artist John Ilg in a blue shirt standing next to pieces of art

Biography

 

  • John Ilg received a BFA with highest honors and an MFA from the University of Minnesota and was elected to the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Societies. John has been the recipient of several grants and awards from the University of Minnesota, Jerome Foundation, Minnesota Artists Association, and others. More recently, his works have been shown in numerous juried exhibitions nationwide, several of which have received special honor and merit awards. Curators for some of these exhibitions have been staff members at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, and The Whitney Museum of Art as well as other respected arts organizations locally and nationwide. John was one of a small number of Minnesotans to submit a design for the World Trade Center Memorial Competition administered by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. John has received many positive reviews in print as well as many references on the web. He operates a 1000-square-foot studio in Lowertown St. Paul.

  • University of Minnesota (1976–1980) Bachelors in Fine Arts (BFA) summa cum laude

    University of Minnesota (1980–1983) Masters in Fine Arts (MFA)

    • Normandale Community College, 2010.

    • American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland, 2009.

    • Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, 1995.

    • Myers Thompson P.A., Minneapolis, MN, 1994.

    • The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, 1993.

    • University of Minnesota, Jerome Foundation Grant Purchase Award, Young Minnesota Artists, 1982.

    • Other corporate and private collections in the United States, England, France, Italy and Australia.

    • Charter Member of Minnesota Chapter of Golden Key Honor Society, 1980. (1980–present)

    • Elected into Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, 1980. (1980–present)

  • Work Experience

    Self employed (1983–present)

    Teaching Experience

    University of Minnesota (1981–1983)
    Graduate TA; Drawing, watercolor, color theory

    University of Minnesota; Fall 1981 through Summer Session II 1983, as follows:

    ArtS 3140, Fall 1981. Drawing.
    ArtS 3140, Winter 1982. Watercolor.
    ArtS 3140, Spring 1982. Color Theory.
    ArtS 3140, Fall 1982. Drawing.
    ArtS 3140, Winter 1983. Color Theory.
    ArtS 1102, Spring 1983. Drawing.
    ArtS 1102, Summer Session I 1983. Drawing.
    ArtS 1102, Summer Session II 1983. Drawing.

    • Honorable Mention: Not Getting Better, sculpture. White Bear Center for the Arts, 2022“ Northern Lights 48th Annual Juried Art Exhibition,” White Bear Lake, MN 2022

    • Honorable Mention: Scrooge, 2-color woodcut. AZ Gallery, “Fire & Ice - A Winter Carnival Art Show,” St. Paul, MN, 2021.

    • Merit Award: Midnight Mass, charcoal drawing. Saint Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Envisioning Hope in Troubled Times,” Maplewood, MN, 2019.

    • Cover design for Maureen Aitken’s award-winning story collection “The Patron Saint of Lost Girls” was named a finalist for the “da Vinci Eye Award” for outstanding cover art, Titusville, NJ, 2019.

    • Honorable Mention Award: Treaty. Minnesota State Fair, “106th Fine Arts Exhibition,” Minneapolis, MN, 2017.

    • First Place Juror Award: Mixed Media: Mirror, Mirror, “22nd Annual Arts in Harmony International Show,” Blaine, MN, 2017.

    • Merit Award: Mirror, Mirror. The Artistry, “40th Annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibition,” Bloomington, MN, 2016.

    • Excellence in 2D Award for Untitled (Elegy to Sandy Hook), butterflies, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; “37th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition,” November 2013.

    • Merit Award: Not Getting Better, digital prints in glass syringes, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; “36th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition,” November 2012.

    • Third Prize: War on Terrorism, mousetraps, oil stain and wood sculpture. “10th National Juried Exhibition, Ceres Gallery, New York, New York; 2012. Juror: Samantha Rippner, Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints at the Metropolitan Museum, NYC.

    • Award of Merit: Grandma's Pills, digital print in gelcaps, “Arts in Harmony National Juried Art Show, Arts Alliance,” Elk River MN, 2012.

    • Award of Excellence for Honesty, galvanized metal and dollar bills, “Arts in Harmony National Juried Art Show,” Arts Alliance, Elk River MN, 2011.

    • Merit Award: Recession Blues, digital prints, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; “34th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition,” November 2010.

