John Gibson (b. 1958)

Land Fall, by John Gibson (screen print of stacked colorful spheres)

2005

John Gibson has been painting delicate still-life arrangements of balls since the 1990s. This focused body of work originated from his desire to depict 3-dimensionality within the constraints of a 2-dimensional surface successfully. Playing around with patterned surfaces and carefully organizing his subject matter, Gibson builds a subtle complexity within his compositions. In this way, Gibson’s work is similar to that of Italian painter Giorgio Morandi, whose still-life of earthenware objects served as a constant influence. Within Gibson’s paint handling, there is an evident physicality, making clear a sense of precision and geometry that reflects an architectural quality. This quality is further illustrated by the strong use of light and shadow to create depth within the pictorial plane. John Gibson received his undergraduate degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, after which he attended Yale University to receive his MFA.