BORN
 
Liverpool, England
 
EDUCATION
 
1992            MFA, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
1988            Diploma and 5th Year Program, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1980            BS, Boston University, Boston, MA
1976            Colegio International de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
 
GRANTS AND RESIDENCIES
 
2025            Wurlitzer Foundation Residency, Taos, NM
2024            Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant
2019            Montello Foundation Residency, Montello, NV
2013            John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship
2012            Santa Monica Artists Fellowship, City of Santa Monica grant
2008            Skylark Prize, Sias University Fellowship, Zhengzhou, China
2007            Artist in Residence, 18th Street Arts Complex, Santa Monica, CA
2005            Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant
 
SOLO AND TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
 
2024            Contemplate, Goat Gallery, Landers, CA (two person show with Judith Wold)
                    Non-linear Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, Timothy
                    Hawkinson Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (two person show with Kim Schoenstadt)
                    Natasha Sweeten and David McDonald, Satchel Projects, New York, NY                                 
2022            Shelters from the Storm, 5. Gallery, Santa Fe, NM  
2021            David McDonald and Carter Potter, PRJKT LA, Los Angeles, CA
                    Only This,  Five Car Garage, Santa Monica, CA
2020            Montello, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
2019            Visions + Structures, Five Car Garage, Santa Monica, CA
2018            Common Knowledge, Five Car Garage, Santa Monica, CA
2016            Thought and Gesture, Ochi Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2015            Casting Amongst the Sands, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014            Fly By These Nets, littlebigspace, Berkeley, CA
2013            Everything is Broken, Carter and Citizen, Los Angeles, CA
2012            Self Portraits, Carter and Citizen, Los Angeles, CA
2010            Tiny Histories, Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008            Minor Monuments, Jail Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                    Un, Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006            The Depth of the Drop, Newspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA           
                    Patient as Pebbles, BF Annex, Boston, MA
2004            Practice, Newspace, Los Angeles, CA
2002            Their, They’re, There, (with Steve DeGroodt), Cypress College, Cypress, CA
2000            In the Details, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA
1999            Intimate Seeing, Elizabeth Harris Gallery, New York, NY
                    Still, JennJoy Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1998            More or Less, (with David Kelley), Clifford Smith Gallery, Boston, MA
                    Borrowed Scenery, Remba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                    Source, Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
1997            David McDonald and Kevin Bean, Four Walls, San Francisco, CA
1996            Pure Land, Charlotte Jackson, Santa Fe, NM
1995            Trace, Dan Bernier Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1994            New Work, Bill Bace Gallery, New York, NY
1993            Plain, Thomas Solomon’s Garage, Los Angeles, CA
1992            Landscape Portraits of the Sublime in Ocotillos, California Institute of the Arts, 
                    Valencia, CA
1990            Dwellings, The Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA
 
GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024            The Universal and the Particular, Wonzimer Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                    Quiet Journey, King Studio, Venice, CA
2023            Who Live for a Day and Expire, 5. Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
                    Nothing is Hidden, 5. Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2022            Certain Matter, Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA                                 
2021            Sum of the Parts, CMay Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                    Post Process/Post Materials, 501 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019            Barely Fair, Julius Caesar, Chicago, IL
                    Oneiric Landscapes, Five Car Garage, Santa Monica, CA
                    A Comical Primitiveness, Durden and Ray, Los Angeles, CA
2018            Defining Detritus, Arena 1 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2017            Cabinet, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
2016            Practice, practice, practice: Abstract Spirituality in Contemporary LA
                    Painting, Sculpture, and Performance, 
Woodbury University, Burbank, CA                                                 
                    Feel/Reveal, 337 Project Space, Grand Rapids, MI
2015            States of Being, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
2014            Ternion, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
                    LA Wood Show, Arena One Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
                    6018 Wilshire, Edward Cella Art and Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
                    Ipsum, Edward Cella Art and Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
2013            heroes, Carter & Citizen, Los Angeles, CA
                    Folding Time Rhymes, Greene Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA
                    Interzone: Oystein Aasan, Mark Dutcher, David McDonald, C24 Gallery, New                                  
                    York, NY
                    In Direct Light, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA
                    Millenial Abstraction, Marin Community Foundation, Novato, CA
                    Forms of Abstraction, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA
                    Theatrical Dynamics, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
2012            Curatorial Exchange, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA
                    Urban Untitled, Capriccio Foundation, Santa Fe, NM
2011            Works of Paper, ACME  Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                    Role Reversal, Jose Drudas-Biada Art Gallery, Mount St. Mary’s College, Los                           
                    Angeles, CA
                   Various Selections from the Permanent Collection, Nora Eccles Harrison                                       
                   Museum of Art, Utah State University, Logan, UT
                   Goldmine: Works from the Collection of Sirje and Michael Gold, University Art                           
                    Museum, California State University, Long Beach, CA  (catalog)
                    Second Nature: Landscape Variations, Zask Gallery, Palos Verdes, CA
2010            Works 186-221, Marine, Santa Monica, CA
                    2D/3D, Traywick Contemporary, Berkeley, CA
                    ab.strac’tive meas.ures, Arena 1 Gallery, Santa Monica CA curated by Carl Berg
                    Group Show, Carl Berg Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2009            Manifestation, Carl Berg Projects, Los Angeles, CA
                   One Week Only, Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                   Structural Integrity, Harris Gallery, University of LaVerne, La Verne, CA
                   Paul Kopeikin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                   Skylark Prize Exhibition, Skylark Fine Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008           NADA Art Fair,  Jancar/Jones, Miami, FL
                   Adjunct Faculty Exhibition, Lindhurst Gallery, University of Southern California,
                   Los Angeles, CA
                   Whole Parts, Sam Francis Gallery, Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences,            
                   Santa Monica, CA
                   iCandy, Cypress College, Cypress, CA
2007          Themes and Variations: New Abstraction in Los Angeles, Torrance Art Museum,
                   Torrance, CA  curated by Kristina Newhouse
                   Keeping It Straight: Right Angles and Hard Edges in Contemporary Southern
                   California Art, 
Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA                          
                  Abstraction and Landscape, 98 Ten Fine Art, Irvine, CA curated by Carl Berg
                  One Night Only, 3875-1204 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                  Paintings Edge, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
                  No Place, Jail, Los Angeles, CA curated by Christopher Pate
2006          Wall Works II, Traywick Contemporary, Berkeley, CA
                  (keep feeling) fascination, New Abstract Painting in Los Angeles, Luckman Gallery,
                  California State University, Los Angeles, CA curated by Julie Joyce                  
                  1973-2006: Good to Go, Newspace, Los Angeles, CA
                  Acretion, Kellog Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University,
                  Pomona, CA
                  Material Wise, Domestic Setting, Los Angeles, CA curated by Carl Berg
                  Continuum: Crossroads Faculty Past and Present, Sam Francis Gallery,
                  Crossroads School for the Arts, Santa Monica, CA
                 Surface: Southern California Painters, L Street Gallery, San Diego, CA
                 Fresh, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, OR
2005         The Natalie and Irving Forman Collection, The Albright Knox Art Gallery,
                 Buffalo, NY
                 Summer Group Exhibition, BF Annex, Boston, MA
                 Group Exhibition, Exhibitions 2d, Marfa, TX
2004         White on White, Patricia Faure Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
                 Tinseltown II, Domestic Setting, Los Angeles, CA
                 Winter White, Clifford Smith Gallery, Boston, MA
2003         Tinseltown, Domestic Setting, Los Angeles, CA
2002         Gravity, Robert Pardo Gallery, New York, NY
2001         Saturation, at the Brewery Project, Los Angeles, CA
2000         From Idea to Matter, The Anderson Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University,
                 Richmond, VA curated by Edward Albee, (catalog)                       
                 Break Step, Inmo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                 The Golden Horn, Raid Projects, Santa Ana, CA
                 The Spurgeon Experience, Raid Projects, Santa Ana, CA
1999         Escondido Phoenix, an Exploration of Art and Nature, Escondido Phoenix Retreat,
                 Malibu, CA  curated by Tricia Watts                 
                 Sketch, Kellog Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
                 Up and Coming, Elizabeth Harris Gallery, New York, NY
1997         Peter Blum, New York, NY
                 Group Show, Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
                 Plastered, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
                 Drawings, LASCA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1996         Open Book, Kellog Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University,
                 Pomona, CA
                 Material Wise, Gallery Markant, Langlo, The Netherlands
                 Hold It, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
                 Pacific Rim, Pyungtack City Museum, Korea
                 Group Show, Dan Bernier Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1994         A Perhaps Hand, Thomas Solomon’s Garage, Los Angeles, CA
                 Cups, Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1993         FAAR Bazaar, Federal Projects Building, Los Angeles, CA
                 Mondo Lot, Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
                 Substance in Transition, Gallery IV, Los Angeles, CA
                 Science, 1529 Wellesly, Los Angeles, CA, traveled to Arizona State University,
                 University Art Museum, Tempe, AZ
1991         Summer Program, Bess Cutler Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
 
