BIO/CV
Zen Cohen received her MFA in Art Studio at the University of California at Davis and BFA in Film, Video and Performance at the California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA. Her work has been exhibited nationally at the deYoung Museum (CA), SFMOMA (CA), Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (CA), ARTSpace New Haven (CT), Vanity Projects (NY), Wavepool Gallery (OH), Public Space One (IA), and internationally at the Museo de Arte Moderno (CDMX, Mexico), Ex Teresa Arte Actual (CDMX, Mexico) and Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (Canary Islands, Spain). Her photographs have been published in Hyperallergic, Art Practical, Artnet, Routledge and Southern Illinois University Press. She is the founder and director of the Open Air Media Festival, an outdoor media arts program in Iowa City. This program received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) to support the 2024 festival.
EDUCATION
2009 - 2011 MFA in Art Studio, University of California at Davis. Davis, CA
2000 - 2004 BFA in Film, Video and Performance, California College of the Arts. Oakland, CA
EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGS & PERFORMANCES
2025
Vertical Hold - Annual exhibition of experimental film and video, participating artist, PUNCH Gallery, Thorp, WA and Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
2024
Artists Teaching: Teaching Artists, Art Faculty Exhibit, Lee Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
All our atoms give body to thousands of lives before ours. (Guillermo Galindo Retrospective) Juan Jaula es John Cage documentary exhibited, ExTeresa Arte CDMX, Mexico City
2023
Inverse Performance Art Festival, screening of Dancing with Fear in collaboration with Guillermo Gómez-Peña, The Momentary, Bentonville, AR
Well-Born, screening of Gatekeepers, ACID-FREE Art Market at Blum & Poe Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2022
Weird Media, participating artist, International Digital Media & Art Association’s exhibition, Laird-Norton Gallery, Winona State University
2021
Solo show, Spectral_20012021, Marvin Cone Gallery at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
2020
Well-Born, participating artist/virtual program. The Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, CA
2019
Solo show, The Gatekeepers, Public Space One. Iowa City, IA
Well-Born, participating artist. The Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, CA
Technotihuacan, traveling film screening program. Outsider Fest, Austin, TX
Technotihuacan, traveling film screening program. Failed Films Fest, Los Angeles, CA
2018
Technotihuacan, traveling film screening program, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA
The Channel of Democracy: Womanhood, Power, & Freedom in Video Art, PHOTOFAIR SF, San Francisco, CA
2017
Guillermo Gómez-Peña. Mexican (IN) Documentado, in collaboration with Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City
Dark Sea Cinema, performance in collaboration with Wayne Grim, Mosswood Chapel. Oakland, CA
2016
Juan Jaula es John Cage, screening. Montalvo Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Juan Jaula es John Cage, screening, Wavepool Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Juan Jaula es John Cage, screening, Mini Cinema Program at the Carnegie, Covington, KY
Transgress, photography exhibit and live performance, B4bel4b Gallery, Oakland, CA
35th Floor, video projection design for theater performance by Violeta Luna, CounterPulse, San Francisco, CA
Solo exhibition, The Gatekeepers, Building Imagination Center. Turlock, CA
2015
Juan Jaula es John Cage, street intervention and performance produced by The Lab, 16th Street Bart Plaza, SF, CA
CODAME Festival, live performance of Transgress. Monument, San Francisco, CA
ArtSpan Open Studios, live performance/installation, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Body Paradox, conceptual fitness class for Heavy Breathing series, The Palace Theater. Oakland, CA
Juan Jaula es John Cage, West Coast premiere, deYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA
Solo screening, Shapeshifters Cinema, Temescal Art Center, Oakland, CA
2014
Temescal Street Cinema, screening of Go Away, Bad Dreams, Oakland, CA
