Dylan Montanio — Booth 604

Born and raised in Colorado with a childhood in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dylan Montanio developed an early love for southwestern art, culture, and the natural world. The rugged landscapes of Colorado and New Mexico, particularly the sight of old, weathered homesteads in the mountains, have long sparked his imagination.

Art has always been a passion for Montanio. He won a local art contest at a young age, but despite his early success, he chose to attend culinary school rather than art school. Yet, art remained a constant in his life. Over the years, Montanio exhibited his work in various galleries across Colorado, including notable showings at the Zodiac Gallery, Color and Light Gallery, and the RAW Artists Showcase.

A near-fatal car accident and personal hardships caused Montanio to step away from art to focus on his culinary career. However, his creative drive resurfaced over time. Gradually, he returned to sketching, painting, and playing guitar. After the loss of close friends and his beloved canine companion in 2023, Dylan made the life-changing decision to fully commit to his art once again.

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GAIA Gallery — Booth 503

Founded in 2021 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, GAIA is located on Santa Fe’s hub for the arts, historic and vibrant Canyon Road. The gallery specializes in organic, contemporary works that celebrate the beauty of nature while fostering meaningful, thought-provoking dialogue.

GAIA is dedicated to upholding the highest curatorial standards, promoting both artistic excellence and genuine innovation. This commitment is reflected in the gallery’s relationship with both collectors and artists. Collectors are offered a thoughtful and discerning experience as they build their collections, while artists are encouraged to push creative boundaries with complete freedom.

In addition to its curated exhibitions, GAIA collaborates closely with private collectors, assisting in building and refining collections, sourcing specific works, and providing art advisory services. The gallery also supports home and corporate art installations. Trusted by its collectors for expertise and passion, GAIA continues to showcase the best in contemporary art. GAIA will also be exhibiting at Red Dot Miami 2024

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George Strasburger — Booth 900

George Strasburger approaches his work with a classical sensibility, beginning each large-scale oil painting with meticulous drawings to help him envision the final piece. His compositions are thoughtfully constructed, balancing loose, expressive brushstrokes with precise detailing, all designed to enhance the story he aims to tell.

Strasburger’s paintings offer a distinctive perspective on the human condition, highlighting everyday moments that reflect fundamental acts or needs. Primarily working in oils, he also has a deep love for drawing. His inspiration comes from the people around him, the surrounding landscapes, and the shared experiences that unite us as conscious beings. Through his art, he captures beauty while uncovering deeper existential truths, inviting viewers to connect with the universal aspects of life.

An award-winning and prolific artist, Strasburger has had solo exhibitions across the Southwest. He currently resides in Tucson, AZ, where he paints full-time, continuing to explore the human experience through his art.

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Rachela Fogelfeld — Booth 109

Born in Israel to Russian parents and raised in Italy, Fogelfeld’s multicultural upbringing has profoundly shaped her artistic path. She pursued formal art education at prestigious institutions, including the Brera Institute of Art in Milan, the School of Art in Tel Aviv, and the Art Institute in Bat Yam, Israel. Fogelfeld began her career as a watercolorist, showcasing her work in exhibitions across Israel and the United States.

Her paintings are renowned for their dynamic interplay of lines, shapes, color, and light. Through her art, Fogelfeld captures the essence of the Tuscan hills, the shimmering reflections of Italian port cities, the melancholy of a woman’s expression, and the vibrant hues seen from a Venetian bridge. She primarily works with watercolors and acrylics, often blending the two mediums to evoke the emotions tied to specific moments.

Fogelfeld draws deep inspiration from the philosophy of early 20th-century artist Alberto Giacometti, who believed that “The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.”

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With a Collectors’ VIP Opening Night that hosted more than 2,500 attendees, it’s clear that people were excited about the return of San Diego’s most anticipated contemporary art event. As expected, Art San Diego offered art aficionados and collectors an unparalleled opportunity to explore, experience, experiment, and discover.

Whether you were there and want to relive the highlights with us or you couldn’t make it this year and want to excited about next year’s show, read on for a recap of Art San Diego 2023.

ACCESS TO ART PROGRAM

Through Access to Art, Art San Diego, in partnership with UBS Financial Services, works with selected charities and those they serve to share opportunities in art, design, business development, and more. Art San Diego’s 2023 Access to Art partners were Monarch School, Humble Design, and ARTS DISTRICT istrict.

