Kaitlin Zorah McDonough paints exuberant abstractions, at times incorporating objects and nontraditional painting supports. Her work has been exhibited throughout Italy – in Venice, Rome, Vicenza, Bologna, Verona – and in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, Serbia, and Turkey. She is the recipient of a Hohenberg Travel Award and has participated in residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and Göz Göze, Büyükada, Turkey. She received her MFA from Tyler School of Art, Temple University and her BFA from the College of Fine Arts, Boston University, Summa cum laude. She lived, worked, and taught in Venice, Italy for Boston University’s Venice Studio Arts Program, in collaboration with the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica (2007–2012). In 2014, Kaitlin joined the New York Studio School where she teaches and presently serves as Acting Head of School.  



EDUCATION
2014 MFA, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Temple Rome, Rome, Italy
2007 BFA, College of Fine Arts, Boston University, Boston, MA, Summa cum laude


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024
Support, group exhibition curated by Ilse Sørensen Murdock, Brooklyn, New York

2023
Blood-snake Pomegranate, Palazzo Ca Dandolo Parisi, Venice, Italy (solo exhibition)

2022
Eline Sağlık // Health To Your Hands, Su Sporları Klubü, Büyükada, Istanbul, Turkey

2020
RAG Napkin Show, Robbie's Apartment Gallery, Brooklyn, New York

2019
Dole-chet-zah, curated by Megan Nolde, Citizen, Richmond, Virginia (solo exhibition)
Pushing the Wall, NYSS Dumbo Sculpture Studio and Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
Ondate, Officina 15, Bologna, Italy

2018
Advent: Mindful Waiting, curated by Elisa Jensen, Green Door Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
Unborderings, curated by Paul D'Agostino, Centotto, Brooklyn, New York

2017
Does a Moon Move, curated by Emily Davidson and Stuart Lorimer, Orgy Park, Brooklyn, New York

2016
Botanica, curated by Matteo Efrem Rossi, ex Farmacia di Via De Gasperi 45, Chiari, Italy  

2014
Sisrahtac, curated by Brie Ruais and Maria Stabio, Torrance Shipman Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
All the Way to Heaven, is Heaven, Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA (solo exhibition)
Semicolon, New Boone Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Art First Bologna, Galleria Atlantica, Bologna Italy

2013
Engagement Party, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Festa di Roma, Stella Elkins Tyler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Dig Out the Moon: New Works by Francine Kay Affourtit and Kaitlin McDonough, Temple Rome Gallery, Rome, Italy
Low Rumble, Gallery 102 at Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Art First Bologna, Galleria Atlantica, Bologna, Italy (solo exhibition)

2012
AAA- Hannah Cole, Kaitlin McDonough, Maria Stabio, Galleria Atlantica, Vicenza, Italy
Art Verona, Galleria Atlantica, Verona, Italy
Saluzzo Arte 2012, Fondazione Amleto Bertoni, Saluzzo, Italy
Art First Bologna, Galleria Atlantica, Bologna, Italy

2011
Art Verona, Galleria Atlantica, Verona, Italy
Percettivo Imperfetto, Galleria A+A, Venice, Italy

2010
Kaitlin McDonough, Galleria Modenarte, curated by Matteo Efrem Rossi, Venice, Italy (solo exhibition)
Massimo Sansavini and Kaitlin McDonough, curated by Matteo Efrem Rossi, Galleria Modenarte, Venice, Italy
My World 2, curated by Francesco Liggieri and Giuliana Tammaro, Santa Maria A, Venice, Italy
Two in One: Carlo Borin and Kaitlin McDonough, curated by Matteo Efrem Rossi, Galleria Modenarte, Venice, Italy

2009
Pastorals, Berkeley Gallery, New York, NY (solo exhibition)
By Boat, Club Ponte Storto, Venice, Italy (solo exhibition)
Oaza Cacak, curated by Petra Maitz, Gallery Nadezda Petrovic, Serbia
Idea Estrusia, Caomaggiore, Italy (prize winner)

2008
Some Places Where Energy Hides, Galleria Sotoportego, Venice, Italy (solo exhibition)
In the Woods, Film by Pamela and Darrell Jones, Randolph, NJ (solo exhibition)

2007
Feeding and Flying, Gallery Five, Boston, MA
The Power of the Diminutive, Rubin-Frankel Gallery, Boston, MA


CURATING PROJECTS
2015 Living Threads, New York Studio School, New York, NY
2010 Six Significant Landscapes, Galleria il Sotoportego, Venice, Italy


RESIDENCIES
2022 Göz Göze, Büyükada, Turkey
2011 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont


AWARDS
Hohenberg Faculty Travel Award, New York Studio School
Project Completion Grant, Temple University
Summa cum Laude, Boston University
Dean's Award for Academic Excellence, Boston University
Constantin Alajalov Scholarship, Boston University
Dean's List with Distinction, Boston University
College of Fine Arts Dean's Scholar Award, Boston University
University Scholarship, Boston University
Harold C. Case Memorial Scholarship, Boston University


