CV
Born in Newark, New York
Resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota
F-O-K Studios St. Paul, Minnesota
EDUCATION
2002
MA in Human Development, St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis, MN;
Focus: Holistic Health
Position Paper: Pleasure, Passion, and Play: A Pleasure Based Wellness Model
Board Certified—Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate (2019)
1987
BS with Distinction in Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI;
Certificate: Gender and Women’s Studies
2018
Women’s Art Institute, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN
Month-long Studio Intensive
2017
Month-long Individual Study: 4 master basketmakers, 1 fiber artist, Ireland
AWARDS, GRANTS and HONORS
2025
McKnight Fellowship for Fiber Artists, Semi-finalist
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Arts Impact for Individuals Grant
Minnesota State Arts Board, Creative Individuals Grant
2024
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Arts Impact for Individuals Grant
2023
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Arts Impact for Individuals Grant
Sievers School of Fiber Arts, Washington Island, WI, Merit Scholarship
Minnesota State Arts Board, Creative Support for Individuals Grant
2022
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Arts Impact for Individuals Grant
Minnesota State Arts Board, Creative Support for Individuals Grant
2021
McKnight Visual Artist Fellowship, Finalist
Minnesota State Arts Board, Creative Support for Individuals Grant
2020
North Country Studio Workshops, Bennington, VT, Merit Scholarship
2019
Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist Initiative Grant
2018
Women’s Art Institute, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, Merit Scholarship
2017
John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC, Merit Scholarship
Peters Valley School of Craft, Layton, NJ, Merit Scholarship
Artability, St. Paul, MN, Best Social Commentary Award, “Medicine Basket with Safety Net”
National Basketry Organization, art selected as 1 of 40 out of 332 pieces for US tour, “Braided Curves”
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2022
Lanesboro Arts & Jerome Foundation Artist Residency, Lanesboro, MN
2019
Anderson Center at Tower View, Red Wing, MN
2018
Hinge Arts Career Development Residency, Springboard for the Arts, Fergus Falls, MN
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
Fiber, Fragment and Form, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
2025
Weaving Ancestry: Exploring Norwegian, Swedish, and French cultural connections in sculptural basketry by Martha Bird, Nordic Center, Duluth, MN
2024
Constellations of Connection: Willow Work by Martha Bird, Vail Communities, St. Paul, MN
Weaving Wholeness, F-O-K Studios Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Ethereal Echo, F-O-K Studios Gallery, St. Paul, MN
2023-24
In Sight; Sight In, Susan Hensel Gallery, artsy.net
Body Spiral, Bus Shelter Beautification, Metro Transit, Metropolitan Council, Minneapolis, MN
2023
A World Beyond, First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, MN
in, out, Through. Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN
2022
Process of Wholeness, Sylvan Park, Lanesboro, MN
2021-22
Body Fragmented, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
Body Work, Susan Hensel Gallery, artsy.net (catalog)
2021
Rooted Reckonings, Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN
2019-20
Basketry To Enhance Health, Hennepin County Library—East Lake, Minneapolis, MN
2019
The Forest Breathes, Otter Tail County Historical Museum, Fergus Falls, MN
Listen, Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN
2018
Weaving Wellness: Art, Community and Mental Health Resilience, MN History Center, St. Paul, MN
2016
Connections: A Solo Show from Martha Bird, Avivo, Minneapolis, MN
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025-26
Art Ability Exhibition and Sale, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
2025
BYOB 25: Bring Your Own Basket, National Basketry Organization, Kittredge Gallery, Tacoma, WA
Between You and Me, Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Upwards, History Theater, St. Paul, MN
Mental Health, Finding Creative Solace (touring), ArtReach St. Croix and Washington County Historical Courthouse, Stillwater, MN; Belwin Conservancy, Afton, MN
Common Thread at the Carnegie, Carnegie Art Center, Mankato, MN
2024-25
Art Ability Exhibition and Sale, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
2024
Constellation: Women’s invitational Small Works Show, SLA Gallery, NY, NY
Women Take the Walls, Garrett Museum of Art, Garrett, IN
Unearthed, ArT @ 967 Payne, St. Paul, MN
What Fierce Looks Like: Artists of the Women’s Art Institute, Form + Content, Minneapolis, MN
A Common Thread 2024, Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN
2023-24
Art Ability Exhibition and Sale, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
2023
Our Stories, History Theatre, St. Paul, MN (invitational)
