Marks Aardsma
Artist Statement
For several decades, I have explored the ontology of painting – the nature of painting in and of itself, investigating the essential properties of painting: color, line and rhythm, surface texture and tension, shadow and light …. principally via subtraction or deconstruction of canvas to reveal its original structure – vertical and horizontal threads or lines – and eliminating all the ‘stuff’ artists have been adding to the canvas surface for centuries. The result is line, light, shadow. For the paper pieces I’ve continued subtraction, creating the lines and their shadows from the lines torn into the paper. My work is pure and clean and raw. The space is physical, not illusory. My paper pieces are not abstractions of an objective reality, but expressions of object-ness – all the visual aspects of my work are real and immediate.
Selected Exhibitions
One-Person Exhibits
Recent Work – Jan Cicero Gallery; Chicago, IL
Recent Work 2 – Jan Cicero Gallery; Chicago, IL
Recent Work – Jan Cicero Gallery; Chicago, IL
Winner Invitational – Evanston; IL
The Art Center – Western Colorado Center for the Arts; Grand Junction, CO
Birds of Prey Watercolors New Work – Heller Gallery; Highland Park, IL
Birds of Prey – Newport Gallery; Bannockburn, IL
Birds of Prey Watercolors – Heller Gallery; Highland Park, IL
Curated Exhibits
2015 Black (art of the real six) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2014 Surface (art of the real five) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2013 Lines & Grids (art of the real four) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO (Best of the Best Denver 2014)
2012 The Other Primary Colors: White Black Grey (art of the real three) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO (Best of Denver 2013)
2012 Art Without Illusion (art of the real two) – Lakewood Cultural Arts Center; Lakewood, CO
2011 Art of the Real – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2011 Birds of Prey: Three Perspectives – Heller Gallery; Highland Park, IL
Group Exhibits
2015 Black (art of the real six) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2014 Surface (art of the real five) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2014 Fusion V – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2013 Lines & Grids (art of the real four) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2013 30 Square – Space Gallery: Denver, CO
2013 Art of the State – Arvada Center for the Arts; Arvada, CO (recipient of Clyfford Still Museum Award)
2012 Works on Paper – Space Gallery; Denver, CO
2012 The Other Primary Colors: White Black Grey (art of the real three) – Space Gallery; Denver, CO – voted Best of Denver 2012 Gallery Show Group
2012 Art Without Illusion (art of the real two) – Lakewood Cultural Arts Center; Lakewood, CO
2011 Art of the Real; Denver, CO
2011-1971 Exhibitions Available Upon Request
Awards
2014 Best of the Best – Best Show That Wasn’t There: Lines & Grids 2013– Westword Magazine
2013 Best of the Best Denver – Best Gallery Show – Group: The Other Primary Colors: White Black Grey 2012 — Westword Magazine
2013 Clyfford Still Museum Award – Art of the State
2007 Juror’s Choice Award – 24TH Annual All Colorado Show
2006 2nd Place Pastel – Paint, Sculpt, Shoot Evergreen
2006 1st Place – Nature’s Inspiration: Wildlife of the Rockies II
2006 Juror’s Choice Award – 23rd All Colorado Show
2006 Juror’s Choice Award – Monochrome and Multichrome
2005 3rd Place – Celebration
2005 2nd Place – 14th National Art Exhibition – NCAA
2005 Dr. Ph. Martin Award I – 37th Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
2004 Juror’s Choice Award – 57th Annual Exhibition – GCAA
2003 1st Place, Members’ Award – EAA
2003 3rd Place, Members’ Award – EAA
Publications
2008 Desert Hawking IV: Quail by Harry McElroy
2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 Mike’s Falconry Supplies, spring
2003 Hawk Chalk, 2003 WESTERN SPORTING PUBLICATION, spring cover
2002 American Falconry, featured artist, March
2002 American Falconry, September
2001 Soar, spring
2001 Seeding the Snow, spring
1999, 1997, 1996, 1994, The Journal – North American Falconers’ Association