Paula Kloczkowski Luberda and Michael Van Zeyl ~ Gallery 180

Tomorrow night from 5:30 - 7:30, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will host the opening reception for the work of Paula Kloczkowski Luberda and Michael Van Zeyl. The exhibition presents Kloczkowski Luberda's abstract stoneware vessels with the classic figure and still life paintings of Van Zeyl.

The Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm... with all work available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. Validated parking is available at the Self Park on the corner of Wabash and Randolph for $14. Enter 1/2 block south of the gallery on Wabash. Ask for a validation ticket when entering the gallery.

The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Additional information can be found at gallery180.com.

Michael Van Zeyl ~ Gallery 180

Michael Van Zeyl, Still Life [Flowers], 16 x 18", oil on panel, 2013

On Friday, March 15th, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will host a catered reception for an exhibition presenting the formal figure and still life paintings of Michael Van Zeyl. Van Zeyl's paintings will be exhibited along side of the abstract sculptural vessels of Paula Kloczkowski Luberda.

The classical imagery of Michael Van Zeyl explores the human form as well as traditional still life. The subjects are rendered within a painterly atmosphere—where light defines form—to create compositions of classic mastery. In discussing his work, VanZeyl explains:

I create art because I am truly fascinated by the process of transforming a flat, blank canvas into the illusion of dimensional form, atmosphere and mood. I consider the theme of my work to be the rhythmic flow of natural light and the poetic use of edges to transform oil paint into my version of visual perception and taste. I look to my daily life for inspiration and am attracted to subjects with an elegant, classic or simple beauty. To keep my work fresh and evolving I enjoy organizing a multitude of painting explorations. The greatest reward for me is when viewers emotionally respond with my artwork and are visually stimulated.

The work of Michael Van Zeyl and Paula Kloczkowski Luberda will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through May 2, 2013. Previews begin on March 4th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm. All works are available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Additional information can be found at gallery180.com.

Michael Van Zeyl, Nature's Touch [Detail], 20 x 30", oil on linen, 2012

By the time he was seven years old, Michael Van Zeyl had declared he was going to be an artist. He attended art school and then continued to paint on the side while working as a graphic designer. In 2005, after a successful career in graphic design, he decided to follow his passion and become a full-time painter. Notable for their “old world” romanticism, Michael’s work includes still life and portraits that are highly formalized using traditional oil techniques. This style, which was once considered commonplace, is today what makes him unique. His paintings stand in stark contrast to the abstract and conceptual art that we’ve come to expect. His work will fill you with sense of nostalgia for a time you never knew, but truly wish you had.

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K. Henderson ~ Gallery 180

K. Henderson, Blue Skies, oil on canvas, 18" x 24"

Tonight, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will hold a catered reception for "Hyperreal" an exhibition of photorealistic paintings by K. Henderson, Carl Holzman, Allan Gorman, and Roland Kulla.

K. Henderson is known for her detailed oil paintings of contemporary still life. Hyperreal includes four of these pieces, which highlight pattern and reflection... and the reflection of pattern. Henderson uses these elements to create a complexity that intrigues the viewer into stepping closer—exploring each brushstroke. In discussing her work, Henderson explains:

Black and white striped fabric is simple. Yet when it is folded and draped the result is Complex Patterns. Add a reflective surface and you can get lost in the endless intricacies. Even the simpilest round globe or silver spoon refl ects a Looking Glass world as it distorts the uncomplicated into flamboyant and mysterious. A humble transparant goblet twists the world through which it is viewed and further alters the reflected shapes.

Hyperreal will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through February 28, 2013. An Opening Reception will take place tonight from 5:30-7:30 pm. All works are available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Additional information can be found at gallery180.com. 

Born and raised in Oklahoma, K. Henderson now calls rural New Mexico home. Both locations have provided her with inspiration for her paintings. She is known for her detailed oil painting of contemporary still lifes as well as Western figures. Recent accomplishments include Purchase Award at the Art Renewal Center Salon, being awarded Best of Trompe L’Oeil by the International Guild of Realism, Top 50 in Salon International, inclusion in Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art, Settlers West American Miniature show,The Hubbard Museum of Western Art Biennale Grande winning 2nd place, and being featured in Southwest Art Magazine March 2008 issue and Sept 2008. Henderson won Peoples choice award Richeson 75 International exhibit, and Juror’s Choice Award Breckenridge Fine Art Center. She has gained Signature Membership status with the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. She has attained national recognition with her work, has attracted a growing audience of collectors and has received numerous awards including over 100 Best of Show and First place awards in national juried art shows. Her work has been in several solo museum and gallery shows and numerous group exhibitions including International Guild of Realism, Salon International, Western Spirit Art Show & Sale, Cowgirl Up! Show and Sale, C.M. Russell Museum Benefit Auction, Pastel Society of the Southwest, Pastel Society of America, Mt. Oyster Club, American Academy of Equine Art, Museum of the Cherokee, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, The Bosque Conservatory, Oil Painters of America National and Regional, and National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Richeson75 figurative and small works exhibits among many others.

