Artist Statement
I am a third generation artist with an artist father and a grandfather who painted during his time. For me, there is true joy and pure beauty in simplicity. I don't feel the necessity to over-work or over-think any given situation. This concept is reflected in my restraint to keep my art simple, clean, cool, and minimal. Growing up surrounded with art, my work tends to deal with referencing art and existing sculptural tendencies including Conceptualism, 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, and metal fabrication, 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.
I am a simple man, and I don't require much; I have a wife, my family, one core friend, two cats and two dogs 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, 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 its influence into various aspects of my artwork through the concepts, processes, and materials found within them. Though these canons I also recognize dichotomies in my work; on one level my work is speaking to theory, on another level it speaks to concepts, and on another level to materials or processes with each one stemming from some aspect of my life or 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 is 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. I try to take my experiences, and without overt narration, apply just enough to communicate my ideas.
I am a simple man, and I don't require much; I have a wife, my family, one core friend, two cats and two dogs 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, 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 its influence into various aspects of my artwork through the concepts, processes, and materials found within them. Though these canons I also recognize dichotomies in my work; on one level my work is speaking to theory, on another level it speaks to concepts, and on another level to materials or processes with each one stemming from some aspect of my life or 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 is 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. I try to take my experiences, and without overt narration, apply just enough to communicate my ideas.
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
Sean Gelb, Miami, FL
Sagamore Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
Solo Exhibitions
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
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
Sean Gelb, Miami, FL
Sagamore Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
Solo Exhibitions
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
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
Resume
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.
Employment History
2017-Present · Mod Dog Grooming Studio · Oswego, IL
Owner and Groomer
2016-Present · Water Street Studios · Batavia, IL
Artist Collective Member and Preparator (2018)
2017-Present · Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center · Chicago, IL
Technology & Design Department Instructor Teaching SketchUp
2007-Present · Independent Contractor (various jobs, see skills)
2013-2015 · Perez Art Museum Miami · Miami, FL
Art Handler/Installer/Preparator, various Artist’s Assistant and Woodshop Fabricator
2010-2015 · Art Basel Miami · Bernice Steinbaum · Geoffrey Farmer · Claire Oliver Gallery · Mario Garcia Torres · Susan Banks (and others in Miami, FL)
Independent Contractor (Artist’s Assistant, Wood Worker, and Fabricator)
2011-2014 · University of Miami · Miami, FL
Teacher and Teaching Assistant, Wood and Metal Shop Safety Instructor, and Tool Demonstrator
2010-2012 · Miami Art Museum · Miami, FL
Art Handler/Installer/Preparator and Woodshop Fabricator
Technical Skills
Woodworking · finishing · refinishing · veneering · joinery · cabinetry · framing · milling · carving · lathe · hand, table, and CNC routing · furniture design and manufacturing · ceramics · casting · glazing · firing · fiber glassing · metal fabrication · various welding · sewing · glass casting · mold making · masonry · wall construction · general and finish carpentry · electrical · plumbing · flooring · painting
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.
Employment History
2017-Present · Mod Dog Grooming Studio · Oswego, IL
Owner and Groomer
2016-Present · Water Street Studios · Batavia, IL
Artist Collective Member and Preparator (2018)
2017-Present · Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center · Chicago, IL
Technology & Design Department Instructor Teaching SketchUp
2007-Present · Independent Contractor (various jobs, see skills)
2013-2015 · Perez Art Museum Miami · Miami, FL
Art Handler/Installer/Preparator, various Artist’s Assistant and Woodshop Fabricator
2010-2015 · Art Basel Miami · Bernice Steinbaum · Geoffrey Farmer · Claire Oliver Gallery · Mario Garcia Torres · Susan Banks (and others in Miami, FL)
Independent Contractor (Artist’s Assistant, Wood Worker, and Fabricator)
2011-2014 · University of Miami · Miami, FL
Teacher and Teaching Assistant, Wood and Metal Shop Safety Instructor, and Tool Demonstrator
2010-2012 · Miami Art Museum · Miami, FL
Art Handler/Installer/Preparator and Woodshop Fabricator
Technical Skills
Woodworking · finishing · refinishing · veneering · joinery · cabinetry · framing · milling · carving · lathe · hand, table, and CNC routing · furniture design and manufacturing · ceramics · casting · glazing · firing · fiber glassing · metal fabrication · various welding · sewing · glass casting · mold making · masonry · wall construction · general and finish carpentry · electrical · plumbing · flooring · painting