With their Hide and Seek: A Surrealistic Celebration of Colors and Dreams themed booth, Monarch students in collaboration with Liberty Station ARTS District artists and Humble Design showcased and sold their artwork to more than 70 appreciative attendees. Check out the Access to Art video to see an overview of the collaboration of this amazing program.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Art San Diego’s acclaimed programming once again caught the attention of fairgoers and media alike.

The Spotlight Program provided collectors with a focused look at several galleries and prominent artists who created a site-specific exhibition. Spotlight Program recipients for 2023 included:

• Alessandra Silvaberg Studio
• Carol Hartman
• Edna Oar Young
• Henry Blond
• Julia C R Gray

The [LOCAL TALENT] program’s recipients Jann Nunn, Chakib Bouhdary, Ann Golumbuk, and Yahel Yan also had a success weekend. Funded by Art San Diego and Presenting Sponsor UBS Financial Services, in partnership with the ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station and the NTC Foundation, [LOCAL TALENT] is intended to amplify and support San Diego’s visual arts community.

TOP SALES

With thousands of guests pouring in throughout the weekend, Art San Diego exhibitors reported strong sales. Here’s a sampling of some of this year’s top sales:

• Access to Art featured the Monarch School Art Program and sold 98 student artworks, including original paintings and sculptures, coasters, pins, buttons and pillowcases. In addition, the large LOVE collaborative piece was sold for $2,500. In total, just under $8,500 of artwork sold for this worthy community program.
• Mary Johnston sold multiple pieces from her Squares Collection including Trees in Green
• Jen Tough Gallery sold works by artists Alissa Van Atta, Dotti Cichon, Maureen Farrell, Danielle Krysa, L. BaLoMbiNi, Lauren Bencivengo, and Berenice L.
• Laura Ortiz Vega placed Van I
• Ivan Pahomov sold Transformation, a 60″ x 40″original for $2,500
• Ann Golumbuk [LOCAL TALENT] artist placed several pieces including Bad Ass Stick and Love Sex and Rock & Roll and took a commission
• Chakib Bouhdary [LOCAL TALENT] artist placed one of his Multi Modern Chess Boards
• Jann Nunn, another of the [LOCAL TALENT] artists placed 5 of her wall sculptures at $2,050 each, including Karma #5, Chameleon #6, Mystic #8 , Laguna #7, and Sun Ray #3 
• sister + sister: The Butterfly Effect special Art Lab sold several of the special installation pieces including a Lilies Sculpture, a Large Nest, and a Medium Nest
• Julia C R Gray placed several of her ceramic sculptures, including Coral She (23 Spotted Blue), 5” She Mini (Power Turquoise), and 5” She Mini (Charcoal, Nebula Blue) 
• Kate Taylor sold multiple pieces, including Daybreak, Day Sunny Days, Field at Night, Dreamy Days, The Deep, Garden Vista, Cool Waters, From the Bottom, Aquatic Dreams, and Ryans Tranquility
• Carol Hartman sold several of her 12″ x 12″ originals
• Ana Magazlon placed Cherry Blossom 
• Benjamin Rinenbach placed six of his 12″ x 12″ pieces in addition to 4 Minutes at Cabrillo
• Joux Art sold two of Andrew Mack’s pieces including New Journey and Rejuvenation Time
• Anne Kullaf sold Torrey Pines, a 36″ x 36″ piece for $7,500
• Scout Dunbar placed Pony, a 30″ x 30″ original, plus six Pony 16″ x 16″ drawings at $575 each, Rocking Horse, Audubon Fish Drawing, Coral Study, and San Antonio Cooking Class, a 20″ x 20″ at $2,200
• Dana Swedo Bernal placed three of her 24″ x 24″ pieces Blue Sea Glass, Green Sea Glass, Sea Breeze at $1,000 each
• Mecenavie placed Valentin Perrault’s Portrait among others
• Stephen Robeck placed Strata in the Clouds, Strata in the Water, and Strata 4
• Teresa Ferrari placed Mermaid for $1,500
• Pond Gallery’s Jia Lu placed Afterglow, Traversal, Traveler, Crossing Flames, Let It Go, and Sunday Afternoon, each at $2,000
• Mariah Morrell placed Valentina Bottle Print and Cholula Bottle
• Thomas Elias Lockhart III placed The Standard, Cotton Bowl, Power Players, BTBTTOFC, From Cotton to Roses, Eyes Don’t Lie, and Hord of S, in addition to four calendars and three posters
• Gia Chikuaidze sold Exotic Tea at $3,200
• Magz Yang sold several of her prints, plus Thank You For Golfing with Us, American Fuckery, and Stay Sexy
• Lennon Art Collection sold multiple pieces of John Lennon Art, including Working Class Hero, The City inn My Heart, A Cat Climbing, and Forever Love
• Troy Oglesbee Art’s ocean scenes were popular and he placed several Harvest Moon prints, plus Maui Blush, Calm Before the Storm, Pico Cove II, and Calm Before the Storm
• Lisa E. sold Biome 1, 2, 3, Desert Blush, Autumn Crush, and four Faces by Miche
• Sihyeon Park sold Ilwolobongdo-CA-2, a 24″ x 20″ original at $2,500
• George C. Falelo sold multiple of his Floral Expressions at various sizes for $175, $400, and $450 respectively
• Shelley Zentner placed The Dreaming, a 18″ x 18″ original at $2,800
• Sarah Stieber’s colorful works were a hit and she placed Monarch, Love & Let Go, Painting Happiness, Kismet, Evolve Study, Love & Let Go Study, After the Concert, Complimentary, Finding Center Study, and took a commission
• Walter Redondo placed Joined Experiences, a 49.5″ x 61.5″ original at $10,000
• Artavita / World Wide Art sold Marilyn Maxwell’s Rowdy, a 20″ x 30″ original at $2,000; Pham An Hai’s Obsess at $15,000; Olivia Kapoor’s Star Stump at $2,500, Elisabet Engqvist’s The Poppy Field, a 13″ x 9″ at $900; ClauDio’s Tropical 1; and Wendy Cohen’s Passion Play, among others
• Raphael Delgado placed Well Guarded at $3,000 and Portrait of a Girl with Magenta Hair at $3,500

