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The Fundamental Forces
We go through our lives acting on our assumption of free will, while all the while being bombarded with influence
from other internal and external forces. Often, our personal stimuli - memories, inspiration, longing, lust - seem to
come from somewhere outside ourselves, outside our control. Even our dreams are involuntary and un-
tethered. The passage of time and tug of gravity on our fragile physical selves weigh heavy and infuse our most
optimistic and hopeful endeavors with the faint tang of futility and temporality. Any effort, toward outcomes both
positive and negative, depends more than we care to admit on the cooperation of unknown strangers, indifferent
physics, and the arbitrary nature of chance.
Works on Wood
Wood, I have found, is an ideal partner to oil paint. Because the wood is porous and absorbent, with inherent
grain and flaws, it alternately resists and drinks in the oil medium. This creates the most wonderful and
unpredictable effects. The grain adds depth and texture behind flat blocks of translucent color. The wood
always asserts itself in some way, regardless of the treatment of the image or the density of paint application. I
often leave fields of unaltered wood in the work - a dry, natural section that provides an interesting contrast to the
slick feel of the painted areas.
The use of wood in my work has also allowed me to break out of the flat rectangle. Independence from the
stretched canvas leads me to work with irregular shapes, to cut contours, to pierce the surface plane.
Emotionally, works on wood give the feeling of permanence, of weight and solidity, of the painting as object. My
work explores the relationship between this structural, architectural ground, and the organic, plastic qualities of
the medium and image.
Pattern Elements
The pattern elements in my work serve as a sort of undercurrent. The metaphorical, the metaphysical. The
subliminal, the subconscious. The passage of time, unspoken connections, a sense of place. With the
comparatively concrete elements, like figure, the combination produces an interesting duality: the visual
equivalent of the said and the unsaid, text and subtext.
Eroticism
Much of my work brandishes a sort of ambiguous eroticism – a vaguely (and sometimes not-so-vaguely) sexual
tension that shows through even the most neutral imagery. The multiple figures which populate many of my
recent works share narratives that are compelling but not quite overt, encouraging the viewer to project their own
stories and points of view into their interpretations.
We go through our lives acting on our assumption of free will, while all the while being bombarded with influence
from other internal and external forces. Often, our personal stimuli - memories, inspiration, longing, lust - seem to
come from somewhere outside ourselves, outside our control. Even our dreams are involuntary and un-
tethered. The passage of time and tug of gravity on our fragile physical selves weigh heavy and infuse our most
optimistic and hopeful endeavors with the faint tang of futility and temporality. Any effort, toward outcomes both
positive and negative, depends more than we care to admit on the cooperation of unknown strangers, indifferent
physics, and the arbitrary nature of chance.
Works on Wood
Wood, I have found, is an ideal partner to oil paint. Because the wood is porous and absorbent, with inherent
grain and flaws, it alternately resists and drinks in the oil medium. This creates the most wonderful and
unpredictable effects. The grain adds depth and texture behind flat blocks of translucent color. The wood
always asserts itself in some way, regardless of the treatment of the image or the density of paint application. I
often leave fields of unaltered wood in the work - a dry, natural section that provides an interesting contrast to the
slick feel of the painted areas.
The use of wood in my work has also allowed me to break out of the flat rectangle. Independence from the
stretched canvas leads me to work with irregular shapes, to cut contours, to pierce the surface plane.
Emotionally, works on wood give the feeling of permanence, of weight and solidity, of the painting as object. My
work explores the relationship between this structural, architectural ground, and the organic, plastic qualities of
the medium and image.
Pattern Elements
The pattern elements in my work serve as a sort of undercurrent. The metaphorical, the metaphysical. The
subliminal, the subconscious. The passage of time, unspoken connections, a sense of place. With the
comparatively concrete elements, like figure, the combination produces an interesting duality: the visual
equivalent of the said and the unsaid, text and subtext.
Eroticism
Much of my work brandishes a sort of ambiguous eroticism – a vaguely (and sometimes not-so-vaguely) sexual
tension that shows through even the most neutral imagery. The multiple figures which populate many of my
recent works share narratives that are compelling but not quite overt, encouraging the viewer to project their own
stories and points of view into their interpretations.
Artist Jeffrey Palladini was born in 1968 in the Chicago area, and grew up in Southern California. He studied
Art at California State University, Long Beach 1986 to 1990, where he studied a wide range of media, eventually
gravitating toward drawing and painting. It wasn't until his studies in Florence, Italy in 1989 that he began to form
a consistent creative voice. The ubiquitous beauty of art in everyday life in Italy had a profound effect on the
young artist, and he began experimenting with combining the found objects and classical figurative imagery he
found everywhere around him. From that time, Palladini found canvas simply too passive, and he has continued
to work almost exclusively using wood as the ground for his paintings.
In 1991, Palladini relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives and works with his wife,
psychotherapist Theresa Hall, and daughter Lola. He continues to develop his unique vocabulary of dramatic
figurative imagery, combined with compelling linear and pattern elements, which serve to enhance and inform the
narrative of each work.