    • Merit Award: Grandma’s Pills, paper in gelcaps, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; “33rd Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition,” November 2009.

    • First Place: Honesty, galvanized metal and dollar bills, “97th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair,” 2008. Awarded by Olga Viso, 2008 sculpture juror and Director of the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden.

    • Media Winner: “Spring 2008 St. Paul Art Crawl Poster Competition.“ Grandma’s Pills, laser-cut photo in gelcaps.

    • Merit Award for House Divided (109th Congress), glass and plastic sculpture, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; “31st Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition,” June 2007.

    • Third Place award: Treaty, oil pastel on paper, “94th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition,” Minnesota State Fair, 2005.

    • People’s Choice Award: War on Terrorism, “93rd Annual Fine Arts Exhibition,” Minnesota State Fair, 2004.

    • Honorable Mention: War on Terrorism, oil stain on mousetraps, 93rd Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, 2004.

    • Honorable Mention: Peace Piece, oil pastel on paper, 91st Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, 2002.

    • Winner: Spring 2000 St. Paul Art Crawl Poster Competition. The winning work Painter’s Palette, gouache on corrugated cardboard, was reproduced in various local media for promotion of event. Also used on color posters, announcements and program booklets/guides produced by the St. Paul Artist’s Association.

    • Linoleum cut Annunciation featured as announcement for the juried exhibition Spiritual Art ‘98, “National Juried Art Exhibition”, Period Gallery, Omaha, December 1998.

    • Award of Merit for intaglio print ‘Ol Duke  from the Minnesota Artists Association at Minnesota ’82, February 1982.

    • Jerome Foundation Grant Purchase Award, Young Minnesota Artists, January 1982. Selected works toured several Minnesota cities from 1982 to 1984.

    • Research Grant, University of Minnesota Honors Department, Spring 1980.

    • Materials Grant, University of Minnesota Studio Arts Department, Spring 1980.

    • Saint Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Solo Exhibition: John Ilg: From A Unique Perspective,” Maplewood, MN, March 2020 - September 2021.

    • The Artistry, Inez Greenberg Gallery, “Something to Say, Art as Commentary Solo Exhibition,” Bloomington, MN, Jan. 5 - Feb. 9, 2018.

    • University of Minnesota, Coffman Memorial Union, Larson Gallery “JOHN ILG, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D.” January 30 - February 22, 2015.

    • University of Minnesota, Boynton Health Service, JOHN ILG Mixed Media Works from the '70's and '80's. June–August 2014.

    • First Presbyterian Church of South St. Paul Gallery, South St. Paul, MN; The Fourteen Stations of the Cross. Feb.–Mar. 2014.

    • Pax Christi Catholic Community Gallery, Eden Prairie, MN; The Fourteen Stations of the Cross. Feb–Mar. 2013.

    • Normandale Community College Fine Arts Gallery; Political Spectrum, Bloomington, Minnesota. Nov.-Dec. 2010.

    • Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, Minnesota; Solo exhibition in conjunction with the 13th Annual Ibsen Festival, April-June 2010.

    • Bloomington Art Center; War and Peace, Bloomington, Minnesota. Nov.-Dec. 2003.

    • Gallery M, Saint Paul, Minnesota. November 1982.

    • Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Willey Hall, University of Minnesota; Bachelor of Fine Arts Summa Thesis, May 1980. Master’s Thesis, June 1983.

    • Honors Gallery, Johnston Hall, University of Minnesota; December 1979, December 1980 and January 1981.

    • Studio Arts Gallery, Studio Arts Building, University of Minnesota; December 1980.

    • Minnesota State Fair “112th Annual Juried Exhibition,” Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 24–Sep. 4, 2023.

    • AZ Gallery, “Defying Sameness III,” St. Paul, MN, Jun. 3– Aug. 27, 2023.

    • White Bear Center for the Arts, “2023 Northern Lights 49th Annual Juried Art Exhibition,” Mar. 13–Apr. 14, 2023.

    • The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, “Metamorphosis,” Feb. 26–Apr. 30, 2023.

    • Rumriver Art Center, Jan Johansen Gallery, “Art of the Face Juried Exhibition,” Mar. 4–25, 2023.