Henderson has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine and Oklahoma Today. She has been included in articles in Southwest Art, Art of the West, American Cowboy, Western Art Collector, American Art Collector, Art Talk, Santa Fe Circle, Cowboys and Indians and Art of the Hills. Her work has been in several books including “The American Indians: An Illustrated History” - Turner Publishing, “The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters” - Dr. Patrick Lester, SIR Publications, “Talking Leaves” - Eric Veitch, Verner Bendtsen, “Cherokee Art: Historical Precedents”, University of Georgia Press. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painter Society (NOAPS)
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James Deeb ~ Subterranean (no.2)

James Deeb, Subterranean [no.2], oil on board, 9" x 11"

There are just two more weeks to experience the James Deeb exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Deeb's exhibition of paintings and prints explores the decay of the world utilizing the figure as content. The awkward subhuman characters found in Deeb's work are a dichotomy ... seeming both humorously-goofy yet somehow tragic ...yet all are intriguing. 

The paintings of James Deeb will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through November 1.  All works are available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Additional information can be found at gallery180.com.

Andrea Harris ~ Visual Narrative

Andrea Harris is one of four local [to Chicago] artists included in the Visual Narrative exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, which opens this Friday. With two canvases in the show—“Amina Lawal and her daughter” and “Women of Pakistan” [both: oil and wax on canvas, 24” square]— Harris focuses on portraiture to tell her story. The imagery is bold and inspirational. Harris explains:

“My paintings are observations of humanity, representing the journey of curiosity and the soul of discovery. Each of us is unique in the universe yet shape, form and color remind us that we are elements in nature. Very often my art is the result of an exploration of culture and current events, urging me to question and allowing me the passage that reveals we are all connected.”

“The painting of Amina Lawal and her daughter is my direct response to the poignant story that was highlighted in the media several years ago. Ms. Lawal had been sentenced to stoning to death in the Kataina State of northern Nigeria. Amnesty International embraced her story and a global effort was initiated in a petition to save her life. This process became the focal point of human rights groups around the world, and ultimately Ms. Lawal was set free. She lives with her daughter, Wasila, and campaigns on behalf of others who have been victims of human rights violations.”

Join us for the Opening Reception of "Visual Narrative", Friday, June 11th from 5:30-7:30pm. As always, the reception is free to the public.

“Visual Narrative” will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through July 22nd. This exhibition is free and open to the public. Works are available for purchase. An exhibition catalog for Visual Narrative is available. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm; Friday, 8am-5:30pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm; closed Sunday.

Image: Andrea Harris, “Amina Lawal and Daughter”, Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 24 x 24”, 2007, $2,400

Visual Narrative

The National Juried Exhibition titled "Visual Narrative" opens this Friday at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The focus of the exhibition is fine art that tells a story. The works—varied, as in any group exhibition—have a common thread. All of the pieces seem to focus on the human condition—the experiences of being human in a social, cultural and personal context. The work addresses: who we’ve become, what we’ve created, and how we relate to one another. Some of the pieces are quiet, subtle and introspective while others emerge confrontational. Yet, each piece invites the viewer into a unique world in which the artist shares an observation of the human experience.

One of the artists presented in the exhibition is David Hannon. Hannon—an Assistant Professor of Painting at Ball State University—uses his abilities to bring attention to current global issues. "Summer Drought" [48x70" oil on canvas, shown above] presents the image of a single figure sitting by a fire in a dried out lakebed. The image clearly addresses the global warming crisis. In defining his painting, Hannon explains:

“In the early stages, I became interested in the exposed surface of a lakebed as a setting; an area that would normally be under water and not typically thought of as beautiful. This exposed landscape metaphor became important to the development of the overall significance of this painting. The main narrative is centered on the idea of being exposed to natural forces such as drought and how people deal with environmental change through the spaces they inhabit. The main character has been stripped of every modern convince left only with the ability to create fire, but he is enjoying nature. The unseen people, in the cliff house above, are locked away in the safety of a completely artificial world probably annoyed at the lack of water in the lake. The steep banks of the lake allow the modern cliff house—with metal poles to contrast the exposed wooden dock—to hint at the theme of old versus new. In these times of economic downturn, I wonder if we as a society can once again experience the world in a purely natural way without the use of high definition television.”

The show includes a variety of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. The Artists included in the show are: Deborah Bryan, Jenny Chi, Tim Clorius, Sheila Ganch, David Hannon, Andrea Harris, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Nichole McCormick Santiago, Joseph Moniz, Barbara Simcoe, Marydorsey Wanless, Joan Wynn, and Naijun Zhang, I'll be writing about each of these artists over the course of the exhibition.

