University, Omaha, NE
  • Marks Restaurant, Omaha, NE
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education, Omaha, NE
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Art and Humanities, Omaha, NE
  • Heartland Food Bank, Omaha, NE
  • Prisma Press, Omaha, NE
  • VGA Group, Omaha, NE
  • Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
  • Methodist Women’s Hospital, Omaha, NE
  • A/O Architectural Offices, Omaha, NE
  • Eye Consultants, Omaha, NE

Select Solo & 2 Person Shows

2017

  • Drawings by Kristin Pluhacek, MLB Designs Gallery, Kansas City, MO

2016

  • Kristin Pluhacek-Drawings, Creighton University Lied Center for the Arts Gallery, Omaha, NE

2015

  • Kristin Pluhacek-Drawings, Garden of the Zodiac, Omaha, NE
  • Shapes & Layers, Cathedral Arts Project Sunderland Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Embodiment, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA

2013

  • New Works, MLB Designs Gallery, Kansas City, MO

2012

  • New Works, Anderson/O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
  • Drought Relief, MLB Designs Gallery, Kansas City, MO
  • Kristin Pluhacek, Highland Community College Yost Art Gallery, Highland, KS

2011

  • Weeds/Pods/Seeds & Landscapes, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, Omaha, NE
  • Kristin Pluhacek, Nebraska Governor’s Residence Conference Room, Lincoln, NE

2009

  • Pain Scale Revisited, Abbott/Pinkoff Gallery, Blue Barn Theatre, Omaha, NE

2008

  • All Play, Dundee Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Too Much Radio, Om Center, Omaha, NE

2006

  • New Works on Silk and Paper, Gallery 72, Omaha, NE
  • What Remains, Nebraska Arts Council Fred Simon Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Figures, some Flowers, Norfolk Arts Center, Norfolk, NE
  • close/near/distant/far, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, Omaha, NE

2005

  • New Works, Anderson/O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE

2004

  • Pastel Interpretations, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, Omaha, NE

2003

  • Kristin Pluhacek – New Work, Professional Darkroom Gallery, Omaha, NE

2001

  • New Works, Abbott/Pinkoff Gallery in the Blue Barn Theatre, Omaha, NE

2000

  • Issues of Figure and Ground, Oh My!, Creighton University Lied Art Gallery, Omaha, NE

1999

  • Pastel Portraits, Stillwater Art Gallery, Western Nevada Community College, Fallon, NV
  • Portraits, The Sturm Library Gallery, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV
  • Unwound Cocoon-Works on Silk and Paper, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE

1998

  • Unaccompanied, Unattended, Odd, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE

1997

  • McGilvrey/Pluhacek, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE
  • Blur, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE

1996

  • Studies of the Human Figure, Nebraska Now Series, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE
  • How I Spent my Summer Vacation, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE

1995

  • Bits, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Variance in a Box, Site specific work presented in rural Knox County, NE (with Composer Michael Murray)

1994

  • Blah, Blah, Blah, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE (with Composer Michael Murray)

1993

  • Kristin K. Pluhacek – Recent Work, Antiquarium Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • All This and Color Too!, Thirteenth Street Gallery, Omaha, NE     

1992

  • Kristin K. Pluhacek, Iowa Western Community College School of Art Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA

Honors & Juried Competitions

2019

  • Art in Embassies Artist Exchange, US Department of State, selected to travel to Asmara, Eritrea to collaborate with local Artists in the creation of a series of linked, large scale paintings.

2018

  • Arts Envoy Program, US Department of State, selected to travel to Asmara, Eritrea and give a weeklong workshop on drawing techniques to local Artists.

2016

2015

  • Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, Nominee Best 2-D artist, Best Solo Show, Best Visual Artist

2011

  • Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, Nominee Best 2-D artist, Best Solo Show

2007

  • Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, Best in Show Drawing

1998

  • Smithtown Township Arts Council Twenty-third Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Mills Pond House, St. James, NY
  • 27th Bradley National Print and Drawing Exhibition, Heuser Art Center, Bradley University, Peoria, IL

1997

  • 1997 Prairie Lights Arts Showcase, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE, Award of Merit        

1995

  • 1995 Prairie Lights Arts Showcase, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE
  • 16th Annual Paper in Particular National Exhibition, Columbia College Art Center, Columbia, MO

1994

  • 1994 Diverse Visions Regional Interdisciplinary Grants, NEA funded through Intermedia Arts MN, received for the creation of Variance in a Box, a site-specific multi-media work created in  collaboration with composer Michael Murray
  • 1994 Prairie Lights Arts Showcase, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE, Award of Merit 

1993

  • First Images – Artist Sketches, Bellevue College School of Art Gallery, NE

Projects & Residencies

2022

  • Album Cover Illustration: Passages, Michael Murray/Parma Recordings, North Hampton, NH         

2020

2020

  • Artist in Residence: Completely Kids Quilt Landscapes, Omaha, NE

2019

  • Artist in Residence: Mary our Queen Elementary, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Rockwell Elementary, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Stephen Center Yarn Wings, Omaha, NE

2018

  • Artist in Residence: Bassett Arts Council, Bassett, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Liberty Elementary, Omaha, NE

2017

  • Artist in Residence: Circles Self-portraits, Civic Nebraska, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Millard Public Schools, Rohwer and Reagan Elementary, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Completely Kids Yarn Eyes, Omaha, NE

2016

  • Artist in Residence: Completely Kids Stairwell Jungle, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Bridge Beats Chalk Walk, Omaha, NE

