Born 1966, Nyack, NY. 7lbs.
Lives and works in Lawrence, Kansas
SOLO & TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2023 LIVING, BEING // Farm Projects, Wellfleet, MA
2021 TEMPLATE DAYS: MAY TVEIT & AVANTIKA BAWA // UK Art Museum, Lexington, KY
2020 FIELDS, PLANES, SYSTEMS: SELF // Farm Projects, Wellfleet, MA
2019 DROP UNIT // Greenlease Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2017-18 UNIVERSAL BOXES // The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS
2012 PRODUCT PLACEMENT: MADISON AVE. / NOSTRAND AVE. // Gridspace, Brooklyn, NY
2009 FIELD TEST // Farm Projects, Wellfleet, MA
2007 INNER PACKAGE // UCM Gallery, Warrensberg, MO
2007 INNER PACKAGE // Studios Inc., Kansas City, MO
2004 UNITED DIVIDED // United Metal Spinning Company, Kansas City, MO
2002 RETAIL THERAPY // Epsten Gallery, Village Shalom, Kansas City, MO
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 COSMIC GEOMETRIES: The Prarie's Edge // Secrist Beach, Chicago, IL
2021 ART ON PAPER // Weatherspoon Museum, Greensboro, NC
2021 RESIDENTS EXHIBITION // Patton Mallot Gallery, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass, CO
2018, 2021 KANSAS CITY FLAT FILE & DIGITAL FILE // H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
2015 BROADSHEETS // Greenlease Gallery, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
2014 FROSTED FLAKES // Etherington Art, Marfa, TX
2013 RISES ZORA // Kansas City, MO - screened Product Placement, Black Friday
2012 RAPID TRANSIT // Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2012 BIG RED // Art OMI, via The Fields Sculpture Park, Ghent, NY - offsite field slated for housing development
2011 AMERICA HERE AND NOW // Leedy Voulkas Gallery, Kansas City, MO, Curated by: Eric Fischl & Yosi Sergant
2011 60 SECOND TAKE: The Local Face of Globalism // H&R Block Artspace, Screened: Citizenship, Kansas City, MO
2010 CONVERSATION MATTER, Dialogue By Design: Experimental Platforms for Intimate Conversations // Grand Arts, Kansas City, MO
2010 SANCTIONED ARRAY // Whitebox Gallery, New York, NY
2010 PRODUCT PLACEMENT // Schoolhouse Gallery, Provincetown, MA
2010 FIT // Studios Inc, Kansas City, MO - globalspeak
2009 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEARTLAND // APF LAB, Art Production Fund, New York, NY
2008 ART THE VOTE // Billboard Project, Kansas City, MO, Saint Louis, MO
2006 BETWEEN THE OBSERVER AND THE OBSERVED // Lianzhou, China
2006 AMERICAN DREAM IN QUESTION // Belger Art Center, Kansas City, MO
2006 GLOBALSPEAK // Studios Inc., Kansas City, MO
2004 FANTASIES AND REVIVALS: KANSAS CITY’S URBAN FUTURE // Paragraph Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2004 A SUPERMARKET OF FINE ART // UNI Gallery of Art, Cedar Falls, IA
2003 BIG AND BEAUTIFUL // H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
2003 RIVER MARKET REGIONAL // Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO
2003 BIG WORKS // Arts Incubator, Kansas City, MO
2002 THREE RING CIRCUS; A CURATORIAL SPECTACLE // Leedy Voulkas Arts Center, Kansas City, MO
2002 CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION AWARD EXHIBITION // JCCC Gallery of Art, Overland Park, KS, Essay by: Randy Griffey
2001 PIEROGI FLATFILES / KANSAS CITY FLATFILES // H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
2001 NEWALITY // Shaw Hofstra, Kansas City, MO
2001 AVENUE OF THE ARTS / CURTAIN WALL // Kansas City, MO
1999 IN PROGRESS / CORNER // Kansas City, MO
1999 PAILS, BUCKETS, & CANS // Chalmers Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
PUBLIC PROJECTS
2014 TYPECAST RECAST // Bemis Art Center + Anti-Defamation League, Omaha, NE – finalist
2006 WYANDOTTE BRIDGE PROJECT // Kansas City, MO, 1% for ART – finalist
2005 JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE // Kansas City, MO, 1% for ART – finalist
2002 KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT // Kansas City, MO 1% for ART – semi-finalist
2001 11th & OAK PARKING STRUCTURE // Kansas City, MO 1% for ART – finalist
2001 AVENUE OF THE ARTS / CURTAIN WALL // Kansas City, MO – realized
2001 ARTS IN TRANSIT // St. Louis, MO – unrealized
1999 WYANDOTTE PROJECT // Kansas City, MO – public interior / private commission
1999 TROZZOLLO PARK // Urban Memorial Park, Kansas City, MO, private commission – unrealized
COLLECTIONS
ANDREWS MCMEEL PUBLISHING // Kansas City, MO
BARKLEY // Kansas City, MO
CAPITOL FEDERAL HALL // Lawrence, KS
