Artist Statement
Photo by Harvey Tillis.
My body of work focuses on semi-abstracted landscapes, with an emphasis on color relationships that are used to create a dream-like feeling.
To create this mood, I work with subtle or toned-down colors, and layer-upon-layer of cold wax and oil, intermixed with Galkyd, which adds luminosity. Often, these pieces on wood panel will contain 20 or more layers, varying between thin glazes and thick wax applied with a palette knife. Attention to color relationships in order to create harmony, continues to remain a focus of all my paintings.
I additionally create original abstracted works on paper with cold wax, galkyd, oil, and oil sticks. These pieces are intuitively created from live jazz performances at The Fulton Street Collective.
Beginning my formal studies in 1989 at The University of Chicago, I have worked on figure drawing, watercolor, acrylic, and oil. I have worked under Janis Pozzi-Johnson for several years and consider her a major influence in my work as both a teacher and mentor. I have also studied at The Museum of Modern Art, The Smithsonian Institute, The Evanston Art Center, The North Shore Art League, and The Winslow Art Center.
Further influences include J.W. Turner, Claude Monet, Joan Mitchell, Gerhard Richter, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, and my grandfather, Albert Dierberger.
Curriculum vitae:
Education
2021 - 2023 Private study with Janis Pozzi-Johnson
2022 - 2023 Winslow Art Center
2006 - 2022 Evanston Art Center, Oil Painting, Drawing, Evanston, IL
2021 Sotheby’s, Certificate in Art History: Renaissance to Present
1989 University of Chicago, Drawing classes, Chicago, IL
Representation
2024 - present; Celestial Art Curation, Hinsdale, IL,
2024 - present; La Grange Art League, La Grange, IL
2024 - present; Chicago Art Source, Chicago, IL
2022 - 2023; Arch, Winnetka, IL
Solo & Two-Person Exhibitions
2023 “Art on Display,” J. Andrews Salon, Chicago, Illinois.
2023 “Kaleidoscope,” The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois
2021 "Art Attack," Arch Apothecary, Vintage and Home, Winnetka, Illinois.
2020 "In the Moment': A Virtual Backdrop Exhibition," The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois.
Group Exhibitions
2024 Juried Art Exhibition, La Grange Art League, La Grange, IL
2024 “Inspired By,” North Shore Art League, Winnetka, IL
2024 “Four Artists, Four Walls,” The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, IL
2024 “Chicago, People & Places”, The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, IL
2023 “Rostrum 312,” Bridgeport, Illinois.
2022 "Flowers 4 Peace and Prosperity," Red Bluff Art Gallery, International Juried Show, Corning, California.
2021 "Real People," International Juried Show, Woodstock Fine Arts Center, Woodstock, Illinois.
2021 “Four-Person Exhibition,” Arch Apothecary, Vintage and Home, Winnetka, Illinois.
2021, “Abstractions,” The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois.
2021, “The Color Red,” The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois,
2021 "Shades of Black & White," The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois.
2020 "Divine Femininity," The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois
2019 "Open House," Hubbard St. Lofts, Chicago, Illinois.
Awards
2024, September, Honorable Mention, - Juried La Grange Art League Exhibition for “Evening Lagoon”.
Corporate Collections
Prairie Capital LP, Chicago, Illinois.
Workbox, Chicago, Illinois.
Interviews
2023 “Meet the Maker,” Interviewed by Amy Kartheiser of Amy Kartheiser Design, Episode 24, Instagram.
Performances
2024 ”Blueshift Big Band Vinyl Release of JOYSTICK JAZZ Vol. 2,” (Visual artist)
2023 “Greg Fundis Trio,” The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois (Visual Artist)
2023 “Diego Rodriguez Big Band,” The Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Illinois (Visual Artist)