Artist Statement
I am a third generation artist with a father and grandfathers who made art during their time. Growing up surrounded with art, my work tends to deal with referencing art and existing tendencies including Conceptualism, Pop, Fluxus, Dada, Minimalism, Arte Povera, and endless amounts of theory. I approach these tendencies with reference to a wide variety of traditional fabrication processes and materials. My processes may include but not limited to woodworking, fiberglass, glass, ceramics, stone masonry, metal fabrication, textile, painting, and digital tech. I incorporate whatever process suits the concept of the piece at hand. This may sound vague, but the true "meaning/message/statement" to my work is held within each individual piece I make. I feel no need to limit myself out of habit, experience, or mastery. For me, there is true joy and pure beauty in simplicity. I don't feel the necessity to over-work or over-think my work. This concept is reflected in my restraint to keep my art simple, clean, cool, and minimal. I am a simple man, and I don't require much; I have a wife, my family, and pets in my home/ studio. When I have to work to make money, I prefer jobs that many people think of as menial; I am a dog bather, preparator, independent contractor/fabricator, and a teacher. I enjoy janitorial work, landscaping, exhibition prep, carpentry, and various other trades like furniture or boat building. I even enjoy mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, but unlike many, I am not degraded by doing these jobs. Every human is dependent on these necessary occupations in one form or another. I honor these "simpleton jobs" by incorporating their influence into various aspects of my artwork through the concepts, processes, and materials found within them. Though these broad canons I also recognize dichotomies in my work; on one level my work speaks to the materials and processes, and on another level to theory and concepts, while stemming from some aspect of my life and experiences in the world of art and industry. Additionally, I incorporate metaphors reflecting aspects of other interrelations between various subjects and ideas. Everything from useless/utilitarian, man/woman, strength/fragility, balance/instability, domination/submission, and tension/slack are applied to some aspect of my work. Life revolves around these relationships in that there is a pair or union in all aspects of our existence; yin/yang, love/hate, life/death, nature/man/woman one needs its opposite in order to exist. In my work, there is a give and take relationship that is bound together by my life and my need to make.
CV
Biography
Born in Aurora, Illinois
Lives and works in Oswego, IL
Education
2014 Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture · University of Miami, Miami, FL
2011 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture and Art History · New World School of the
Arts, Miami, FL
2008 Associates Degree · Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
2004 Joliet Jr College, Joliet, IL.
Honors, Grants, Scholarships, Awards
University of Miami Grad Scholarship and Stipend
2nd Place in MFA Candidacy Show for Best in Show
Jean Ward Sculpture Award - Summer MFA Award
New World School of the Arts Honors Program - Summa Cum Laude
Turner Douglas Grant
New World School of the Arts Scholarships
Gallery Representation
Now Contemporary Art* · Miami, FL
Artist Collective
Water Street Studios · Batavia, IL
Collections
Steve and Laura Newman, Batavia, IL
Shawna Surrelle, Miami, FL
Heather Dell, New York, NY
Sagamore Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
Private Collection, New York City, NY
Private collection x2, Batavia, IL
Solo Exhibitions
2020 The Journey, Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
2018 That’s Right, It’s All About Me, USF Art Gallery. Joliet, IL
2016 Coming Home, Laura A Sprague Gallery. Joliet, IL
2015 Home Sweet Home, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
2014 MA NSFW: Minimal Art Not Safe For Work, Wynwood building. Miami, FL
The UNION, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
2012 Transporters, ArtSeen Gallery. Miami, FL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 CONGRUENT FRAGMENTS, Tall Grass Arts Association. Park Forest, IL
14th Annual Anniversary Show, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Digitalism: Steve Sherrell, David Hauptschein & Colin Sherrell, WSS. Batavia, IL
AI, Chicago Capital Gallery. Batavia, IL
Water Street Studios Artists Collective, Tall Grass Arts Association. Park Forest, IL
2022 Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Water Street Studios Artists Collective Exhibition, IL
2021 Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Signature Strokes, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2019 Dot to Dot: Steve Sherrell & Colin Sherrell, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Signature Strokes, Argonne National Laboratory. Lemont, IL Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Laura A Sprague Gallery. Joliet, IL
11th Annual Anniversary Show, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2018 Differentiating Similarities: Colin Sherrell and Joe Milosevich, North Central
College. Naperville, IL
Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2017 Assemblage and Sculpture: Colin Sherrell and Joe Milosevich, Water Street
Studios. Batavia, IL
8th Annual Anniversary Show, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Chicago Artists Interpret American Literature, Chicago Theological Union, IL
Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2016 Stars and Stripes, Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
7th Annual Members Exhibition- Water Street Studios
2015 Peoples Exhibition, Illinois State Museum, Lockport IL
Art in the Natural World and Cultured Settings, Bernice Steinbaum, Art Wynwood, Miami, FL
2014 Perez Art Museum Miami Staff Show, Wynwood Building. Miami, FL
MFA Candidacy Show, Lowe Art Museum. Miami, FL
Group Show, Deering Estate. Miami, FL
The UNION, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
Group Show, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
2013 6th Annual Cane Fair, Um Project Space. Miami, FL
Group Show, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
Group Show, Magnet Metz. New York City, NY
Clang, Boom, Steam, UM Project Space. Miami, FL
Timeless Matter, NOW Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
MFA Candidacy Show, Lowe Art Museum. Miami, FL
MIA Sea Fair, Seafair Yacht. Miami, FL
2012 Art Miami. Miami, FL
Out of Site, Casa Lin, Art Basel. Miami, FL
Miami Art Museum Staff Show, UM Project Space. Miami, FL
Annual Juried Student Competition Exhibition, Lowe Art Museum. Miami, FL
Salon des Refuses, UM CAS Gallery. Miami, FL
2012 Cane Fair Art Basel Exhibition, UM Project Space. Miami, FL
2011 Group show, Art Miami. Miami, FL
Incoming Graduate Show, UM CAS Gallery. Miami, FL
Post____, New World School of the Arts BFA Exhibition at CIFO. Miami, FL
Rising Stars, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
Transporters, ArtSeen Gallery. Miami, FL
Rock and a Soft Place, Casa Lin – Art Basel. Miami, FL
2010 Miami Art Museum Staff Show, Art Center/South Florida. Miami, FL
Rising Stars, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
Art from the Gardens, Kampong Gardens. Miami, FL
Sculpture, Ceramics, Glass, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
2009 Group Show, Casa Lin – Art Basel. Miami, FL
Rising Stars, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
2008 Rising Stars, New World school of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
2001 Invitational Exhibition, Aurora Public Arts Commission Gallery. Aurora, IL
Born in Aurora, Illinois
Lives and works in Oswego, IL
Education
2014 Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture · University of Miami, Miami, FL
2011 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture and Art History · New World School of the
