Kira Vollman is a longtime contributor and collaborator in both the Los Angeles art scene and the experimental music scene. Vollman is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses process and unusual materials in works that are experiential and experimental. She combines painting, photography, sculpture, sound, and repurposed scrap and surplus materials to create poetic landscapes and soundscapes. At times she brings all of these elements together in one piece. Vollman’s works are a means of escape, for her and the viewer or audience. Drawing upon her background as a composer and musician, she often incorporates sound or inter-active sonic elements into her installations and wall sculptures.
Solo Exhibitions
2022 Allegory, Virtual Solo Exhibition, Shoebox Projects, Director of Shoebox Projects: Kristine Schomaker
2018 Deception, The Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH) and MOAH: CEDAR, Lancaster, CA, Museum Director/ Senior Curator: Andi Campognone
2017 Ascending Intervals, The Neutra Institute Museum & Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013 New Works, SOPA Studios Gallery • Project Room, South Pasadena, CA
Two and Three Person Exhibitions
2019 – 2020 Uncommon Denominators (With Kaoru Mansour), ARK Gallery, Altadena, CA
2013 Sculpting Social Landscapes by Katya Kahn (Sonic Art Installation with Joe Berardi), Side Street Projects, Pasadena, CA
2013 Art For U, Newtown’s Art Trailers, North Hollywood, CA
2010 21 Attenuations (With Otis Bardwell, Exhibition and Artists Talk, SOPA Studios Gallery, South Pasadena, CA
2009 Micro Retro Gathering Installation, Individual Project Room, SOPA Studios, South Pasadena, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Surrealism Now!, juried by Andi Campognone, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA), Santa Ana, CA
2021 Black and White, Online Exhibition Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Juried by Shana Nys Dambrot
2021 Artists Guild Summer Exhibition, Online Exhibition The San Diego Museum of Art , Juried by Anita Feldman
2020 Collaborate and Create for #CountMeIn (Collaboration with Vojislav Radovanovic), The Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH), Lancaster, CA, Museum Director/ Senior Curator: Andi Campognone
2019 – 2020 Photography: Beyond The Surface, The Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH), Lancaster, CA, Museum Director/ Senior Curator: Andi Campognone
2019 34th Annual Made in California Juried Exhibition, guest juror Yevgeniya Mikhailik, The City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA
2018 33rd Annual All-Media Juried Arts Exhibition, juried by Kristine Schomaker and Tina Dille, The Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH) and MOAH: CEDAR, Lancaster, CA
2018 Music For Your Eyes, juried by Peter Frank, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA), Santa Ana, CA
2017 2017 All Media Exhibition, juried by Kim Abeles, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA
2016 Portrait Show / Human Rights Show, The Gallery Presents, Hawthorne, CA
2016 Boots On the Ground, Mid-City Arthouse, Los Angeles, CA
2016 Mascara, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA
2015 Semblance, Art Crush, Altadena, CA
2012 Hugely Tiny Festival, Newtown, Pasadena, CA,
2012 Untamed (Parking) Spaces, Newtown in collaboration with Side Street Projects, Pasadena, CA
2012 LAFMS Light Bulb Limited Edition Box, (Invited contributor), The Box Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Group Exhibition, SOPA Studios Gallery, South Pasadena, CA
2009 OMOCHA DE CHACHACHA, Café Mode, Curator: Kio Griffith, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Group Exhibition, SOPA Studios Gallery, South Pasadena, CA
2009 Earthworks 2 Transformation, Café Mode, Curator: Kio Griffith, Los Angeles, CA
2008 The Visit, Installation #2, Rauchenberg Show, Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2008 What Are You Looking At, Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2008 Body of Art, J Ferrari Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008 AMP Exhibition, Edgar Varela Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Gallery Row Pasadena, Phantom Galleries LA, Pasadena, CA
2007 Newtown Medical Arts Show, The Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
2007 AMP Echo Chamber, Art Share, Los Angeles, CA
1995 Jac is Back, Silver Lake Pop-up Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1988 – 1995 Fuzzyland, Jac Zinder’s Club, Los Angeles, CA
1988 New Moon, Jac Zinder’s Club, Los Angeles, CA
1986 – 1988 Third Eye, Jac Zinder’s Club, Los Angeles, CA
Awards
2017 First Place: 2017 All Media Exhibition, juried by Kim Abeles, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA
Selected Solo Performances
2007 Dangerous Voices, Dangerous Curve, Los Angeles, CA
2007 The Voice, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA
1999 How Solo Can You Go?, C.I.A., North Hollywood, CA
Selected Performance Projects
1988 – Present Non Credo (with Joseph Berardi). Founding member. Non Credo have performed in the United States, Canada & Europe. Recorded music for CD, album and cassette. Non Credo have created sound and music for films, television, theater, dance pieces and radio plays.
