Blake Ballard (he/him) is an artist and educator from rural Nebraska, the original lands of the Pawnee people. He received his BA from the University of Denver and recently completed his MFA from the Glasgow School of Art where he was living and working with his partner and cat.
His art practice is interdisciplinary and through an ever-evolving use of media addresses the role of craft in tradition, communal fellowships, queer spaces, and the political ‘status quo’. Through site specific installation, collaborative projects, and craft techniques, the resulting work frames these happenings and objects as an avenue to broaden our social, cultural, and physical landscape, ultimately encouraging a broader conversation about the role of craft in shaping inclusive and conscious narratives in contemporary art.
Ballard has presented work internationally in group and semi-solo exhibitions including at The Vicki Myhren Gallery in Denver, Colorado; The Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska; The Institute of Contemporary Art Singapore; The Glue Factory in Glasgow, Scotland; and ICAT at HFBK Hamburg, Germany.
Selected Exhibitions
2026
Ceremonials (Solo Show) - Three Leaches Gallery, Lakewood, CO
Queer Impressions: On Politics! - Group show, Atlas Collective, Moline, IL & Wheat Paste Campaign, various cities
Miami Fiber Art Triennial 2026 - Miami International Fine Arts, Miami, FL
Summerhall Arts Group Show 2026 - Summerhall, Edinburgh, UK
VOLUME, Prints with Purpose - Blue Tile Gallery, Englewood, CO
Mo’Print Pop Up - Santa Fe Art District Studio, Denver, CO
2025
SHADOWTIDE - Space_Space Gallery, Boulder, CO
Echoes of Futures - GSA Stow Building, Glasgow, UK
Hot Sweat - Bell Projects, Denver, CO
On EDGE - EDGE Gallery, Denver, CO
superdooperlooper - GSA Project Space, Glasgow, UK
Queer Impressions: Experimental Approaches to Print - Ohklahomo, Chicago, IL
Biennial Faculty + Staff Exhibition - Philip J. Steele Gallery, Lakewood, CO
2024
Form vs. Fiber - theBlanc Gallery, NYC
Words per Minute - Middlesbrough Art Week, UK
Interplay - The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
MFA Degree Show - The Glue Factory, Glasgow, UK
F*Bomb - Vicky Myhren Gallery, Denver, CO
Do you know who I am?! - South Block Gallery, Glasgow, UK
2023
GSA + HFBK - The Glue Factory, Glasgow & ICAT, Hamburg, Germany
SWATCHEDxBlush - Pipe Factory, Glasgow, UK
Tropical Lab 17 - Institute of Contemporary Art Singapore
Goofy - Kiosk, Glasgow, UK
MFA Interim Show 2023 - The Reid Gallery, Glasgow, UK
Defining Our Voices - The Davis Gallery, University of Denver, CO
Future Tense - Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, Lincoln, NE
Screw It! - The Barnes Garage, Glasgow, UK
2022
Uncommon Threads - San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center, San Fernando, CA
Deconstruction/Reconstruction - 40 West Arts District, Lakewood, CO
Sanctuary - 40 West Arts District. Lakewood, CO
2021
Our Local Collective - Jux Building, Denver, CO
Resiliency in Action - Colorado Mills, 40 West Arts District, Lakewood, CO
2019
Anecdotes – Shwader Art Building, University of Denver, CO
2018
A Collection of Little Things – 023 Gallery, University of Denver, CO
+%&[]?;’*!#{}@ - BA Portfolio Exhibition – Anderson Academic Commons, University of Denver, CO
Press and Awards
2026
Loop, Hook, Loom by Sophia Cai
9NEWS Colorado - Artists donate work to help raise money for 40 Colorado nonprofits
RMCAD Faculty Professional Development Grant
2025
Create! Magazine - Engaging Art as a Tool for Dialogue and Connection with Pylot Studios
2024
Student Initiated Project Grant - Glasgow School of Art
2023
Tropical Lab Residency Grant - Glasgow School of Art
The Scotsman - MFA Interim Show at Glasgow School of Art
Student Initiated Project Grant - Glasgow School of Art
2020
Towwn Holiday Spirit Art Contest
NACADA Urban Sketching Award
2019
Senior Distinction Award – School of Art and Art History, University of Denver
2018
University of Denver Dean’s List [2015 - 2018]
2017
Cherrington Global Scholars Award
Education
Glasgow School of Art
2022 - 2024 | Master of Fine Art
Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design
2020 - 2022 | Master’s of Art in Education Media Design and Technology (Distinction)
University of Denver
2015 - 2019 | Bachelor’s of Art in Studio Art and Communication Studies (Summa Cum Laude)
Maastricht University
2017 | Semester Abroad with the Center for European Studies Program
Professional Practice
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
2026 | Subject Matter Expert in Printmaking
2024 - Current | Adjunct Instructor in Foundations
2022 | Multimedia Specialist
2019 - 2022 | Academic Advisor
Glasgow School of Art
2023 - 2024 | Learning Technology Specialist
Tropical Lab 17, Singapore
2023 | Artist in Residence
40 West Arts
2021-2022 | Artist in Residence
ArtSnacks, LLC
2015 - 2017 | Community Relations and Marketing Internship
Sheldon Museum of Art
2016 | Marketing Internship
Redline Contemporary Art Center
2015 - 2016 | Volunteer
Full CV available upon request
Teaching and Workshops
2026
Foundations Courses | RMCAD (Online and Campus)
Teen Studio Program | Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Screen printing Workshop: Lost Histories
2025
Foundations Courses | RMCAD (Online and Campus)
2024
Foundations Courses | RMCAD (Online and Campus)
Crochet 101 (workshop series), Glasgow Disability Alliance
Crochet Introduction
Granny Square Basics
Print for Palestine: Screen Print Workshop for Palestinian Relief
Poke a Patch for Palestine: Tatreez Embroidery Workshop
2023
Library Technology Breaks (workshop series), Glasgow School of Art
Photoshop for Screen printing
Introduction to Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
Natural Dye and Screen Print (workshop), Glasgow School of Art
Screen Print with Recycled Textiles (workshop), Glasgow School of Art
2022
Volunteer for Steamroller Woodblock Print Event with 40 West Arts District and Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design
Crochet for Beginners (public workshop series) with 40 West Arts District
2021
Professional Practices Guest Lecturer | University of Denver
2020
Professional Practices Guest Lecturer | University of Denver