Chicago - Figurative Paintings

"Concrete Gardens" is a body of work that translates Patrick Burns' deep love of the land into mixed-media paintings with rich texture and reverberating, monochrome color. Using pres...

"Concrete Gardens" is a body of work that translates Patrick Burns' deep love of the land into mixed-media paintings with rich texture and reverberating, monochrome color. Using pres...

"Concrete Gardens" is a body of work that translates Patrick Burns' deep love of the land into mixed-media paintings with rich texture and reverberating, monochrome color. Using pres...

This piece shows three men moving forward, each touching the shoulder of the one ahead. Their gestures are weary but steady. The tones shift warmer, signaling healing and perseveranc...

This beautiful grouping of nude figures wandering into the abyss are seen from behind in various states of undress. Master painter Bruno Surdo creates compelling and mysterious narratives in his classically inspired artworks. Bruno Surdo The Abyss oil on canvas 24h x 48w in 60.96h x 121.92w cm Bruno A. Surdo b. Chicago, 1963 EXHIBITIONS 2018 Liberation, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Blood Sport, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Art on Paper 2018, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Pier 36, New York, NY SOFA Chicago 2018, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 2017 POP!ARAZZI, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Coming Attractions, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2015 SOFA Chicago 2015, Ann Nathan Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL Bruno Surdo: Allegories, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2014 Bruno Surdo: Respond, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Modern Metaphors, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL 2013 Bruno Surdo: Revelations, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Vice + Virtue, Northern Illinois University Museum of Art 2012 Contemporary Realism Biennial, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN 2011 Bruno Surdo, University of St. Francis School of Creative Arts, Fort Wayne, IN Uncensored, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2010 Art Chicago 2010, Ann Nathan Gallery, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 2009 Art Chicago 2009, Ann Nathan Gallery, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 2007 Bruno Surdo, Art Institute of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 2006 Context/Content: Making Meaning with the Figure, University of Arkansas, Conway, AR Creative Imaginings, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL Bruno Surdo: Cycles, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2005 Art Chicago 2005, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2004 Tragedy, Memory, & Honor, Richard M. Daley Center, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2004, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Group Show, Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY Drawings VII, Koplin Del Rio Gallery, West Hollywood, CA Armory Show, New York Armory, New York, NY 2003 Paintings & Drawings, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL The Art Show, New York, NY Bruno Surdo: New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2003, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003-10 International Show of Contemporary Artists, Chicago Art Open, Chicago, IL 2002 Bruno Surdo: Perception of Appearance, Frye Museum, Seattle, WA Tragedy, Memory, & Honor, Richard M. Daley Center, Chicago, IL Bruno Surdo: Transcendence, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2002, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Tragedy, Memory, & Honor, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Magic Vision, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR 1998 Evanston and Vicinity Artists, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL 1996 Bruno Surdo: A Personal View, University of Wisconsin, Kenosha, WI 1995 Bruno Surdo: Recent Works, College of Lake County, IL AIDS in Our Society, Loyola University, Chicago, IL Bruno Surdo: Life, Struggle, and Hope, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 2001 Magic Vision, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR Bruno Surdo: Dualities of Life, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Group Show, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1998 Group Exhibition, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, IL 1995 Spiritual Inquiries, Struve Gallery, Chicago, IL 1994 Recent Works, The 14th Annual Juried Exhibition for Lake County Artists, Grayslake, IL Go Figure, Figurative Works on Paper, Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Chicago, IL SELECTED COLLECTIONS The Re-Birth of Venus, Temporary Loan, Fort Wayne Museum of Art Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR College of Lake County, Greyslake, IL Flashpoint Academy, Chicago IL John Robert Wiltgen Design Shoemaker Ruud Collection Julie & Thomas Danilek Michael Vozzella and Mike Silver Benjamin Fernandez Tom Braake Betsy Colburn Michael Diemand & Lor LaRose Michael Staab & Kathy Brock Bruce Leep Frank Tzurect Mary Foley Rosalyn Carlson Mimmy Turney Janet Long Halstead Billy Hunt Carol Galli Myles Kerrigan Honorable & Mrs. Edwin Berman Theodore Gage Northrop Art Museum Past Present & Future Company Dr. James & Peggy Kemmler Salvatore Monastero Nix & Virginia Lauridsen Joel Miller David & Marlene Zerkel Ann & Andy Abel Claudia Rush Marc Miller Leonard Goldberg Lawrence Pucci Howard Tullman Collection Susan & Manny Kramer James Rinnert Richar Interiors Michael & Nancy Colt Khalid Altijir Dr. Joe Grodman Beryl & Jack Gore Larry Wolf & Eric Naegle Chuck Wolandi Jack Schwab & David Sandelin Thomas Kaczmarek Marti Dinerstein Craig & Michael Golden Mike & Jill Rose SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Bruno Surdo: The Method Artist Responds, by Lucia Mauro, June 26, 2014, anitathemovie blog An Exhibition of Exhibitionism: Bruno Surdo’s ‘Respond’, by Carrie McGath, July 1, 2014, The Chicagoist Website, Arts and Entertainment “Inspired Environs: A renowned designer decks out his Loop abode in art and texture” Modern Luxury, Men’s Book, Spring 2014 “Master Class” What’z Up Magazine, Fort Wayne, 2011 ”9/11 Painting will be on Display” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 2011 “Illuminated Images” Fort Wayne Reader, 2011 “Two Faces of Beauty” American Art Collector Magazine, Issue #3 and #59, 2006/2010 “Art and Calamity” Art Papers, 2009 “Versions of the Present, Techniques of the Past” American Artist Magazine, 2004 “Living Artists” Crow Book Publishing, Chicago, IL 2004 “The New Master” by Craig Keller, Chicago Social Magazine, 2004. “Tragedy, Memory, and Honor,” by William Hageman, Chicago Tribune, March 28, 2002 “Mural Depicts Tragedy of 9/11” Art Section...