1980s – 1990s Fat & Fucked Up, Performance Art, Improvising, Chamber Ensemble
Selected Non Credo Performances
2017 ARK concert series, Altadena, CA
2016 Premier concert for ARK concert series, Altadena, CA
2015 Live at The FollyBowl, Altadena, CA
2015 NewTown, Feed The Weed, 20 Year Celebration, Pasadena, CA
2013 Sculpting Social Landscapes by Katya Kahn, Sonic Art Installation Performance with Joe Berardi, Side Street Projects, Pasadena, CA
2009 New Music Monday Series, Curated and Performed at the South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, So. Pasadena, CA
2009 Non Credo and Friends, Curated and Performed Concert at Dangerous Curve, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Natural Anthems, Dangerous Curve, Los Angeles, CA 2006 On the Slab, The Armory Partners & Newtown, Pasadena, CA
2004 The Daughters of Re-Invention, Highways, Santa Monica, CA
2003 Non Credo, Performance,Artists Discussion,The American Composers Forum/LA Chapter,Los Angeles Composers Salon,Los Angeles, CA
2002 EARJAM III, Curated by Jacki Apple, Furious Theater Space, The Armory North, Pasadena, CA
2001 EARJAM II, Curated by Jacki Apple, Side Street LIVE, In collaboration with American Composers Forum / Los Angeles Chapter, Los Angeles, CA
1998 Non Credo, Artist Curated Concert by William Leavitt, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA
1998 Angels Gate Dusk: Installation Plus Trios Pulled From A Hat – 2, Curated by SASSAS Cindy Bernard, Angels Gate, San Pedro, CA
1996 Non Credo, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), Los Angeles, CA
1995 AMF Music Concert, Ludwig Forum, Aachen, Germany
1991 Festival Musiques Actuelle, Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada
1990 Grand Opening Performance, Metro Blue Line, Los Angeles to Long Beach, CA
1987 Non Credo, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) – Los Angeles, CA
Selected Other Performances
2014 The Crossing, Experimental Opera with Will Salmon and OPEN GATE BAND, Pasadena, CA
2013 Open Gate Theater with Dwight Trible, Open Gate Band: Will Salmon, Vinny Golia, George McMullen, Alex Cline, Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA
2012 AD HOC #6: LIQUID LAND, Presented by SASSAS and the Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA
2012 Sonic Gallery IV: Spontaneous Adventures, Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), Newtown, Los Angeles, CA
2012 The Jrks, Final performance event for the LAFMS Exhibition at The Box Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Hallelujah/Aloha A Surreptitious Intervention for Six Voices by Richard Amromin – Metro Gold Line, Metro Stations in Pasadena, So. Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Exquisite Corpse II, Sound at the Schindler House,The Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound (SASSAS), Los Angeles, CA
2000 Women Should Be Seen and Not Heard, Performed, Curated and Produced new music concert as part of the Jeff Gauthier new music concert series: “Inner Ear”
Curated Art Exhibitions
2019 – 2020 “Uncommon Denominators”, Duo Exhibition • Kaoru Mansour & Kira Vollman, ARK Gallery, Altadena, CA
2018 “Plus”, Solo Exhibition • Kristine Schomaker, ARK, Altadena, CA
2017 “Uncharted Territory”, Solo Exhibition • Steve Seleska, ARK, Altadena, CA
2017 “Joy In A Bottle”, Solo Exhibition • Susan Bolles, ARK, Altadena, CA
2016 “Urban Explorations”, Solo Exhibition • James P. Scott, ARK, Altadena, CA
