People Made Visible, Inc. (PMV) is a non-for-profit organization with a mission to facilitate community while fulfilling the artistic, social, educational and cultural needs of the community through an innovative physical and web based presence.
Since it’s foundation, PMV has been intended as an umbrella structure, overseeing artXposium, the International Residency Project and recently the communityXchange. Each division seeking to build new and/or expand on current relationships within and between artists and the community.
After crossing paths and working together on several art projects (artXposium and the International Residency Project) for a couple of years, Anni Holm and Sara Phalen founded PMV in 2009.
Founders
Sara Phalen | Executive Director
Sara is an attorney and trained anthropologist. Raised in rural northern Illinois, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Anthropology and a BA in English. Phalen did graduate work at Northern Illinois University completing her law degree in 2006, her Museum Certificate in 2007, and a MA in Applied Anthropology in 2011. Phalen is also working towards a Masters in NonProfit Management from North Park University. Phalen is the co-creator of the traveling exhibition Creating Mexican American Identities: Multiple Voices, Shared Dreams. Phalen also sits on the board of the West Chicago Historical Society and Women on the Border an Austin, TX based nonprofit.
Anni Holm | Director and Curator
Anni is a conceptual artist working with photography, installation, performance, and collaborative art. Born in Randers, Denmark, she graduated with a BFA in photography from Columbia College Chicago in 2004. Holm has performed and exhibited her work both nationally and internationally.
Previously Holm served as Gallery Director & Curator of Orleans Street Gallery in St. Charles, a Curatorial Assistant in the Bank of America (former LaSalle Bank) Photography Collection in Chicago and the Art Coordinator at Waubonsee Community College. Besides being the co-founder, director and curator for People Made Visible, she is a teaching artist for CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnership in Education) and Poetry Pals. She has served on the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission since 2008 and was appointed Chair in 2014.