exhibition

“Small Works” featured at AFA Gallery, NYC through the Holidays

Sheila Berry December 5, 2017

SMALL WORKS

Free and Open to Public this Holiday Season

Reception: Thursday Dec 7, 6-9pm
Dec 7 – Jan 1, 2018 |54 Greene St. SoHo | 212-226-7344

United in their scale, the featured artworks from thirty different artists around the world, explore the variation in style, concept, and technical approach present in contemporary painting, drawing, and sculpture. The exhibition, curated by Michael J. Ruple (Gallery Director), features new works by Michael Alan, Jean-Pierre Arboleda, Sergio Barrale, Casey Baugh, Rick Berry, Troy Brooks, Bill Carman, Sas Christian, Colin Christian, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Kelly Denato, Rose Freymouth-Frazier, Gris Grimly, Justin Hopkins, Jared Joslin, Jessica Joslin, Robert LaDuke, Chris Leib, David Lipson, Francis Livingston, Alessandra Maria, Pierre Matter, Caitlin T. McCormack, Kathie Olivas, Marc Scheff, Steven Skollar, Pol Turgeon, Hannah Yata, and more.

Rick is proud to be exhibiting 6 works along side this all star cast. We hope you’ll have a chance to stop by before the year’s end. Thank you.

“Kitsune Takes the Bet” in San Francisco

Sheila Berry April 21, 2015
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“Kitsune Takes The Bet”, 2015 by Rick Berry, oil on canvas,  20″ x 20″

Storybook… Best Remembered Stories
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
April 25 to May 9, 2015

Rick has an abiding interest in shape-shifters — across all cultures, past and future. Rick is the son of an Air Force pilot and so was raised in a kind of moveable feast of surreal fighter base communities, populated by people with stories from, well, everywhere. His father, fluent in Mandarin, was stationed in China in the late 40’s (as the Communist Revolution climaxed, engaged in a rescue mission, Rick’s father was the first, and only, person to land a plane in the Forbidden City!).

His parents collected art extensively throughout Asia. As such, Rick grew up surrounded by art and tales of China, Japan, the Philippines and elsewhere. Stories of Kitsune, a fox spirit, are part of this. It so happens that his friend (and sometimes collaborator) Neil Gaiman wrote a “new” folklore involving a kitsuné and a monk— Sandman: The Dream Hunters. A beautiful bedtime reading aloud for children. (We had three small ones then; all grown now, meme’s hopefully installed.)
 
The process of this painting is a story of shape-shifting itself. Beneath it’s surface are several paintings until Kitsune emerged…

For sales information, contact kim@Modern Eden.com (415)956-3033.

Phil Hale’s “Life Wants to Live”

Sheila Berry March 20, 2015

A great weekend in NYC (away from shoveling in Boston) to attend the opening reception of PHIL HALE’s solo exhibition at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. His new work is outstanding! It’s an impressive, thought provoking show. Ends March 21st so get there if you can!

We were happy to see many friends, and delighted to visit with Phil and his family. We’ve known each other a long time now, since Phil was apprenticed to Rick from age 16-18 and I watched as they quickly became collaborators. They last shared a studio in England (1986) and in Italy, 2009, they were the subject of a museum installation titled “Parallel Evolution.” where they once again collaborated live in front of a packed house.

At Jonathan LeVine Gallery, I found it interesting to notice that decades after sharing studios, an ocean apart, and each working his own method, Rick and Phil seem to be arriving separately at a similar mission. Each is examining “the instability and uncertainty that characterize our era” – yet with conclusions evolving in distinct directions. You’ll have a peek at Phil’s paintings in these camera shots but I hope you’ll check the gallery site if you are unable to see the originals. Enjoy!

Berry Interview following talk at MIT about Vision, Cognition, Making and Viewing Good Art

Sheila Berry February 13, 2015

After this standing-room-only lecture by Rick titled “LET ART THINK”, Oleg Brodskiy at Boston Festival of Independent Games, interviewed Rick.

Rick talks about Art as Frontier. He answers questions about  the “other consciousness I call the monster” How and why do you want to release it to think with art – triggering the high processing values of which the mind is capable.  He explains “using art to see” by scribbling and reacting to layed down shapes and random patterns, examining for phenomena. He discusses collaborative mind and tells us how “just this and no more” meaningfully connects artist and viewer.

Thanks for taking a look. Your comments are welcome. 

Thank You

Sheila Berry November 1, 2014
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…with “To Absent Friends…” Oil from CABARET set, starring Amanda Palmer, produced by American Repertory Theater, Cambridge

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We had a wonderful time at the recent reception for Spectrum’s Fantastic Art show at NY Society of Illustrators. This was the third Spectrum exhibition and Rick’s been privileged to have work selected for each. We appreciate the honor of being included with so many great artists and all the work Spectrum and the Society do to make it such a great show. A special thanks to the collector and his family for loaning this silver award winning painting for the duration.  We enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones.  Lucky us, a night in Manhattan is always fun!
Best wishes to everyone,  from Sheila & Rick 

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“Frost” by Rick Berry, Spectrum Exhibition 2009
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“Mr. Munshun” by Rick Berry, Spectrum 2005 from Stephen King’s “Black House”

 

Rick Berry in Spectrum Exhibition, NYC

Sheila Berry September 1, 2014
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We are pleased to announce Rick Berry’s Silver Award Winner,“To Absent Friends” is on view in the popular Spectrum Exhibition at the Museum of American Illustration, September 2 – Oct 18
Created for the set of CABARET, starring Amanda Palmer and produced by the American Repertory Theater, “To Absent Friends” is on loan through the generosity of a private collector.

