CV
PERMANENT PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2026
“Remnant Priaire” Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA
2025
“They Too Have Wings” Omaha Central Public Library, Omaha, NE
“Tyler’s Oak” Gilda’s Club, Louisville, KY
2024
“Nebraska Dark Sky,” Nebraska Arts Council and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Roskens Hall. Omaha, NE
“Apinae and Encifera” St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA
2022
“Linsey-woolsey” Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Des Moines, IA
2020
“Sycamore Hatch” Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, KY.
“Sycamore Haven” Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, KY.
2018
“Five Miles from Fayette,” Edgar Fine Arts Center, Upper Iowa University. Fayette, IA
2013
“Hydrangea Variations” Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell, IA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
“Float” Collaboration with Denise Bookwalter. Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE.
2023
“Opera Coat” Kaneko Library, Omaha, NE
2022
“Apinae and Encifera” Catich Gallery, St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA
2021
“Verge” PACE, Council Bluffs, IA
2019
“Yellow Door Gallery Salon” Mainframe Arts, Des Moines, IA
“Iowa Women Artists” Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Des Moines, IA.
2018
“Sheathing” Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC.
“Herbarium” OL Guild, Historic Valley Junction, IA
2017
“Cure” Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI
2016
“Sheathing” Constellation Studios, Lincoln, NE
“Sheathing” Olson Larsen Pop-Up Gallery, West Des Moines, IA
2015
“Cure” Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2014
“Botanical Life” Concordia Gallery, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN
2011
“Swailing” Project Space, Charlotte Street Foundation. Kansas City, KS
“City Hall” ArtStop, Des Moines, IA
“Specific Night” Bing Davis Gallery, Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA
2009
“Frost” Atrium Gallery, Waldorf College, Forest City, IA
“Esplanade” Home Ec. Workshop, Iowa City, IA
2007
“Sunsifter” Tacoma Contemporary, Tacoma, WA
“Winter New Year” 106 S. Division Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
2005
“Morning Glory” Urban Institute For Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI
SELECTED GROUP AND 2-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2025
“Made in the Plains” Joslyn Museum, Omaha, NE. Curated by Karin Campbell, Annika Johnson, and Taylor J. Acosta
“State of the Arts” Mainframe Studios, Des Moines, IA In partnership with the Iowa Arts Council
2024
“Glow” Kewitt Luminarium, Omaha, NE
“Clocking In: 2024 Arts Industry Residents” 50th Anniversary Exhibition, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI. Curated by Tanya Gayer.
“All Hands on Deck: 15 years of collaboration at Small Craft Advisory Press” Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
“Transformation / Reclamation” The Arts Center,Corvallis, OR.2-Person Exhibition with Daniela Naomi Molnar, Curated by Jennie Castle
2023
“Hybrid Practices” Olsen Larson Galleries, Co-Curated by Kathy Edwards Hayslett and Alyss Vernon
2021
“Run Run Quiet” Plug, Kansas City, KS
“Unseen” Form and Concept Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2019
“Untitled” with Andrew Kaufman, Mills Gallery, Central College, Pella, IA
“Echoes” The Front Gallery, New Orleans, LA
“Divine Providence” Morris Graves Museum, Eureka, CA
2018
“Mending Fractures” with Kim Hutchison, Olson Larsen Gallery, West Des Moines, IA
“Paper, Material and Message” Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
“Divine Providence” Frontier Space, Missoula, MT
2017
“Wild Beasts” The Barnum Paint Factory, Des Moines, IA Curated by Chicken Tractor
“An Arrangement of Bones” with Alissa Nutting, Times Club Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“An Arrangement of Bones” with Alissa Nutting, 7X7 http://7×7.la/about
“Air Plant” National Taiwan University of the Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
2016
“New Work” Olson Larsen Gallery, West Des Moines, IA
2015
“Southern Exposure: Academic Book Arts in the New Millennium” John and June Alcott Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
“All Refugees Welcome” Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
“Paper Narratives” American Museum of Papermaking, Atlanta, GA
2014
“Abstraction in Iowa” Icon, Fairfield, IA.
“Common Thread” Kirkwood Fine Arts Center Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA.
“New Work” Olson Larsen Gallery, West Des Moines, IA
“Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Show” Olson Larsen Galleries, Des Moines IA
2013
“Paper Architecture” Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
2012
“The Briar Cliff Review Exhibition” The Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA
2011
“Chain Letter” Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
“Botanicals” Catich Gallery, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA
2010
“Beyond Text: Contemporary Book Arts” King Street Gallery, The Morris, and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center, Silver Spring, MD
“New Work” Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines IA
2009
“Kind Favor, Kind Letter*” Pyramid Atlantic Gallery, Silver Spring, MD Curator: Landria Shack
2008
“Drawing: Iowa Artists 2008” Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
2005
“Iowa Artists, 2005” Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
2003
“Built By Hand: The Book as Art” 1111 Sculpture Space, Washington, DC
2001
“Snapshot” The Contemporary Museum, Baltimore, MD
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
2026
Sloss Furnace, Birmingham, AL.