Projected Persona, live performance and exhibit, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA
Tooth and Nail, video exhibition, Parsons Hall Project Space, HOLYOKE, MA
Tooth and Nail, video exhibition. Vanity Projects, New York, NY
ASKEW Film Festival, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. San Francisco, CA
Dancing With Fear, in collaboration with Guillermo Gómez-Peña & La Pocha Nostra. Galería de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
2013
AXIS Gallery 8th National Juried Exhibition, AXIS Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Burqavaganza, video projection design production by Vidhu Singh, Brava Theater Center, San Francisco, CA
[inter] MEDIA Divinations, two-person show, Temescal Art Center, Oakland, CA
2012
Dining by Design, site-specific video installation, San Francisco Design Center, San Francisco, CA
Crystal Palace, participating artist, ArtSpace New Haven, New Haven, CT
Music of Changes: John Cage Centennial Festival, participating artist, SF MOMA, San Francisco, CA
You Must Change Your Life, participating artist, Krowswork, Oakland, CA
Guillermo Gómez-Peña Retrospective, in collaboration with Guillermo Gómez-Peña, The Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Gran Canarias, Spain
SSSHHHH!! temporary site-specific installation, Alameda Public Library, Alameda, CA
Night Light, group video show, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA
Contaminated Femininities, performance salon curated by Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Galería de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
2011
The House of Others, UC Davis MFA Thesis Show, The Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, CA
2010
POW! POW! POW! Performance Art Festival, participating artist, Viracocha, San Francisco, CA
Great Expectations, first year MFA exhibit, University Club Gallery, UC Davis, CA
The TV SHOW, participating artist, Tangent Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
Cynosure: Work from East Bay Galleries, participating artist, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California, Berkeley
2009
Corpo Ilicito: The Post-Human Society 6.9, directed by Guillermo Gómez-Peña, UC Davis Main Theatre, UC Davis
The Illuminated Corridor, site-specific video installation, The Port of Oakland, Oakland, CA
2008
The Illuminated Corridor, site-specific video installation, Oakland Art Murmur, Oakland, CA
Night Light: an Evening of Luminous Environments, participating artist, Gallery Nine, San Francisco, CA
Xp1ora7ion, in collaboration with Guillermo Galindo, Center for New Music & Audio Technologies, UC Berkeley, CA
Solo exhibition, Moving Pictures, Varnish Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2007
From the Darkness, Solace, Chapel of the Chimes, Columbarium, Oakland, CA
2006
NexMAP, in collaboration with Guillermo Galindo, Recombinant Media Lab, San Francisco, CA
The Illuminated Corridor, participating artist, Oakland Art Murmur. 21 Grand, Oakland, CA
Post-Colonial Discontinuum, in collaboration with Guillermo Galindo, deYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA
Intox Lounge: Children Of Kali, directed by Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Artists Television Access, San Francisco, CA
Tres, collaborative video-performance with Guillermo Galindo, The Luggage Store, San Francisco, CA
The San Francisco Video Fest, Participating artist, Roxie Cinema, San Francisco, CA
Tres, in collaboration with Guillermo Galindo. 21 Grand, Oakland, CA
2005
San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, participating artist, SomARTS, San Francisco, CA
2004
T-10 Video Festival, participating artist, 21 Grand, Oakland, CA
Solo exhibition, An evening of Film, Video and Performance, senior thesis exhibit, Nahl Hall/CCA, Oakland, CA
2003
Coloring Sounds, participating artist, The Lab, San Francisco, CA
Water, participating artist, Liminal Gallery, Oakland, CA
2002
CCA Media Arts Department Juried Exhibition, Fine Arts Cinema, Berkeley, CA
CCA Media Arts Department Juried Exhibition, Nahl Hall/CCA, Oakland, CA
2000
The Last Supper: A Scratch & Sniff Photo, participating artist, The Fringe Theater Festival, NY, NY
GRANTS & AWARDS