    • Hopkins Center for the Arts, “28th Annual Arts North International Juried Exhibition,” Hopkins, MN, Jan. 14 - Feb. 25, 2023.

    • White Bear Center for the Arts, “2022 Northern Lights 48th Annual Juried Art Exhibition,” White Bear Lake, MN, Mar. 3 – Apr. 8, 2022.

    • AZ Gallery, “Cultivate the Creative, Cycle 3,” St. Paul, MN, May 29 – Aug. 28, 2022.

    • AZ Gallery, “Cultivate the Creative, Cycle 2,” St. Paul, MN, March 27 – May 29, 2022.

    • Saint Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art,” Maplewood, MN, Jan. 24 – Mar. 25, 2022.

    • AZ Gallery, “Fire & Ice - A Winter Carnival Art Show,” St. Paul, MN, January 9 - February 23, 2021.

    • Saint Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art,” Maplewood, MN, February - March, 2021.

    • Saint Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Envisioning Hope in Troubled Times,” Maplewood, MN, May 19 - June 29, 2019.

    • Maple Grove Arts Center, “24th Annual Arts in Harmony International Show - The Traveling Show,” Maple Grove, MN, Feb. 22 - Mar. 28, 2019.

    • Hopkins Center for the Arts, “24th Annual Arts in Harmony International Show - The North Show,” Hopkins, MN, Jan. 10 - Feb. 17, 2019.

    • Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, “Seattle Erotic Art Festival - International Juried Exhibition,” Seattle, WA, Apr. 27 - 29, 2018

    • Hopkins Center for the Arts, “23rd Annual Arts in Harmony International Show - The North Show,” Hopkins, MN, Feb. 15 - Mar. 16, 2018.

    • Hopkins Center for the Arts, “23rd Annual Arts in Harmony International Show - The North Show,” Hopkins, MN, Feb. 15 - Mar. 16, 2018.

    • Monastery of St. Paul Gallery, “Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art,” Maplewood, MN, Jan. 27 - Mar. 2, 2018.

    • AZ Gallery, “2nd Annual Winter Carnival Art Show - Fire and Ice,” St. Paul, MN, Jan. 11 - Feb. 18, 2018.

    • Minnesota State Fair, “106th Fine Arts Exhibition,” Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 24 - Sep. 4, 2017.

    • Blaine City Hall “22nd Annual Arts in Harmony International Show,” Blaine, MN, Jan. 31 - Mar. 30, 2017.

    • American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis “Arts in Harmony” Traveling Exhibition, Apr. 9 - May 21, 2017.

    • The Show Gallery, “Black, White and Blue” St. Paul, MN, Feb. 3 - 21, 2017.

    • The Artistry, “40th Annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibition,” Bloomington, MN, Oct. 21 - Nov. 25, 2016.

    • AZ Gallery “6th Annual Lowertown Art Show,” St. Paul, MN, Oct. 20, Nov. 20, 2016.

    • AZ Gallery, “5th Annual Lowertown Art Show,” St. Paul, MN, Oct. 22, Nov. 22, 2015.

    • The Artistry, “39th Annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibition,” Bloomington, MN, Oct. 16 - Nov. 27, 2015.

    • Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, “Seattle Erotic Art Festival,” Seattle, WA, Apr. 22-24, 2016.

    • Minnesota State Fair, “104th Fine Arts Exhibition,” Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 27, - Sep. 7, 2015.

    • Groveland Gallery, “Love Letters from Artists,” Minneapolis, MN, Jun. 12, - Aug. 15, 2015.

    • MacRostie Art Center, “23rd Annual Juried Exhibition,” Grand Rapids, MN, Aug. 7 - 29, 2015.

    • Elk River Arts Alliance Gallery “Arts in Harmony” Traveling Exhibition, Elk River, MN, Apr. 1 - 23, 2015.

    • Sherburne County Government Center, “20th Annual International Juried Arts Exhibition,” Elk River, MN, Feb. 2 - Mar. 23, 2015.

    • AZ Gallery, “Fourth Annual Lowertown Art Show,” St. Paul, MN; Oct. 23 - Nov. 23, 2014.

    • Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York, NY: 29th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition. Aug. 22-Sep. 11, 2014.