Art at California State University, Long Beach 1986 to 1990, where he studied a wide range of media, eventually
gravitating toward drawing and painting. It wasn't until his studies in Florence, Italy in 1989 that he began to form
a consistent creative voice. The ubiquitous beauty of art in everyday life in Italy had a profound effect on the
young artist, and he began experimenting with combining the found objects and classical figurative imagery he
found everywhere around him. From that time, Palladini found canvas simply too passive, and he has continued
to work almost exclusively using wood as the ground for his paintings.
In 1991, Palladini relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives and works with his wife,
psychotherapist Theresa Hall, and daughter Lola. He continues to develop his unique vocabulary of dramatic
figurative imagery, combined with compelling linear and pattern elements, which serve to enhance and inform the
narrative of each work.
EDUCATION
California State University, Long Beach, BA Art 1990
Florence, Italy, Studio Art Studies through Richmond College, London, 1989
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 "The Fundamental Forces", Crome Architecture, San Rafael, California
2007 "the Brat Pack", The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2006 “Undercurrents”, Two-person exhibition, Brian Marki Fine Art, Portland, Oregon
2006 “Unspoken Connections”, Solo exhibition, The Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2005 The Lowe Gallery 16th Anniversary Show, The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2005 Solo Exhibition, The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2004 Group Exhibition, The Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2004 “Pattern & Decoration”, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2004 2004 Biennial Exhibition, Brad Cooper Gallery, Tampa, Florida
2003 “Random Thoughts”, Lankershim Art Center, North Hollywood, California
2003 2003 National Juried Exhibition, Artisans, Mill Valley, California
2003 2003 Annual Juried Exhibition of Marin Artists, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
2002 “New Visions: Introductions”, Pro-Arts, Oakland, California
2002 2002 Annual Juried Exhibition of Marin Artists, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
2001 16th Annual Juried Show, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California
2000 “New Voices – New Visions”, Gallery Bergelli, Larkspur, California
2000 70th Annual Statewide Exhibit, Santa Cruz Art League Gallery, Santa Cruz, California
2000 31st 2-Dimensional Competition, San Jose Center for the Visual Arts, San Jose, California
2000 “Man/Woman: Viewpoints”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, California
2000 “Arts on Fire, 2000”, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, California
1999 14th Annual Juried Show, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California
1997 MatrixArts International Exhibition, MatrixArts, Sacramento, California
1996 1996 Annual Juried Exhibition of Marin Artists, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
1996 1996 Annual Juried Exhibition, Peninsula Art Association Gallery, Foster City, California
1992 First Annual H.G. Daniels Juried Exhibition, Lankershim Art Center, North Hollywood, California
First Place Award
1991 35th Annual International Award Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, California
REPRESENTATION
Seven-O-Seven Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Brian Marki Fine Art, Portland, Oregon
SFMOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, California
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2007 Marin Magazine, Snap Section, November issue
2007 Merge Magazine, “An Average Interview: Beyond Average Commentary on Fine Art in L.A."
by Brian Donohoe
2006 Catalogue, “Unspoken Connections”, with essay by critic and curator Peter Frank
California State University, Long Beach, BA Art 1990
Florence, Italy, Studio Art Studies through Richmond College, London, 1989
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 "The Fundamental Forces", Crome Architecture, San Rafael, California
2007 "the Brat Pack", The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2006 “Undercurrents”, Two-person exhibition, Brian Marki Fine Art, Portland, Oregon
2006 “Unspoken Connections”, Solo exhibition, The Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2005 The Lowe Gallery 16th Anniversary Show, The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2005 Solo Exhibition, The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2004 Group Exhibition, The Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2004 “Pattern & Decoration”, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2004 2004 Biennial Exhibition, Brad Cooper Gallery, Tampa, Florida
2003 “Random Thoughts”, Lankershim Art Center, North Hollywood, California
2003 2003 National Juried Exhibition, Artisans, Mill Valley, California
2003 2003 Annual Juried Exhibition of Marin Artists, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
2002 “New Visions: Introductions”, Pro-Arts, Oakland, California
2002 2002 Annual Juried Exhibition of Marin Artists, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
2001 16th Annual Juried Show, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California
2000 “New Voices – New Visions”, Gallery Bergelli, Larkspur, California
2000 70th Annual Statewide Exhibit, Santa Cruz Art League Gallery, Santa Cruz, California
2000 31st 2-Dimensional Competition, San Jose Center for the Visual Arts, San Jose, California
2000 “Man/Woman: Viewpoints”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, California
2000 “Arts on Fire, 2000”, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, California
1999 14th Annual Juried Show, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California
1997 MatrixArts International Exhibition, MatrixArts, Sacramento, California
1996 1996 Annual Juried Exhibition of Marin Artists, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
1996 1996 Annual Juried Exhibition, Peninsula Art Association Gallery, Foster City, California
1992 First Annual H.G. Daniels Juried Exhibition, Lankershim Art Center, North Hollywood, California
First Place Award
1991 35th Annual International Award Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, California
REPRESENTATION
Seven-O-Seven Contemporary, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Brian Marki Fine Art, Portland, Oregon
SFMOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, California
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2007 Marin Magazine, Snap Section, November issue
2007 Merge Magazine, “An Average Interview: Beyond Average Commentary on Fine Art in L.A."
by Brian Donohoe
2006 Catalogue, “Unspoken Connections”, with essay by critic and curator Peter Frank
| jeffrey palladini jpalladini@comcast.net (415) 385-6959 |