Janani Nathan is an artist and educator based in Chicago. She has extensive experience in fibers, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and arts education. Currently, she interns at ArtReach Chicago assisting art classes for underserved schools. She also teaches classes and monitors studios at Lillstreet Art Center. Previously, she held internships and jobs assisting galleries, a craft store, and community art centers. She is pursuing a BFA in Art Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a focus on fibers and drawing/painting.

1.
JANANI NATHAN
fibers installation artist | painter | aspiring educator
936 W Sunnyside Ave, Garden West, Chicago, IL
(404) 593-6611 | jnatha1@saic.edu | jananinathan.com
experience
INTERN @ ARTREACH CHICAGO
AUGUST – PRESENT
ArtReach is the non-profit sister organization to Lillstreet
Art Center created with the desire to bring Lillstreet’s
transformative arts education to underserved Chicagoans
of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. As an intern, I
assist classes for Chicago schools fighting their lack of
funding in the arts, organization administration, and
preparation for fundraising events.
INSTRUCTOR + STUDIO MONITOR @ LILLSTREET
MAY 2016 - PRESENT
Lillstreet Art Center, one of the largest art facilities in the
US, is an artist-run center supporting the arts through
education programs, artist residencies, and gallery
exhibitions. The center offers classes for students of all
ages and skill levels in ceramics, metalsmithing, jewelry,
painting, drawing, printmaking, textiles, glass, and digital
arts. As an instructor, I teach classes with 10-30 students
in textiles, printmaking, and ceramics-based classrooms.
As a monitor, I offer assistance and upkeep in the studios.
INTERN @ WESTERN EXHIBITIONS
JANUARY – MAY 2016
Western Exhibitions is a contemporary art gallery in the
West Loop of Chicago that showcases new conceptual-
minded artists each month. I work closely with the gallery
owner on administrative changes, website updates to
www.westernexhibitions.com, and curatorial composition
of artwork in the gallery.
SALES ASSOCIATE @ ARTS + ARTISANS
AUGUST 2015 – MAY 2016
Arts and Artisans is a family-owned business based in
Chicago marketing handcrafted decorative goods. As a
sales associate, I developed vocabulary on sales tactics, the
history of the 500 artists and their artwork to share with
customers, and an ability to create a comfortable and
conversational environment within the store. I have
worked with customers, as a cashier, with visual upkeep of
the store, and with updating and stocking inventory.
INSTRUCTOR @ JOHNS CREEK ARTS CENTER
SEPTEMBER 2012 – JULY 2016
This community center provides fine arts classes for
students of all ages. I interned as an assistant for drawing,
painting, ceramics, and stop motion classes, and now
instruct Claymation and "upcycling" summer camps. I
have worked closely with students from ages 4 to 17.
ORIENTATION LEADER @ SAIC
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2015
As a leader of SAIC's orientation week for undergraduate
and transfer students, I attended a week-long training
session, facilitated activities, led group workshops, guided
campus tours, and introduced incoming students to
cultural and helpful organizations and areas in the city.
INTERN @ WWW.THEGALLERYU.COM
AUGUST – DECEMBER 2015
The Gallery U creates an artist community by showcasing
the work and ideas of art students internationally. As an
intern, I published images of my current studio art
practice and posted blog entries describing the thought
processes behind each week’s submission.
ARTIST VENDOR @ ALPHARETTA ARTS IN THE PARK
JULY 2015
Vendors displayed handmade artworks to sell during the
2-day annual Alpharetta, GA Farmers' Market and Arts
Festival. Merchandise included paintings, printmedia,
fibers work, ceramics, and stickers.
ARTIST VENDOR @ ATHFEST ARTISTS MARKET
JUNE 2015
Vendors displayed handmade artworks to sell during the
3-day annual Athens, GA music and arts festival.
Merchandise included paintings, printmedia, fibers work,
ceramics, and stickers.

2. education
SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL FALL 2013 – SPRING 2017
SAIC undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Art Education (BFAAE) degree
with a double concentration in the Fibers + Material Studies and Drawing + Painting departments
CHATTAHOOCHEE HIGH SCHOOL ALPHARETTA, GA FALL 2009 – SPRING 2013
Received high school diploma and graduated with sash for high honors + a cord for National Art Honors Society
skills
Painting + Drawing: oil, gouache, acrylic, colored pencil, graphite
Fibers: wool felting + spinning, fabric dyeing processes,
embroidery, knitting, crocheting, screenprinting
Ceramics: hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, mixing clay,
loading + unloading the kiln
Education: ages 4-17 in the following subjects: Textile, Painting,
Ceramics, + Claymation
Fluent in Tamil + English and knowledgeable in
American Sign Language + ASL culture
Comfortable working with Microsoft Word, Excel,
+ Powerpoint, as well as Adobe Photoshop +
Premiere Pro
Able to work in a leadership position or
collaboratively with ease
CPR certified
exhibitions
THE WILSON PROJECT CHICAGO, IL APRIL 2016
KRITI GALLERY VARANASI, INDIA JANUARY 2015
DIMO’S CHICAGO, IL MAY 2014
DICK BLICK CHICAGO, IL MAY 2014
SAIC ART BASH CHICAGO, IL MAY 2014
VERVE JOHNS CREEK, GA MAY 2011-2013
KIWANIS ART SHOW MACON, GA MARCH 2012
BINDER’S ART GALLERY ATLANTA, GA MARCH 2012
references
Judith Geichman | jgeichman@saic.edu
SAIC Adjunct Professor for Painting and Drawing
Claire Ashley | cashley@saic.edu
SAIC Adjunct Associate Professor for Contemporary Practices and Painting and Drawing
Alan Hawley | alanhawleyart@gmail.com
Instructor for Johns Creek Arts Center
Scott Speh | scott@westernexhibitions.com
Owner of Western Exhibitions
Amy Hoffman | amy@artsartisans.com
Co-owner of Arts and Artisans Gallery