    • AZ Gallery, 2013 Lowertown Art Show, St Paul, MN; November 2013.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; 37th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, November 2013.

    • Arts Alliance, Elk River, MN; Arts in Harmony 2013, February – March 2013.

    • AZ Gallery, 2012 Lowertown Art Show, St Paul, MN; December 2012.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; 36th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, November 2012.

    • Seattle Erotic Art Festival (SEAF) Juried Exhibition, Seattle WA; June 2012. - Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 101st Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2012.

    • Ceres Gallery, 10th National Juried Exhibition, New York, New York; May-June 2012. Juror: Samantha Rippner, Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints at the Metropolitan Museum, NYC.

    • Arts Alliance, Elk River, MN; Arts in Harmony 2012, February–March 2012.

    • AZ Gallery, 2011 Lowertown Art Show, St Paul, MN; January 2012.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN; 35th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, October 2011.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 100th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2011.

    • Thrivent Financial Gallery, Arts in Harmony 2011 Selects, Minneapolis, MN April 2011.

    • Arts Alliance, Elk River, MN; Arts in Harmony 2011, February–March 2011.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN; 34th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, November 2010.

    • Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN; Foot in the Door, Feb. 2010.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN; 33rd Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, November 2009.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 98th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2009.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN; 32nd Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, November 2008.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 97th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2008.

    • AZ Gallery, St. Paul, MN; A Portrait of America, August 2008.

    • Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN; 26th Annual Christian Art Festival, April 2008.

    • Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN; Minnesota Biennial 3D II, November 2007–February 2008.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN; 31st Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, June 2007.

    • Sioux City Art Center, 60th Juried Exhibition, Fall 2006.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; 30th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, June 2006.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 94th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2005.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota; 29th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, June 2005.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 93rd Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2004.

    • Mills Pond House Gallery, St. James, New York; The Smithtown Township Arts Council, 28th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, November 2003.Juror: Carrie Springer, Senior Curatorial Assistant, Whitney Museum of Art, N.Y.C.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 92nd Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2003.

    • Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska; Spiritual Art ’02, National Juried Art Exhibition, December 2002.

    • Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington Minnesota; 27th Annual Members Juried Arts Exhibition, October 2002. Juror: Stuart Turnquist, Director, Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 91st Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2002.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 89th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 2000.

    • Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota; The Foot in the Door Show 2000, January–April 2000.

    • Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska; Winterfest ’99, International Juried Art Exhibition, November 1999.

    • Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska; Realism ’99, International Juried Art Exhibition, July 1999.

    • Art Jones Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Erotica ’99, 3rd Annual Juried Art Exhibition, May 1999.

    • Community Visual Art Association, Jackson Hole, Wyoming; 1999 ArtWest Open Competition, National Juried Art Exhibition, ArtWest Gallery, May 1999.

    • Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska; Contemporary ’99, National Juried Art Exhibition, March 1999.

    • Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska; All Media ’99, National Juried Art Exhibition, February 1999.

    • Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska; Spiritual Art ’98, National Juried Art Exhibition, December 1998.

    • Mills Pond House Gallery, St. James, New York; The Smithtown Township Arts Council, 23rd Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, November 1998. Jurors: Tracy Bashkoff, Curator, Guggenheim Museum, N.Y.C., and Alyn Cosgrove, Director, Nardin Gallery, N.Y.C.

    • Wickenden Gallery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; National Collage Society, Fourteenth Annual Juried Exhibit, October 1998.

    • Wickenden Gallery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; National Collage Society, Fourteenth Annual Juried Exhibit, October 1998.

    • Wickenden Gallery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; National Collage Society, Fourteenth Annual Juried Exhibit, October 1998.

    • Premier Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Expressions of Devotion: A Collection of North American Religious Art. August 1995.

    • Fine Arts Department, Minnesota State Fair, 80th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, August 1991.

    • Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Foot in the Door, June 1990.

    • Minnesota Artists Association; Minnesota ’82, A Juried Show, Town Square Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota, November 1982.

    • University Gallery, Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota; Young Minnesota Artists, A Juried Competition, January 1982.

    • Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Foot in the Door, June 1980.

