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About

Bernblum is a cross disciplinary, conceptually based artist with a deep interest in ideas related to human nature, power and vulnerability. She focuses primarily on the way we frame our sense of self in regard to gender, sexuality, pleasure and desire. Bernblum always invites you to play a role.

Bernblum has shown at venues including: Aspect/Ratio Gallery, The Arts Club, Goldfinch Projects, Terrain Exhibitions, and Weinberg/Newton Gallery in Chicago, Illinois; The Brooklyn International Film Festival, September Gallery, Artist’s Space and The Elizabeth Foundation in New York, New York; The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

 


She received her MFA from Columbia University in New York and her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Contact: irisbernblum@gmail.com

 

Recent Press

Jonathan Stevenson "Art and the Adolescent Impulse"

Two Coats of Paint, June 18th 2026 

Top 50 Chicago Artists's Artists, NewCity, September 5, 2023.

Annette LePique.  “Seeing double: Artist Iris Bernblum positions herself as both subject and object at Goldfinch.” Chicago Reader, May 19, 2023. 

 

Ally Fouts. “An Unspoken Secret: A Review of Iris Bernblum’s “Various Pleasures” at Goldfinch Gallery." NewCity Art, May 19, 2023.

Jen Torwudzo-Stroh. "Iris Bernblum “Submissions.”" Chicago Artist-Writers, July 12, 2021

Episode 782 Iris Bernblum. Bad At Sports (podcast), Nov 18, 2021. 

 

Lori Waxman. “The Blooming West Town Gallery Scene: Why So Many Artists Are Into Plants and Vases This Fall.” Chicago Tribune, November 27, 2018. 

Elliot Reichert. "Art Top 5: November 2018," NewCity Art, October 25, 2018

 

​"Top Weekend Picks" Bad At Sports (blog), Oct 25, 2018.

 

Matt Morris, "Borderland Creatures: Lise Haller Baggesen & Iris Bernblum at Goldfinch." Gender Assignment, July 9, 2018.

 

"Top Weekend Picks" Bad At Sports (blog), May 4, 2017. 

 

Vasia Rigou, "Iris Bernblum Seeks to Reveal your Inner Beast." Rainbowed. May 31, 2017.

 

Elizabeth Lalley, "'Simple Pleasures' at Heaven Gallery." Chicago Artist-Writers, March 17, 2017.

 

Elliot Reichert. "Newcity’s Top 5 of Everything 2016: Visual Arts." NewCity Art, December 15, 2016.

 

Noah Hanna, "Let the Performance Begin: Iris Bernblum in Profile." NewCity Art, May 23, 2016. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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