John Weston Biography




EDUCATION

  • 2005-Present - Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA (MFA)
  • 1997-2001 - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL (BFA)
  • 1999 - Kansai Gaidai University, Hirakata City, Japan.
  • 1996-1997 - DePaul University, Chicago, IL.

    • SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

  • 2001 - Parce Meo Sepulto - Northern Illinois University, Reynolds-Whitney Gallery, DeKalb, IL.


    • OTHER EXHIBITIONS:

  • 2007 - John Weston and Adam Mars, MFA Thesis Show at Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA.
  • 2007 - Fully Studded, Salon Oblique, Marina Del Rey, CA.
  • 2007 - Resolutions, Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 - Greater LA MFA, California State University, Long Beach, CA
  • 2006 - Chain Letter, High Energy Constructs, 990 Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 - Double Take, Gallery Duo, 446 and 450 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 - Otis MFA Mid-Residency Show, Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA

    • PUBLICATIONS:

  • 2006 - Destroid, Self-published artist's book, Edition of 50
  • 2006 - Frankfurt School, Self-published artist's book, First Edition of 25, with Deluxe Second Edition of 25
  • 2006 - Fragments, Self-published book of sketches, Edition of 100

    • John Weston

    My earliest serious interest in art came from seeing Ivan Albright paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago. In high school, I discovered the art of Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger, which was a driving force in my deciding to become an artist. Then I discovered Zap Comix, which was also very influential, especially artists Robert Williams and S. Clay Wilson. This led me to more recent cartoonists like Gary Panter, Pascal Doury, Bruno Richard, Pakito Bolino, and many others. Around this time I also found out about the Chicago Imagists, in particular Jim Nutt and Karl Wirsum. All of these artists have had a great impact on my work. But I think my art has been affected just as much by musicians and filmmakers such as John Zorn, Otomo Yoshihide, Shinya Tsukamoto, David Lynch, and Alejandro Jodorowsky (the list goes on and on), as it has been by "fine" artists.

    I have always been interested in all kinds of art, and was never interested in doing only one thing. So after a while I decided to combine different styles within a single painting, which is what I currently do in almost all of my paintings.