2016 “30 Years”, Duo Exhibition • Kaoru Mansour • Kira Vollman, ARK, Altadena, CA
2015 “Above & Below”, Trio Exhibition • Michael A. Rosenfeld • Rusty Hood • Barbara Miller, ARK, Altadena, CA
ARK Curated Music Concerts, ARK, Altadena, CA
2017 Vinny Golia • 1st set • with Sara Cubarsi, Aniela Perry & Miller Wren
2017 Vinny Golia • 2nd set • with Steuart Liebig, GE Stinson
2017 Garretson & Gorodetsky • 1st set • Weba Garretson, Ralph Gorodetsky with Vince Meghrouni
2017 Non Credo • 2nd set • Joe Berardi, Kira Vollman, Michael Alvidrez & Carlos Alvidrez
2017 Acre Foot • 1st set • Kaoru Mansour, Brad Dutz, Carey Fosse & Darryl Tewes
2017 Snow Nerds • 2nd set • Ted Taforo & Jake Sucher
2016 Homler & Martin • Anna Homler & Jorge Martin
2017 Corima • Andrea Calderon, Patrick Shiroishi with Dylan Fujioka & Paco Casanova
2016 duo B. • 1st set • Jason Levis & Lisa Mezzacappa
2017 Schwartz/Sharp/Valsamis • 2nd set • Jeff Schwartz, Charles Sharp & Peter Valsamis,
2016 Jie Ma • 1st set
2017 Joe Berardi • 2nd set
2017 Dan Clucas & Steuart Liebig • 3rd set
2016 Acre Foot • 1st set • Kaoru Mansour, Brad Dutz, Carey Fosse & Darryl Tewes
2016 Non Credo • 2nd set • Joe Berardi, Kira Vollman, Michael Alvidrez & Carlos Alvidrez
Curated Music Concerts
2000 Women Should Be Seen and Not Heard, as part of the Jeff Gauthier new music concert series: “Inner Ear”
Bibliography
2017 Art and Cake • Kira Vollman: Music of the Mind • Genie Davis / May 30
2015 NewTown Celebrates 20 Years
Art Interviews
2016 Kara W. Tomé (Host), GYST Radio, “GYST DO IT! with Kira Vollman of ARK”
Music Interviews
Rok Podgrajsek, “Impropera” Rocktologist 2012 October
Rafa Dorado, “Non Credo – Entrevista” Margen Issue# 20
Erin Hawkins, Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Vanishing Point 1995
Mel Kangleon “The World of Reluctant Hosts” LA Rag 1988 May 6
Reviews
Greg Burk, “Non Credo” Metaljazz 2009
P.R. Chez-Alice, “Non Credo Impropera” Valedictory http://valedictory.chez-alice.fr/chrononcredo.htm
Richard Grooms, “Impropera” The Improvisor 2009
Ferrara Brain Pan, “It’s Inventive, It’s Amusing, It’s Entertaining…” Unknown Publication 2009
Unknown Author, “Non Credo -Impropera” Marquee.Inc 2009 http://www.marquee.co.jp/world_disque/back_number1.htm
Rok Podgrajsek, “Impropera” Rockline 2008 October
Tomasz Nadrowski, “Impropera – Non Credo” Sonic Asymmetry http://sonicasymmetry.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/non-credo-impropera
Rigobert Dittman, “Sicka Siam? Non Credo” Bad Alchemy 2009
Unknown Author, “Non Credo – Impropera” Agartha Prog 2008 http://www.agarthaprog.com/
Sean Moore AKA Lid Emba, “Non Credo – Impropera” Unknown Publication 2006
Nuno, “Impropera” ProGGnosis 2006 July
Massimo Ricci, “Impropera” Touching Extremes 2007 March
Mike Ezzo, “Non Credo – Reluctant Hosts” Exposé Magazine 2000
Unknown Author, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Rubberneck Issue 22
Unknown Author, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Revue & Corrigée 1996
Unknown Author, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Minimal 1996
Unknown Author, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Monitor 1996 Issue #15
François Couture, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” AMG EXPERT REVIEW All MusicGuide 1996
Rok Podgrajsek, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Prog Archives
Erin Hawkins, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Vanishing Point 1995 October
