Born 1974, Nitra, Slovak Republic. Lives and works in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Artist statement

We live in a society where celebrity worship and an obsession with wealth and luxury goods can coexist daily with news of impending pandemic threats and worldwide political and religious warfare. Gaudy displays of physical vanity and self-aggrandizing behavior have become an acceptable means to define our cultural persona. Tempted by the glow of the spotlight, and seduced by its excesses, we are told by our political leaders that we can solve the world’s problems simply by shopping.

In my oil paintings on panel I am exploring this relationship between two realities: a shiny sparkling surface world and a dark and troubled world of fear. Young beautiful bodies vogue and pose in empty, acidic-colored spaces. Exposed skin takes on a cold, other worldly sheen wrapped in the latest designer fashions. Lurking behind the glitter, the desire for status motivates and defines the search for an advantageous mate. Viral entities, gas clouds, and bubbling pink sores begin to roll in as if from a fog machine to obscure or engulf the figures in mid-come-on. This combined imagery forces a visual duality: the escapist pop culture youth can no longer hide from the horrors of reality

I use a technique of glazing in multi layers to create a luscious candy-colored sweetness in the surface of the works. This colorful sweetness entices participation by the viewer making palpable, the viral cloud menace as it influences the libidinous scene.

With our attention being pulled in so many directions by media over saturation and the cult of celebrity, our society seems to turn its assessing eye further and further inward and away from the darkness of the world’s problems. Is this candy land we have created a beautiful barrage of harmless luxury, or will this insidious viral nature lead to our extinction?

Education

  • M.F.A. 2002 Painting, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL
  • B.F.A. 1999 Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls TX

Professional experience

  • 2015–present Associate Professor, Herron School of Art and Design, IU Indianapolis, Indianapolis IN
  • 2010–2015 Assistant Professor, Herron School of Art and Design, IUPUI, Indianapolis IN
  • 2004–2010 Assistant Professor, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston IL
  • 2002–2004 Visiting Assistant Professor, Miami University, Oxford OH
  • 2000–2002 Graduate Instructor of Record, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL
  • 1999–2002 Graduate Technical Assistant, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL
  • 1997–1999 Midwestern State University Art Gallery, Wichita Falls TX

Solo exhibitions

  • 2010 Recent Works, Jolie Laide Gallery, Philadelphia PA
  • 2009 Replicators, Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago IL
  • 2008 New Work, Bert Green Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 Massive Luxury Overload, Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago IL
  • The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago IL
  • NIAA, Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster IN
  • 2005 Unattainable, Aron Packer Gallery, Chicago IL
  • Unattainable 2, Aron Packer Gallery, Three Oaks, MI
  • 2004 Too Good For Love, Lyonswier Gallery, New York NY
  • 2002 Deliciously Viscous, Aron Packer Gallery, Chicago IL

Group exhibitions

  • 2010 Faculty Exhibition, Herron School of Art Gallery, IUPUI, Indianapolis IN
  • 2010 Art from the Heartland, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis IN (curated by Paul Klein)
  • 2009 Young Painters Competition for the William and Dorothy Yeck Award (curated by Bob Nugent), Hiestand Galleries, Miami University, Oxford OH
  • Decoy, Creative Alliance at Patterson, Baltimore MD (curated by Erin Cluley)
  • Visionary 6.6.09, Herron School of Art, Indianapolis IN (sculptural installations)
  • The Annual Faculty Exhibition, Eastern Illinois University, Tarble Art Center, Charleston IL
  • Art LA, International Art Fair, Los Angeles CA (represented by Bert Green Fine Arts)
  • 2008 Decadence, curated by Lisa Wainwright, Sullivan Galleries SAIC, Chicago IL
  • Euphoria, The Loft at Liz’s Gallery, Los Angeles CA
  • East of Eden, Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Los Angeles CA
  • Mass Consumption, Mesa Art Center, Mesa AZ (curated by Greg Escalante)
  • Works on Paper, Bert Green Fine Arts, Los Angeles CA
  • NOVA, International Art Fair, Chicago IL (represented by Packer Shopf Gallery)
  • The Annual Faculty Exhibition, Eastern Illinois University, Tarble Art Center, Charleston IL
  • 2007 Bridge Art Fair, London England (represented by Bert Green Fine Arts, LA)
  • The Annual Faculty Exhibition, Eastern Illinois University, Tarble Art Center, Charleston IL
  • Acquisition Exhibition, The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago IL
  • Paper Now, I-Space, Chicago IL (curated by Chris Kahler)
  • 2006 Bridge Art Fair, Miami Beach, FL (represented by Packer Shopf Gallery)
  • Rockford Art Museum Biennial, Rockford IL, Juror: Gregory Knight, Deputy Commissioner
  • Visual Arts, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Honorable Mention
  • MSU Painting Alumni Invitational, Wichita Falls Art Museum, Wichita Falls TX
  • The Annual Faculty Exhibition, Eastern Illinois University, Tarble Art Center, Charleston IL
  • 2005 Domestic Disturbances, Evanston Art Center, Evanston IL
  • Faculty Exhibition, Eastern Illinois University, Tarble Art Center, Charleston IL
  • Faculty Exhibition, Bicentennial Art Center & Museum, Paris IL
  • Go Figure, JET Artworks, Washington DC
  • Identity—Sexuality—Gender: Contemporary Art from the Collection of Thomas Robertello, Kinsey Institute, Bloomington IN
  • 2004 Meat Market, Lyonswier Gallery, New York NY
  • 2003 Scope Art, Los Angeles CA
  • Faculty Exhibition, Eastern Illinois University, Tarble Art Center, Charleston IL
  • Painting 101, Lyonswier Gallery, New York NY
  • Scope Art, Los Angeles CA
  • In the Eye of the Beholder, Northern Illinois University Gallery, Chicago IL
  • 2002 Visual Investigation, Hiestand Gallery, Miami University, Oxford OH
  • Absolut Vision 7, commission for Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago IL
  • Luscious Two, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL
  • MFA Thesis Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, Urbana IL
  • Today In 8 Parts, I-Space Gallery, Chicago IL
  • 2001 Artists Against AIDS, Annual Exhibition, Champaign IL
  • 1998 Contrast and Comparison, Traveling Print Invitational Exhibition
  • 1997 29th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibition, Denton TX
  • 1996 28th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibition, Denton TX