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 
2016            Wood, Eve, Pick of the Week, Artillery Magazine, March
2015            Wood, Eve, States of Being, Pick of the week, Artillery Magazine, October
2014            Paglia, Michael, Two Distinct Takes on Conceptualism, Westword, Oct 6, 2014
2012            Plagens, Peter, The Edge of a New Frontier, Wall Street Journal, January 24
                    Myers, Holly, David McDonald at Citizen and Carter, Los Angeles Times,
                    January19                                  
                    Zellen, Jody, David McDonald: Self Portraits”, Art LTD, March
                    Clothier, Peter, Weekend Gallery Rounds, The Buddha Diaries, January 26
                    Tuck, Geoff, David McDonald at Carter and Citizen, Notes on Looking, Feb 15
                    Wagley, Catherine, Not Quite Rejection, The Daily Serving, February 10
                    Zellen, Jody, Seen and Recommended, Artscene, January
2010            Miles, Christopher, David McDonald at Jancar Gallery, LA Weekly, April 7
2009            Albee, Edward & Frank, Peter,  Skylark Prize,  Catalog essays
                    Frank, Peter, David McDonald: Minor Monuments, THE Magazine, January
2008            Myers, Holly, Palettes blend, themes contrast, Los Angeles Times, December 5
                    Harvey, Doug, Mixed Media (highlights), LA Weekly, December 19
                    Continuing and Recommended, Artscene, May
2007            Frank, Peter, Themes and Variations, Artweek, November
2006            Duncan, Michael, Critics Journal, Art in America, November 6, 2006
                    Frank, Peter, Art Pick of the Week, LA Weekly, June 8
                   Joyce, Julie, [keep feeling] Fascination, Exhibition Brochure, Cal State
                    LA, Luckman Gallery, March 16-June 6
                    Rov, D.K., ‘Fresh Art’, as in Unripened, The Oregonian, April 10
                    Satorius, Katherine, [keep feeling] Fascination: Recent Abstract Painting
                    In Los Angeles, Artweek, June
                    Continuing and Recommended, Art Scene, May
2005            New American Painters, Open Studio Press, Boston, MA
                    Plummer, D’Lynne, Reach Out and Touch, South End News, July 28
2004            Frank, Peter, Art Pick of the Week, LA Weekly, December 29
                    Knight, Christopher, Art Reviews, Los Angeles Times, March 19
                    Continuing and Recommended, Art Scene, April
2002            Rakow, Mary, On Seeing, Catalog essay for Their, They’re There
2000            Albee, Edward, From Idea to Matter, Catalog essay
                    McLeod, Deborah, Running on Empty, Style Weekly, October 21
                    Proctor, Roy, Albee show relentlessly abstract, Richmond Times Dispatch,
                    December 3
                    Rand, Harry, Catalog essay for From Idea to Matter
                    Schoencotf, Rebecca, Art Review, OC Weekly, October 30
1999            On the Town, The New Yorker, October 4
                    Chattopadhyay, Collette, Malibu, Escondido Phoenix ’99, Sculpture, October
                    Scherr, Apollinaire, Over There, Express, February 19
1998            Frank, Peter, Art Picks of the Weekly, LA Weekly, July 17
                    Nesbett, Peter, Three artists reinvigorate realist, abstract tradition, South End
                    News, November 26
                    Ruggieri, John, More or Less, Bay Windows, November 12
1996            Bensley, Lis, McDonald’s content to let the next stage happen, Pasatiempo,
                    The New Mexican, May 10
                    Collins, Tom, Artstuff, Santa Fe Reporter, May 8
                    Winsted, Manya, Making of a Star, Santa Fean, May
1995            Frank, Peter, Pick of the Week, LA Weekly, April 7
                    Kandel, Susan, Literary Music, Los Angeles Times, April 27
1994            Nolan, Timothy, Labors of Love, Visions Art Quarterly, Spring
1993            Frank, Peter, Art Pick of the Week, LA Weekly, March 12
1990            Temin, Christine, An earnest “Glimpse” at a pair of personalities, Boston Globe,
                    December 14
                    Temin, Christine, Critics Tip, Boston Globe, December 13
                    Temin, Christine, Performance preview and interview, Boston Globe,
                    December  12
                    Temin, Christine, Shacks become poetry through sculptor’s global vision, Boston
                    Globe, October 31
                    Wellesley Chronicle, Performance Preview, December 8
                    The Tab, Collaborative concepts, December 12
 
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
 
Edward Albee Foundation, New York, NY
Irving and Jackie Blum Collection, Santa Fe, NM
Lynda Benglis Collection, Santa Fe, NM
Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, California State University, Long Beach, CA
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Simmons College Museum of Art, Boston, MA
West Collection, Oaks, PA