Arts, Miami, FL
2008 Associates Degree · Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
2004 Joliet Jr College, Joliet, IL.
Honors, Grants, Scholarships, Awards
University of Miami Grad Scholarship and Stipend
2nd Place in MFA Candidacy Show for Best in Show
Jean Ward Sculpture Award - Summer MFA Award
New World School of the Arts Honors Program - Summa Cum Laude
Turner Douglas Grant
New World School of the Arts Scholarships
Gallery Representation
Now Contemporary Art* · Miami, FL
Artist Collective
Water Street Studios · Batavia, IL
Collections
Steve and Laura Newman, Batavia, IL
Shawna Surrelle, Miami, FL
Heather Dell, New York, NY
Sagamore Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
Private Collection, New York City, NY
Private collection x2, Batavia, IL
Solo Exhibitions
2020 The Journey, Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
2018 That’s Right, It’s All About Me, USF Art Gallery. Joliet, IL
2016 Coming Home, Laura A Sprague Gallery. Joliet, IL
2015 Home Sweet Home, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
2014 MA NSFW: Minimal Art Not Safe For Work, Wynwood building. Miami, FL
The UNION, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
2012 Transporters, ArtSeen Gallery. Miami, FL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 CONGRUENT FRAGMENTS, Tall Grass Arts Association. Park Forest, IL
14th Annual Anniversary Show, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Digitalism: Steve Sherrell, David Hauptschein & Colin Sherrell, WSS. Batavia, IL
AI, Chicago Capital Gallery. Batavia, IL
Water Street Studios Artists Collective, Tall Grass Arts Association. Park Forest, IL
2022 Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Water Street Studios Artists Collective Exhibition, IL
2021 Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Signature Strokes, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2019 Dot to Dot: Steve Sherrell & Colin Sherrell, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Signature Strokes, Argonne National Laboratory. Lemont, IL Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Laura A Sprague Gallery. Joliet, IL
11th Annual Anniversary Show, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2018 Differentiating Similarities: Colin Sherrell and Joe Milosevich, North Central
College. Naperville, IL
Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2017 Assemblage and Sculpture: Colin Sherrell and Joe Milosevich, Water Street
Studios. Batavia, IL
8th Annual Anniversary Show, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
Chicago Artists Interpret American Literature, Chicago Theological Union, IL
Water Street Studios Collective Exhibition, Water Street Studios. Batavia, IL
2016 Stars and Stripes, Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
7th Annual Members Exhibition- Water Street Studios
2015 Peoples Exhibition, Illinois State Museum, Lockport IL
Art in the Natural World and Cultured Settings, Bernice Steinbaum, Art Wynwood, Miami, FL
2014 Perez Art Museum Miami Staff Show, Wynwood Building. Miami, FL
MFA Candidacy Show, Lowe Art Museum. Miami, FL
Group Show, Deering Estate. Miami, FL
The UNION, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
Group Show, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
2013 6th Annual Cane Fair, Um Project Space. Miami, FL
Group Show, Now Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
Group Show, Magnet Metz. New York City, NY
Clang, Boom, Steam, UM Project Space. Miami, FL
Timeless Matter, NOW Contemporary Art. Miami, FL
MFA Candidacy Show, Lowe Art Museum. Miami, FL
MIA Sea Fair, Seafair Yacht. Miami, FL
2012 Art Miami. Miami, FL
Out of Site, Casa Lin, Art Basel. Miami, FL
Miami Art Museum Staff Show, UM Project Space. Miami, FL
Annual Juried Student Competition Exhibition, Lowe Art Museum. Miami, FL
Salon des Refuses, UM CAS Gallery. Miami, FL
2012 Cane Fair Art Basel Exhibition, UM Project Space. Miami, FL
2011 Group show, Art Miami. Miami, FL
Incoming Graduate Show, UM CAS Gallery. Miami, FL
Post____, New World School of the Arts BFA Exhibition at CIFO. Miami, FL
Rising Stars, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
Transporters, ArtSeen Gallery. Miami, FL
Rock and a Soft Place, Casa Lin – Art Basel. Miami, FL
2010 Miami Art Museum Staff Show, Art Center/South Florida. Miami, FL
Rising Stars, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
Art from the Gardens, Kampong Gardens. Miami, FL
Sculpture, Ceramics, Glass, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
2009 Group Show, Casa Lin – Art Basel. Miami, FL
Rising Stars, New World School of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
2008 Rising Stars, New World school of the Arts Gallery. Miami, FL
2001 Invitational Exhibition, Aurora Public Arts Commission Gallery. Aurora, IL