CV

GRANTS, AWARDS, COLLECTIONS 

Research Funding Program Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2024
Research and Creative Activity Council, Summer Research Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2024
Research Development Committee, Major Grant Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2022
Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, Recipient, 2021
Research Development Committee, Small Grant Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2021
Research Development Committee, Major Grant Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2020
Research Development Committee, Small Grant Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2019
Unveil’d Photobook Award 2018, Nominee, 2018
First Prize, ilon Art Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibition, 2018
Research Development Committee, Major Grant Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2018
Research Development Committee, Small Grant Award, East Tennessee State University, Recipient, 2017
Photolucida Critical Mass Top 50 Finalists, 2017
Anonymous Was a Woman Award, Nominee, 2017
10th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Runner Up (Landscape Category, Individual Images), 2017
FotoFilmic17, Shortlisted, 201
Baxter Street at the Camera Club of New York Workspace Resident and Exhibition Grant, 2014-15
Women in Photography- LTI/Lightside Individual Project Grant, Recipient, 2012
Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2013, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., Finalist
The Photo Review Competition 2012, Third Prize
AOL 25 for 25 Award for Innovation in the Arts, Recipient, 2010
Bidwell Projects, Collection, 2010
KLM Paul Huff Award, Nominee, 2008
Photolucida Critical Mass Top 50 Finalists, 2008
McKnight Photography Fellowship, Finalist, 2005
Minnesota Museum of American ArtMyron James Czarniecki III Photography Collection
Midwest Photographers Project, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL, 2005
The Comer Archive of Chicago in the Year 2000, Chicago, IL
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Honorable Mention, Exhibition of American Art: People in Motion, 2004
Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, IL, CAAP grants for Dog Show Photography Project, 1999 and 2000
The Robert Stiegler Award, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1998
Second Prize Winner of the National 1997 Visions of Excellence Photography Contest, S.F. Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
People’s Choice Award, Focus ’94, Battle Creek Art Museum, Battle Creek,  MI, 1994

SOLO AND TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS 

Analogues: North & South, Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC, 2024
Southern Fiction, Rutledge Gallery, Winthrop University Galleries, Rock Hill, SC, 2023
Southern Fiction, Baldwin Photographic Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreeboro, TN, 2023
Southern Fiction, Reece Museum, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 2023
Southern Fiction, Tracey Morgan Gallery, Asheville, NC, 2021
Southern Fiction, Biggin Gallery, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 2021
Southern Fiction, Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery, virtual exhibit, 2021
Upstate, Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY, 2019
Upstate, ilon Art Gallery, New York, NY, 2019
Upstate, Tracey Morgan Gallery, Asheville, NC, 2019
Upstate, Reece Museum at ETSU, Johnson City, TN, 2018
Paterson, Sasha Wolf Gallery, New York, NY, 2015
Paterson, Baxter Street at the Camera Club of New York, New York, NY, 2015
Tema Stauffer and Francesca Romeo, Daniel Cooney Fine Art Gallery, New York, NY, 2009
Selected Works, Tyler School of Art, Elkins Hall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2008
American Stills, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY, 2004
American Stills, Emerging Artist Series, The Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN, 2004
Seven Scenes, Central Lakes College Gallery, Brainerd, MN, 2004
Heart Land, Minnesota Center for Photography at The Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Un. of MN, Minneapolis, MN, 2004
Dog Show, Minnesota Center for Photography at Jon Oulman Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, 2004
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1998

