Biography

In 2007, I received from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts a Masters in fine art with a concentration in painting. Beginning in 2005, while still in graduate school, I began painting large-scale outdoor and indoor public art commissioned by Mural Arts Philadelphia. Since 2012, I have also received artist-in-residence commissions from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to paint large-scale murals throughout the Commonwealth. I also have completed private commissions and studio work. My murals and other works are large-scale realistic or trompe l’oeil paintings that prominently feature figures and secondarily include still life and landscape elements. My preferred media are acrylic or oil paint on parachute cloth, canvas, paper, and digital painting.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art is an aspect of human culture that ought to be ubiquitous in our lives. Not just as an entity locked up in a gallery or museum. That’s why I chose to make a career as a public artist. Each mural project is unique. It involves communication and collaboration with diverse groups of people. Whether designing a painting with students, in-mates, community members, or a corporation the end result is a mural composed of many different voices filtered through my own realist aesthetic.

Realist painting, more specifically ‘trompe l’oeil’ painting (to fool the eye), is a style that people have a visceral reaction to. My goal in designing and executing a mural with my collaborators is to produce a painting that blurs the line between what is real and what is a 2 dimensional surface. Over the years I’ve devised a process of production methods that allow me to involve volunteer painters with little to no painting experience in the creation of a trompe l’oeil mural. The ability to involve dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of people in the mural making process is what keeps my work feeling new even after nearly 2 decades.

CV

Career public artist and educator that specializes in working with communities throughout the region to create collaborative pieces of art in public settings and in the classroom.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Artist-In-Residence, Pennsylvania Council for the Arts 2013-Present

Work with elementary and high school students throughout district to design and execute public art projects

Professional Artist, Mural Arts Philadelphia 2006-Present

Designed, planned, and created over 70 large-scale murals in Philadelphia.

Organize community outreach projects including meetings, design approval, and community paint days.

Work with communities including youth, seniors, inmates and professionals throughout Philadelphia.

Professor of Mural Painting, Delaware County Community College 2014-2018

Designed and implemented curriculum for lecture/studio class on large-scale wall painting.

Facilitated production of mural on campus.

Teaching Artist – Youth Violence Reduction Program, 2009-2010

Created workshop curriculum for at-risk youth around identity

Led workshops with participants to guide them in creating original works of art

Instructor, Philadelphia Museum of Art 2009

Designed and instructed curriculum for 9-12 year-olds incorporating art history, museum exhibits, and practical experience in painting and pottery.

Teaching Assistant, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2006

Lectured students on technical and creative elements of mural design.

Professional Artist, SproutFund Organization 2004-2006

Designed and created two large-scale, public murals

EDUCATION

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Masters in Fine Arts (Painting)

Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA

Bachelor of Science cum laude (Studio Art)

PUBLICATIONS & PRESS

Laidacker, Jonathan (Jan/Feb 2011) Cooperative Painting: Mixing Street Smarts & Fine Art. The Artist’s Magazine.

Iosifidis, Kirlakos. (2009) Mural Art #3: Murals on Huge Public Surfaces Around the World from Graffiti to Trompe L’Oeil. (Publikat Verlags Und Handels Kg).

Dickinson, Grace. (2019) “A West Philly block captain is immortalized in a mural. Again.” Philadelphia Inquirer. 2 October.

O’Connell, Maureen. (2012). If These Walls Could Talk: Community Muralism and the Beauty of Justice. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.

Panaritis, Maria. (2015) “Philadelphia is getting another work by mural master Richard Haas.” Philadelphia Inquirer. 26 July.

Hoerth, K. (2010). “21 under 31.” Southwest Art: The Collectors Choice for Over 40 Years. 3 September.

Magazines: AcrylicWork4, The Artists Magazine, Inside Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Business Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Newspapers: Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunbury Daily Item, Milton Daily Standard, Television: MTV.com, CBS3, Fox29 Radio: WHYY,

SELECTED COMMISSIONS

PHILADELPHIA

(2020) Doorway to Success, Philadelphia, PA

(2019) Philadelphia Microcosm, Jefferson Station

(2018) Philadelphia Rowing, Fairmount Park/Girard Ave. Bridge

(2016) Growth of a Metropolis, 251 N. 3rd Street

(2015) Our City, Our Team, Lincoln Financial Field

(2014) Philly Rowing Part I, Fairmount Park/Girard Ave. Bridge

(2013) Cornucopia, Fox St. and Roberts Ave.

(2012) 2300 Chestnut Place, Restoration of mural by Richard Haas (1983)

(2011) How Philly Moves, Philadelphia International Airport

(2009) Keeping Kids Safe (1&2), 16th and Jackson Streets

(2008) School of South Philly or Behold, an Open Door, 17th and Snyder Streets

(2007) Doorway to Achievement, 46th and Woodland Ave

DOMESTIC

(2021) Glassboro Legacy, Glassboro, NJ

(2017) Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA

(2017) Past, Present, Future, Newport, PA
(2016) Building Toward Tomorrow with E. Okdeh, New Haven, CT

(2013) Warrior Run Timeline, Turbotville, PA

(2011) Mattoon, Mattoon, IL

(2006) Re-Interpretation of Oakland, Pittsburg, PA