Mixed Media

Drawings

Contact Information

e-mail:
www.google.com/profiles/james.biglan
Please contact artist for purchases, commissions, etc.

Artist Statement

My paintings are based on the exposure of collective secrets and desires, specifically the struggle between love and lust. I want these paintings to show the complexity of emotions that surface in romantic relationships. At a quick glance the artwork may seem silly, perverse, or intense; after careful study, joy, tenderness, and humor are also revealed. These dualities and contradictions interest me in both 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. 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.

Art history, personal experiences, and pop culture influence my work. I love the raw expressionist quality of Van Gogh, Picasso’s Blue Period, and Edvard Munch. I am also interested in the whimsical and direct aesthetic of children’s art and artists like Keith Haring. The content of my work is drawn upon feelings or events that occur in my present and past relationships. I believe the power of romance and sex parallels the act of creation and I want to depict this libido energy we all experience. I am also interested in depicting imagery derived from a collective experience. This is often shown through images from childhood and adolescence such as ice cream, Halloween and rock music.

My masks and sculptures allow me to explore characters from my paintings and doodles in a three-dimensional format. After spending a decade in New Orleans I developed a real love for wearing and building masks. These masks express similar themes as the paintings but tend to rely more on planning and craftsmanship. Most of my sculptures are now meant for wall hanging but some have actually been worn for celebrations like Mardi Gras and Halloween.

Education

1990
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
MFA

1988
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
BFA

Professional Affiliations

1995 – 2002
Peligro Gallery, New Orleans LA

1995 – 1996
Paul Edelstein Gallery, Memphis TN

Selected Exhibitions

2005
Black and White Drawing Exhibition, Impact Gallery, Buffalo, NY
Juried Exhibition

2004
Mask, Another Skin, Artempresa Gallery, Cordoba, Argentina
Juried Exhibition

Figure and Context, Afif Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition

Too Funny for Words, Artforms Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition

2003
Manifestation 3:Form and Function, Juried Exhibition, Denise Bibro, New York, NY
Juried Exhibition

2002
Winter Exhibition, Around the Coyote, Chicago, IL

1999
Louisiana Open, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA
Open Juried Exhibition

1996
Works on Paper, Sylvia Schmidt Gallery New Orleans, LA

1994
Underexposed, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA

1992
New Talent, Bienville Gallery, New Orleans, LA