Please join us at the Opening Reception:  
Friday Sept 12th 6:30 – 9, open to all
NY Society of Illustrators 
125 East 63rd St. NYC

“Injury Prone” accepted into Spectrum

Sheila Berry May 15, 2014
We are pleased to announce Rick’s oil painting – Injury Prone – is included with this year’s best in Spectrum 21, the art annual promoting contemporary fantastic arts.

Injury Prone, oil by Rick Berry, inquire at info@RickBerryStudio.com
Injury Prone, oil by Rick Berry, inquire at info@RickBerryStudio.com

I asked Rick about his painting exhibited at Pease International Tradeport, NH last fall,

“Injury Prone is about the athlete warrior.

Jacked on steroids, surgically repaired and activated on short recovery with pharmacological fixes; forced to perform schedules designed to suit media not health, he’s super powerful, a designer being.

But is it an Archilles bargain with a twist? Life is incandescent for a brief time. The violence both without and within takes a toll. Once great, the athlete warrior endures premature, diminished physical health and sometimes damaged cognitive capacity as well.

The twist is that this decline is not short, but a lingering period of social indifference and fading for many who, in their youth and without regardful counsel, never saw this coming.”

Is this our future? An earlier painting on this topic is Steroid Giant. SteroidGiant

Special edition – TOME II: Melancholia includes
6 paintings by Rick Berry

Sheila Berry May 14, 2014
Tome II : Melancholia

is a special limited edition anthology by invited artists to explore this theme. It includes 6 paintings by Rick. Click these thumbnails for full size images and information about painting availability. Click Art Prints in menu above for Limited Edition Archival Print information.

The theme is described as ” …MELANCHOLIA, the condition more akin to the alchemical phases the psyche passes through for our individuation and evolution…aka NOT depression or mourning, but something far more essential and ultimately beneficial to us all… belief is that this (art)  influences the collective in a deeply meaningful and critical way.” 

Rick is honored to be included in this book with friends he greatly admires such as Ashley Wood, Anita Kunz, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave McKean, George Pratt, Kashra Ghanbari, as well as friends with whom he has collaborated, both at his studio and in Italy: Phil Hale, Brom, and Jason Shaw Alexander; along with many other fascinating artists. This book is massive and full of great art. 12″x18″, 200 pages.

Curator/Editor Kasra Ghanbari presented a selection of Melancholia art at Last Rites Gallery, NYC while the book was in production. Last Rites Gallery also hosted a wonderful pre-launch book party during NY Comic Con, which included Rick’s painting, “Nelson”. Perhaps you were there?

George R. R. Martin purchases three
Rick Berry Paintings

Sheila Berry April 15, 2014


Last year Martin requested Berry as artist for his savage werewolf epic, The Skin Trade. Washington Science Fiction Association’s Press published Martin’s award-winning novella  as a stand-alone Limited 1st Edition hardcover in conjunction with Martin being Guest of Honor at their annual fall convention near DC. Rick created the cover and several paintings for the books interior. 

We’re pleased to announce “Willie” (above) and 2 other Rick Berry’s oil paintings from this book are in George R.R.Martin’s private collection in Santa Fe, New Mexico!

Author of mega-popular Game of Thrones and so much more, did you know Martin is also a star in world of independent cinemas? He’s the driving force behind saving and reviving the Jean Cocteau Cinema in his home community. Rick and I happen to be lucky to enjoy a favorite old theater from 1920’s in our town. We admire that George is supporting a venue that makes wonderful memories for everyone. Screenings include classic, cult, and new movies; also live events from music, theater, and literary worlds. Just one example, last year Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer performed. New things happen almost daily. 

AND…George R.R.  Martin has also installed an ART GALLERY at Cocteau Cinema. He’s invited Rick to show work there in the future! That’ll be fun.skintrade books for post

Rick Berry in “UNIVERSE” – opening Friday

Sheila Berry April 9, 2014

Finish! 3/25
“Final Approach” by Rick Berry  12 x 12″ oil at Modern Eden Gallery

Rick was happy to be invited, along with studio pal, Rich Pellegrino, to create work for
Michael Cuffe’s curated exhibit April 12th – May 3rd at Modern Eden Gallery in
San Francisco, CA.


Press Release:   “UNIVERSE: The Art of Existence” will bring together artists on the subject of space, the cosmos, galaxies, celestial bodies, planets, stars, and more. Also explored is the larger outer paradigm of the Universe that relates to things of an atomic scale, such as elements of quantum physics, atoms, and energy streams. Each artist has been encouraged to interpret the Universe itself as either an outer or inner world.”  -Michael Cuffe, Editor-in-Chief,  Warholian


Opening Reception: Saturday April 12th, 6-10 pm
Modern Eden Gallery, April 12th – May 3rd
403 Francisco St., San Francisco CA
Sales: Kim@ModernEden.com (415) 956-3033

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