2015

  • Album Cover Artwork: Percipience, Compositions by Michael Murray, Navona Records
  • Artist in Residence: Watson Elementary Pastel Drawings, Hastings, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Springview Life Drawing Marathon, Springview, NE
  • Artist in Residence: UNO SummerWorks and Omaha Parks Department Mural Sherman Watering Can mural, Sherman Community Center, Omaha, NE
  • Contributor: Thirty-six Views of O, The National Institute for the Lost

2014

2013

  • Artist in Residence: Autism Action Partnership Drawing Day Camp, Omaha, NE

2012

  • Set Designer: Raskol, Great Plains Theatre Conference Playfest, Omaha, NE
  • Cover Artwork: L’Esprit Createur The Recent Work of Luce Irigaray, Volume 5, Fall 2012

2011

  • Artist in Residence: Jackson Elementary Self-portraits, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Completely Kids Art Quilt Project, Omaha, NE

2010

  • Participating Artist: Food Bank Folio, Print collaboration with UNO Print Workshop, Omaha, NE

2009

  • Residency: Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (4 week residency), Nebraska City, NE
  • Professional Development Workshop: Creative Capital and Nebraska Arts Council, Omaha, NE

2008

  • Artist in Residence: Reach for Your Dreams, Mutual of Omaha/Campfire USA/United States Swimming collaboration.
  • Lead Artist: Campfire USA Historical Mural Project, Omaha, NE

2007

  • Featured Illustrator: Omaha Summer Arts Festival
  • Illustrator: Journey the Sacred In-Between, Prisma Press

2006

  • Residency: Barker Art Project (3 month residency), Omaha, NE

2005

  • Illustrator: Send Me Tulips, Prisma Press
  • Judge: Nebraska Scholastic Art Exhibition, Omaha, NE
  • BenchMarks, City-wide Public Art, Omaha, NE

2004

2002

  • Judge: Eastern Nebraska Regional Scholastic Art Exhibition, Omaha Public Schools   Administration Center, Omaha, NE 
  • J. Doe Project: City-wide public art; Omaha, NE 

2000

  • Lead Artist: Lewis and Clark Middle School/Crossroads Mall Mural Project , Omaha, NE 

1999

  • Artist in residence: 4H Summer of Service, Omaha, NE 

1998

  • Lead Artist: BUMP (Bemis Urban Mural Project), Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts & Solomon Girls Center, Omaha, NE 

 1997

  • Artist in Residence: Arts on the green 1997, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE 
  • Artist in Residence: Sacred Heart Elementary, Omaha, NE 
  • Judge: UNO Annual Student Show, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 

1996

  • The Nebraska Review Vol. 24 Number 2, Cover piece for the biannual publication of the Writers Workshop, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
  • Artist in Residence: Everett School, Lincoln, NE 
  • Artist in Residence: Rodin Celebration, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE 

 1995

  • Judge: Western Iowa Regional Scholastic Art Exhibition, Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, IA

Select Group Shows

2022

  • Heaven, Hell & Everything In-Between, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE

2021

  • El Museo Invitational, El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE

2020

  • Cathedral Artist Invitational, Cathedral Cultural Center, Omaha, NE

2019

  • Banana Split, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE

2017

  • Screen Shot, Omaha Public Library Michael Phipps Gallery, Omaha, NE

2015

  • Maiz, El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE & Museo de Filatelia, Oaxaca, Mexico
  • Intentionality, Prescott Gallery, Lincoln, NE

2014

  • Dundee Gallery: 7 Years/ 7 Artists, Dundee Gallery, Omaha, NE

2013

  • Museum of Alternative History, RNG Gallery, Council Bluffs, IA
  • LFF Ciao, Caesium Gallery, Omaha, NE

2011

  • Old Friends, New Work, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE

2009

  • Mark Makers, Jackson Artworks, Omaha, NE

2008

  • Crazy Eights, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
  • Sophisticated Children, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE

2007

  • 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse and 7 Deadly Sins, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE

2005

  • Things We Forgot To Say, Nicholas Street Gallery, Omaha, NE

2003

  • Metro Faculty Art Exhibit, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE

2002

  • 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress, Abbott/Pinkoff Gallery in the Blue Barn Theatre, Omaha, NE

1999

  • Printmakers, Gallery 72, Omaha, NE
  • Out of the Ashes, Creighton University Lied Art Gallery, Omaha, NE               

1998

  • Paper Dolls: Self-Portrait Narratives, Creighton University Lied Art Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Two Views of Self : Self-portraits by Nebraska Artists, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Weber Fine Arts Gallery, Omaha, NE

1997

  • ARTworks, Jackson Artworks, Omaha, NE 

1996

  • Site Omaha (A public art project by C. Harper), Jackson Artworks & various vending locations, Omaha, NE                   
  • 13th Street/Gallery 9 Exchange, Gallery 9, Lincoln, NE

1995

  • Eden’s Promise, Creighton University Fine Arts Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Erotic Art, Antiquarium Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Final Images, Bellevue College School of Art Gallery, Bellevue, NE

1994

  • Bad Girls Midwest, College of Saint Mary Hillmer Art Gallery, Omaha, NE
  • Fete Nouvelle II, Jackson Artworks, Omaha, NE      

1992

  • On Canvas, On Paper, Bellevue College School of Art Gallery, Bellevue, NE  

1991

  • Instituto Guatemalteco Americano, Guatemala City, Guatemala  
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