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

2022
Infinite Weight / Present Histories, The Vault Gallery, University of West Georgia, Newnan, GA
Imaginary Landscapes: Stories from the American South, Bunzl Gallery, The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts, Highlands, NC
2021
FLEX: Recent Work from ETSU’s Department of Art & Design Full-time Faculty, Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN
Four + One to Grow On, Tracey Morgan Gallery, Asheville, NC
2020
The Summer Show, Sasha Wolf Projects, virtual exhibit
2019
Coined in the South, Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, NC
2018
6th Annual FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art, Reece Museum at ETSU, Johnson City, TN
5th Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography, Space Nau Bostik, Barcelona, Spain
American Splendour: New Photography, ilon Art Gallery, New York, NY
Photoludica Critical Mass 2017 Top 50 Exhibition, edition ONE Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Photoludica Critical Mass 2017 Top 50 Exhibition, Cortona on the Move Festival, Cortona, Italy
2017
5th Annual FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art, Reece Museum at ETSU, Johnson City, TN
10th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, International Photography Exhibition, Galeria Valid Foto, Barcelona, Spain
Portfolio ShowCase 10, The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
23rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention, Griffin Museum, Winchester, MA
Context 2017, Filter Space, Chicago,IL
2015
Where Do You Sleep?, The Hall of Honor, City Hall, Montréal, QC
2014
The Telephone Show, The Craft Studio Gallery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
2013
Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Exhibition, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC
Making Pictures of People: Recent Perspectives on Photographic Portraiture, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
The Body and The Landscape, Galerie Lilian Rodriguez, Montréal, QC
AIPAD Photography Show, Sasha Wolf Gallery’s Booth, New York, NY
10th Anniversary Exhibition, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
A Rich and Diverse Palette: Arts Faculty Exhibition, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Photography Sampler, Pascal Gallery, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ
2012
Group Show: An Introduction, Sasha Wolf Gallery, New York, NY
Best in Show: The Photo Review Competition Exhibition, University of the Arts Gallery 1401, Philadelphia, PA
2011
Pictures are Words Not Known: Selected Work from ICP Faculty, Lishui Museum and Lishui Photography Festival, Lishui, China
Nofound to New Documents,Victor Wynd Fine Art, London, United Kingdom
2010
Open Season, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Whatever Was Splendid: New American Photographs, Fotofest 2010 Biennial, Houston, TX
Vertical Currency: Five Years of Emerging Artists at the Rochester Art Center, The Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
W.P.U. Faculty Exhibition, Ben Shahn Court Gallery, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ
2009
NYMPHOTO Conversations, Sasha Wolf Gallery, New York, NY
W.P.U. Faculty Exhibition, Ben Shahn Court Gallery, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ
2008
8: Eight Photographers, Randall Scott Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Big, Big Bangs/ Small, Small Bucks, Dean Jensen Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
HIV Law Project Benefit Exhibition, Moti Hasson Gallery, New York, NY
2007
You’re in My Space, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
About This: ICP Faculty Exhibition, International Center of Photography School, New York, NY
The Art of Photography Show, Lyceum Theater Gallery, San Diego, CA
HIV Law Project Benefit Exhibition, Moti Hasson Gallery, New York, NY
2006
The Girl’s Room: By The Drier Project, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
Meditations in an Emergency, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
ICP Faculty Exhibition, The School of the International Center of Photography, New York, NY
Strange Instrument, Gallery at 3rd Ward, Brooklyn, NY
2004
Best Midwestern: Photography from the Heartland, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
The Pin-up Show, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
Nymphoto: Filtered, David Allen Gallery, New York, NY
A Great Midwestern, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL
Exhibition of American Art: People In Motion,The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2003
Home (for the Holidays), Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
8.5 x 11: Perspectives on the Everyday, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
Inaugural exhibition, Jen Bekman Gallery, New York, NY
SKIN 2003/Part 2, Icebox Gallery Minneapolis, MN
Collaboration of digital photographic imagery, drawing and sound with visual artist, David Hamlow, and minimalist music ensemble, Smattering, Cowles Conservatory, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, 2003
2002
Nymphoto: Women’s Collective Art Show,Warren St. Loft, New York, NY
Warehouse: A Decade of work/Work, Midwest Warehouse, Minneapolis, MN
Curious Terrors, Chicago-Ashland Space, Chicago, IL
2001
You Are Here: Chicago in the year 2000 (City 2000), Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
2000
Heavy Petting, Joymore Gallery, Chicago, IL
On the Prowl, The Butcher Shop Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2000
Homegrown: Faculty Exhibition, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
1998
Propositions II, Musee Departemental d’ Art Contemporain de Rouchechoart, France
1998: New Artists in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, IL

EDUCATION 

Master of Fine Arts in Photography, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1998
Bachelor of Arts, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, 1995
Spring semester, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1994