EMPRISE ART COLLECTION // Wichita, KS
FISHNET SECURITY // Kansas City, MO
HALLMARK ART COLLECTION // Kansas City, MO
LAWRENCE PAPER COMPANY // Lawrence, KS
MDC MUSEUM OF ART & DESIGN // Miami, FL
NATIONAL CENTER FOR DRUG FREE SPORT // Kansas City, MO
UK ART MUSEUM // Lexington, KY
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
RESIDENCIES
2021 ANDERSON RANCH // Snowmass, CO
2021 HAYSTACK // Deere Isle, ME
2020 FARM PROJECTS // Wellfleet, MA
2019 FRANS MASEREEL CENTRUM // Kasterlee, Belgium
2018 OFFICINA STAMPERIA DEL NOTAIO // Tusa, Sicily
2010 ART OMI // Ghent, NY
GRANTS / AWARDS (selected)
2018 United States Artist Award // Nominee
2018 Lighton International Artist Exchange Program, Grant // Frans Masereel Residency
2010 Andy Warhol Foundation / Charlotte Street Foundation: Rocket Grant // Product Placement
2010 Arts KC Inspiration Grant // Product Placement
2009 Arts KC Inspiration Grant // Field Test
2007 AIA American Institute of Architects // Allied Arts & Craftsmanship Award
2007 Creative Capital Professional Development Workshop // Award
2006-2010 Review Studios // Mid-Career Studio Award
2002 Charlotte Street Foundation Fellowship // Award
2002 Hall Center for the Humanities Creative Work Fellowship // Award
PUBLICATIONS (selected)
Provincetown Arts Magazine, Megan Hinton, All of her “Un’s”, July 2020, featured monoprint
KC Studio Magazine, Brian Hearn, Universal Boxes, Friday, January 5, 2018
NPR / KCUR, CJ Janovy, Universal Boxes, Friday, January 5, 2018
Kansas City Star, Product Placement, Rises Zora, 2014
Bad At Sports, Jamilee Polson Lacy, Rights of Passage in Kansas City: through the Labyrinth, June 7, 2013
Art Practical, Art Practical Editors, Loosed Limits and Imaginary Lines, February 27, 2012
Journal of Ideas, Durganand Balsavar Nandan, Rapid Transit/Product Placement, Channai, India, December 2012
National Mongolian Radio, Uyanga Ganchangaa, Rapid/Transit, Ulaanbaataar, Mongolia, July 2012
Kansas City Star, Theresa Bembnister, Rocket Grants propel Artistic Innovation, January 1, 2011
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Rocket Grants, June 6, 2010
Kansas City Star, Suzanne P. Cole, Color Field, October 25, 2009
Provincetown Banner, Reva Blau, Save the Bales. July 23, 2009
Architect magazine, Katie Gerfen, National Center for Drug Free Sport, July 31, 2009
Art in America, Stephen Maine, Report from Kansas City: Live-Work Options, Oct. 2008
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Where Art Works,February 6, 2008
Kansas City Star, Steve Paul, Simply Sexy Structures, November 11, 2007
Charlotte Street Foundation: 10, May Tveit, essay by Dr. Maria Elena Buszek, October, 2007
The Pitch, Dana Self, Made In......March 29, 2007
Kansas City Star, I Teresa Bembnister, Inner Package, 2007
The Pitch, Ray T. Barker, Our critics recommend these shows...American Dream: In Question, 2006
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Five Don’t-Miss Exhibits, Aug. 27, 2006
Kansas City Star, Robin Trafton, FYI Thought-provoking Art, July 8, 2006
KCUR / NPR, Up to Date, Steve Kraske, United/Divided interview with May Tveit, May 14, 2004
ljworld.com, Alice Thorson, artnotes: Artist’s installation explores work, identity, May 9, 2004
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Spotlight: May Tveit, May 14, 2004
Channel 6 news, Mindie Paget, Art a la carte, Friday, May 14, 2004
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, Attention Wall-Art Shoppers, Melody Parker, February 15, 2004
KCUR / NPR, Up to Date, Steve Kraske, Charlotte Street Fund, December 20, 2004
Review, Heather Lustfeldt, Charlotte Street Celebrates Six Years, Six Artists, November 2003
Art Papers, Heather Lustfeldt, Charlotte Street Fund Exhibition, March-April, November 2003
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Avenue Achievement, October 18, 2003
Review, Kate Hackman, High Design, Middle America & the Toilet Brush, February/March 2003
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, A Fund of Talent, December 15, 2002
Art in America, Charlotte Street Fund, November 2002
Art in America, Alice Thorson, May Tveit at Gallery at Village Shalom, November 2002
Art in America, Gallery Guide, Art in Kansas City, May Tveit at Gallery at Village Shalom, Retail Therapy, August 2002
Review, Kate Hackman, An Art Necessity, November 2002
KCUR / NPR, Lara Spencer, Big And Beautiful, September 6, 2002