Bibliography

  • New American Paintings, 77th Edition, Fall 2008, pages 72-75
  • Ahh…Decadence, Exhibition Catalog, SAIC Chicago Sullivan Galleries, 2008, pages 22 and 24
  • Paul Klein: Art (9/05/08), image pg 13 http://www.artletter.com/html/artletter_09_05_08.html
  • THE, LA’s Monthly Magazine for the Arts, September 2008, image page 19
  • Eastern Illinois University, Department of Art, 2008 Faculty, catalog
  • Charleston Times Courier, October 27, 2007
  • South Bend Tribune, Art & Galleries, March 25, 2007
  • News Bureau, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, news index, archives, 2007, September
  • Bridge Art Fair, Miami 06, exhibition catalogue, pg.53, image
  • Agora, A Journal of the English Department, EIU Charleston IL, December 2006
  • Time Out Chicago, Issue No.91, November 23-29, 2006, pg.66
  • New American Paintings, 65th Edition, Fall 2006, cover page and pages 3,54-57
  • Eclectic Cow, http://vacascom.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html
  • Vivianite The Painter’s Portal, Vivianite.net, November 16, 2006
  • Charleston Times Courier, December 4, 2006, Section A, pg.6
  • Champaign-Urbana News Gazette, December 3. 2006, Section F, pg.3
  • Kristina Peters: Artist takes on society’s vices, Daily Eastern News, Volume 92, Issue 74, pg. 1, 5
  • Art Letter, Paul Klein, www.artletter.com/html/artletter_10_20_06.html
  • Concentrics, A publication of the Evanston Art Center, Fall 2005, pg.3 and cover image
  • John Brunetti, Domestic Disturbances, Evanston Art Center publication
  • Myrna Petlicki: A Male View of “Domestic:” Evanston Review, Diversions B9, Oct 20, 2005, B3
  • Fred Camper: “Appearance Are Everything”, Chicago Reader, Feb 4, 2005, Section 2, pg.23
  • Chicago Reader, January 21, 2005, Section 2, pg.20 (image)
  • Charleston Times Courier, September 29. 2004, Section D, pg.1
  • CAC Chicago Artists’ News, Volume XXIX, No.9, October 2002, pg.6-7
  • Gallery Guide, Chicago/Midwest, June/July/August 2002, pg.9 and cover page
  • New American Painting, The MFA Annual 2002
  • The Octopus, Champaign-Urbana’ Free Alternative Weekly, March 16-22,2001,cover image

Grants/Fellowships

  • 2009 Faculty Summer Research Grant, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston IL
  • CAH Travel Fund
  • 2007 Vermont Studio Center Fellowship
  • 2006 Redden Grant, Eastern Illinois University
  • 2005 Vermont Studio Center Fellowship
  • 2003 Miami University, Faculty Initiative Travel Grant
  • 2002 Miami University, Faculty Initiative Travel Grant
  • Student Travel Initiative Grant—Alternate Fellow, Kate Neal McKinley Fellowship, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL
  • 1999 University of Illinois Art & Design Fellowship, Urbana-Champaign IL
  • Priddy Foundation Scholarship, Wichita Falls TX
  • 1998 Student of the Year, Midwestern State University
  • 1997 Robert & Gene Roth Fine Art Scholarship
  • E.E. White Merit Scholarship
  • Leadership Scholarship
  • 1996 Robert & Gene Roth Fine Art Scholarship
  • Madge Davis Scholarship
  • 1995 Robert & Gene Roth Fine Art Scholarship
  • Fain Bridwell Scholarship
  • 1993 Wichita Falls Association Scholarship

Visiting artists/demonstrations/acting as a juror

  • 2010 College Art Show, 10th SEA Conference, Lisle IL (juror)
  • 2009 State Town and Country Amateur Show 2009, Springer Cultural Center, Champaign IL (juror)
  • 2008 53rd Annual Art Show, Bicentennial Art Center and Museum, Paris IL (juror)
  • 2006 Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls TX
  • Webster University, St. Louis MO
  • 2005 University Of Notre Dame, South Bend IN
  • 2004 University Of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign IL (conducting senior-level painting critiques)
  • 2003 Eastern Illinois University, Charleston IL
  • 2001 Eastern Illinois University, Charleston IL

Volunteer work

  • 2004 Living Traditions Artists, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati OH
  • Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati OH

Artists’ residencies

  • 2007 Vermont Studio Center
  • 2005 Vermont Studio Center

Gallery affiliation

Selected collections

  • Joanna Cassidy, Los Angeles, CA
  • Thomas Robertello, Chicago IL
  • Charles J. Wilson, Chicago IL
  • Carla Hargis & Warren Hohentz, Austin TX
  • Carolyn Jacob, Chicago IL
  • Robert & Sandra Goff, Fredericksburg TX
  • John Janott, Chicago IL
  • Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls TX
  • Kiss Me Cosmetics, New York NY