    • St. Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Walking Monastery Way: An Invitational Art Exhibit Celebrating 75 Years of St. Paul’s Monastery,” Jun. 5–Sep. 7, 2023

    • Cargill Gallery, “Art is My Weapon,” Minneapolis Public Library, MN, April 4 – May 28, 2023.

    • Minnesota African American Heritage Museum, “Art is My Weapon,” Minneapolis, MN. January 4 - May 27, 2021.

    • Perpich Center for the Arts, “Art is My Weapon,” Golden Valley, MN, June 18 - July 6, 2019.

    • Dow Art Gallery, “Art Crawl District Spotlight Preview Party,” St. Paul, MN, Jan. 20, 2018.

    • Homewood Studios Gallery, “Art is My Weapon,” Minneapolis, MN, Mar. 1 - 24, 2018.

    • Altered Esthetics Gallery, Featured Artist: “The Art of Change,” Minneapolis, MN, Jul. 7 - 30, 2017.

    • Roen Room Gallery, “Invitational Exhibition, Big 10+ Health Directors Conference,” University of Minnesota, Boynton Health Service, Minneapolis, MN, Jun. 5 - Jul. 5, 2017.

    • Janet Carson Gallery, Eau Claire Regional Art Center, “Medium of Exchange, The Art of Cash,” Mar. 25 - May 6, 2016.

    • Instinct Gallery, “The Meds I’m On” Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN; Mar. 21, 2015 - May 10, 2015.

    • Instinct Gallery, “Make Garden” Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN; Nov. 22, 2014 - Jan. 10, 2015.

    • Invited to show "The Fourteen Stations of the Cross," First Presbyterian Church, South St. Paul, MN. February–March (Lent), 2014.

    • "Made in Minnesota," Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. January 21-February 15, 2014.

    • Invited to show "The Fourteen Stations of the Cross," Pax Christi Catholic Community, Eden Prairie, MN. February-March (Lent), 2013.

    • Group show "Friends Exhibition" Ceres Gallery, New York, New York. July 17-August 11, 2012.

    • Group show "Medium of Exchange: The Art of Cash" curated by John Schuermann. Banfill-Loche Center for the Arts, Fridley, MN. June–August 2012.

    • Workhaus collective in association with the Playwrights' Center group exhibition in conjunction with the play "Kill Me Don't Go," November 2012.

    • Workhaus collective in association with the Playwrights' Center group exhibition in conjunction with the play "Flesh & the Desert," January 2012.

    • Workhaus collective in association with the Playwrights' Center group exhibition in conjunction with the premier of "A Short Play about 9/11," September 2011.

    • Robbin Gallery, Robbinsdale, Minnesota; Patti’s Choice, October 2010.

    • Robbin Gallery, Robbinsdale, Minnesota; Patti’s Choice, October 2008.

    • Cornucopia Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota; Reflections of the Great War, March 2006.

    • The Jayne Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri, special exhibitions: Works in Black and White, August 1992; Wine Fruit and Nudes, August 1994; Five by Five, August 1996.

    • College of Saint Catherine Gallery; College of Saint Catherine, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Faculty Collection Exhibition, September 1984.

    • Minneapolis, Minnesota; Artists Response to the Nuclear Arms Race, summer 1982.

    • Coffman Gallery, Coffman Union; University of Minnesota. Cultural Forms and Norms, February 1982.

    • Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Willey Hall, University of Minnesota; Group Show for Graduating Seniors, June 1980. Graduate Review, March 1981 and 1982.

    • Studio Arts Gallery, Studio Arts Building, University of Minnesota; Two-person show in February 1979. Alumni Invitational Exhibition, October 1984.

    • Malcolm H. Myers Scholarship Fund-Raising Sale, University of Minnesota Department of Studio Arts, October 2003.

    • Minnesota AIDS Project Fund-Raising Auction, May 2003.

    • College of Saint Scholastica, Duluth, Alumni Association Scholarship Fund Show and Auction, June 1998 and 1999.

    • Queen of Peace Hospital, New Prague, MN Fund Raising Show and Auction, December 1994.

    • University of Minnesota Honors Department Fund Raising Show and Sale, March 1981.

