I am interested in the intersection of natural forms and synthetic materials and the marks they make. The press is my paintbrush and paper my canvas. Using combinations of woodblock, linoleum, stencils, drawing, and sewing, each monoprint explores themes of reuse, the body, and the natural world, taking cues from the rich artistic legacy of the 20th century. Recently, I have been exploring cyanotypes. Using this alternative photo process I incorporate the sun into my mark-making, building works on paper in rich Prussian blue.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Beth attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She worked as a graphic designer for over 25 years, designing books, banners, and posters for clients that included the Chicago Symphony and National Geographic.
Beth rediscovered printmaking after taking a summer course at OxBow School of Art in Michigan. Working with a press just felt right and a year later she purchased her own etching press. She now creates unique monoprints in her storefront studio in Evanston, Illinois. Her work can be found in the collections of Northwestern University and the Field Museum as well as in many homes and commercial spaces. She has been featured in Luxe Interiors magazine and has appeared on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.
Representation
Beth’s work can be viewed at Saatchi Online, and Gallery 1871
Licensing of images is handled by Studio EL
Media
Evanston Roundtable, “Evanston artists contribute to Field Museum’s new COVID-era collection”, August 2023
Jewish Chicago, “Vessels and Boxes”, April 2023
Anthropology News, Masks at the Museum, September 2022
Evanston Roundtable, “The Art of Making Art”, July 2022
Luxe Interiors and Design, A Chicago Artist Looks To Nature For Her Inventive Monoprints, February 2022
“My Covid Year” interview for Chicago Tonight, March 23, 2021
Artist Book House Interview October 22, 2020
“The arts live on, despite the corona pandemic” JUF News May 6, 2020
Chicago Tribune Shout Out-Beth Adler Monoprint Artist
New Series of Monoprints Inspired by Ikebana, The Lisa D Show, April 19, 2018
Picturing Evanston Studio Visit
Newsletters
January 2024 Growing Wild
October 2023 My Big Fat Greek Residency
June 2023 Making Art in Mexico
April 2023 We Are All Vessels
August 2022 Here Comes the Sun
May 2022 Collaboration
September 2021 I’ve Got the Blues
July 2021 Shape Shift
March 2021 My Covid Year
January 2021 Flow: a new series of monoprints
November 2020 Art in the time of the Pandemic
Photo: Joerg Metzner, Picturing Evanston
Shows, residencies, and exhibitions
Gallery 1871, Chicago, IL, “In Nature”, three person show.. February 2024
Oliva Gallery, Chicago, IL, “Parallel Play”, with sculptor, David Rubman. November 2023
POUR Evanston, Evanston, IL, “Growing Wild”, a selection of large format wet process botanical cyanotypes. October 2023
Evanston Art Center, Evanston and Vicinity Biennial, installation of “We Are All Vessels” in group show, September 2023,
Skopelos Center for the Arts Residency, Skopelos, Greece, August 2023
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL, “We Are All Vessels”, Solo Show, April 2023
Alma Art and Interiors, Chicago, IL, “Through Time and Spirit”, Group Show, November 2022
Patch and Remington, Marcellus, MI, Lakeside Inn Group Show, November 2022
Adrian Center for the Arts, Adrian, MI, Lakeside Residents Group Show, September 2022
1100 Florence, Four Hands Collaborative, Group Show, May 2022
Oliva Gallery, Chicago, IL, “56 Milwaukee”, Group Show, March 2022
Vivid Art Gallery, Winnetka, IL , “Just Breathe” Group Show, February 2022
Lakeside Inn Artist Residency, Lakeside, Michigan, August 2021
New Buffalo Gallery, New Buffalo, Michigan, Featured Artist August-September 2021
Oliva Gallery, Chicago, IL, “Shape Shift”, Solo Show, June 2021
Studio 901, Evanston, IL, “My Covid Year”, March 2021
Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL, “Biomorpjhic” with Jeanine Coup-Ryding and Frank Connet, September 2020 (virtual), September 2021 (in-person)
Allerton Gallery, Greenville, South Carolina, Group Show, Summer 2020
InPrint Artist Book Fair 2019, Jerusalem, Israel
SOFA Chicago 2019, Chicago, IL
with Oliva Gallery, November 2019
Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL
7th Annual Juried Show, March 2019
Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL "What I Learned From Flower Arranging" with Nancy Gardner, May 2018
Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL "Evanston Made Group Show" June 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
LillStreet Art Center, Chicago, IL "Recent Monotypes by Beth Adler", April 2014
Ausrine's Art Room, Evanston, IL "Recent Monotypes by Beth Adler", October 2013
Morpho Gallery, Chicago, IL "Birds of a Feather" with Ruth Sikes, 2010
South Shore Arts, Munster, Indiana, 65th Annual Salon Show, 2008
Morpho Gallery, Chicago, IL "Nest/Egg" with Ruth Sikes, 2008
Education
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
OxBow School of Art
Northwestern University