John Bell exhibits figurative
abstract art at Kortman Gallery
Rockford native and artist John Bell returns home on Friday, June 8th to present his latest body of abstract, yet figurative work at the Kortman Gallery. The exhibition titled “always hungry” features paintings and small sculpture that are motion-filled images that take on a life of their own through muted colors and textured forms and shapes.
“I want my pictures to operate in the realm of potential—in imagining and bringing to life the near-limitless variety of form that life can take on to make itself unique and still survive,” says Bell. Even though Bell’s work at first glance looks abstract, as you look deeper into his art you can see, through imagination, movement and figurative images. As Bell writes in his artist’s statement, “I think of myself as a figurative artist who strives to depict animals as verbs rather than as nouns.”
Bell is a graduate of Boylan High School, with a B.A. from Grinnell College, and MFA from the Minneapolis School of Art and Design.
“John comes from a very artistic and creative family,” said Doc Slafkosky, Kortman Gallery director. “His twin sister Katie has a piece in Rockford Art Museum’s current Midwestern juried art exhibit, his mother, Sarah, is a former art teacher and artist in her own right, and father Kurt is one of the area’s leading craftsmen in historic preservation.”
The opening reception for “always hungry” exhibition by John Bell will be Friday, June 8th from 5:30 to 9pm and will be on display through July 21, 2012. The gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street. For further information call 815/968-0123 or visit www.jrkortman.com.
What: “always hungry” an exhibition of paintings and sculpture by
Rockford native John Bell
When: Opening reception: Friday, June 8th, 5:30 to 9pm. The exhibition runs through
July 21st. Gallery & Store open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm.
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design,
107 North Main St.
Admission: Free