Jillian Abir MacMaster

Jillian Abir MacMaster (b. 1995, she/her) is a Palestinian-American photographic artist from Frederick, Maryland. She holds a BFA in photography from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

EXHIBITIONS *indicates solo

2022

With Teeth, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD* (upcoming, November)

Yearbook 2022, Shutter Hub

Seeing Red, Float Magazine, curated by Dana Stirling.

Planet A: Book Arts, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD

Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD. Juried by David Oresick of the Silver Eye Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Emerging Artists Exhibition, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD. Juried by Lee Nowell-Wilson.

Fill Your Cup, Too Tired Project. Curated by Roslyn Julia.

Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD. Juried by Dan Leers of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

Photo, But Not Photo, Float Magazine, curated by Jennifer Marion & André Ramos-Woodard, editors of the space in between

2021 Favorite Photograph Exhibition, LENSCRATCH

2021

Blue Bounty, commissioned series for Firestone's Culinary Tavern, Frederick, MD*

How I See You, Float Magazine, curated by Karen Harvey of Shutter Hub

Virtual Realism,The Art History Babes

Undisclosed Resource, Curated by Efrem Zelony-Mindell

Movements, Moments, Torpedo Factory Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA

2020

A Show of Hands, Don't Take Pictures, donttakepictures.com

Phantasmagoria III, Jacoby Arts Center, Alton, IL

Community Stories, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, MD. Work displayed on facade of building. 

Mirror Image, Don't Take Pictures, donttakepictures.com

2019

Love, or Something Better: New Work by Ash Cheshire and Jillian Abir MacMaster, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD

Paranormal Activity, Curated online exhibition, AINT-BAD.com

Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD

2018

Where Should We Meet?, Curated online exhibition, AINT-BAD.com

Dirt Art Show & Zine, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD

Uprooted, International Arts & Artists' at Hillyer (formerly Hillyer Art Space), Washington, D.C.

Majesty, The Delaplaine, Frederick, MD*

The Mid-Atlantic Analog Photographers Group Show: Portraits, The Delaplaine, Frederick, MD

Presence: Queer Youth, New Spire Arts, Frederick, MD

Mechanical Wasteland, The Frederick Coffee Company and Cafe, Frederick, MD*

Photo of the Day, Don't Take Pictures, donttakepictures.com

She/They, Area 31, Frederick, MD

Portraits 2018, The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO

2017

The Mid-Atlantic Analog Photographers Group Show, Area 31, Frederick, MD

Pop Art at the Pineapple, The Green Pineapple, Shepherdstown, WV

Natural State, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD

Scanography: The Art of Scanning, Niza Knoll Gallery, Denver, CO

Sans Merci Release Party Juried Exhibition, Shepherdstown, WV

Student Honors Exhibition, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV

Visual Arts Collective: Energy and Movement, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD

2016

National Juried Photography Exhibition, The Delaplaine, Frederick, MD

Flesh + Bone II, Hillyer Art Space, Washington, DC

Student Honors Exhibition, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV

Sans Merci Release Party Juried Exhibition, Shepherdstown, WV

2015

Sans Merci Release Party Juried Exhibition, Shepherdstown, WV

FEATURES & NEWS

Virtual Realism Talks w/ Morgane Clément-Gagnon and Jillian Abir MacMaster - The Art History Babes Podcast

Portfolio Feature - Float Magazine

Gallery: "Movements, Moments" at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center - Metro Weekly

In the Galleries: A Focus on the Intersection of Art and Movement - The Washington Post

Photography, Anger, and the Abstract Reality of Jillian Abir MacMaster - Dar Zeytoon

Love, or Something Better - Frederick News Post

Love, or Something Better - What Is Frederick?

HONORS & AWARDS

2022

Creativity Award, Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, MD

FAC/NEA Create and Activate Now Recover Award, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, MD

Third Place Color Photography Award, Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD

Best in Show, Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD

2021

Work selected as cover for Delaplaine Arts Magazine summer issue by the Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD

2020

Awarded full tuition scholarship, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO

2019

First Place Prize Winner for Color Photography, Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD

2017

Outstanding Senior in Photography, presented by Shepherd University

2016

Work selected as cover for Sans Merci Literary and Art Magazine by Shepherd University

2015

Best Art Award, Sans Merci Literary and Art Magazine, presented by Shepherd University

ART SERVICES

2022

Curator, Infinite Growth, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, MD

Panelist for Arts in Education Grant, Maryland State Arts Council

2021

"Visiting Voices" Guest Label Writer for The Secret Paris of the 1930s: Vintage Photographs by Brassaï at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD

Panelist for Independent Artist Awards, Maryland State Arts Council

2018-2021

Guest Critic for Graphic Design Program Portfolio Review, Hagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, MD

2020

Juror of "Women and Nature," Maryland State Arts Council

2017

Guest Artist Talk, Middletown High School, Middletown, MD

PUBLICATIONS

2017

Sparks Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, Shepherd University

Sans Merci Yearly Juried Literary and Art Magazine, Shepherd University: 2015 - 2017