Still thinking about one of your favorite pieces from the show? Find the exhibitor in our Art Gallery and connect to see if it is still available. Who knows—you may find more than one that’s perfect for your collection!

AWARD WINNERS

While fairgoers shopped the aisles of great art, artists and galleries received special honors as we handed out this year’s Art San Diego Awards. Here are this year’s winners:

• INTERNATIONAL: Kate Taylor and Mina Arts
• BOOTH DESIGN: Katie Crown and Latchezar Contemporary
• DIRECTORS AWARD: sister + sister: The Butterfly Effect and Artavita/World Wide Art
• SCULPTURE AWARD: Willi Baptiste Palanza and Julia C R Gray
• BEST NEW EXHIBITOR: Arendt Graphics and Dr. Thomas Elias Lockhart III
• EXCELLENCE AWARD: Sihyeon Park
• SOLO AWARD: Benjamin Rinenbach and Lisa E.

Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors for their generosity and to everyone who attended the show. Our success was because of you! Until next year, make sure to follow Art San Diego on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes shots.

We’ll be looking forward to seeing you again for Art San Diego 2024, November 1—3 at the San Diego Convention Center.

The post That’s A Wrap: Highlights of Art San Diego 2023 appeared first on Art Business News.

Q: Introduce yourself — who you are and what is your gallery’s vision?

JL: My name is Jennifer Lavigne. I’m 30 years old, French, and live in Miami, Florida. I have been working for the prestigious Bel-Air art galleries for a few years now, and I am the U.S. Wholesale Director for one of our French artists, Peppone. Established in 2004, Bel-Air Fine Art is now one of Europe’s leading contemporary art gallery groups.

Our gallery aims to introduce collectors to the best artists in each discipline. Art is a means of communication: it creates memories and emotions, which we then distribute. Our vision is to share Peppone throughout the United States. His talent has already attracted nearly a thousand collectors, and Art San Diego is just the beginning for him in the U.S.

Q: What is your background?

JL: My background is in event organization. I’ve had the honor of collaborating on the organization of several prestigious international events in France, such as the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes Lions, and Sirha. My experience in these industries (film, advertising, and food) elevated my taste for detail and beauty. It was only natural for me to continue my career in fine art, another luxury industry with a niche clientele.

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact the gallery?

JL: I work to learn something new every day, such as an artist’s background and craft, marketing methods, or client communication techniques. I know from experience that life is short and that we must make the most of every second to be better and happier. I find significant happiness and value in my work, so I always aim to grow personally and professionally.