2025
Sloss Furnace, Birmingham, AL.
Carrie Furnace, Rivers of Steel. Pittsburgh, PA.
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2024
Iron Light, Western North Carolina Sculpture Center. Lenoir, NC.
Arts/Industry, Foundry. John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Sheboygan, WI.
2023
Arts/Industry, Foundry. John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Sheboygan, WI.
Opera Omaha, Omaha, NE
2022
Opera Omaha, Omaha, NE
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, Sisters, OR
2020
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, KY
2019
Ucross Foundation, Ucross, WY
Small Craft Advisory Press, with Denise Bookwalter, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Morgan Conservatory, with Denise Bookwalter, Cleveland, OH
2018
Western Carolina University Printmaking Department, with Denise Bookwalter. Cullowhee, NC
2017
Jentel Artists Residency, Banner, WY
Small Craft Advisory Press, with Denise Bookwalter, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
2016
Penland School of Crafts, Winter Residency with Denise Bookwalter. Penland, NC
Small Craft Advisory Press, with Denise Bookwalter, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Constellation Studios, with Denise Bookwalter. Lincoln NE
2015
Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2014
Anchor Graphics and The Center for Book and Paper Arts, Columbia College, Chicago.
2010
Jentel Artists Residency, Banner, WY
2009
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD
2007
The Bemis Underground, Omaha, NE
2004
The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
GRANTS AND HONORS
2023
Populus Fund Grant. Union for Contemporary Art. Omaha, NE. Funds from the Warhol Foundation.
2022
Alternate Currents Working Group, Amplify Arts, Omaha
2017
Iowa Artist Fellowship. Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
PERMANENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN HIGHER ED
2020 – 2021
Director, Center for Prairie Studies, Grinnell College
2005 – 2021
Professor of Art, Grinnell College
VISITING TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2025 – Dieu Donne Papermill, Sculptural Paper,Summer intensive
2024 – Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC. Sculptural Paper, 2-week summer class
2016 – Summer Visiting Lecture, Papermaking. Associated Colleges of the Midwest. India, Culture Traditions and Globalization. Pune, India
2015 – Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC, Sculptural Paper, 2-week summer class
2013 – Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO Co-Taught a 3-week Site-Specific Studio course with choreography faculty
2012 – Paper and Book Intensive, Oxbow, MI, Sculptural Paper, 1-week summer class
2012 – Nanjing University, Nanjing, China. Sculptural Paper, 6-week summer course, academic exchange with Grinnell College
2008 Grinnell in Prison Program.A 4-week course at Mitchellville Prison, Contemporary Art in Conversation
ARTIST BOOKS
2019
“Fashioning” Small Craft Advisory Press, collaboration with Denise Bookwalter.
2014
“Lining” Small Craft Advisory Press, collaboration with Denise Bookwalter.
2009
“Kind Favor, Kind Letter” Pyramid Atlantic Center for the Arts, collaboration with Tatiana Ginsberg and Kate Carr
SPEAKING EVENTS, GUEST LECTURES, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2025
Millwork Commons, Accidental Ecologies Panel, Amplify Arts, Omaha, NE
Amplify Arts, Studio Tour, Omaha, NE
Artist Brunch, KANEKO, Omaha, NE
2024
A/I Artist Talks, John Michael Kohler Arts Center
University of Nebraska at Omaha, STEM trail opening presentation
Panel: Collaboration at Small Craft Advisory Press, Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Instructor Presentation, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
2023
The Development of Opera Coat and Institutional Support for Art Making Across Disciplines, Kaneko Library, Omaha, NE. Co-Hosted with Opera Omaha and John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Opera In Conversation, Opera Omaha, Benson Theatre. Omaha NE
Arts/Industry Salon Series, No Studios, Milwaukee, WI
2022
The Verge, Roadsides as Sites of Violence. TEDx Omaha, NE
Open Studio, Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, Sisters, OR
Oklahoma Arts Council, New Perspectives on Public Art, Virtual
ArtTalk, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
2021
Artist Perspective PACE, Council Bluffs, IA
2018
Iowa Artist Fellowship, Meet the Artists, Council Bluffs, IA
Iowa Artist Fellowship, Meet the Artists, Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA
Five Miles from Fayette, Upper Iowa University
2017
Jentel Presents, Sheridan, WY
Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI
Iowa Artist Fellowship, State Capitol, Des Moines, IA
Iowa Artist Fellowship, Meet the Artists, Oskaloosa, IA
Iowa Artist Fellowship, Meet the Artists, Perry, IA
2015
SFAI 140, Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
Krannert Art Museum, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
2013
Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI
2012
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
2011
Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA
St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA
2010
Academy of Applied Arts, Rijeka, Croatia
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Omaha Central Public Library
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Bob and Polina Schlott
St. Ambrose University
University of Nebraska Omaha
Kohler Co.