Momentary Certainties 2023, Eagan Art House, Eagan, MN
KINETIC, The Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Yarmouth, MA
Tenuous Threads, Atlantic Gallery, Chelsea Arts District, New York, NY (Juror: Patricia Miranda, Founder, The Crit Lab & MAPSpace, New York, NY) (catalog)
From Fiber, Springfield Art Association Visual Art Center, Springfield, IL (Juror: Ann Coddington, Professor of Art at Eastern Illinois University)
Fine Arts Exhibition, MN State Fair, Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN
Fibers of Nature, Hayloft Gallery, Floyd Center for the Arts, Floyd, VA
From the Earth, Kavanagh Gallery, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL
REVOLUTIONARY: the feminine perspective beyond 50, Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
In the Middle, Hub Gallery, MSS, St. Paul, MN
2022-23
Art Ability Exhibition and Sale, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA (juried, international)
2022
Colors of Spring, ArT @ 967 Payne, St. Paul, MN
Two Hundred Six, Art at the Bridgewater, Minneapolis, MN
Eye to Eye, Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Uncommon Threads, San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center/Southern California Open Regional Exhibitions, Encino, CA (Juror: Jeanne Medina Le, Assistant Professor 3D Media & Program Head— Fiber, California State University Long Beach)
Artability Art Show, Union Depot, St. Paul, MN
2021-22
Art Ability Exhibition and Sale, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
Crossroads, Best Buy Foundation Gallery, Hennepin Theater Trust, Minneapolis, MN
2021
Collars for RBG, Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN
Woven, Inez Greenberg Gallery, Artistry, Bloomington, MN
CollabArts Vol.3, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN
Create Connections 2021 (touring), Art Works, Eagan, MN; Ames Center, Burnsville, MN
Momentary Certainties 2021, Eagan Art House, Eagan, MN
Reflections: Living Creatively, Twin Cities Premium Outlets, Eagan, MN
Intertwining Stories: A Macro Macramé, Haley Harnagel & Art Works, Eagan, MN
2020
Fine Arts Exhibition, MN State Fair, Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN
Momentary Certainties, Eagan Art House, Eagan, MN
Foot in the Door 5: The Virtual Exhibition, Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN
Collaboration: Annual Member Show, Art Works, Eagan, MN
Observation: The Human Form, Art Works, Eagan, MN
Organized Chaos, Eagan Art House, Minneapolis, MN
Peace in the Home (Shalom Bayit), Sabes & St. Paul Jewish Community Center, St. Paul, MN
2019
inVISIBLE, World Mental Health Day, UCare Health Plan & CIRCA Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
What Is Forbidden, Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN
THIS IS WOMEN’S WORK: Women’s Art Institute Class of 2018, Howard Conn Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
More Basketry, Celebrating Our Community, Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center, Bowling Green, KY
A Week’s Work, Tradition & Innovation in Basketry 10, West Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Art Works = More Than the Sum Of Its Parts, Art Works, Eagan, MN
2018-19
AWE: Membership Invitational Showcase, Art Works, Eagan, MN
2018
Whimsical Weaving, Association of Michigan Basketmakers Convention, Bellaire, MI
Work from The Women’s Art Institute, Catherine Murphy Gallery, St. Catherine University, St.Paul, MN
Art in Bloom, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
A Rare and Revealing Look at Mental Illness, History Theater, St. Paul, MN
A Common Thread, Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN
2017-18
All Things Considered 9: Basketry in the 21st Century (touring), Tacoma, WA; Layton, NJ; Boston, MA (Juror: Lloyd Herman, Founding Director, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC) (catalog)
To Really See (touring exhibition), Cargill Gallery and University of MN, Minneapolis, MN; St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, MN
2017
Water’s Edge, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS, ARTIST TALKS, and PANELS
2026
Artist Talk, Cultivating Willow: Building Community through the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN, February 21.
2025
Presentation, Ancestry, Disability, and Mental Health: Connecting the Knutkorg Basket to Duluth and the Art Practice of Martha Bird, Nordic Center, Duluth, MN, October 4.
Artist Talk, Weaving Ancestry: Exploring Norwegian, Swedish, and French cultural connections in sculptural basketry by Martha Bird, Nordic Center, Duluth, MN, September 5.
Artist Talk, Arts Roseville: Featured Artists Program, Ramsey County Library, MN, November 8.
Artist Talk, St. Paul Art Crawl, F-O-K Studios, St. Paul
2024
Artist Talk, Weaving for Wellbeing, Vail Communities, Minneapolis, MN, August 15.
Artist Talk, What Fierce Looks Like, Form + Content, Minneapolis, MN, May 11.
Artist Talk, Unearthed, ArT @ 967 Payne, St. Paul, MN, February 16.