2023 National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), Grants for Art Projects
2023 Beahl and Irene H. Perrine Faculty Fellowship, Coe College
2023 City of Iowa City Public Art Program (PAAC) matching grant
2022 Iowa Arts Council project grant
2022 City of Iowa City Public Art Program (PAAC) matching grant
2022 Faculty Travel Grant, Coe College
2021 City of Iowa City Public Art Program (PAAC) matching grant
2020 City of Iowa City Public Art Program (PAAC) matching grant
2013 Individual Artist Commission Grant in Media Arts, San Francisco Arts Commission
2011 Nelson Art Friends Award, UC Davis
2010 Freemond P Gadberry Award, UC Davis
2009 Freemond P Gadberry Award, UC Davis
2000-2004 Osman and Jordana Jackson Award, CCA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rocío Aranda-Alvarado and Lane Harwell, “How Can Grantmakers Support Artists of Color?” Hyperallergic, article cover image hyperallergic.com/915372/how-can-grantmakers-support-artists-of-color/ May 19, 2024
"What Makes a Lake? Tracing Movement." Abbey Meaker, Estefania Puerta, Christian Ordonez. Another Earth, First edition, July 2023. Selected photograph, p. 166
“Guillermo Galindo: Remote Control,” HighlineNY, digital portrait of the artist, Guillermo Galindo. July 2022 https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/remote-control-2022/
Sarah Cascone, “Editors’ Picks: 12 Events for Your Art Calendar This Week, From the Watermill Gala to a Puppet Show Operated by a Crane” artnews.net, digital portrait of the artist, Guillermo Galindo. July 2022 https://news.artnet.com/art-world/editors-picks-july-25-2022
Lori Waxman, “How essential is art? 29 MacArthur ‘geniuses’ answer that question in ‘Toward Common Cause’” Chicago Tribune, digital portrait of the artist, Guillermo Gómez-Peña. Sep 24, 2021 How essential is art? 29 MacArthur 'geniuses' answer that question in 'Toward Common Cause'
Guillermo Gómez-Peña, “An Open Letter to the Museums of the Future” Toward Common Cause: A multi-site exhibition featuring the work of 29 MacArthur Fellows, digital portrait of the artist, Guillermo Gómez-Peña. 2021 Guillermo Gómez-Peña: An Open Letter to the Museums of the Future - Toward Common Cause
Guillermo Gómez-Peña, “Mex Files: Audio Art & Strange Poetry from the US/Mexico Border,” JANE ADDAMS HULL-HOUSE MUSEUM, digital portrait of the artist, Guillermo Gómez-Peña. 2021 https://www.hullhousemuseum.org/guillermo-gmez-pea-mex-files
"American and NATO Veteran Reintegration: The Trauma of Social Isolation and Cultural Chasms." MaryCatherine McDonald, Gary Senecal. Lexington Books, 2021. book cover
"Gómez-Peña Unplugged. Texts on Live Art, Social Practice and Imaginary Activism (2008–2020)."
Guillermo Gómez-Peña. Routledge, December 31, 2020. book cover and multiple photo images
Holly Thayer, “‘Feared and revered’: Zen Cohen’s new exhibition at Public Space One explores queer history and cultures.” Little Village Magazine, June 19, 2019. p. 22
“Theatre and Cartographies of Power: Repositioning the Latina/o Americas.” Jimmy A. Noriega, Analola Santana. Southern Illinois University Press, 2018. book cover and multiple photo images
“Guillermo Gómez-Peña: Mexican (IN) Documentado.”(Miguel León, L. ed) Museo De Arte Moderno, Secretaria de Cultura/Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. First edition, 2017. Multiple photo images
Julia Steinmetz, “103 Shots: Listening to Orlando” World premiere of film 103 Shots, directed by Cassils. HuffPost, 2016. https://bit.ly/36ENhtq
Erika Pino, “Zen Cohen: VJ, Video Documentarian, Still Photographer” interview for Ravishly (blog). April 9, 2015. https://ravishly.com/street-meet/zen-cohen-vj-video-documentarian-still-photographer
“Guillermo Gómez-Peña: Homo fronterizus [1492-2020].” (Castillo, O. ed. Lit.) Atlantic Center of Modern Art. First edition, 2013. Multiple photo images
“The Art of Performance for Innocents.” Publication of No Portraits series, Esfera Publica. 2013 https://esferapublica.org/nfblog/el-arte-del-performance-para-inocentes-1/
Guillermo Gómez-Peña, “No Portraits” U.S. premiere of Guillermo Gómez-Peña’s photo portfolio, Art Practical. 2013. https://www.artpractical.com/feature/no_portraits/
“AXIS Gallery, 8th National Juried Exhibition,” exhibition catalog, Sacramento, CA, 2013
