Education
2013MA, Interdisciplinary Art, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
2011BA, Arts, Entertainment & Media Management, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
Solo exhibitions
2025Unlocking Frequency, Studio Eight08, Houston, TX. Presented by Janice Bond / ART IS BOND in collaboration with Studio Eight08 and Emergent & Co.
2018Gravitas, Slant Space Gallery, Austin, TX
2015Thought Catalyst (Revisited), Elee Mosynary Gallery, Chicago, IL
2014Thought Catalyst, HEX Gallery, Chicago, IL
Two-person and group
2025Untitled Art Fair Houston, presented by ART IS BOND, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
2024–25In Focus, ART IS BOND, Houston, TX, November 21, 2024 – May 10, 2025. Group exhibition with Adebayo Bolaji, Austin Uzor, Jamal Ademola, Mathieu JN Baptiste, Mia Ghogho, Modou Dieng Yacine, and Tomiwa Arobieke.
2023Golden Ratio: Mapping Self, Space, and Other, ART IS BOND, Houston, TX, September 8 – November 11, 2023. Group exhibition with Sonja Henderson, Payton Harris-Woodard, Mia Ghogho, Floyd Newsum, Tomiwa Arobieke, Wayne J Bell Jr., and Jasmin Penelope Charles.
2021We Talk To Colors, Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery, Austin, TX, January 23 – February 23, 2021. Curated by Rachel Koper. Group exhibition with Chris Chappell, John Cobb, Erin Curtis, Heyd Fontenot, Rachel Koper, Yamin Li, Andrea Muñoz Martinez, John Mulvany, and Charles Randolph.
2019EAST Studio Tour, Fancy Fancy Studio/Gallery, Austin, TX
2019Of Color ATX, Lewis Carnegie Gallery, Austin, TX
2016Doors: Dayo Laoye + J. Johari Palacio, Flex Gallery, Arts + Public Life Arts Incubator, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Two-person exhibition curated by Tempestt Hazel. March 25 – June 10, 2016.
2014Testimony, Logan Center Gallery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Featuring Fantastic, a collaboration with Krista Franklin, Kane One, and Stef Skills.
2014Library of Love, Washington Park Arts Incubator, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Collaborative exhibition with Krista Franklin, Stephen Flemister, Norman Teague, and Raub Welch.
2013The Two Thousand & Thirteen Narrative(s) of Naima Brown, Center for Book & Paper Arts, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL. Sound collaborator with Krista Franklin on her MFA thesis exhibition.
Collaborative projects
2015Dialogue with a DJ, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL. Obadike FREE/PHASE Project
2015Finding Ijeoma, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL. Sound curation with Alexandria Eregbu
Sound residencies and performances
2017–19LINE Hotel, Austin, TX. Artist residency and guest sets
2017Austin Film Society / COLLiDE ATX, Austin, TX
2016Soho House Chicago, Chicago, IL
2015Village Underground, London, UK. With DJ Jaguar Skills
2015Lumpen Radio / Maria’s Community Bar, Chicago, IL
2012–19The Bored Enthusiast Series, Vol. 1–13, digital sound archive. 200,000+ streams and downloads
Selected collections
Collection of Tracie D. Hall, Chicago, IL
Collection of Isadora McKeon, Austin, TX
Cover art
2026O (mountain in Taíno), Frank Rosaly & Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti, cassette, International Anthem. Cover painting: Wavelengths II
Lectures and programs
2025Live artist talk, Unlocking Frequency, Studio Eight08, Houston, TX
2015Self-Portrait in a Kanye Mirror, MCA Talk presented by Homeroom, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago, IL. With Krista Franklin, Allison Glenn, Lisa Yun Lee, Kevin Coval, and Anthony Stepter.
2014–15Guest Lecturer, Sound Curation & Black Futurist Aesthetics, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
2014The DJ/Selector: Music Curation in the Digital Age, Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago, IL. Curator and moderator
2014Music Journalism in the Digital Age, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL. Curator and moderator
2014Merchandising and Branding: Maximizing Your B(r)and’s Hustle, Chop Shop Chicago, Chicago, IL. Curator and moderator
Publications
2016“J. Johari Palacio: What Lies Beneath.” Visual Art Portfolio, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora 42.1–2, Speculating Futures: Black Imagination & the Arts, guest edited by Sheree Renée Thomas.
2016“History, As Written by the Victors.” The Offing.
Selected press
2025“J. Johari Palacio: Unlocking Frequency.” Glasstire, January 22, 2025.
2014Ligaya, Jennifer. “Alumni Spotlight: J. Johari Palacio.” Marginalia: The Graduate Blog, Columbia College Chicago, November 22, 2014.
2014“Required Intelligence: Punk Artistry in the Midwest — Krista Franklin.” Afropunk.