“Visual Narrative” will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through July 22nd. This exhibition is free and open to the public. Works are available for purchase. An exhibition catalog for Visual Narrative is available. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm; Friday, 8am-5:30pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm; closed Sunday.

Image: David Hannon, "Summer Drought", Oil on Canvas, 48 x 70”, 2009, $4,000

Just a few more days to see the "red" exhibition

The National Juried exhibition, titled "red"—currently on display in Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago—will be coming to a close in just a few days. If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit the gallery, make the time to see this relatively small but very beautiful show. Consisting of fourteen artist from around the country, this show delivers something for almost everyone. The selected pieces range from the cleverly symbolic paintings of Lorraine Sack and Richard Laurent to the powerful, geometric, color-saturated photographs of Jennifer Jackson and steel sculpture of Michael Stanley. The show includes two beautifully painted still life studies by, Catherine Maize as well as a breathtaking photorealistic portrait by Ming Zhou. The amazing diversity of work—presented in this exhibition of national fine artists—provides a beautiful and creative look at the use of the color "red".

The show is free to the public and the exhibited work is available for purchase. Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art is located at 180 North Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The exhibition will conclude on November 11th.

Image: Michael Stanley "Red" steel and paint, 10x7.5x6", $800

Andrea Harris... From Nature

I've known Andrea Harris since my days at The Fine Arts Building Gallery. She is a wonderful artist and quite a prolific painter. Andrea has worked with a few different subjects but the most interesting to me are her landscapes. Most of her images are created on canvas with oil and wax. The above image, which is included in the "From Nature" exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, is twenty-four inches square and titled "Beyond the Clearing". This image has a loose, impressionistic feel yet created with muted earth tones. The image evokes a quite feeling of tranquillity. The painting is available for $1,200.

I spent some time, talking with Andrea when she dropped off her work for the "From Nature" exhibition. She has been compiling a book which documents this work. A book signing is scheduled for the fall to coincide with a show of her works at Homey Gallery, located at 3656 N. Lincoln in Chicago. If you haven't been to this gallery, make the effort. Being an avid gardener, I found a variety of indoor and outdoor pieces of which I had interest. One such piece was the rug shown below. It is a soft carpet of rock-like texture. I was intrigued.

Benefiting Ragdale...

The Friday night reception for the "From Nature" exhibition at Gallery 180 was a wonderful event. Many of the exhibiting artists were in attendance. And—as always—the Culinary School of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, catered the event with amazing food and friendly service.

The exhibition was produced to help call national attention to the Ragdale Foundation and to raise money to support the Ragdale residency program. A little background from their web site... "Ragdale artists come from all over the country and around the world to create, write, experiment, research, plan, compose, rejuvenate, brainstorm, and work. Residents' uninterrupted time at Ragdale is their own. In this community of unique individuals, Ragdale also offers the possibilities of dialogue and connections with other artists."

Commissions from the sale of all work presented in the "From Nature" exhibition will be donated to the Ragedale Foundation. The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago is committed to supporting the arts as well as to supporting Ragdale by purchasing at least one of the exhibited pieces for inclusion into the school's permanent collection. Many of the works are still available. Please take a moment to review the work on line at gallery180.com


I attended another Ragdale benefit this rainy Sunday afternoon. The event was held on the fifty-acre grounds of the Lake Forest compound. I had visited a time or two before but I never had the opportunity to explore the surroundings. The environment is peaceful and spectacular... even in the rain. It's obvious why this space would be a wonderful place to create.


The main house

From Nature ~ A National Juried Exhibition to Benefit The Ragdale Foundation

I spent most of the day, on Saturday, hanging the "From Nature" exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Hanging exhibitions are always like Christmas morning... opening boxes which have made their way across the country and you never know what to expect of the contents. Seeing the actual work—relative to the digital or slide representation—has always intrigued me. It's a lot like studying a painting in an art history book and then seeing that same painting hanging in a museum. There is often a disconnect. But each box that I opened this weekend resulted in finding a treasure.

All of the pieces in the exhibition are wonderful. I found myself shopping as I hung—or placed—each piece. In any case, the exhibition opens today with a reception this Friday, April 24 from 5:30-7:30. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Commissions from the sale of work will be donated to the Ragdale Foundation.

Ragdale is an artists' retreat located on the grounds of Arts and Crafts architect Howard Van Doren Shaw's 1897 summer home in Lake Forest, Illinois. The artists' community, which is situated just 30 miles north of Chicago and overlooks 50 acres of prairie, now hosts over 200 emerging and established artists of all disciplines each year. These writers, artists, and composers come from around the country and the world to work and experience Ragdale's remarkable gifts of community, tranquility, and creativity. Additional information on the Ragdale residency program can be found at: ragdale.org

Image: Sheila Ganch [sculpture], Deanna Krueger, and Renee McGinnis. Exhibiting Artist Information, Images and Pricing can be found at: gallery180.com/nature.html