Ian McLaughlin
Artist Statement
Observational drawing-research informs my work in color and form, creating botanical science fiction-like pieces that make an organic layered narrative. Constantly curious and playful, my paintings take unexpected turns and jumps while in the making.
I like the fall season. The fall season has always been poignant for me. The vivid colors of the leaves as they change, oxidize, and then die. The vivid reds against crisp blue skies. The color changes of the dying leaves is inspiring. It helps me paint. Color is a superpower. Or so I believe. This fall I felt a need and tremendous power-love to embrace vivid colors. So I did. It was great. I once met a kangaroo without any political associations or intentions. Curious. You’d think she’d have a side to pick. But she has a pouch. Her young are fortunate for this.
I grew up in Chicago. Took the Chicago Transit Authority trains all over the place. CTA. My friends and I took the Red Line, Pink line, Blue Line, Purple Line, Brown Line, Green line, and the Orange Line. All kinds of colored lines going places. To different places with so many different people, smells, and food. The smells were rich and pungent. There was a lot of graffiti. On the trains, buildings, all over the place. I never did any graffiti myself. That’s a lie or maybe not. I was fascinated. The people with so many stories behind their eyes, bunched up against each other on the trains and platforms.
Many of the paintings are from a body of work I dedicated to all those people and lines. To all their stories, feelings, and journeys. Some of these paintings are from a Botanical Science-Fiction series project, where I let the botanic life and natural landscape on our plant light my imagination on fire. When its on fire, and really hot, its like having salsa dancers massage the heart with their nibble feet and 100 lumberjacks doing a jig in the studio. Sweet, loud and stinky.
Words and colors have power. Let’s be powerful and kind.
Artist Bio
Ian McLaughlin, was born 1979 in Winfield Illinois and grew up in Chicago. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting/Drawing from the Kansas City Art Institute 2002. He apprenticed with one of Chicago’s premiere Architectural Arts and Design studios and studied visual arts at the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Over the years, he’s been lucky enough to work with amazing people, projects and institutions in the visual arts world, including Marc Chagall’s “Four Seasons” restoration project, The Chicago Cultural Center’s Tiffany stained glass dome restoration project, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art. He has shown in Chicago, Kansas City, Detroit and is exhibited regularly in Denver. His work lives in a number of permanent collections in the Denver area. He lives and works in Boulder Colorado.
Selected Exhibitions
Education:
- 2002, B.F.A. The Kansas City Art Institute
- 1998, The Chicago Academy for the Arts
- 1997 Pre-College HSSRP Kansas City Art Institute
Professional Experience:
- 2015-17 Guest Teacher Boulder Prep Highschool & Picture Woods Ltd Mural Painting project, Boulder CO
- 2011-12 Northwestern University Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art, Preparator team
- 2009 The Chicago Cultural Centers Tiffany stained glass dome restoration project
- 2002-06 Ranger, Colorado
- 2002-06 Wild land Fire Fighter, Colorado
- 2001 Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Preparator, Kansas City MO
- 2000-02 & ’08 Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Prep Department subcontractor, KCMO
Exhibitions & Projects:
- 2018 Solo exhibit, JCC, Boulder CO
- 2017 Alternative Facts, Space Gallery, Denver CO
- 2016/17 Winter Show Space Gallery, Denver CO
- 2016 solo show, Colorado Ballet, Denver CO
- 2016 Love Bombs, solo, 530 Sante Fe Dr Denver CO
- 2016 Longmont Front Range Film Festival
- 2015 Space Gallery, Nature’s Line, Denver CO
- 2014 Space Gallery Holiday show, Denver CO
- 2014 Space Gallery Grand Opening, Denver CO
- 2013 “Total Abstraction” group show, Republic Plaza, Denver CO
- 2013 “Summer Show” group show, SPACE GALLERY, Denver CO
- 2013 “MIND OVER MATTER” group show, SPACE GALLERY, Denver CO
- 2012 Winter Invitational, Buena Suerte a los Compañeros, Telephonebooth Gallery, KCMO
- 2010 “Sonar Donkey-Deer Days” music, Rogers Park Peoples Radio, Chicago IL
- 2010 “Sonar Donkey-Deer Days” shown at US Social Forum, Detroit, MI
- 2010 Solo, Synesthesia for the Times, Living Room Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 2010 Group, Dharma Art show, Chicago, IL
- 2008 Group, Around The Coyote Spring Show, Chicago, IL
- 2008 Solo,Bubble Burst Time, d/vision gallery, Chicago, IL
- 2002 Kansas City Art Institute BFA Show, H & R Block Art Space, Kansas City, MO
- 2002 Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, Kansas City, MO
- 2002 Treehouse Meeting , group show, Kelvin Gallery, Kansas City, MO
- 1998 Group Show, The Opie Gallery, Kansas City MO
Awards/Scholarships/Publications:
- 2017 Review: Layered Takes in Alternative Facts at Space Gallery, Denver Westword
- 2014 Earls Restaurant on the 16th Street Mall Gets sleek new renovation, Denver Post
- 2013 Review of Mind over Matter show at Space Gallery, Westword Denver
- 2013 Interview with Ian McLaughlin, Gaurdian Stewardship Editions
- 2011 Studio Visit Magazine, Vol 16
- 2010 Chicago Art Magazine
- 2002 Kansas City Art Institute: Graduated on the Deans List
- 1998 Kansas City Art Institute: Scholarship
- 1998 The Chicago Academy for the Arts: Humanitarian Award
- 1996 The Chicago Academy for the Arts: Polk Brothers Foundation scholarship
- 1994 The Chicago Academy for the Arts: Scholarship
