Valerie Ann Xanos

Valerie Xanos’ (she/her) artistic practice is interdisciplinary, working in analog and digital media to create site specific, immersive installation art. Recent works of the Exiled in Light :|: Never(W)here series, use light projection, video installation, performance, and a digital soundscape to focus on personal narratives of body, memory, and perceptual light shifts inspired by sensual neurodivergent experiences. Her current project, Cosmic Schematics, uses abstract ink drawings as sound and performance scores and will result in large scale, immersive visual and sound installations in collaboration with a musical composer and musician ensemble. Valerie also creates in the media of writing, painting, collage, sculpture, and photography to address personal and social justice issues. She has curated many exhibitions and considers this an integral part of her creative practice.

Valerie has been an art teacher for Continuing Studies since 1997, working in the youth, teen and adult programs. She is a proud alumna of SAIC’s Continuing Studies, as she began her studies there at 12 years old. She has also been a teacher in Chicago Public Schools since 1997 and is known for her work in the AP, IB and ARTivism programs.  Founder of the Guerrilla Art Collective and pilot class for the MCA’s prestigious SPACE program, she and the students work as collaborative artists, tearing apart the teacher-student hierarchy for a democratic and experiential approach to learning.

Valerie Xanos earned a BFA, Teaching Certificate, and MFA from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago and Glasgow School of Art; is an alumna artist of the Chicago Art Department; a contributing member of the Mother Art Revisited Collective.

My art practice is interdisciplinary as I enjoy working with a variety of materials and processes such as drawing and painting, weaving, sculpture, printmaking, collage, installation art, performance, and digital visual and sound media. I employ contemporary methods for a deep practice uninhibited by labels or styles. My work explores personal, social, philosophical, and conceptual themes. I often work in collaboration with other artists on long term installation projects.

My art practice is intersectional with my teaching practice. They are intertwined in a way that each influences the other. My educational work as an artist teacher encompasses mostly conceptual approaches that focus on issues of social justice. Therefore, my artistic work is also part of a strong activist practice for positive change and equality. I view my work as a teacher as part of my artistic practice. What I do with my students is experimental and collaborative. My approach is not only as a teacher or mentor, but as an artist whose work includes my students and their creative journeys. As a teacher, I value both traditional and experimental skills with artistic media and encourage students to not only develop strong technique, but to also “break” those rules to discover exciting explorative ways to approach art making.