A Vibrant, Mid-Century Modern 1960s Studio Interior Scene of a Standing Female Nude by Notable Woman Artist, Vivian Kinsley Chapin (Am. 1909-1984). Very "Mod" in style and appearanc...

This work entitled “The Designers” by Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald continues his series of abstract “track paintings,” initially born as the imagined racetracks navigated ...

A Charming, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Boy in Blue Hat by Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork Size: 9 x 6 1/4 inches (Framed size: 1...

This reverse glass mirror painting depicts the Yangtze River Bridge, the first heavy bridge designed and built solely by the Chinese and a great s...

A charming, beautifully painted, Mid-Century Modern portrait of a young girl by noted Chicago artist, Francis Chapin. Dating from the 1950s, the painting was exhibited at the famed ...

This work entitled “The Coil” by Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald continues his series of abstract “track paintings,” initially born as the imagined racetracks navigated by hi...

In contrast to the clenched aggression of earlier works, this nude figure bends low, arm extended and relaxed. The brushwork grows looser, the body more vulnerable. The work conveys ...

In the summer of 2024, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, a father and son reenacted a Civil War "stag dance" at the Kent Cultural Alliance in Chestertown. These all-male dances, wher...

Andrew S. Conklin Lily in Blue Tights on Pluff Chair oil on linen 24h x 18w in 60.96h x 45.72w cm ACK012 Andrew S. Conklin Artist Statement—Motion Capture Studio Series Andrew S. ...

This painting is a copy of After Appomattox (1870s) by John Adams Elder, a Confederate veteran and artist trained by Emanuel Leutze, known for Washington Crossing the Delaware. Elder...

The piece is based in the narrative poem Paradise Lost, written by John Milton in 1667. The author does a self-interpretation of Adam and Eve’s original sin and their later exile fro...

A Large, Sensational Mid-Century Modern Painting of a Chicago Night Club Showgirl. Painted in the 1950s, this is a large, vertical, abstracted portrayal of a standing Burlesque danc...

An Exceptional, Vibrant Mid-Century Modern 1950s Chicago Night Club Scene of Dancing Showgirls. Titled "Dancers #2", the painting depicts a dynamic, sta...

"Descriptions I have heard or read of my work, most of which either delight or offend me, are: allegorical, apocalyptic, provocative, prophetic, dream-like, surreal, fantastic, weird...

A delightful 1940 painting of two women lounging in the Vermont wilderness by artist Harold Haydon. Haydon had a summer compound in Calais, Vermont, where he often painted. Images ...

A Vibrant, Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Woman in a Yellow Blouse by Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Oil on Masonite, dating circa 1945. Artwork Si...

Using pornography as a vehicle for understanding, Rick Sindt's work explores the discovery and development of queer attraction. Sindt transforms pornographic stills, repurposing them...

A solitary figure, head bowed, stands in a field in contemplation of what has just taken place or what is about to take place. "A Great Battlefield" channels the spirit of Winslow Homer's war imagery, bringing it into the contemporary world, asking us to contemplate the decisions forced to be made in wartime, some of which will never leave us. As for the paintings, William uses materials and methods of the Civil War era. The linen on which he paints was in use at that time as well as the tubed oil paints. He is one of the few artists who tacks his canvas to the stretchers using similar tacks that would have been used by Winslow Homer. While he leaves the works unframed for this reason, the artwork could certainly be framed. This piece is unframed. Please contact the gallery for framing options. A Great Battlefield oil on linen 60h x 35w in 152.40h x 88.90w cm WIL029 Known for his highly charged depictions of Civil War reenactments, William Blake’s powerful paintings show the recursive bodies of reenactors as they gesture across time. Participating in over 40 reenactment events, Blake currently interprets as the artist-correspondent Winslow Homer at these battle reenactments. He immerses himself in the materiality of his own obsession by constructing period clothes, camping on battlefields, and documenting the reenactment similar to Homer’s documentation of the authentic war. The figures in the paintings reverberate the past with respect and with a desire to educate, humble, and play. With each annual iteration of American Civil War reenactments, the reanimation of the past encourages a review of history and aids in its continuous revision. For his second exhibition with Gallery Victor Armendariz, William Blake presents A Great Battlefield, a collection of new paintings depicting US Marines...

