John Selburg

Aki

2024

John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA in Drawing, Sculpture, and Graphic Design from Bradley University (2006), and an MFA from the University of Misso...

John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA in Drawing, Sculpture, and Graphic Design from Bradley University (2006), and an MFA from the University of Misso...

John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA in Drawing, Sculpture, and Graphic Design from Bradley University (2006), and an MFA from the University of Misso...

John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA in Drawing, Sculpture, and Graphic Design from Bradley University (2006), and an MFA from the University of Misso...

In Japan they are known as Nishikigoi, or living jewels. These brilliantly colored varieties of the Amur carp have been selectively bred by family owned fisheries for generations. When I began this series of Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing) I studied the many varieties of Koi, each with their own unique colors and patterns. My particular favorites are the Tanchos which can be identified by the distinct red spot on their heads. To create these pieces I print common carp I catch myself with sumi ink using traditional techniques used by Japanese fisherman...

This new series of painting is an exciting transition for Kinney as he is best known for assemblage and sculpture. “Anim”, the Latin root word of animal, means life, soul or breath. This exhibition features select large-format monochromatic oil paintings on stretched canvas and wood panels. On view as well are works on paper with Japanese Sumi Ink, which inspired the oil paintings. Kinney has been looking at pre-historic cave paintings as well as animals depicted therein, such as the Chauvet caves in Nice, Southern France. Emerging from the inextricable interplay of light and dark, Kinney’s black and white ink paintings capture the ever-shifting subjectivity shaped by shadow. Cast in Japanese Sumi ink, each unique painting explores the trajectories of human and animal, natural and architectural form- what is revealed or hidden? A variety of hand-torn, heavy weight papers add textural dimension to each mark and brush stroke, as well as through the immediacy of brushstrokes to depict the action within the artwork In his latest collection of works, Kinney explores animal form and meaning as seen in both contemporary and ancient times. In “Savanna (Zebras) ”, a stampede of zebras is depicted through oil paint on wood panel. Animal populations in regions like the horn of Africa today face the loss of their natural habitats due to extreme draught. He explores the deep imprint they leave behind and the interconnectedness of humans and animals in the world. With the balance of nature at stake, Kinney’s paintings underscore the importance of the relationship between the natural environment and civilization. Matt Kinney...

A 65 million year old sea creature is captured here through the art of Gyotaku by Jeff Conroy. After inking and taking impressions of a reproduction fossil Ammonite shell and combini...

A 65 million year old sea creature is captured here through the art of Gyotaku by Jeff Conroy. After inking and taking impressions of a reproduction fossil Ammonite shell and combini...