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ginger Magazine, Issue 13, Summer 2018
Tinge Magazine Cover, Issue 7, Spring 2014
"Scouting Venezia", Maria Lavinia Carboni, Vogue Italia, giugno 2011 (n. 730), p. 32-33
Bradford Manderfield, Six Significant Landscapes, 2010
Molly Scheu, Six Significant Landscapes, 2010
Studio Visit Magazine, Featured Artist, Spring 2010
"Kaitlin McDonough: Wickedly, Wonderfully Alive", Christopher Atamian, Mes Arménies, August 2009
Studio Visit Magazine, Featured Artist, Spring 2009
"Some Places Where Energy Hides", Nicola Constantino, VeNews, April 2008
"Opposite But Equal", Brittany Jasnoff, BU Today, April 19, 2007


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2014-present New York Studio School, Acting Head of School
    2020-2024 New York Studio School, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
    2015-2020 New York Studio School, Program Director
    2014-2015 New York Studio School, Registrar
2012-2013 Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Artistic Director of Documenta (13), Rome Office Assistant
2007-2012   Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Venice, Italy, Program Coordinator
    2012 School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Venice, Italy Summer Program, Program Assistant
    2010 Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy, Printshop Assistant in collaboration with:
        Indiana University, Pratt University,     Youngstown State University
2009 Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Intern


TEACHING EXPERIENCE,  LECTURES & WORKSHOPS
2016-present
Instructor, New York Studio School, New York, New York

New York Studio School Marathons Taught / Co-taught:
Painting Marathon: The Mask, the Wing, and the Mirror with Sam Levy, Kaitlin McDonough, Clintel Steed (July 2024)
Painting Marathon: Pompeii - Mystery & Harmonics with Sam Levy, Kaitlin McDonough, Clintel Steed (July 2023)
Painting Marathon: Dark Light & Color Galaxies: the Urgency of Acrylic Paint with Graham Nickson & Guests Kaitlin McDonough, Charity Baker (November 2022)
Painting Marathon: Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow, Blue? Live Painting: Alive Color with Graham Nickson, Sam Levy & Guests Kaitlin McDonough, Charity Baker (November 2021)
Color Marathon with Kaitlin McDonough (June 2021)
Drawing/Painting Marathon: The Labyrinth: a Journey through Time, Image, Pigment & Presence with Graham Nickson & Guests Kaitlin McDonough, Charity Baker (November 2020)
Painting Marathon: Caves, Friezes and Mysteries with Graham Nickson & Guests Kaitlin McDonough, Sam Levy, Clintel Steed, Charity Baker (June 2020)
Color Marathon with Kaitlin McDonough (July 2020)
Color Marathon with Kaitlin McDonough (July 2019)
Color Marathon with Kaitlin McDonough (July 2018)
Color Marathon with Kaitlin McDonough (July 2017)

2023
Visiting Critic in Painting, Boston University

2022
Visiting Critic in Painting, Boston University
Guest Artist Lecturer, Tyler School of Art, Temple University

2021
Visiting Critic in Painting, Boston University
Guest Artist Lecturer, Maine Media + College
Thought-Form Mapping, Öteberi, Büyükada, Turkey

2020
Arcadian Nudes, Marino Marini / Aperitivo & Drawing Night, CIMA, New York, New York

2019
Pushing the Wall Gallery Talk, New York Studio School Dumbo Sculpture Space, Brooklyn, New York
Self-Sensory Collage Workshop, Aquarian Women’s Leadership Society, New Lebanon, New York
Metaphysical Masterpieces / Aperitivo & Drawing Night, CIMA, New York, New York

2016
The Poetics of Performatives, 2MF, Orgy Park, Brooklyn, New York

2015
Theosis & Deification Conference, KU Leuven, Belgium

2013 
Engagement Party: Painting as Object and Experience, Panel Discussion on Painting, Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA
Advanced Painting, Temple University Rome, Teaching Assistant to Susan Moore
Rome Sketchbook, Temple University Rome, Teaching Assistant to Susan Moore

2012
Advanced Painting, Temple University Rome, Teaching Assistant to Daniel Dallmann
Painting on Paper, Temple University Rome, Teaching Assistant to Daniel Dallmann

2011
Visiting Artist Lecture, Curatorial and Contemporary Art Practices Course, Galleria A+A, Venice, Italy
Venice Biennale Workshop, Northeastern University’s Photography and Art History in Venice Program, Venice, Italy
Venice Biennale Workshop, Queen’s University Venice Summer School, Venice, Italy

2007-2012 Scuola Internazionale di Grafica & Boston University, Venice, Italy
Courses Taught / Assisted:
Painting III, Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Teaching Assistant to Richard Ryan (2012)
Watercolor Workshop, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy, Instructor (2011)
Painting III, Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Teaching Assistant to Stacy Gibboni (2011)
Watercolor Workshop, at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy (2011)
Monotype Workshop, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy, Instructor (2010)
Painting III, Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Teaching Assistant to Jill Grimes (2010)
Artist Talk, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy (2010)
Intaglio Printmaking, Pratt University at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Teaching Assistant to Jennifer Melby (2010)
Intaglio Printmaking, Indiana University at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Teaching Assistant to Althea Murphy-Price (2010)
Painting III, Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Teaching Assistant to Andrea Contin (2010)
Painting III, Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Teaching Assistant to Andrea Contin (2009)
Painting III, Boston University Venice Studio Arts Program, Teaching Assistant to Hannah Cole (2008)
Advanced Oil Painting, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy, Teaching Assistant to Davide Battistin (2007)
Introduction to Oil Painting, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy, Teaching Assistant to Davide Battistin (2007)