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Alex Bortell (b. Detroit 2001) is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based in Chicago. Their work centers queer intimacy in relation to violence, with a particular focus on the body, the American Midwest, and their overlapping geographies. They will receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Writing (BFAW) from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2024.
Contact: alexbortell@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2024: Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Writing (BFAW), School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL (Upcoming)
2019: High School Diploma, Churchill High School, Livonia, MI
EMPLOYMENT & EXPERIENCE
2020-Present: Senior Library Assistant, John M. Flaxman Library, Chicago, IL
2022-Present: Peer Mentor, First-Generation Fellows Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2022-Present: Senior Poetry Editor and Digital Archivist, Mouth Literary Magazine, Chicago, IL
2023: Creative Writing Summer Teaching Assistant, Early College Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2023: Portfolio Prep Studio Summer Teaching Assistant, Early College Program Online Summer Institute at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2023: Summer Editorial Intern, RHINO Poetry, Chicago, IL
2023: Editor’s Assistant Intern, Querencia Press, Chicago, IL
2023: Art Workshop Intern, TotalLink2 Community, Chicago, IL
2023: Communications Intern, TotalLink2 Community, Chicago, IL
2022: Creative Writing Teaching Assistant, Early College Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2021: Bookseller, After-words Bookstore, Chicago, IL
2020-21: Office Assistant, SAIC Residence Life, Chicago, IL
2019-20: Gallery Technician, SAIC Galleries, Chicago, IL
2016-19: Lead Editor, Phaeton Literary and Art Magazine, Livonia, MI
HONORS & AWARDS
2019-24: Creative Honors Scholarship, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2019-21: First-Generation Fellows Program and Scholarship, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2020: 26th Annual Student Leadership Celebration, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
2019: Graduated summa cum laude with Honors in Visual Art, Social Studies, and Academics, Churchill High School, Livonia, MI
2018: Invited to the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
PUBLICATIONS
2023: Heaven Descends on America (1-4), Mouth Literary Magazine
2022: what exists, Mouth Literary Magazine
2022: prayer, Mouth Literary Magazine
2022: baptism in black and blue, Mouth Literary Magazine
2021: to patroclus, Mouth Literary Magazine
2021: meat, Mouth Literary Magazine
EXHIBITIONS
2023: Fall Undergraduate Exhibition, SAIC Galleries, Chicago, IL (Upcoming)
2022-23: Group Exhibition, Analogous Tales: FirstGen Art Exhibition, SAIC Sullivan Building 12th Floor Office of Student Affairs, Chicago, IL
2022: Two-Person Exhibition, Residue, SAIC Sharp Building 6th Floor Exhibition Cases, Chicago, IL (with Margaret Dugger)
PRESENTATIONS
2024: BFA in Writing Thesis Reading, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL (Upcoming)
2022: #Bookstagram: Implementing Collaborative Social Media Training in the Library, Student Employment in Academic Libraries Virtual (SEAL) Symposium, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), IN, October 21 (with Alex O’Keefe)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2022: Celebrating Our First-Generation Community at SAIC, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, November 7
CERTIFICATIONS
2022-Present: Mandated Reporter, Department of Children & Family Services, IL
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