State of Iowa, Iowa Historical Society
Farm Bureau Financial Group
Browne Goodwin
Temple University Libraries Special Collections
Emory University, Woodruff Library
Savannah College of Art and Design
New York Public Library, Rare Books Room
Virginia Tech University, Art and Architecture Library
Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabal Library Special Collections
Baylor University, Crouch Library, Special Collections
Sandra Kroupa
Massachusetts College of Art, Godine Library
Jack Ginsberg, South Africa
University of Michigan, Special Collections
Anchor Graphics/Columbia College Center for Book and Paper Arts
Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka, Croatia
Smith College, Rare Book Room
Grinnell Regional Medical Center
Grinnell College Libraries Special Collections
The University of Iowa Libraries, Special Collections
The Center for Prairie Studies, Grinnell College
PUBLICATION
2023
This Place: An Alternate Currents Working Group Reader
https://www.amplifyarts.org/editions/this-place
PODCASTS
2026
Nebraska LIVE, Genevive Randall. Nebraska Public Media
Theater in Nebraska, Kimmel Harding Nelson, Gurukulam, and more… | Nebraska Public Media
2025
Lives, Stuart Chittenden, Omaha Public Radio
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lee-emma-running-s3e114/id1242491645?i=1000688240438
In the Act, Erica Hunziger, Mead Public Library Radio
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2A0GXNIg1idHilgnnghx1j?si=9b56fdac694d4976
2024
PRAx The Art of Reconnection, Oregon State University.
Conversation with Ben Goldfarb
https://open.spotify.com/episode/152LLeo7ShK0EHksFa6Evx?si=76486ef093154ac7
Conversation with Daniela Naomi Molnar
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FKGz8ZlsCMbJl5xRaEfNO?si=130f17eeb3eb4884
2023
Riverside Chats, Omaha Public Radio, Michael Griffin
https://www.kios.org/show/riverside-chats/2023-12-18/lee-emma-running-on-opera-coat-and-exploring-the-natural-world-through-art
2019
Praxis Interview Magazine, WYBCX Yale Radio. Brainard Careyhttps://museumofnonvisibleart.com/interviews/lee-running/
900 Views Podcast, Episode 17. Pat Boddy RDG Architects
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/900views-episode-17-lee-running/id1450472377?i=1000447633867
PRESS
2025
Omaha World Herald
2024
Meal in the Verge
https://dailyyonder.com/meal-in-the-verge/2024/08/16/
UNO Opens Door to New STEM Trail
https://www.unomaha.edu/news/2024/09/uno-opens-doors-to-new-stem-trail-center-expanding-opportunities-for-innovation-and-education.php
Intersections of Art and Science
https://www.unomaha.edu/academic-affairs/stem-trail-center/impacts/stem-trail-art-mural.php
VIDEO PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
2023
Kohler Arts/Industry Foundry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Qu0vl9wWg&t=6s
Opera Omaha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hybQdaena24&t=1s
2021
PACE Council Bluffs
Artist Perspective 18 min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqrd564N_-8
2020
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Installation and process interview for two installations: 3.5 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAg0_aR0mF4
2019
Iowa Women’s Art Exhibition, Nominated for a Midwest Emmy.
Installation and process interview: 2.5 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BsuBUDpEK4
2018
Five Miles From Fayette, Upper Iowa University
Installation and process interview: 3.5 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUuyKbsuR7s&list=PLElEBzvrJaCAgO1WKi6X2RpxTwxm66GmR&index=3&t=0s
2017
Iowa Arts Council
Studio video and interview: 2 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGdKCd7HXvw&t=3s
Public Presentation: 3 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXmnEGSAhlQ
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2025
Wild Art of the Great Plains, Wild Great Plains Conference, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
2019
Sustainable Urban Systems: Rural-Urban Interface Workshop, National Science Foundation, Iowa State University.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Board Member, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE
2024 – Present
Board Member, S.O.U.R.C.E Studio, Burnsville, NC
2025
EDUCATION
2005 MFA, Sculpture, Minor Intermedia. University of Iowa
2005 Graduate Certificate in Book and Paper Arts, University of Iowa
2004 MA Sculpture, Minor Drawing. University of Iowa
2001-2003 Apprenticeship in Traditional Hand Papermaking, University of Iowa Center for the Book
1999 BFA, Sculpture Pratt Institute