Ceirra Evans is a Louisville-based painter depicting Appalachia and the working-class southern narrative. Ceirra’s work has been reviewed by Hyperallergic, The New Yorker and other publications. Her work has been exhibited with 21c Louisville and is held in the Speed Art Museum’s permanent collection.
Born and raised in Eastern Kentucky, Evans’ body of work depicts scenes directly from her early life in the foothills of the Appalachian region. Her work depicts stories of generational poverty, queerness, familial relationships and addiction. Ceirra’s work uses humor and illustration to sift through the discourse critiquing the region.
C.V.
Lives and works in Louisville, KY
1999, Born in Owingsville, KY
Education
2021
Spalding University, Louisville, KY
BA Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies: Art and History
Solo Exhibitions
2024
Be Careful Out There, Moremen Gallery, Louisville, KY
2023
A Wild Weed, Perspective Gallery, Paris, France
Come Home With Me, Perspective Gallery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Virginia, VA
Meet Me Somewhere Quiet, Gateway Regional Art Center, Mt. Sterling, KY
Outcasts & Outlaws, Moremen Gallery, Louisville, KY
2022
It's Okay to Go Home, Moremen Gallery, Louisville, KY
2021
Folklore, Moremen Gallery, Louisville, KY
Group Exhibitions
2023
Still Life! Mourning, Meaning and Mending, 21c Museum, Bentonville, AR
2022
KMAC Triennial: Divided We Fall, KMAC, Louisville, KY
2021
Still Life! Mourning, Meaning and Mending, 21c Museum, Louisville, KY
Artsy Mood, Boomer Gallery, London, UK
2020
Emerging Artist Exhibition, Appalachian Artisan Center, Hindman, KY
Awards / Residencies
2023
Peacock and the Worm, Artist-in- Residence, Aberdeen, Scotland
Emerging Artist Award, Louisville Visual Art, Louisville, KY
Loretto Motherhouse, Artist-in-Residence, Loretto, KY
2022
Firestarter Award, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Louisville, KY
2021
Artist Professional Development Grant, Great Meadows Foundation, Louisville, KY
Media / Publications
Painting Appalachia (Bath Co, KY), Kentucky Educational Television, April 2023
LVA Honoree Ceirra Evans talks about her work and emerging career as an artist, Waits, Keith, Louisville Visual Arts. March 2022
“The Power of Place”, KMAC: Divided We Fall Exhibition Catalogue, Catte, Elizabeth. November 2022
“Great Meadows Foundation uplifts Queer artists alongside Queer Kentucky: Ceirra Evans”, Wilcox, Cletus, QueerKY. July 2022
“Ceirra Evans Q&A”, Gierhart, Ben, Ruckus. May 2022
“Ceirra Evans Paints A Complex Portrait Of Appalachia”, Greenwell, Garth, The New Yorker. February 2022
“An Artist Goes Home to Her Appalachia”, Weis, Natalie, Hyperallergic. February 2022
Artists Talk with LVA: Painter Cierra Evans exhibiting at Moremen Gallery, Waits, Keith, Louisville Visual Arts. January 2022
Museum Collections
2023
Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY
Artist Lectures
2022 Global Appalachia, IKT International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art conference, Louisville, KY
2022 Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Professional Experience
2023 Artist guest, IKT International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art conference, North Wales, UK
2023 Teaching Artist, Francis Parker Middle School, Louisville, KY
Ceirra Evans 