John Wentz.
San Francisco, USA.
Artist in Residence 2019.
Invited by The Plant and PaintGuide for the Project1606 residency .
John Wentz is a contemporary painter whose work is an exploration of process and technique. Working within the classical idiom of the human figure, his goal is to reduce and simplify the image to it’s core fundamentals: composition, color, and mark making. Paint application and brush strokes are broad and simplified as a means to connect and convey these ideas to the viewer in a way that only painting can.
John was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. His interest in art began at the age of 6 when he first discovered Batman and Spiderman comic books. After years of copying comics panel by panel he worked in the commercial arts as a muralist, billboard creator and freelance illustrator. After learning to paint by doing airbrushed billboards, he decided to pursue Fine Art and work in oils. Since then, he has had 3 solo exhibitions in San Francisco and numerous group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His works have appeared in many publications and have won multiple awards.
Solo Exhibitions
2019
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
The Death of Distance
2017
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
Navigation Unknown
2015
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
Imprints
2014
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Passages
2013
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Spectra
2012
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Synthesis
2009
D-Structure, San Francisco, CA
Adaptive Radiation
Group Exhibitions
2018
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
Moniker Art Fair, London
Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
Bodies5
Mesa Arts Center, Phoenix, AZ
We The People
2017
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
Moleskine Project VI
Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
Neon
Vertical Gallery, Chicago, Ill
Portrait
Alto Gallery, Denver, CO
Showed Up
2016
Arcadia Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
Drawn to Greatness
Made in California
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
Moleskine Project V
Spoke Art, New York, NY
Wes Anderson Tribute
Abend Gallery, Denver, Co
Mini Show
Edge of Realism
2015
Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY
Works on Paper
Five & Under
Mike Wright Gallery, Denver, CO
As One
Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA
Moleskine Project IV
Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City, CA
Freaks & Americana
Good Mother Gallery, Oakland, CA
Tired Hands
2014
Loakal, Oakland, CA
Carpe Diem
Gary Francis Fine Art, Alameda, CA
Image Hungry
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Universe
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Nostalgia
Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM
Penumbra
Gauntlet Gallery, San Francisco, CA
CA 12x12
Spoke Art, San Francisco, CA
In Dreams
2013
Gauntlet Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Sex, Drugs, Money & Guns
Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Culver City, CA
Black Friday
Spoke Art, San Francisco, CA
The Moleskine Project III
Gauntlet Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Music Sounds Better With You
Spoke Art, San Francisco, CA
Lil Bub Group Show
Wonderland SF, San Francisco, CA
My First Four
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
111 Minna 20th Anniversary
Wonderland SF, San Francisco, CA
Wonderland Anniversary
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Fantastic 50
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Tarot: The Art of Fortune
2012
Wonderland SF, San Francisco, CA
Supernatural
The Safehouse Atelier, San Francisco, CA
Rooster
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Notorious
The Safehouse Atelier, San Francisco, CA
The Safehouse Show 4
2011
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Moment
2010
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
111 at 111
Brief Space Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Skin
2009
Gallery Heist, San Francisco, CA
Now or Never!
HCG Gallery, Dallas, TX
As If Our Lives Depended On It
2008
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Common Descent
2007
The Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Bay Area Influence
Publications
2019 The South African Artist Magazine
2019 Graffiti Art Magazine
2019 American Art Collector Magazine
2018 Juxtapoz Magazine
2017 Juxtapoz Magazine
2015 Artist's on Art
2011 La Gazette Cournot, France
2008 Clone Magazine, Spain
2007 International Artist Magazine
2007 American Art Collector Magazine
Education
2006
BFA, Painting; Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
-with distinction
Professional Experience
2006-2012
Instructor in Fine Arts, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA (Drawing, Painting, Anatomy, Composition, and Color Theory)