Rigobert Dittman, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Bad Alchemy 1995 September
Jim Aikin, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Keyboard Magazine 1996 January Issue #237
Alan Freeman, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Audion 1995 Issue #33 Autumn
Hal Howland, “Happy Wretched Family – Non Credo” Modern Drummer 1995 December
Brian Block, “HAPPY WRETCHED FAMILY – Non Credo” 33 rebellions per minute 1997
Mike Ezzo, “Non Credo – Happy Wretched Family” Exposé Magazine 1996 Spring – Summer
Mike Hovancsek, “Extending The Human Voice” The Improvisor 1993
Maribor1, “Reluctant Hosts” Prog Archives 1989 http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3097
Helmut Hein, “Reluctant Hosts” Rate Your Music 1989 www.rateyourmusic.com
Jim Aikin, “Reluctant Hosts – Non Credo” Keyboard Magazine 1989 February Issue #154
John Trubee, “Reluctant Hosts” Bam Magazine 1989 January
Reverand Bryan Sale, “Reluctant Hosts” Option Magazine 1989 Issue #25
Rok Podgrajsek, “Reluctant Hosts – Non Credo” Prog Archives 1988
François Couture, “Reluctant Hosts – Non Credo” AMG EXPERT REVIEW All Music Guide 1987-1988
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, 58 TAPES BY 79 ARTISTS FROM 25 COUNTRIES.
VOL. II., NO. 5., ”INFERMENTAL VI. LACE November -December Issue 1987
Selected Discography
2022 OUTZEIT THE GEIST, Limited Edition Solo CD
TBD Redo, Non Credo, Upcoming release, CD
TBD The Tunnel Session, Fat & Fucked Up, Upcoming release, CD
2015 A Mutantine Collection, Mutantine Records, Paris, France, Compilation CD and Vinyl
2008 Sound CD no. 3, SASSAS, Compilation, CD
2006 Impropera, Non Credo, CD
2003 A Classic Guide to No Man’s Land: Pieces & Songs, No Man’s Land, Germany, Compilation, CD
2000 Reluctant Hosts, Non Credo, CD (Re-issue)
1996 Eyesore: A Stab at the Residents, Compilation Tribute, CD
1995 Happy Wretched Family, Non Credo, CD
1995 A Highly Ragged Guide to My Kind of Blue(s), AMF Music, Germany, CD
1989 Reluctant Hosts, Non Credo, Vinyl
1988 A Classic Guide To No Man’s Land, Germany, Compilation, CD
1988 Bad Alchemy #11, Germany, Compilation, Cassette
Selected Professional Performances
2009 Honestas et Diligentia, Performer and Vocalist in play directed by Brian Getnick, Los Angeles, CA
2003 Nighthawks • A Staged Song Cycle on Paintings by Edward Hopper, Ensemble Cast Member, Composed and Directed by COLA Grant Recipient: Arthur Jarvinen, Los Angeles Theater Center, Tom Bradley Theater,Los Angeles, CA
1985 Ghosts of Lenore, Performance by Johanna Went, Improvised Vocals for Live Soundtrack, Park Plaza Hotel, New Music America, New Music America, Los Angeles, CA
1985 Auto Hum, by Bonnie Barnett, Live radio broadcast for New Music America, KPFK Studio Z, Los Angeles, CA
Work Experience
2015 – 2022 Owner/Director/Curator at ARK Gallery and Studios (Temporarily Closed)
1983 – 2018 Freelance Creative Director, Art Director, Prop & Set Stylist, Set Decorator, Food Stylist
1980 – Present Composer, musician, vocalist
1980 – Present Artist
2004 – 2005 Creative Director for Manhattan Village Shopping Center, Art Directed, Designed, Produced, Styled all shopping center posters, catalogs, newspaper ads, mailers. Created new logos and graphics.
Membership Activities
2013 – 2015 Member of Board of Directors for Newtown, Altadena, CA
1985 – ? Independent Composers Association (ICA)
1985 – ? The California Outside Music Association (COMA)