“The House of Others: UC Davis MFA Thesis Show,” exhibition catalog, UC Davis, CA 2011
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2024 - present Assistant Professor of Digital Arts Media, Department of Art, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2023 - present Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Studies, Department of Art and Visual Studies, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
2020 - 2023 Assistant Professor of Art and Film Studies, Department of Art, Art History and Film Studies, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
2019 - 2020 Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Film Studies, Department of Art and Art History, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2024 - present Clemson University - semesters
Assistant Professor of Digital Arts Media
Beginning New Media - in progress
New Media 2 - in progress
Advanced New Media - in progress
2020 - 2023 Coe College - semesters
Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Studies
Digital Studio (Digital Art foundations/Adobe Creative Suite) - 5 sections
Digital Photography - 1 section
Time-Based Media - 6 sections
Video Art and Production - 2 sections
Video Editing - 1 section
NonFiction (Documentary filmmaking) - 1 section
Graphic Design Studio - 2 sections
First Year Seminar (Topic: Fluxus) - 1 section
Artist Websites, (7 week course designed for art majors) - 2 sections
Portfolio Development, (7 week course designed for art majors) - 1 section
Professional Practice, (7 week course designed for art majors) - 2 sections
Senior Seminar in Art - 2 sections
Senior Seminar in Film - 8 sections
2019 - 2020 Coe College - semesters
Visiting Assistant Professor
Illuminated Pixels (Digital Art foundations) - 3 sections
Movement (Time-Based Media) - 1 section
2009 - 2011 University of California at Davis - quarters
Lecturer
Beginning Video
Instructor of Record
Black & White Photography
Teaching Assistant
Beginning Video
Non-Traditional Documentary
Digital Photography
Black & White Photography
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2011 - 2019 Zen Cohen Studio, media production studio. Owner
2018 Growing Upward, music video directed by Rupa Marya. Director of photography, Video Editor, Motion Graphics, Projection Design
2018 Feminist Economics Yoga, directed by Cassie Thornton. Video editor
2017 Lost Highway, music video for Dirtwire. Art direction and video editor
2016 -2017 Isuini, promotional video, directed by Yunuen Rhi. Director of photography and video editor
2016 103 Shots, directed by Cassils. Director of photography and video editor
2014 Dancing With Fear, video series co-directed by Guillermo Gómez-Peña. Co-director and editor
2014 Next Level: Bosnia, short documentary produced by the State Department. Director of photography and video editor
2013 - 2014 Al Jazeera America, video editor
2012 No Portraits, Photo series of performance artist, Guillermo Gomez-Pena. Photographer
WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED
2023 "Intro to Video Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro,"Public Space One, Iowa City, IA, May 20
2021 "Time-Based Methods," online/Public Space One, Iowa City, IA, May 22, 29 June 5
2020 "Community Video," online/Public Space One, Iowa City, IA
2019 “Embodying Totemic Personas,” Public Space One, Iowa City, IA, June 22
2018 “Digital Collage using Photoshop,” Army Lofts, San Francisco, CA, April 19
“GIF Animations using Photoshop,” Army Lofts, San Francisco, CA, April 10
2017 “Actions for the Camera” California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, Dec 13
“Video Editing in Adobe Premiere, Army Lofts, San Francisco, CA, Oct 26
“Feminine Antidote: A month-long series” Army Lofts, San Francisco, CA, Oct 1-Nov 3
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & LECTURES
2024 Artist Talk, Artists Teaching: Teaching Artists faculty exhibit, Lee Gallery, Clemson, SC, October 23
Panel Chair, Teaching Digital Art in the Age of Machine Learning, 2024 Mid-America College Art Association Virtual Conference, March 21 – 23
Artist Talk, Intermedia Unbound, Department of Art and Art History, University of Maine, February 1
