Oliver Vernon and Christian Calabrò are showcasing their dynamic collaborative works that draws upon an incredibly varied pool of influences; from abstract expressionism, to post pop surrealism and figurative realism creating a fascinating mix of architecture, landscape and abstractions.
Laying out layer upon layer, they create an impossible amount of dimensions that connect to make a universe that is like a sea of multi-faceted, independent worlds.
Coming from different countries (Vernon: US, Calabro: Switzerland) and having studied different disciplines (Vernon: painting/sculpture, Calabro: graphic design), the two artists converged in a Brooklyn loft with adjacent studios in 2001. With parallel interests in art history stemming from Kurt Schwitters and early Modernist movements, their creative kinship developed over years before the artistic collaborations began in 2010.
Their work plays with the intersection of intuitive gestural mark making and hard edged design elements while mixing a rigid abstract formalist approach with a reverence for the absurd. Their process is spontaneous, seeking to capture a moment free of preconceptions. Tight craftsmanship is as much an ingredient as absolute looseness, giving the artists a freedom to push the boundaries of perceptual norms.
EDUCATION (Oliver Vernon)
1992-1995 BFA, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
1990-1992 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
EDUCATION (Christian Calabrò)
1995-1998 BA Graphic Design, School Of Visual Arts, New York
OLIVER VERNON
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
KIRK Gallery, Message Board, Duo udstilling med Christian Calabrò
2019
KIRK Gallery, Brushing away the Veil
Mirus Gallery, Denver (USA), “Awaken the Chrysalis”
2018
KIRK Gallery, “With or Without” med Christian Calabro
2013
Renegade Trajectories, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
2012
Tilt, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
2011
Sprung, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
2010
Oscillation Throttle, Meta Gallery, Toronto, Canada
New Works, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
2009
Double Down , Irvine Contemporary Art Gallery, Washington DC
New Works, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
New Works on Paper, Meta Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Unexpected Occurrences, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
2007
Macro/Micro, Irvine Contemporary Gallery, Washington DC
Oliver Vernon, Microcosm Gallery, New York, NY
2006
Infinity Within, Lineage Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2005
Live Paintings Remixed, Jan Larsen Fine Art, Brooklyn, NY
Modern Mantra, Lineage Gallery, Burlington, VT
2004
Far, Spector Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
One Step Further, The Chambers Project, November
2020
Inside Out, KIRK Gallery, Danmark
2017
North International Art Fair, Danmark, KIRK Gallery
Scope International Art Fair, Basel, Schweiz, KIRK Gallery
2016
Scope International Art Fair, Miami, Alexander Chambers Gallery
2015
Context International Art Fair, Miami, Fifty24MX Gallery
2014
Momentum, Mars-1 and Damon Soule, Space Gallery, Denver
2013
Cosmic Terrain, Show Mars-1, Damon Soule, Petaluma Arts Center, CA
An Inaugural Group Exhibition at Joshua Liner Gallery, New York
2012
artMRKT Contemporary & Modern Art Fair, Bridgehampton, NY
Summer Group Exhibition, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
2010
Further, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
SCOPE International Art Fair , David B. Smith Gallery, New York, NY
2009
Street/Studio Group Exhibition, Irvine Contemporary Gallery, Washington
Group show, Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Harley Davidson presents The Art of Rebellion, the Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
Aspect:Ratio Group Exhibition, Irvine Contemporary Gallery, Washington
Group show, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
2008
Aspect: Ratio, Small-Format Paintings, Irvine Contemporary Gallery,
Washington DC
Mapmakers an Inaugural Group Exhibition, Meta Gallery, Toronto
Uncorked, Urban Angel, London, UK
365, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Groundwork II, Foundation One Gallery, Decatur, GA
Locked & Loaded, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
Limited Addiction: Anniversary Group Show, Limited Addiction Gallery, Denver, CO
Group show, MicroCoSM Gallery, New York, NY
2007
Saturnalia: Festival of Gallery Artists for the Winter Season, Irvine Contemporary Gallery, Washington DC
Josh Keyes og Oliver Vernon, Limited Addiction Gallery, Denver, CO
Claimin Space – Context and Urban Art: A Visual Arts Exhibition for the 2007 Bumbershoot Arts Festival på BLVD Gallery, Seattle, WA
Oliver Vernon og Damon Soule, Boulevard Projects, Seattle, WA
Elevation, Limited Addiction Gallery, Denver, CO
Group show, Lineage Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2006
Mescalito, White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005
Identity Crisis, Lineage Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Convergence, The Showroom NYC, New York, NY
Minds Wide Open – traveling exhibition, Light Space Gallery, Venice, CA/ Around The Coyote Gallery, Chicago, IL/ Microcosm Gallery, New York, NY
2001
The Armory Show, Modern Culture Gallery, New York, NY
2000
Start! , Modern Culture Gallery, New York, NY
CHRISTIAN CALABRÒ
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 KIRK Gallery, Message Board, Duo udstilling med Oliver Vernon
2019 SHREDS, The Chambers Project, Nevada City, CA
2018 POST NO BILLS, Tart Art, Zurich, Switzerland
2018 WITH OR WITHOUT, collaborative exhibition with Oliver Vernon and Christian Calabro, Kirk Gallery, Denmark
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 SECOND AVENUE ARTS Group Show, Tribeca Loft, NYC
2019 APORIAS, Mirus Gallery, San Francisco
2017 ART PRIZE, Grand Rapids, MI
2016 SCOPE International Art Fair, Miami, Alexander Chambers Gallery
2016 OFF CHELSEA, NYC
2015 BAZAA SOYAYYA, Off Space, Broadway, NYC
2014 SALON ACME, Williamsburg, NY