Kansas City Star, Elizabeth Kirsch, Beauty and Brains, September 20, 2002
MV Times, Della B. Hardman, About Town, September 2002
Art in America, Gallery Guide, Art in Kansas City, May Tveit at Gallery at Village Shalom, Retail Therapy, August 2002
Review, Tamara Haddad, Demystifying the Public Art Process, July-August 2002
Review, Kate Hackman, Money as Material, May June 2002
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Rewarding New Ideas, March 17, 2002
Review, Hesse McGraw, America After: Bargaining for Meaning, March/April 2002
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Every Artwork Must Go!, February 8, 2002
Review, Kate Hackman, May Tveit: Retail Therapy, February 2002
Review, Kate Hackman, Three Ring Circus: A Curatorial Spectacle, February 2002
Kansas City Jewish Chronical, Retail Therapy, February 2002
KCUR/NPR, Lara Spencer, Retail Therapy, January 2002
The Pitch, Debra Di Blasi, Souls For Sale, January 24, 2002
Kansas City Jewish Chronical, Retail Therapy Opens Up at Gallery Village Shalom, January 2002
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Top 100 Moments in KC Entertainment & the Arts, Avenue of the Arts, December 2001
Greater Kansas City Business, Kate Lee, The Art of it All, September 2001
Kansas City Star, Kate Hackman, Visual Relief, July 13, 2001
Kansas City Star, Heather Lustfeld, All revved Up and Somewhere to Show, July 2001
Review, Kate Hackman, Avenue of the Arts, June 2001
119th & NO WHERE, May Tveit, The Architecture of Entertainment issue, Review Magazine, Art & Culture Periodical
KCUR / NPR, Mayor Emmanuel Cleaver, Under the Clock, Public Art Forum, May 2001
KMBC 9 news, Larry Moore, Public Art, Public Life, May 2001
KMBC 9 news, Larry Moore, Avenue of the Arts, May 2001
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Curtains Going Up on Art, April 5, 2001
Kansas City Star, Alice Thorson, Taking it to the Street Again, January 27, 2001
BOOK
1993 MAY TVEIT / MERONE PER MERONE // Author of a critical analysis of a cement industry’s intent to site an art museum within a working factory.
Progetti di Interventi Ambientali / Environmental Projects // 600 copies printed // Quaderni Aldebaran, n. 2, July 1993, Milan Italy
Text by: Sibylle Kircherer, Patrizia Scarzella, May Tveit
LECTURES (selected)
2023 PRESERVATION HALL // LIVING, BEING >> art & industry collaboration, appropriation & human connection, Wellfleet, MA
2022 PRESERVATION HALL // In the Studio, Cole Barash, Megan Hinton, & May Tveit, Wellfleet, MA
2021 ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER // Snowmass, CO
2021 HAYSTACK // Deere Island, ME
2019 RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN // Providence, RI - Printmaking Visiting Artist
2019 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS // Denton, TX - Printmaking Visiting Artist
2019 ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY // Drop Unit, Round Table Discussion, Kansas City, MO
2017 NERMAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART // Johnson County, KS
2011 THE CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION // Kansas City, MO - Artist Keynote Speaker
2008 NELSON ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART // Resting, Living, Making, Being: with Michael Cross, Kansas City, MO
2008 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY // Art the Vote, St. Louis, MO
2002 JCCC GALLERY OF ART // Overland Park, KS - Charlotte Street Fellowship Award
2000 SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART // Lawrence, KS
2000 HALLMARK // Kansas City, MO
2000 PARSONS NEW SCHOOL // New York, NY - Interior Architecture Visiting Artist
2000 CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART // Bloomfield Hills, MI - Architecture Visiting Artist
1999 RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN // Providence, RI
1997 KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE // Kansas City, MO
TEACHING
1999 - Present UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS // Lawrence, KS - Associate Professor
1996 - 1999 KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE // Kansas City, MO - Assistant Professor
1995 - 1996 RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN // Providence, RI - Special Instructor
EDUCATION
1991 MID DOMUS ACADEMY // Milan, Italy
1989 BFA RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN // Providence, RI
1988 EUROPEAN HONORS PROGRAM, RISD ROME // Rome, Italy