“The Journey is what makes it truly exciting” BRUNO SURDO

Bruno Surdo, "A Selfie, A Pink Unicorn, Paparazzi! What does it take to get noticed?" oil on canvas, detail

When I first met Bruno Surdo, he was a professor of illustration and animation at The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Back then, his reputation for flawlessly rendering the human form was common knowledge. Not until roughly 2014 did I have an opportunity to experience his massively complex figurative canvases which referenced his personal impressions of contemporary society. That exhibition was presented at the Ann Nathan gallery in Chicago. Since the closing of the iconic Ann Nathan Gallery in 2016, Bruno Surdo has been represented by Nathan’s colleague Victor Armendariz, owner of Gallery VICTOR.

Bruno Surdo, "A Selfie, A Pink Unicorn, Paparazzi! What does it take to get noticed?" oil on canvas 79 x 108"

This past Saturday afternoon, as part of the Chicago Exhibition Weekend 2023, Gallery VICTOR presented an artist talk with Bruno Surdo—highlighting the artist, his process, and marking the conclusion of Surdo’s current exhibition. The exhibition offered both the massive compositions of interacting figures—imagery that Surdo has become known for—as well as a few amazingly intimate portraits, seemingly sketches for inclusion into larger canvases. It’s these brilliant studies that I gravitate toward. 

Bruno Surdo, "Reflection" oil on canvas 30 x 24"

“Reflection” offers the viewer a quiet moment to get lost in beautifully painted patterns of texture and surface. This single-figured portrait captures the interest of the observer by repeatedly offering new and exciting details to explore. With the subtle highlights falling upon the subject’s sensual lips and eyelashes, to the detailed complexity of her hair, “Reflection” ensnares the viewer into a corner of the mind where time becomes irrelevant. Even the background creates brilliant secondary interest with a uniquely random pattern, which Surdo explained, was inspired by the observation of aluminum foil.

As Surdo discussed his inspirations and process, he shared that the preliminary drawings for each painting are key to the final work. He defined stacks of renderings for a single canvas—and that the drawings are resolved on the canvas before beginning to paint. He also pointed out that, if an area of a painting wasn’t working, he had no problem wiping it away and beginning again. As he put it... “The Journey is what makes it truly exciting.”

Although the exhibition has concluded, works by Bruno Surdo are still available through Gallery VICTOR located at 300 West Superior Street, Chicago IL 60654. Gallery VICTOR is open Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 5pm. Learn more at www.galleryvictor.com

BRUNO SURDO (b. 1963, Chicago)
Bruno A. Surdo is a true native of Chicago. He studied drawing and art history and pursues the mastery of the human form with inspiration from the Renaissance masters. His provocative works center around the human condition and are known for their allegorical imagery. Bruno has had numerous shows and commissions, and his work is held in many prestigious art collections around the world. He lectures often and is a teacher who believes in nurturing others. The artistic forms he has created are images that communicate a personal commentary on the issue or question in mind. These shapes are then arranged in a pictorial space using the human form. Surdo strives to communicate a message to the viewer - to engage the person in a conversation between what he puts forth and what he or she can then interpret. The interchange of response and curiosity are goals the artist set when composing his ideas. Surdo believes art is a continual form of expression and he feels committed to search for a language that brings his thoughts and feelings to the surface.

Michael Van Zeyl ~ Previews Monday at Gallery 180

The Reception, 2013, oil on linen, 30 x 24

"The Reception" is just one of the classic figurative paintings, to be presented in the Michael Van Zeyl / Paula Kloczkowski Luberda exhibition which will open this Monday at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago.

With an obvious love for the human form and numerous portrait commissions to his credit, Michael Van Zeyl's figure paintings are known to capture the subtle nuances of his subject's character. The real beauty of Van Zeyl's work is his depiction of the experience of the subject. He explores how light falls on the planes of the face or hands—the reflection of color from one surface to another. His passion—clearly the creation of realism—is found defining the beauty of a woman or the relationships of elements in a still life. His use of light molds a dimensional portrayal onto the two-dimensional panel or linen surface—defining his subject with passion and with the sense of a moment in time.

The Reception - Detail, 2013, oil on linen

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 Monday, 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 is a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. While running his own graphic design studio, Michael took evening and weekend classes here at the Palette and Chisel and in New York at the Art Students League to advance his training as an artist. Michael is now a full-time professional portrait and gallery artist and has been exhibiting work in various shows and galleries across Illinois & the nation. He has received multiple commissions, honors, and recognition from: Portrait Society of America, Portrait Society of Atlanta and American Artist Magazine.

Save The Date... Michael Jankowski

Friday, November 20th 5:30-7:30

Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will be presenting "Hidden Relics", an exhibition of new work created by Chicago artist, Michael Jankowski. Jankowski’s high key paintings and intense gestural drawings evoke a range of emotion. The subtle and faded forms seem to be relics from the past or faded memories, which attempt to re-emerge from our cluttered realities. Assumed to be documentation of Jankowski’s life, the beautifully produced quiet renditions seem to connect with each viewer’s personal history. Clearly influenced by the drawings and paintings of the Swiss Artist, Albeto Giacometti [1901-1966], Jankowski brings forth a contemporary flavor to the content and gestural line-work of his attic-inspired imagery.

This exhibition opens on November 16 and runs through January 15, 2010. A catered reception will be held on Friday, November 20th from 5:30-7:30pm. Entry is free and the exhibition is open to the public. Works are available for purchase. Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-5.

Image: Michael Jankowski, "Mother Can You Hear Me", Charcoal, 24 x 17" $950.

Nancy Rosen... A Studio Visit

Yesterday morning, I spent some time with Nancy Rosen, reviewing work for her upcoming solo exhibition at Gallery 180. We met at her Chicago studio. The space is an artist’s playground. Its walls are covered with drawings of figures at various stages of completion. The exposed surfaces revel the marks of past work. The space is so comfortable and I had been looking forward to our visit. At our last meeting—this past fall—I found Rosen to be genuine and delightful.

I first met Nancy Rosen a few years back when she entered—and was included into—one of the school’s annual Acquisition Exhibitions. I knew at that time that I wanted to stay aware of the work she was producing. Rosen is a prolific artist who typically paints the female form. Her figures are stylistically reminiscent of the Austrian painter Egon Schiele but her content is much tamer. While Schiele would present imagery focused on masturbation or sexual encounters, Rosen focuses on the intimacy, friendship and compassion between women.


At times her figures are singular with a slight hint of another presence. Most recently, the figures have become flanked by repeating patterns. These patterns interact with the figure and at times they even meld onto the surface of the forms. A color shift is used to stop the figure from fading into the wallpaper, a reference from Rosen's history with textiles. The seemingly symbolic imagery is intense and thought provoking.

Rosen writes on her web site: “I am a painter. For me this does not require much thinking, it is like breathing. What you see in these paintings is your own reflection...” I find her words insightful, for we can only see—in a painting—what has been created by our own experience. Take a moment and review Rosen’s work at nrosen.com. Realize that the site doesn't include Rosen's most current work, but it still presents a wonderful sampling of her imagery.

The work of Nancy Rosen will be on display at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, July 27 –September 11 with an Opening Reception on Friday, July 31 from 5:30-7:30.