About Me
If education is important to you, the reader of this bio, I have an MFA from UIC with a focus area of photo, film and electronic media. Previous to becoming a full-time visual artist I’ve had various creative jobs including being a record producer and composing for film and TV. As a visual artist, I enjoy the physicality of using diverse materials and techniques by combining my photography with of graphic arts, stenciling and sculptural elements. Despite being dyslexic, I have always had this bewildering habit of using chunks of text in my work. Oh, and I was raised in a cult and have come very, very close to death several times. Ya know, pretty standard stuff.
My work has been shown in museums in Europe, Asia and North America, I’m in collections internationally and have representation in New York and Chicago.
Artist Statement
My goal is to produce compulsively “lookable” paintings that make you say “shit i’ve felt like that” and sometimes it might be an uncomfortable conversation. While I love pop art's color and rendering styles I am more interested in the "new sincerity" moniker which rejects celebrity and brand as identity.
Process
Those new to my paintings might be shocked to hear that they are mostly built up from spraying automotive paints with mega-detailed cut one-time use stencils. You’ll also see paint mixed with silica, 24k gold and copper leaf, broken glass, cut and layered strips of transparent vinyl, brushed enamel, carved wood, stacks of resin, and of course you’ll see my obvious love affair with hot rod paints with oodles of metal flakes and candies.
My integral first step is taking photos of real people in my studio. The photos are then used as source to build the paintings; however, there’s no print of the photo within the artwork itself. While I do have that MFA, the elaborate techniques I use in my paintings are my sole invention. It’s a unique style that I’ve built up with heart through the years.
REPRESENTED BY and WORKS AVAILABLE AT
Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts, Binghamton, NY
Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, IL
Member of The Arts Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Water Street Collective, Batavia, IL
CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Visual Arts Gallery, GSU - Portraying Women - October, November, 2024
Water Street Gallery - Two-Person Show - June 2025, Batavia, IL
MUSEUM EXHIBITS
The 21st Japan International Art Exchange Exhibition 2022- The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Japan
@Background_Bob and his amazing friends - Firstsite - 2022 - Colchester, England (BBC Museum of the year)
4th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2020 - Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, WI (Juried by Sergio Gomez)
SOLO SHOWS
The Sauk Art Gallery - “Still Looking For Connection “ Sauk Community College, Dixon, IL 2023
BEWARE OF THOUGHTS THAT ARE NOT YOUR OWN 2023 - Art Association of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA
116 Gallery 2022 - St. Charles, IL
Water Street Studios “be honest” [Duo] 2021 - Batavia, IL
Mays Mayhew Gallery 2021 - Aurora, IL
Eric Rippert Gallery “be honest” 2021 - [EVENT PHOTOS] 78th Street Studios Suite 106, Cleveland, OH
Chicago Premium Outlets 2021 - Aurora, IL
Lost / Safe 2020 - Aloft Hotel, Bolingbrook, IL
Bottomed Out 2018 - ArtBar Two Brothers Roundhouse, Aurora, IL
Instant Classics 2002 - Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL
NOTABLE EXHIBITIONS
The Arts Club of Chicago - The 91st Exhibition of Visual Artist Members - Jan 23rd-Feb 21st 2024 - Chicago, IL
CONTEXT art Miami 2022 (with Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts) - Miami, FL
JURIED SHOWS
POP! - Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL Fall 2023 - Juried by Zak Blatt and Marci Rubin
Inspired by Warhol - Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL 2023, Juried by Kelly Matthews Honorable Mention
POP! 2023 - David L Pierce Art and History Center, Aurora, IL, Juried 2nd place winner
Circle of Light: Halos in Contemporary Art 2023 - 33 Contemporary (Juried by Sergio Gomez)
Art from the Heartland 2022 - Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN (Juried by Jean Robertson)
94TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL JURIED SHOW 2022 - Art Association of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA (Juried by Nadiah Rivera Fellah)
Geneva Center for the Arts 2022 - Geneva, IL (Juried by Dimitri Pavlotsky)
Reunions 2021 - Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
An Exhibition of Things Called Art 2021 - Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
SOLITUDE 2021 - ARC Gallery, Chicago IL
Art of Giving Gala 2021 - Chicago, IL (Juried by Jason Farley)
TOP 8 of 2020 by Artrepreneur's (Juried by Abby Schlackman, Social Media Manager)
Juried Exhibition 2020 - Line Dot Editions, Chicago, IL
2020 Visions - 2020 - Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL
Reflections 2020 - Kavanagh Gallery, St Charles, IL
The Portrait 2020 - Batavia Fine Art Centre , Batavia , Il
Gallery Opening 2019 - Stola Contemporary, Chicago IL
Pop 2.0 2019 - The Art Center, Highland Park, IL (Juried by Peter Mars)
Suburbs 2019 - Millepiani, Rome, Italy
The Portrait 2018 - Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
GROUP SHOWS
Water Street Collective Show - January 2024, Batavia, IL
The Art of Protest 2023 - Stola Contemporary, Chicago, IL
Tall Grass Arts Association 2023 (with Water Street Collective) - Park Forest, IL
The Next Picture Show 2022 (with Water Street Collective) - Dixon, IL
Water Street Collective Show 2022 - Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
Back to the Beginning - Hairpin Art Center, Chicago, IL
The Seventh Corner Gallery 2021 - Twisted Hippo, Chicago, IL
The Seventh Corner Gallery 2021 - Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago, IL
Water Street Collective 2021 - Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
Water Street Collective 2019 - Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL