Pat Oleszko makes a spectacle of herself—and doesn't mind if you laugh. Known as the Ms Tricks of Dis Guise, she has a large body—of work—which includes many Unnatural Acts. Utilizing elaborate costumes and props, she has created lithe performantzes, films, installations that a-dress trees, knees, breasts, butts, elephants and fingers. There have been notorious spatial events with the cast-off thousands and uttered shenanigans. She has worked from the popular artforms of the street, party, parade and burlesque house, to the Museum of Modern Art, from Sesame Street Magazine to Ms, Playboy, and Artforum. A much decorated artist, literally and figuratively, she has been amply rewarded for her diverse efforts pumping irony and disparately bringing home the beacon. The truth squirts.
 
Awards & Grants
2003
American Academy in Rome
Resident, Italy
2001
New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship
2000
International Association of Art Critics Award: Best Emerging or Under-represented Artist Show
(Second Place)
1999
Gladys Kreible Delmas Foundation
1998
Rome Prize
American Academy in Rome, Italy
1993
National Endowments for the Arts Fellowship
American Theatre Wing Design Award Nominee: Scenic Design and Noteworthy Unusual Effects,

New York City
1991
New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship
1990
Guggenheim Fellowship
New York Dance and Performance Award for Sustained Achievement (Bessie)
1988
Mass Council on the Arts New Works
1986
PASS Studio Grant
1987
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
Jim Hensen Foundation
New York State Council on the Arts Sponsored Projects
1985
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
Art Matters Inc. Award
1984
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
Berlin, Germany
1980
New York State Council on the Arts Grants (CAPS)
Ann Arbor Film Festival Awards
1978
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
1973
New York State Council on the Arts Grants (CAPS)
 
Performances & Events
2002
Pat-O-Philia: Thank Heaven for Leetle Goys
Halloween Parade, New York City
2001
kNOw War
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Patsgiving Day Parade
Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
2000
Rubble Without Pause
U of N. Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Some-Air Solstice
The Go Forth of July Pay-Raid
Mt Patnadnock
The Patsgiving Day Parade
Yaddo, Saratoga Springs NY
1999
The Sprung Concert
The Grand Prix de Rome
Roamin' Streetwalking
American Academy in Rome, Italy
1998
Che Credo
American Academy in Rome, Italy
Bearded Lady Circus
Ringling Museum, Sarasota, FL
We Try Art-or Freak Emporium Dark and Stark
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
1997
Cunning Stunts
NSECA, Las Vegas, NV
1996
Julie the Forth 17 Year Cicada Swarmin' Signal Corps
Bard College, Anandale-on-Hudson, NY
1995
Happy Face New Rage Marching Bland
The Great Swim

