About
Merick Reed is a contemporary artist whose work spans sculpture, photography, and design. Based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, Reed’s artistic practice is rooted in a modern minimalist sensibility that marries simplicity with a sense of playful assertion. His creations balance the precision of geometric form with a subtle expressiveness that invites exploration and reflection.
Reed's sculptural work often takes the shape of wall-mounted pieces, where he combines minimalist design with gestural expression, creating dynamic visual compositions. These works function as an exploration of visual language—each piece engaging in a dialogue between shape, space, and the viewer's perception. Influenced by his deep engagement with graphic and architectural design, Reed brings a sharp sense of structure to his work while allowing for a quiet, almost meditative quality to emerge through the use of negative space and restrained color palettes.
Throughout his career, Reed has been immersed in the world of design. Since 1985, he has worked with multiple design firms, led his own Environmental Design studio, and shared his knowledge as an educator at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). His career in design has had a profound impact on his fine art practice, offering him a unique perspective on the interplay between art, architecture, and functional design.
Reed is currently focused on his fine art practice, where he continues to explore new ways of integrating design principles into sculptural forms. In addition to his work as an artist, he continues to design, collaborating with clients across industries to bring a thoughtful, minimalist aesthetic to a range of projects. Whether through his art or his design work, Reed’s approach remains deeply rooted in the idea of simplicity—allowing complex ideas to emerge from the most basic elements of form and composition.
Reed’s art has been exhibited in a variety of settings, and his multidisciplinary approach continues to inspire a diverse audience, drawing from his extensive experience in both the fine arts and the design world.
Juried Exhibitions
2024 The Artful Present, Veronique Wantz Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2024 Spring + Summer Group Show, Veronique Wantz Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2024 5th Anniversary Group Show, Rubine Red Gallery, Palm Springs, CA
2024 Visual Language, Art at the Bridgewater, Minneapolis, MN
2023 The Artful Present, Veronique Wantz Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2023 Black and White Show, Studio 123, Minneapolis, MN
2023 Neon Flux, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2022 The Artful Present, Veronique Wantz Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2022 C4W:2022 – Pinky Promise, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2022 2022 Summer Group Show, Veronique Wantz Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2021 Real Good Art, CIRCA Gallery, Minneapolis, MN2021
2021 45TH Annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibition, Artistry, Bloomington, MN
2021 The Really Really Good Abstract Show, ShockBoxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA
2021 Models in Motion, San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, SCORE, Virtual Exhibition
2021 Art Under Covid 19, Contemporary Art Projects USA, Virtual Exhibition
2020 minimalism, ShockBoxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA
2020 C4W:2020 Lush Future, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2020 64 Arts, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
Additional Exhibitions, Speaking, Awards
2024 2024 MCAD Faculty Biennial, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN
2022 2022 MCAD Faculty Biennial, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN
2020 Honorable Mention, International Photo Awards
2018 Featured Speaker, “Design in 7”, University of Minnesota
2017 Merit Award, Graphis Design Annual
2015 Jurors' Choice Award, Made at MCAD
2007 Exhibition, Here By Design III: Process And Prototype, Rapson Gallery, Univ. of MN
Bibliography, Online Periodicals
Jesse Dorris, “Soak In The Magic Of This Palm Springs Retreat”, Interior Design, August 29, 2024 LINK
Laurie Junker, “Desert Bloom”, MSP Magazine, June 18, 2024 LINK
Elizabeth Flinsch, “Open Theme”, Shots Magazine, Fall, 2020. 39.
Jean A. Coyne, “Photography Annual”, Communication Arts, July / August, 2020. 177.
Shelby Pasell, “Merick Reed: A Graduate Twelve Years in the Making”, 2019 LINK