Dana Montlack is an Interdisciplinary Biospheric Artist, researcher and educator utilizing her decades-long exploration of natural elements to bridge the worlds of art and science through a unique style of layered imagery centering on the environment. Her groundbreaking work has been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide, as well as featured in both private and public spaces, including the Whitney Marine Biology Research Center; Atlantis The Palm, Dubai; Scripps Memorial Hospital and the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego.

With her unique vision and process, Dana is a leader in the area of mixed media montage. She uses photography, drawing, maps, and scientific data in a form of composite artistry that has defied conventional artistic categories, creating innovative techniques that bring together new and traditional technologies. Her work explores and presents different topics in the environment through layered composite imagery, using microscopes and scanners to capture images that are not easily seen by the naked eye, to showcase the natural world and the role humans play in it.

Through the decades, Dana’s work has been embraced by both the art and scientific communities where, in addition to being featured in museums and galleries around the globe, she had the honor of working with esteemed scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and other leading organizations. In 2022, Dana was awarded a Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant from the University of Georgia, which was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she visually explored the impacts of a changing climate on the Georgia coast – with her resulting photographic art showcased during the summer of 2023 at the University of Columbus - ILLGES Gallery.

In addition to her work as an artist, Dana teaches Visual Arts and Contemporary Art History at Georgia State University. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of California Santa Cruz and her Master of Fine Arts in Mixed Media from Otis Parsons School of Art and Design, and she is an active member of a number of professional organizations, including Art Table Leadership, College Art Association and the Science-Art Collaboration.

1994	MFA, Mixed Media, Otis Parsons College of Arts and Design, Los Angeles, CA
1988	BFA, Sculpture, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
1987	Painting, Studio Arts Center International, Florence, Italy

2011-2014	Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA
2011-2014	Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA

RESEARCH and SCIENTIFIC ART COLLABORATIONS

2024	International Ocean Discovery Joides Expedition, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Georgia State University Partnership with Bolton Lab, Neuroscience Institute
2022-2023	Joel Kotska, Dept. of Microbial Ecology, Georgia Tech University
2022-2023	Georgia Sea Grant NOAA
2022-2023	“SAW” Science Art Wonder, with Georgia Tech University and Emory University
2019-2024	

children’s book, with David Lavers, European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast & Alexander Gershunov, Research Meteorologist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
2019	

Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada
2017-2018	

Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada
2015-2017	

 Scripps Institution of Oceanography
2011-2014	Scripps Institution of Oceanography

2025-Present	Affiliate Professor, California Institute of the Arts: Guide postgraduate students in studio development, professional practice, and thesis projects
2025-Present	Graduate Mentor, Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA): Guide postgraduate students in studio development, professional practice, and thesis projects
2022-Present	Part-time Instructor, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA: Water Based Media, Drawing as Research, Art Society and Culture, Art 4500 Directed studies, Art 4980 Special Problems, Capstone
2019-2023	Part-time Instructor, Underwood University, Atlanta GA: Modern Art History Art Appreciation, Abstract Painting, Aqueous Media, Color Theory, Seminar in Contemporary Studies, Photography, Drawing Media
2004-2019	Instructor, Montlack Studio: Portfolio Development IB Art & Art History, College and High School Curriculum development, Monoprint workshops, Mixed media collage workshops, Photo-collage workshops
2000-2002	Adjunct Professor, Fashion Institute of Art and Design:, San Diego CA, Modern Art History
2000-2003	Part-time Instructor, Cuyamaca College, San Diego CA: Art Appreciation, Mixed Media
1997-2004	Associate Faculty, National University, San Diego CA, Associate Faculty: Modern Art History, Contemporary Art History, Mixed Media, Painting, Collage, Art Appreciation
1998-1998	California Arts Project, San Diego CA
1993-1994	Adjunct, Otis Parsons School of Arts and Design, Los Angeles CA: Monoprint, Collage
1998-1999	Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego CA

Arts Curriculum Director National University, 1997-2004

Co-Created and developed the Post Graduate Certification in Art Therapy National University

Created, developed, implemented an Online World Art History Online course National University

California Arts Project, San Diego CA This course was developed for teachers who are teaching art in the K-12 system

“Visual Environments for Visual Education” Program, a non-profit arts organization focusing on youth at risk

Windows Charter School, San Diego, California. Lead Art Currriculum and Educator Director

Underwood University- Developed and taught Seminar in Contemporary Art History, Mixed Media Collage and Photography

2024	International Ocean Discovery Program, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2022	Georgia Sea Grant, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
2019	Finalist, Public Art Commission, Georgina Cole Library, CA
2018	Finalist, Public Art Commission Florida State University, FL
2002	Judges award, 

, Lewis - Clark Center for Arts and History, Lewiston, ID
2000	21st Century Award for Achievement, “Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century,” International Biographical Centre
1998	California Council for the Arts and Humanities
1996	Honorarium, San Bernardino County Museum

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS and TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

, Dana Montlack + Pam Longobardi, Spruill Center for the Arts, Atlanta, GA


The Curators Studio, Cortland Residences, Atlanta, GA
2023	

, Illges Gallery, Columbus State University, GA
2022	JCostello Gallery, Hilton Head, SC
2018	

Seeing Through Water, Seeing Through Weather

, Joseph Bellows Gallery, San Diego, CA
2014	

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA
2014	

, Joseph Bellows Gallery, San Diego, CA
2011	Art San Diego Contemporary Art Show, Joseph Bellows Gallery, San Diego, CA
2011	

