CV
Education
2014 MFA, San Jose State University, Photography, San Jose, CA
2004 BFA, The University of the Arts, Photography, Philadelphia, PA
Group Exhibitions
2020 Kentucky-Fried Pop-Up, for Maiden LA, a series of happenings in Los Angeles, CA (curated by Scream Queen presents)
2015 Wunderkammer, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Peak Salvation, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Glitter Bomb, National Queer Arts Festival: Connections, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA
#MUFATRAFOM (Modern Urban Follies and the Rise (and Fall) of Man), Works/San Jose, San Jose, CA
MB3, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2014 Lift Off, The Art Ark, San Jose, CA
MFA Showcase, Gallery 3, San Jose, CA
2013 Residues of Time, Works/San Jose, San Jose, CA
Tango and the Modern Nude, The Art Ark, San Jose, CA
2012 San Jose MFA, Gavilan College Gallery, Gilroy, CA
Stark, Gallery 3, San Jose, CA
2010 East Bay Open Studios, 23HAM, Berkeley, CA
Meet Artist Manifest Autonomy (MAMA), 23HAM, Berkeley, CA
Something Personal, GALLERY 645, San Francisco, CA
2009 Something Personal, LEFTSPACE, San Francisco, CA
2004 Thesis Exhibit, The Ice Box, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Methods of Interface + Control, Rack & Hamper Gallery, New York, NY
Photography Survey, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2002 Recent Work, Sol Mednick Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Solo Exhibitions & Collaborative Projects
2020 SEX, The Raven's Wing, Oakland, CA, photography
2014 SEX, Theta Belcher Gallery, San Jose, CA, photography installation
2013 V&V, John Pickelle Gallery, San Jose, CA, photography installation
Two Years, Gallery 8, San Jose, CA, photography and sound installation
Pulse/Dream, Black Gallery, San Jose, CA (with Scott Gorham)
Wall: RED, Black Gallery, San Jose, CA (with Scott Gorham)
2012 Tempus, John Pickelle Gallery, San Jose, CA, anthotypes and mixed media installation
Tempus Anima Rei, Herbert Sanders Gallery, San Jose, CA, anthotypes and mixed media installation
The Uncharted, Herbert Sanders Gallery, San Jose, CA, photography and video installation
The Pallet of Penguins, Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library, San Jose, CA (with Scott Gorham)
Free, Gallery 3, San Jose, CA (with Scott Gorham and Devon McKnight)
2011 In the Forest, The Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA (with 23HAM Collective)
Selected Curatorial Experience
2016 – 2021 All gallery exhibitions at The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA (6-8 week rotation)
2016 – 2021 Annual Alternative Process Photography Exhibition (1–5), The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA (National Call)
2020 Keith Haring: Photography by Stuart Schwartz, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
Randy Lee Walker: Abandoned Photography, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
2019 Lori Barra & Tim Porter: Our Oaxaca, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
Nancy Richards Farese: Looking for the Shapes of Shadows, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
Focus On Visibility: Artist in Residence Exhibition, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
2018 Kerik Kouklis: From the Ends of the Earth, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
Jim Hughes: Americana Photography, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
2017 Reflect & Engage Digital Photography Exhibition, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA (Regional Call for Entry)
Pei Ketron: iPhone Photography, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
2016 Jay Ruland: As the Allure Fades, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
2015 All gallery exhibitions at Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA (8-10 week rotation)
Wunderkammer, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Opal Moon Fauna, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Urban Fodder / Rural Encounters, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2013 Six, Herbert Sanders Gallery, San Jose, CA (co-curated with Elizabeth Torrance)
2012 Stark, Gallery 3, San Jose, CA (co-curated)
2010 Meet Artist Manifest Autonomy (MAMA), 23HAM, Berkeley, CA (co-curated)
Professional Experience
2023 – Present Instructor, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
Darkroom Photography
2022 – Present Instructor, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Intro to Photography, Intro to Digital Photography
2022 – Present Instructor, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR
Image Manipulation, Digital Photography and Imaging, Darkroom Photography
2007 – Present Retouching Artist / Owner, Giffen Digital, San Francisco Bay Area, CA – Portland, OR
2004 – Present Artist / Photographer, San Francisco Bay Area, CA – Portland, OR
2016 – 2022 Educator, The Image Flow, San Anselmo, CA
Beginning & Intermediate photography workshops for groups and individuals
Beginning – Advanced instruction in Photoshop and Lightroom
2016 – 2021 Fine Art Printer & Curator, The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA
2014 – 2015 Instructor, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Beginning Digital Photography
2014 – 2015. Curator & Gallery Associate, Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2013 – 2014 Graduate Assistant, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Photo Lab Assistant, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2012 – 2013 Teaching Associate, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Instructor: Intermediate Digital Imaging
2011 – 2012 Teaching Assistant, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
TA for Valerie Mendoza: Intermediate Digital Imaging
2010 – 2011 Teaching Assistant, Berkeley City College, Berkeley, CA
TA for Bijan Yashar: Digital Photography and Digital Printmaking for Photographers
2010 – 2011 Digital Print Lab Technician, Berkeley City College, Berkeley, CA
2005 – 2007 1st Retoucher & Studio Manager, Catchlight Digital, New York, NY
2005 – 2006 Photographer & Developer, Ward-Giffen Productions, Philadelphia, PA
2004 – 2005 1st Assistant & Studio Manager, Tony Ward Photography, Philadelphia, PA
Awards & Distinctions
2022 Graphis Photography Annual 2022, New York, NY
Gold | Michael Winokur | The Crown | Beauty & Fashion - Retouching
Silver | Michael Winokur | Chloe on Zoey | Beauty & Fashion - Retouching
Silver | Michael Winokur | Alexander McQueen Clutch | Beauty & Fashion - Retouching
Silver | Michael Winokur | Fanny Pack | Beauty & Fashion - Retouching
Honorable Mention | SERIES | Michael Winokur | Jacquemus and Muse| Beauty & Fashion - Retouching
2021 Graphis Photography Annual 2021, New York, NY
Gold | SERIES | Michael Winokur | On A Pedestal | Beauty & Fashion - Retouching
2016 Graphis Photography Annual 2016, New York, NY
Silver | Michael Winokur | Gravity | Dance - Retouching
Merit | Michael Winokur | Falling and Floating | Dance - Retouching
2015 Graphis Photography Annual 2015, New York, NY
Merit | Michael Winokur | Selling Rosario | Portraits - Retouching
2013 – 2014 Graduate Equity Fellowship Award, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
State University Grant, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2013 Graphis Photography Annual 2013, New York, NY
Gold | Michael Winokur | Barn Owl | Wildlife - Retouching
Violet Speddy Scholarship, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2001 – 2003 UArts Grant, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2000 – 2004 Promising Artist Award, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Professional Organizations
2021 – Present Exhibition Committee & Installation Volunteer, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR
2011 – Present Society for Photographic Education (SPE)
2008 – 2011 Advertising Photographers of America/American Photographic Artists (APA)
Permanent Collections
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Bibliography
Photo Retouching Expert Chrysta Giffen is Passionate About Digital Images, The Image Flow, 2016
Chrysta Giffen's "Curve", Juxtapoz Magazine, 2015
Giffen, Chrysta: Tension and Tenderness: A Study of Intimacy in Non-Traditional Relationships, San Jose, CA, 2014
The MFA Now Archive, vol.3, Root Division, 2014
The MFA Now Archive, vol.2, Root Division, 2013
Giffen, Chrysta: “Dreamscapes,” NY Arts Magazine, vol. 12, no 3/4, March/April 2007