studio view, New Mexico
All works: acrylic and spray paint on canvas, dimensions variable, courtesy John Phillip Abbott
John Phillip Abbott is an adventurous painter and draftsman. His exuberant, rhythmic, illusionistic, labor intensive paintings are hybridised abstractions hovering a conceptual arena of text-based compositions, core of words and phrases coming from his personal experience and the external world abound. Abbott’s geometric paintings of varying scales enlighten the place between visual poetry, the minimalist grid, Op-art and graffiti and self described as having positive punk nature, given the music the artist listens to during painting sessions. The texts and compositions are rigorously taped, drawn, sprayed or painted with brush in hand. The words or phrases are as if in an architectonic prose, an expressionistic exploration of colors and patterns that not only form layers of meaning, but also synaesthetic associations.
Wausau, Wisconsin born John Phillip Abbott (1975) has exhibited internationally and most recently at COUNTY Gallery, Palm Beach, FL; Galerie Bertrand in Geneva, Switzerland; and Pierogi, New York and included in exhibitions at the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, CT, and 516 Arts Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He currently lives and works in Silver City, New Mexico after residing in Houston, Texas, years after achieving his studies at the Santa Reparata School of Art in Florence, Italy and receiving an MFA from the University of Wisconsin in 2007. His works have been reviewed in numerous publications including The New York Times and New American Paintings. The Zen Paintings at Gleichapel is his fourth showing in Paris after group exhibitions at the audacious Galerie Van der Stegen (2008-2012).
The Zen Paintings is his fourth showing in Paris after group exhibitions at the audacious Galerie Van der Stegen (2008-2012).
BORN
1975, Wausau, Wisconsin, USA
Lives and works in Silver City, New Mexico, USA
EDUCATION
2007 University of Wisconsin, Madison, M.F.A.
2006 Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence, Italy
2002 Western New Mexico University, B.F.A.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
The Zen Paintings, Gleichapel, Paris, curated by Jeff Gleich
2018
Desert Flower, COUNTY Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
2016
On Any Sunday, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Turquoise Sunset, Devening Projects, Chicago, IL
2015
Gold Paintings, Calendar-Calendar, Albuquerque, NM
2014
I Shall Be Free No. 10, Galerie Sébastien Bertrand, Geneva, Switzerland
2013
The Happiness Project, Inpost Artspace, Albuquerque, NM
2012
Timeline of the Far Future, Pier 1218, Madison, WI
2009
Superfort, Galleri Urbane, Marfa, TX
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018
21st Century Ciphers, 516 Arts, Alberquerque, New Mexico
2017
Under the Paving Stones, Far x Wide, Brooklyn, NY
Small Paintings, COUNTY Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
2016
Group Show, COUNTY Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
Untitled, Pierogi, Miami Beach, FL
2015
Untitled, Pierogi, Miami Beach, FL
Off the Grid, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Ducks, Minotaur Projects, Los Angeles, CA
(I’d like to suggest) Linger On, Chicago, IL
PRTY PPL, Circuit 12, Dallas, TX, curated by Josh Reames
The Two States of W.W., Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Andrew Prayzner
2014
Pierogi XX: Twentieth Anniversary Exhibition, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Ducks, Greenpoint Terminal Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Ryan Travis Christian
Diamonds and Doughnuts, Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
This One’s Optimistic: Pincushion, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT, curated by Cary Smith
I’m Jealous of Your Failures, UIS Galleries, University of Illinois-Springfield, Springfield, IL, curated by Trew Schriefer
Fiction (with only daylight between us), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Spring Benefit Auction, Novella Gallery, New York City, NY
Artist of the Month, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2013
Aqua, Miami Art Week, Miami, FL
The Oracle, The Wand, Berlin, Germany
Cypher, The Sphinx, New York City, NY
Eight Ball, Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
Sleight of Hand, Brian Morris Gallery, New York, NY, curated by Noah Post
Goddess, Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
Reason & Romance, 6b gallery, Elingen, Belgium, curated by Alain Biltereyst
Radio Chopshop / Pier 1218, Madison, WI, curated by Derrick Buisch, with catalog
2012
You Were Here, Curating Contemporary, curated by Peter Shear
My Idea of Fun, Ebers Moore, Chicago, IL, curated by Mike Rea
Broken Slogan, Future Tenant, Pittsburgh, PA
2011
Gimme Baby Robots, Print Zero Gallery, Seattle, WA
Sometimes the things you put things on are more important than the things themselves, Pier 1218, Madison, WI
Le Salon Du Dessin Contemporain/ Drawing Now, Paris, France
The Book Project, The Paper Crane, Chicago, IL
2010
Access & Paradox, Contemporary Art Fair, Paris, France
Hidden, Galerie Van der Stegen, Paris, France
A Book About Death, MoMA Wales, Wales, United Kingdom
2009
Je t’aime Skye Boutin, Two person show with Pesce Khete, Galerie Van der Stegen, Paris, France
Home ‘n Gone, Galerie Van der Stegen, Paris, France
Analagous, juried by Lucy Lippard, Runnels Gallery, ENMSU, Portales, NM (catalog)
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Newcity, https://art.newcity.com/2016/01/24/review-scott-wolniak-and-john-phillip-abbottdevening- projects/
NY Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/arts/design/for-pierogi-a-last-brooklyn-hurrah.html
New American Paintings, https://newamericanpaintings.com/blog/studio-john-phillip-abbott’s-choice- words
My Big Geneva, online review, http://mybiggeneva.com/en/les-mots-john-phillip-abbott/, 10/27/14
NY Arts Magazine, John Phillip Abbott interviewed by Cary Smith, online and print, Summer 2013, http://www.nyartsmagazine.com/?p=10053
The Population, online, PAINTING=TIMEMACHINE or Tour Guide of Future Signs-The work of John Phillip Abbott by Derrick Buisch, http://thepopulation.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/painting-
Silver City Sun-News, Abbott to Show Work in Brooklyn, April 4th, 2014
Studio Break, Podcast interview, studiobreak.com, 2012
Pittsburgh City Paper, “Sharp and Engaging Broken Slogan” May 2, 2012
Studio Critical, Online interview, www.studiocritical.com, 2011
Radio Interview, Marfa Public Radio, Marfa, TX February 13th, 2009