    • Invited to judge and present awards at the “Fall Member Juried Exhibition, 2023,” Frameworks Gallery, Highland Park, MN, Sep. 30–Nov. 4, 2023.

    • Jury panel and presentation of awards, Saint Paul’s Monastery Gallery, “Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art,” Jan. 23–Mar. 25, 2023.

    • Invited to judge and present awards at the South Suburban Conference fine-art exhibition, Normandale Community College, March 2011.

    • Submitted design for World Trade Center Memorial Competition. Administered by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). July 2003.

  • Representation through the Jayne Gallery, Kansas City, MO 1991–2003.

    • Book Cover: Thomas R. Smith Medicine Year, poetry collection, 2022.
Cover art: John Ilg “Blue Christmas” oil pastel, 2020

    • Book Cover: DB Bradley Stiller Leaves Missletown Loaded, fiction, 2021.
Cover design: John Ilg, drawn by: Jacob Stoltz

    • The Filid Chapbook, thefilidchapbook.com, Volume 4, Fall, 2015.

    • Interview by Mary D. Hansen with color reproduction on winning the Art Crawl Poster Competition, The Downtown St. Paul VOICE, St. Paul Publishing Company, Vol. 21, No. 10, October, 2015.

    • Pastel “Treaty,” named Poster Winner for Fall 2015 St. Paul Art Crawl.

    • Sculpture “Grandma’s Pills,” reproduced in advertisement for “The Meds I’m On,” Instinct Gallery, Nicollet Mall, Artful Living, Spring, 2015, page 104.

    • Sculpture “Grandma’s Pills,” reproduced in announcement for “The Meds I’m On,” Instinct Gallery, Nicollet Mall, Minnesota Monthly, Stepping Out, Mar., 2015, page 129.

    • Sculpture “Not Getting Better,” as post card and e-announcement for “The Meds I’m On,” Instinct Gallery, Nicollet Mall, Mar. 21, - May 9, 2015.

    • Interview by Jared Hemming with color photo by Juliet Farmer announcing Coffman Memorial Union Art Gallery solo exhibition: “JOHN ILG, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D...,” the Minnesota Daily, A&E Section, Vol. 166, No. 65, Jan. 29, 2015.

    • Interview by Amber Kisbert-Smith in Woodbury Bulletin, August 13, 2014.

    • Sculpture “War on Terrorism,” detail, full cover, color reproduction as announcement for “Made in Minnesota,” exhibition at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art. “You are Invited,” Spring 2014 Event Highlights, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota.

    • Sculpture “War on Terrorism,” color reproduction, full-page-width as announcement for “Made in Minnesota,” exhibition at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art. Citypages, Jan. 15-21, Vol 34 No 1728, p 19.

    • Interviewed on AM950 “Connections,” by Laurie Fitz, 9:00-10:00AM, Sep. 24, 2016.

    • Sculpture “Grandma’s Pills,” used for online version of MPR broadcast news story “Our Medicated Lives, on Exhibit,” by Marianne Combs for “The Meds I’m On,” Instinct Gallery, Mar. 23, 2015.

    • Sculpture “War on Terrorism,” used as announcement for “Made in Minnesota,” exhibition at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art. Citypages.com, Jan. 15-21, 2014

    • Sculpture “War on Terrorism,” e-broadcast slideshow announcement for “Made in Minnesota,” exhibition at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art. “You are Invited,” Spring 2014 Event Highlights, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota.

    • Sculpture Honesty, featured in a review of “Made in Minnesota,” exhibition at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art. Citypages.com blog by Sheila Regan, Jan. 31, 2014.

    • Featured artist interview for “The Art of Change,” Altered Esthetics Gallery

  • Curator of group exhibition in conjunction with the premiers at the Playwrights’ Center:

    • “The Lasso of Truth,” Apr., 2016.

    • “The Eye of the Lamb,” Feb, 2016.

    • “The Reagan Years,” Apr. 17 - May 2, 2015.

    • “Skin Deep Sea,” Feb. 13-21, 2015.

    • The Artistry, Inez Greenberg Gallery, “Something to Say, Art as Commentary Solo Exhibition,” Bloomington, MN, Jan. 30, 2018.

    • Instinct Gallery, “Make Garden,” Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, Jan. 10, 2015.