James Biglan
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Cornell University, 1990
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Delaware, 1988
Selected Artist residencies and grants
Annex:art residency, San Fidel, New Mexico, August 2019
Studio Critique, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, July 8-August 18, 2018
Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy June/July 2016
Fund for Teachers Fellow 2016
TICA, School of Art Institute of Chicago, July 2012
Selected Professional Gallery Experience
Art of the State, Juried exhibit, State Museum , Harrisburg, Pa, Sept-Jan 2022-23
Glue, Paper, Scissors Invitational, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Jan-March 2022
What goes bump in the night, Juried exhibit, Las Vegas, NV, Sept-Nov 2021 Memorial Masters Exhibition 16, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, March 2020
IN(st)SNAP, Juried Exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, June-Aug 2018
Memorial Masters Exhibition 14, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, March-April 2018
Turning Red, Juried Exhibit,Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Sewickley, PA, June-July 2017
Resist, Juried Exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, June-Aug 2017
The Woodmere Art Museum Annual Juried Exhibit, Juried Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA, June-Aug 2016
Change the World, Juried exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, June-July 2016
Summertime, Juried exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, June-July 2015
The Woodmere Art Museum Annual Juried Exhibit, Juried Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA, June-Sept 2015
Off the Grid, Juried exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Dec 2014
Feast your eyes, Juried exhibit, Annmarie Sculpture garden and Arts Center, Dowell, MD, Oct-Jan 2015
But is it art?, Juried exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, May-August 2014
Sin City Gallery, Juried Exhibit Le Salon de Refuses du Peches, Las Vegas, NV, April –May 2014
Abington Art Center, Annual Juried Art Show, Jenkintown, PA Dec/Jan 2013
Coupling Juried exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Nov/Dec 2013
Childhood Memories, Juried Exhibition, Mills Pond House Gallery, LI, NY, Oct/Nov 2013
Autumn Invitational, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Oct/ Nov 2013
Inspiration, Juried exhibit, Off the Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, December 2012
215/610, Juried Sculpture Exhibition, The Gallery at DCCC, Media, PA, September 2012
Works on Paper, Juried Exhibition, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ, Oct-Dec 2011
Black and White Drawing Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, Impact Gallery, Buffalo, NY, October 2005
Mask, Another Skin, Juried Exhibition, Artempresa Gallery, Cordoba, Argentina, November 2004
Figure and Context, Juried Exhibition, Afif Gallery, Philadelphia, PA August 2004
Too Funny for Words, Juried Exhibition, Artforms Gallery, Philadelphia, PA February 2004
Manifestation 3:Form and Function, Juried Exhibition, Denise Bibro, New York, NY, December 2003
Peligro Gallery Representation, New Orleans LA, October 1995 to December 2002
Louisiana Open, Contemporary Arts Center, “Open Juried Exhibition” New Orleans, LA, March 1999
Works on Paper, Sylvia Schmidt Gallery New Orleans, LA, June 1996
Paul Edelstein Gallery Representation, Memphis TN, 1995 to 1996
Underexposed, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA, February 1994
New Talent, Bienville Gallery, New Orleans, LA, June 1992
Artist Statement. At a quick glance my artwork may seem silly, perverse or intense but after careful study joy, tenderness and humor is also revealed. This duality and contradiction interests me in art and life. I express these themes through the use of figurative expressionism and intimate symbols. Visually my artwork has a raw style that suits both the content of the work and my personality. I enjoy working quickly and directly because it helps release imagery in a simple, honest manner. My process often starts off very conceptual. I will write and sketch out a variety of ideas. I also like to explore many different materials and techniques within single works of art. I want my artwork to have both a strong narrative element combined with a visceral use of materials, mark making and surface quality.
Though I try to avoid a tedious process this does not mean I want to present simple pictures. I hope the viewer will often discover double meanings, hidden details and surprising outcomes within each artwork. I am most interested in artists and artwork that explores humor and existential angst in their work. Some of these would include Goya, Philip Guston, Jean Dubuffet, Kiki Smith and many more. And themes such as sex, love, childhood, rock and roll, gluttony and the ephemeral.
If I had to pick a favorite medium it would probably be ink because of its directness and illustrative quality. I also love to work three dimensionally with found objects and clay. This began after spending a decade in New Orleans where I developed a real love for wearing and building masks. These masks express similar themes as the drawings/ paintings but tend to rely more on planning and craftsmanship. I still make a new mask or sculpture every year for my Halloween costume. Lately I have been experimenting with other 3D approaches including ceramics and puppetry. I think my work is a celebration of playfulness, experimentation and exploring dark, dirty and deep doodles.