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

East Tennessee State University, Associate Professor of Photography, 2017 – present
Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Assistant Professor of Photography (LTA), 2014 – 2017
College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography, 2012 – 2104
Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography, 2011 – 2014
The International Center of Photography, New York, NY, Photography Lecturer, 2006 – 2012
William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography, 2009 – 2010
Toxico Cultura Contemporanea, Mexico City, Mexico, Visiting Artist and Instructor, 2010
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, Teaching Artist, 1998 – 2000
Richard J. Daley College of the City Colleges of Chicago, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography, 2000
Wilbur Wright College of the City Colleges of Chicago, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography, 1998 – 1999
Department of Art, University of Illinois at Chicago, Graduate Teaching Assistant, 1997 and 1998

ARTIST LECTURES 

University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Art and Art History, Chicago, IL, 2023 (Virtual Artist Talk)
Auburn University, Department of Art and Art History, Auburn, AL, 2021
Vanderbilt University, Department of Art, Nashville, TN, 2021 (Virtual Artist Talk)
East Tennessee State University, Women on Wednesdays Lecture Series, Johnson City, TN, 2018
SPE Southeast Conference: The Fierce Urgency of Now, Penland, NC, 2018
University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, 2017
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 2017
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN, 2017
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA, 2017
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 2017
Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ, 2016
Concordia University, Conversations in Contemporary Art Lecture Series, Montréal, QC, 2015
Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ, 2015
School of Visual Arts i3 Lecture Series, New York, NY, 2014
Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ, 2014
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 2014
California State University, Fresno, CA, 2014
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 2014
Bennington College, Bennington, VT, 2013
Concordia University, Photography Program, Montréal, QC, 2013
Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ, 2012
School at ICP Teen Program, New York, NY, 2011, 2012 and 2013
Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, 2011
Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2009
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 2009
Daniel Cooney Fine Art Gallery, Parson’s The New School for Design class, New York, NY, 2009
Daniel Cooney Fine Art Gallery, GLBT Gallery Tour lecture, New York, NY, 2009
Daniel Cooney Fine Art Gallery, I-Mentor Program lecture, New York, NY, 2009
3rd Ward, Women in Art Photography, panel discussion, New York, N, 2008
Parsons The New School for Design, New York, NY, 2007
The Rochester Art Center, Rochester, Minnesota, MN, 2004
Central Lakes College, Brainerd, Minnesota, MN, 2004
The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1999
Waubonsee Community College, Aurora, Illinois, IL, 1998

PUBLISHED MONOGRAPHS

Southern Fiction: Photographs by Tema Stauffer, 2022, Daylight Books
Upstate: Photographs by Tema Stauffer, 2018, Daylight Books

PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS

Harper’s Magazine, Almost Home, August Issue, 2022
The New Yorker’s Photo Booth, The Real Places that Gave Rise to Southern Fictions, January 12, 2022
Salvation South, Tema Stauffer’s Sense of Place, 2022
Harper’s Magazine, Lucky Woman, April issue, 2021
Penguin Random House, A Field Guide to the North American Family, Garth Risk Hallberg, 2017
PhotoDot, Korean photography magazine, American Stills, March Issue, 2017
Radar Poetry, Issues 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, & 29, 2016 – 2021
Capra Review, Paterson, Spring Issue, 2016
Penguin Random House, There’s Something I Want You to Do: Stories by Charles Baxter, book cover image, 2015
New Statesman, Friendly Fire, September 27 – October 3 Issue, 2013
American Photography On CampusOn the Road, Spring Issue, 2013
The New York Times, The Thinker with Eagle Tattoo, July 2012
Contemporary U.S. Photography, Volume 1, Fotofest 2010
Nymphoto Books: Conversations, Volume 1, 2009
Mark Batty Publisher, A Field Guide to the North American Family, Garth Risk Hallberg, 2007
Humble Arts Foundation, Group Show, no.1 & no.14, 2006 & 2007
The Morning News, Picturing New Orleans, 2006
The Village Voice, New York, NY, 2006
New York Metro, New York, NY, 2006
W Magazine, New York, NY, 2005
The Rake Magazine, Minneapolis, MN, 2005
The City Pages, Minneapolis, MN, 2003 – 2005
Lavender Magazine, Minneapolis, MN, 2003
The Reader, Chicago, IL, 1995
Art in America, New York, NY, 1993