Joseph Bellows Gallery, San Diego, CA
2008	Joseph Bellows Gallery, San Diego, CA
2007	

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA


, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, Savannah, GA
2024	

The Bakery, The Curator’s Studio, and Labyrinth Curation and presented at the Supermarket Gallery with the Atlanta Art Fair, Atlanta, GA
2024	

Synesthesia, COTA Faculty Performance and Art Exhibition,

, a SciArt Initiative exhibition, New York Hall of Science, Queens, NY
2018	

, Burning Man, traveling exhibition
2018	

, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2018	

La Jolla Canyons: Place, Diversity, Connections

, La Jolla Historical Society, San Diego, CA
2017	

, Aquarium of The Pacific, San Diego, CA
2017	

, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
2015	

, Angela King Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2014	

, The Goat Farm Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
2008	Sylvia White Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008	Naomi Silva Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2004	

, San Diego Central Library, San Diego, CA
2003	Sushi Performance & Visual Art, San Diego, CA
2002	Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2002	

, Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento, CA
2002	

, Lewis - Clark Center for Arts and History, Lewiston, ID
2002	

, Brea Civic & Cultural Center, Pasadena, CA

2025	Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Federal Site Review, Atlanta, GA
2024	Zen and the Art of Scientific Ocean Drilling, The Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA
2023	Art and Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
2023	Illges Gallery, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
2021	Virtual interview, VoyageAtl
2019	Podcast interview by Marthame Sanders, AJCAST
2019	

 – The Art of Climate Change Science, panelist, Scripps Aquarium, San Diego, CA

2023	University of Georgia, Art and Ecology
2023	Illges Gallery Columbus State University, GA

, Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail, Hilton Head, South Carolina
2019	Burning Man Festival, Black Rock, Nevada
2018	Burning Man Festival, Black Rock, Nevada

1996-1997	University of Georgia, Art and Ecology
1996-1997	Curator/Co-director, 3770 Park Blvd. Gallery, San Diego, CA

Art Table Leadership
College Art Association
Science-Art Collaborations

Asylum: A personal, historical, natural inquiry in 103 lyric sections

Selections From ResMed’s San Diego Art Collection

Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, UAE
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Law Offices, San Diego, CA
City of Hilton Head Sculpture Park, Hilton Head, SC
City National Bank, Manhattan Beach, CA
City of San Diego Library, San Diego, CA
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, GA
Emory Crawford Long Hospital, Atlanta, GA
Garden Fresh Corporations, San Diego, CA
Hilton Convention Center. Houston, TX
Hotel 1000, Seattle, WA
Marriott Timber Lodge, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Medigene Inc., San Diego, CA
Merck Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA
Mirage Tower, Las Vegas, NV
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA
Nine-Ten Restaurant, San Diego, CA
Nokia, San Diego, CA
North University Library, San Diego, CA
Orlando World Center, Orlando, FL
ResMed, San Diego, CA
San Diego Cancer Center, San Diego, CA
Scripps Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA
The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Saint Augustine, FL
Top of the Market, San Diego
Torrey Reserve-American Assets Trust, Del Mar, CA
World Travel Inc., Mexico

Review: At Spruill, Raw Construction Breathes Life Into a Refined Nature

,“
2025	Lucy Rosen, Celebrate Hilton Head, “

“New on View at MCASD: ‘Celestial and Terrestrial Worlds’ and ‘Land and Sea’.”
2024	Jonathan Bergstrom,

Microscopic Worlds: Dana Montlack on Art and Science

Meet Dana Montlack of Studio Montlack in Sandy Springs

Burning Man Artists on 15 of the Most Anticipated Artworks in 2018

‘Weather on Steroids’ Exhibit Takes Two-Pronged Approach to Climate Change

Art, Science Join Forces for ‘Weather on Steroids’ show in La Jolla

Second Nature,’ Thoughtful and Visually Stunning Group Show at Goat Farm

, “Making the Invisible Visible.”
2014	SDNews.com, “Nine Ten Restaurant Looks Good Enough to Eat Thanks to Renovation.”
2014	James Chute, 

Dana Montlack Finding a Universe in Tiny Worlds

What’s New? Exhibit Trio Opens at Museum of Contemporary Art

, “The Dana Montlack Sea of Cortez Exhibit

MOCA La Jolla, California, Dana Montlack: 'Sea of Cortez', Photocollage Exhibition

10 Things To Do This Weekend in San Diego (9/21-9/22)

“Monte Carlo Brings Three New Shows to La Jolla and More.”
2013	Maya Laksham, 

Sea Creatures: Joni Sternbach, Liz Lantz, and Dana Montlack

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Dana Montlack

As an artist, I have engaged in a decades-long exploration of natural elements with a more recent focus on microscopic and oceanic imagery. My goal is to present works that blur the imagined borders between the perceived physical entity and its more mysterious underlying reality. In my photographs, I will “hybridize” subject-matter---botanical forms with zoological beings, the inorganic or inanimate organic with the animated organic---which I may distort or otherwise manipulate to express the dynamics of life unobserved or unrecognized. I may make allusions pointing to human constructs such as the meaning of time and space, utilizing images from the microscope’s revealed universe to attempt to cut away the borders between the inner world and outer world, the “insignificant” and significant. Through this refocusing of lenses, I hope to create visions of environmental cohesion, of interconnectedness, and perhaps invite and encourage change in the way we approach our relationship with our natural environment and planet.

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