2023 Presenter, Common Hour talk: Zine Scene, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA, April 14
2022 Artist Talk with grad seminar, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa, Nov 15
Panelist, Taking it to the Streets, Art Practices in the Public Realm. TransCultural Exchange International Conference. College of the Fenway, Boston, MA, Nov 4-6
Presenter, MdW Assembly Art Fair. Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL, Sept. 9-11
Portfolio Reviewer, Atlanta Celebrates Photography (ACP) Virtual Portfolio Reviews, online, April 29
2019 Lecture and Film Screening organizer, “¡Ana Mendieta, Presente!” Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA, Nov 18
Artist Talk, Public Space One, Iowa City, IA, June 15
2017 Artist Talk with class, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, Dec 13
2016 Artist Talk, Juan Jaula es John Cage film Montalvo Center, Santa Cruz, CA, May 13
Artist Talk, Living Room Light Exchange/Open Engagement, San Francisco, CA, April 29
Artist Talk, The Gatekeepers exhibit, Building Imagination Center, Turlock, CA, April 14
2015 Artist Talk, Juan Jaula es John Cage film premiere, deYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA, July 31
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2020 - present Open Air Media Festival, outdoor media art festival. Founder, director, co-curator. Iowa City, IA
2009 Hypnagogia: between sleeping and waking, The Climate Theater, San Francisco, CA
2008 Chance Operations, The Climate Theater, San Francisco, CA
2008 The Body, the Mirror, the Gaze, The Climate Theater, San Francisco, CA
2007 Night Vision, monthly experimental film & video series, founder, The Climate Theater, San Francisco, CA
COLLECTIONS
University of Iowa Special Collections & Archives, Iowa City, IA
Museo de Arte Moderno Special Collections, Mexico City, Mexico
ACADEMIC SERVICE
2024 Faculty Search Committee, Assistant Professor of Printmaking, Art Department, Clemson
2024 Visiting Artist and Exhibitions Committee, Art Department, Clemson
2024 Consultant, Creating with Archives, with Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez Fielder, UIowa Humanities for Public Good Lab, University of Iowa
2022 - 2024 Program Co-Coordinator, Film Studies, Coe College
2022 - 2024 Faculty Mentor, Student Art Sale, Coe College
2021 - 2024 Committee Chair, Marquis Series, Coe College
2021 - 2024 Faculty Mentor, Coe Cinema student film club, Coe College
2020 - 2024 Faculty Mentor, Arts, Communications, Entertainment, Media Career Community, Coe College
2021 Faculty Search Committee, Visiting Assistant Professor of Film Studies, Coe College
2019 - 2020 Film Studies Mentor, Coe College
2010 - 2011 UC Davis Art Studio Visiting Artist Lecture Series, chair
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AFFILIATIONS
2023 - present Mid America College Arts Association
2020 - present New Media Caucus, member
2020 - present PS1 Media Arts Co-op member
2020 - 2022 Public Space One Iowa City, board member
2019 - present College Arts Association (CAA), member
TECHNICAL SKILLS
SOFTWARE: Adobe Creative Suite (Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, In Design), Final Cut Pro, Resolume Arena, TouchDesigner, Isadora, MadMapper, Ebsynth, VDMX, MaxMsp/Jitter, Google Suite, Microsoft Office
CAMERAS (video/still photography): Canon 5dmkiii and EOS models, Sony A7 series, Richoh Theta 360
LIGHTING: Studio lighting for video production and still photography. LED kits, Kino flo, ARRI
AUDIO: Zoom H4n audio recorders, sound mixing and editing
INSTALLATION/PERFORMANCE: Multi-channel video installation, projection mapping, projection design for theatre, live video mixing for sound and performance art
DESIGN: Web design (portfolio websites, WordPress, basic HTML), graphic design
DIGITAL: Digital printing and scanners
2D: drawing and painting with ink, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal
FILM/PHOTOGRAPHY: 35mm black and white photography, 16mm and 8mm filmmaking, flatbed film editing, cameraless photography and alternative processing.
BOOK ARTS: two courses towards a certificate in Book Arts from University of Iowa’s Center for the Book in traditional bookbinding and book design and publication.