Oil on canvas 39 x 32 inches 99 x 81 cm Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Kostis Georgiou studied stage scenery in Florence (1981-1982), painting and sculpture in the School of Fine...

Using pornography as a vehicle for understanding, Rick Sindt's work explores the discovery and development of queer attraction. Sindt transforms pornographi...

A Captivating, Mid-Century Modern Painting of a Standing Female Nude Model. Great colors! Painted in the 1960s, this wonderful "Mod" studio scene exemplifies the abstracted Modern ...

A Charming, 1950s Expressionist Portrait of a Young Girl by Famed Chicago Modern Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A wonderful, intimate Mid-Century studio portrait of a young...

A wonderful, vintage 1930s watercolor on artist board study for an American Veterans Remembrance Day Poster (National Poppy Day, American Legion) by Elaine Jeanne Glickman (Ginsburg)...

A Wonderful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait Painting of a Boy with a Trumpet by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork size: 8 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches (Framed...

Oil on canvas (Diptych) 32 x 63 inches 80 x 160 cm Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Kostis Georgiou studied stage scenery in Florence (1981-1982), painting and sculpture in the School ...

An Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Oil Painting of a Reclining Nude Female Model by Noted Chicago Artist, Rudolph Pen. Painted in the 1960s, the painting exemplifies the stylized, ab...

A Dynamic, 1960s Mid-Century Modern Painting of a Concert Violinist by Noted Chicago Artist, Rudolph T. Pen. Pen was recognized for his unique, Modern style of abstract figure paint...

A Charming, 1950s Painting of a Little Girl, "Red Smock" by Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). What a character this one is! A little gem of a painting. Artwork size: 8 x 4 inches (...

For many people, a visit to a coffee shop is an essential part of the daily routine, whether they’re picking up a cup on their way to work or setting up shop with their laptop for the day. This interior cafe scene invites the viewer in with the idea of a comfortable place to sit and contemplate the days tasks with its warm green, red and soft blue tones. The mismatched chairs...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

A Delightful Painting of a Young Boy Sketching in a Boathouse by Noted Chicago Modern Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Painted circa 1958 at the artist's summer house and st...

Oil on Canvas (diptych) 100 x 160 cm Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Kostis Georgiou studied stage scenery in Florence (1981-1982), painting and sculpture in the School of Fine Art...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

George Washington's dentures, painted from historical references. They were made from animal and human teeth. William Blake lives and works outside Chicago, IL. As a participant in ...

Using pornography as a vehicle for understanding, Rick Sindt's work explores the discovery and development of queer attraction. Sindt transforms pornographic stills, repurposing them...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

To See a New Nation depicts Jean-Antoine Houdon's statue of George Washington, installed in the Virginia State Capitol. At Washington's feet lies the severed head of the Apollo Belve...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

William Blake lives and works outside Chicago, IL. As a participant in Civil War reenactments across the country, he portrays the artist Winslow Homer. A graduate of the University ...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

A dynamic ca. 1958 painting titled "Refreshment" by Artist Lucille Leighton. Artwork size: 22" x 18". Framed size: 27 1/2" x 23 1/2". Biography Sou...

Using pornography as a vehicle for understanding, Rick Sindt's work explores the discovery and development of queer attraction. Sindt transforms pornographic stills, repurposing them...

A colorful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern painting of a bull fight by notable Chicago artist, Francis Chapin. Oil on canvas, in a dark walnut brown stained frame. Painted most likely in...

One of the key lessons we can glean from the myth of Sisyphus is the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Sisyphus was condemned to an eternity of ceas...

A charming, diminutive & humorous 1945 oil painting titled "En Route to VT, Hotel Room" by notable Chicago Modern artist Harold Haydon. Haydon affectionally called these colorful, s...

A muscular male is seated on a chair, his eyes closed and head tilted toward the sky soaking up the warmth of the sun. "Sogni D'Oro", meaning sweet dreams, is set upon an intricate b...

Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...

Many of my paintings are about Chicago - the Chicago I lived in when I began painting, a Chicago that now exists only in my memory. And memory is always a reconstruction. As my lif...

Béla Czóbel, Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings, R. S. Johnson Fine Art, Chicago, 1996: no. 60 and reproduced on page 95 of catalogue.

This work by Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald continues his series of abstract “track paintings,” initially born as the imagined racetracks navigated by his miniature soap-box...

This work by Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald continues his series of abstract “track paintings,” initially born as the imagined racetracks navigated by his miniature soap-box...

This mixed-media work by Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald layers cultural references and found elements for a composition at once wistful, playful and nostalgic. The central f...

In a letter written to Czóbel after he had become quite ill in 1975, famous Portuguese painter Vieira da Silva writes: “My very dear Czóbel, We em...

Chicago-based fine art painter Bruno A. Surdo is classically trained in drawing and oil painting in the tradition of Renaissance masters. With strong command of the human form, Surdo...