Artist Talk, Community Engagement & Basketry, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, February 2.
2023
Teaching Artist Talk, Weaving Wellness, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, August 3.
Artist Talk, "Art & Soul" with Davu Seru and Martha Bird, First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, MN, July 16.
Artist Talk, in, out, Through. Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN, March 18.
2022
Artist Talk, Community Engagement & Basketry, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, December 8.
Artist Talk, Uncommon Threads, San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center/Southern California Open Regional, December 3.
Artist Talk, Discussion & Sculpture Reveal, Sylvan Park, Lanesboro, MN, September 8.
Presentation & Discussion, Basketry and Wellness, St. Mane Theatre, Lanesboro, MN, August 20.
Artist Talk, Lanesboro Arts, Lanesboro, MN, August 16.
Artist Talk, Eye to Eye, First Birthday Bash Fundraiser for Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, July 9.
Artist Talk, Two Hundred Six, Art at the Bridgewater, Minneapolis, MN, May 2.
2021
Artist Talk, Rooted Reckonings, Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN, June 19.
Presentation, Addressing Stigma: Reclaiming Basketry, Avivo, Minneapolis, MN, May 4.
Artist Talk, Woven, Artistry, Bloomington, MN, February 9.
2020
Panel, Fundraising in a Crisis Like COVID, USA Clubhouse Conference, October 8.
Presentation, Meditation on Mental Health, First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, MN, October 7.
Artist talk & Studio Tour, Observation: The Human Form, Art Works, Eagan, MN, September 20.
Artist Talk, Momentary Certainties, Eagan Art House, Eagan, MN, September 20.
2019
Presentation, Winter Wellness: Basketry, Hennepin County Library—East Lake, Minneapolis, MN, December 29
Presentation, Reclaiming Basketry: Working Through Stigma To Reach Creative Potential
various locations:
Otter Tail County Historical Museum, Fergus Falls, MN, September 21.
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, July 13 (in conjunction with Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America exhibit)
Artist Talk/Studio Tour, Sculptural Basketry, Anderson Center Tower View, Red Wing, MN, August 20.
Presentation, Basket Weaving for Healing PTSD in Veterans: History, Research and Resources, Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, May 14.
2018
Presentation, Reclaiming Basketry: Working Through Stigma to Reach Creative Potential
various locations:
Program in Occupational Therapy, Center for Allied Health Programs, University of MN , Minneapolis, MN December 12; Rochester, MN, December 13.
Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN, October 9.
Health Counseling Services, Minneapolis, MN, September 10.
Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN, March 20.
Society of Arts + Crafts, Boston, MA, March 31.
Presentation, Basketry: Beyond Stigma, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, January 16.
Artist Talk, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN, September 25.
Artist Talk, Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, July 22.
Artist Talk, Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN, March 13.
2017
Artist Talk, The Show Gallery, St. Paul, MN, November 11.
Panel, To Really See, Hennepin County Library—Central, Minneapolis, MN, September 27.
Curator Presentation, Water’s Edge, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN, April 29.
SELECTED TEACHING and MENTORING
2026
Braiding Sweetgrass As Balm (guest teacher), Native Voices of Power Exhibit, Marlena Myles, FOK Studios, St. Paul, MN, January 11.
2025
Making a Willow Brigid’s Cross, Duluth Public Library, Duluth, MN, October 4.
Basketry and Celebrating Community, Vail Communities, St. Paul, MN, June, July, August.
2024
Design Your Own Square Basket, F-O-K Studios, St. Paul, MN, November 2, 9.
Weaving for Wellbeing, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, June, July, August.
2023
Farmers Market Basket, Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN, October 21, 22.
Weaving Wellness: Farmers Market Basket, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, June 8, 22; July 6, 20, August 3
Winter Wellness: Basketry, Hennepin County Library—East Lake, Minneapolis, MN, February 4.
2022
Willow Preparation/Gathering, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, Lanesboro, MN, August 27.
Brigid’s Cross, Sylvan Park, Lanesboro, MN, August 23.
Individualized Teaching: Basketry/Weaving, (1 individual), Eagan, MN, 7 sessions in May.
Mindful Art: Basketry, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14,
August 11, September 15, October 13, November 10.
2021
Brigid’s Cross: Symbol of Protection, Red Hot Art Festival, Minneapolis, MN, July 11.
2020
Mentoring, Basketry, Minneapolis resident (Lakota), Minneapolis, MN, June-November.
Mentoring, Basketry, (suburban park district staff), Eagan, MN
2019
Winter Wellness: Basketry, Hennepin County Library—East Lake, Minneapolis, MN, December 29.