Skowhegan, ME
It Came From Inert Space: Pat Too
Smart Cow

Djerassi Foundation, Woodside, CA
1994
It Came From Inert Space
Lewisburg, WV
1993
Nora's Art: Pat Too
Gunston Arts Center, Arlington, VA
1992
Jus Dis Once
Women's March on Washington, Washington, DC
1991
Pasquatch!
TransCanada Highway, Banff, Canada
1990
Nora's Art
Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD
1989
Humor's the Oddity Hallwalls
Buffalo, NY
Bluebeard's Hassle
Brattle Theater (ICA), Boston, MA
1988
Revel Without a Claus
Whitney Museum at Phillip Morris, NYC
Noah's Art
Akademie Graz, Graz, Austria
1987
Inflation: The Air Apparent
Central Park, NYC
Kumbayaya
Haystack, Deere Isle, ME
1985
Where Fools Russian
P.S. 122, NYC
1984
The Soiree of O
P.S. 122, NYC
Performance Festival, Tokyo, Japan
Tool Jest Classic
Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA
1983
The Only-for-Video Theater Fairy Trails
Vienna Sommerfest, Austria
1982
Armor-get-on
Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
A Farewell to Arms
Anti-Nuke Parade, NYC
1981
Jackson Pollack Adds a Whole Lot
World Festival of Theater, Wroclaw, Poland
Tour De Farce
Teatro Centro, Naples, Italy
1980
All the World's a Stooge
Whitney Museum Downtown, NYC
Lake Placid Winner Olympeeks
Winter Olympics, Lake Placid, NY
In the Fountain (Bleu!)
Festival Mondial du Theater, Nancy, France
1978
Constructa Vista
International Design Conference, Aspen, CO
(Planting) the Polish Cornfield
Artpark, Lewiston, NY
Clothe Your Eyes (Revue)
Kitchen, NYC
1977
Trek Entreat
Greenburg Nature Center, Scarsdale, NY
The Glad Hands to Good Tidings
Central Park, NYC
Pat's Picasso
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
The Pats to Suckcess
Cooper-Hewitt Museum, NYC
1976
Clothe Artpark
Lewiston, NY
Pat Oleszko Sew What
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
Taxidermiss
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
1975
Ball Arena High Jinx
Royal Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark
Liberty Tug-a-Lugging
Fourth of July Parade, Bristol, RI
1973
Fourth of July Parade, Bristol, RI
Museum of Contemporary Crafts, NYC
1972
Patty Cake
Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
New Yuck Women
Museum of Contemporary Crafts, NYC
1986-1997
P.S.122 Benefit Lottery Queen
P.S.122, NYC
1966-1980
Six Sequential Events Annually
Ann Arbor Film Festival, Michigan
1970-1972
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
NYC
1971-84,98
Easter Parade
NYC
 
Films & Videos
2002
Kneepoleon
Oleszko, Robinson
2001
Four for the Fourth
Oleszko (video)
1999
Roamin' Holiday: A View from A Broad
Oleszko, Garcas (video)
1993
Cruise-wear; Semaphores
Oleszko, Robinson
1989
Little Red Writing; The Free Little Pig
Oleszko, Robinson
1988
Where Fools Russian in Better Midler's Mondo Beyondo
Oleszko, Schlamme
1986
Not a Petty Slight; The Wurst is Yet to Come
Oleszko, Robinson
1985
Tour de Fahrt
Oleszko, Robinson, Zeig
Where Fools Russian; Herosheena
Oleszko, Carlomusto
1984
The Tool Jest
Oleszko, Robinson, Weigand
1982
The Clown Jewells
Oleszko, Robinson
1979
Kneel and Dimples; Footsi; Ashpattol
Oleszko, Robinson
1978
Pat-ad
Oleszko, Jones
1977
Nudes Reel Nudes Real; Taxidermiss
Oleszko, Zeig
1976
Mac Flasher, Padettes of P.O.Town; Pattycake
Oleszko, Zeig
1975
Explorations with Descartes
Oleszko, Zeig
1974
Patturncoat; Pata-tsouris; Rachel Tension
Oleszko, Zeig
 
Exibitions & Installations
1999
The Errant Space Museum, Guise on Dolls
Wesleyan College, Middletown CT
Roamin' Holiday: A View from A Broad
American Academy in Rome, Italy
1996
Air Today, Gone Tomorrow
Hallmark Cards, The Zoo, Kansas City, MO
1995
The Errant Space Museum
Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY
1993
Guise on Dolls: Signatures at an Exhibition
Neuberger Museum, Purchase, NY
1991
Forefront: Pat Oleszko
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Washington, DC
1990
The Clown Jewells
Lincoln Center, NYC
aLoft Souls
American Craft Museum, NYC
1984
The Tool Jest
Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA
1979
Coming Out of the Closet
The Kitchen, NYC
1978
Hand/Some/Show
P.S.1 Long Island City, NY
1973
Fat Tuesday
Museum of Contempoarry Crafts, NYC
1972
Patty Cake (Eat Art),
Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinatti, OH
1971
The New Yuck Women (Act Three)
Museum of Contemporary Crafts, NYC