Brigid’s Cross, Nature-Based Therapeutic Services, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum & Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of MN, Chaska, MN, November 6.
SELECTED COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
2022
Swirls Cathead Basket, Flat Weaving Swirls, Forest Swirls, Swirls Collage (multidisciplinary), Collaborator: Danielle Day
exhibited in Eye to Eye, Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis, MN; In the Middle, Hub Gallery, MSS, St. Paul, MN
2021
Dancing Willow (multidisciplinary), Collaborator: Shannon Hartle
exhibited in CollabArts Vol.3, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN; Momentary Certainties 2021, Eagan Art House, Eagan, MN
RBG: One Step at a Time (multidisciplinary), Collaborators: Natalia Pederson, Angélica Morales
exhibited in Create Connections 2021 (touring), Art Works, Eagan, MN; Ames Center, Burnsville, MN
2018
Wayward, (multidisciplinary), Collaborators: Chris Mueller, Craig Gilbert
exhibited in Art in Bloom, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2018
Weaving Wellness: Art, Community, and Mental Health Resilience, MN History Center, St. Paul, MN
2017
Water’s Edge, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
Divergent Offerings, The Show Gallery, St. Paul, MN (co-curated with Women’s Art Resources of MN & Avivo ArtWorks Collective)
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Public
Garrett Museum of Art, Garret, IN
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
Newark-Arcadia Historical Society, Newark, NY
Romulus Historical Society, Romulus, MI
St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
Private
Modera Six Pines, Shenandoah, TX
Robert Jones Collection, New York City, NY
Various private collections
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2023
Jonathon M. Clark, “In Sight; Sight In: Walking the Cosmic with Others,” Susan Hensel Gallery, artsy.net
“Martha: Introducing the Art of Basketry to the Clubhouse,” 2022 Annual Report, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, August. 3.
2022
Andrea Specht, “Craft as a powerful force for healing, connection and social change,” MinnPost, December 21.
“Lanesboro Arts hosts willow sculptor this fall,” Winona Post, Winona, MN, August 3.
2021
Jonathon M. Clark, “Body Work: Martha Bird and the Art of Mortality,” Susan Hensel Gallery, artsy.net
“Martha Bird; named a McKnight Finalist!” Uptown Updates, Vail Place, Minneapolis, MN, July. 11.
H. Kantrud, “Kaddatz Galleries showcasing three artists,” The Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN, June 9.
Ruth Nerhaugen, “Weaving Toward Wholeness,” Republican Eagle, Red Wing, MN, May 24 (republish).
Alicia Eler, “Five gallery shows to brighten January,” Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, January 15. E8.
2020
Laine Bergeson, “The wonders of weaving,” Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, March 22 (invitational).
2019
“Reclaiming Basketry,” The Phoenix Spirit, September/October. 2.
Johanna Armstrong, “Artist shows the limitlessness of basketry in two exhibits,” The Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN, September 14. B1.
Johanna Armstrong, “Many ways to heal,” The Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN, September 14. B1.
“OTCHS, Kaddatz to showcase joint exhibit,” The Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN, September 3.
Ruth Nerhaugen, “Weaving Toward Wholeness,” Republican Eagle, Red Wing, MN, August 17. B6.
Otter Tail County Historical Society Newsletter, Spring/Summer 45(2). 11.
2018
“From Nursing to Basket-Weaving," Minnesota Women’s Press, December. 5.
Art in Bloom, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN, April 26.
Artist Feature, Spokes and Weavers, April (2).
Kristin Goosen, “Baskets and Books: Two Hinge Artists at the Kirkbride Residency bring their talents to Fergus Falls area,” Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN, March 17. B1.
2017
Kelly Savage, “Business Spotlight—Martha Bird: Artist,” Corcoran Newspaper, Minneapolis MN.
“Martha Bird—The Art of Recovery” (with photos), Vail Place Newsletter, Minneapolis, MN, Fall. 5.
Visionary Journal, Vail Place, October 2017 (2)10. 5.
JURY PANELS
2024
Metro Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN, Flexible Support
2023
Metro Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN, Flexible Support Round 1
2022
Metro Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN, Arts Impact for Groups
2021
Metro Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN, Flexible Support Grant Round 3
Metro Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN, Flexible Support Grant Round 2
2020
Metro Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN, Flexible Support Grant Round 1
2019
Minnesota State Arts Board, St. Paul, MN, Artist Initiative Grant
GALLERY AFFILIATION (past and present)
Lanesboro Arts Gallery, Lanesboro, MN
Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (+Artsy.net)