 Q: What artists and art styles do you represent?

JL: Bel-Air Fine Art represents around sixty artists from different countries. However, we’ve recently chosen to focus on the artist Peppone, who works to bring to life moments from childhood and well-loved films through his art. Peppone will be our only artist represented at the Art San Diego fair, so we can focus on sharing his talent with the city and its galleries.

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

JL: Frida Kahlo is the painter who inspires me the most. This woman had tremendous inner strength; she created unforgettable art, and the emotions she managed to convey are just incredible. 

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

JL: “One need not hope to undertake, nor succeed in order to persevere.” My grandfather, a successful and happy entrepreneur, taught me this quote. Strength of character and a persistent work ethic are essential qualities.

Q: When you are not working, where can we find you?

JL: In the ocean! I live in Miami and love activities like jet skiing and diving. When I’m not working, I like to go on road trips through Florida; it’s such a beautiful place. I also enjoy spending time at Faena, Setaï, and Soho House on Miami Beach. 

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

JL: We have many collectors in California as does our California gallery partner, Markowitz Fine Art, so I am excited to connect with many of them during the fair. People are at the heart of our work as a gallery. We want to create genuine connections — our artists are very present in our galleries to build relationships with clients. We are delighted to begin our direct sales work with U.S. galleries and dealers at the Art San Diego art fair!

Q: Tell us more about Peppone — your feature at Art San Diego.

JL: French artist Peppone, also known as Christophe Tixier, creates Pop-inspired artworks infused by the imagery from his vast collection of nearly 500 comic books, including Tintin, Star Wars, Marvel, and Walt Disney. As a passionate life-long collector, he has gathered thousands of diverse objects, ephemera, and comics that coexist in a dense and informative jumble that makes up his studio in Provence.

Peppone’s parents, both of whom were teachers, instilled in him the belief that sharing is one of life’s greatest riches. His first comic books were given to him by his father, and he subsequently enriched his collection by frequenting flea markets, attending auctions at municipal libraries, and through the generosity of friends and strangers alike. The artist utilizes this abundance of paper to create brightly colored and variegated resin forms imbued with popular symbolism that evoke the innocence of childhood and his native territory.

He has often stated that humans are the only living beings aware of their own mortality and that, to escape it, they reproduce, communicate, and dream, thereby creating a cyclical link between the past, present, and future. It is by carving into this abundance of paper that Peppone breathes life into his works, thus establishing an emotional connection with his father and perpetuating his legacy.

We’re excited to present Peppone to galleries, dealers, and collectors at Art San Diego.

____________________________

Top image: Dark Side of the Moon V2 by Peppone

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Here are nine artists to watch during this year’s fair. Get to know the talented group below.

Alessandra Silvaberg

Self-taught photographer, Alessandra Silvaberg was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and currently lives in California. Her interest in photography started at an early age, inspired by her grandfather who was an incredible artist by heart, she states that he had a profound influence on her life and passion for art. Alessandra has been working with outdoor portraiture photography for the past 18 years, including celebrities, international destinations, and fundraising events, She uses the beautiful outdoors as the background of her artwork. “It is an amazing dance to connect with people and places as one subject” -she says Alessandra always separates a time to take her camera and go out to explore places capturing the moments it was one of the travels that she felt the calling to share her artworks that she had put aside for years. Alessandra is attending for the first time an Art Show as a SOLO and she is thrilled that finally she can share with the world what has been saved until now.

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact your work?

A: I am grateful for my gift of translating how I see the world. My spiritual journey keeps me centered, sensitive, and strongly connected to human beings, animals, and nature and I have always felt passionate about photographing the beauty I see everywhere and in everyone. I am not a technical photographer. I shoot from the heart. I always say that “I see with the eyes of the heart” and that is how I connect with my subjects I allow them to connect with me by being present in the moment, and that is how I find inspiration for photography. I am grateful for all that life has given me. I am surrounded by so many amazing people and I consider myself extremely blessed to have created a beautiful family who gives me extraordinary positive support, and also to get to use my gift to bring beauty to empower, uplift, and connect everyone who comes across my work. Being able to do what I love, with love, is an incredible power to have.

My artwork is a result of 100% inspiration, love, and gratitude! I believe that my true gift is my capacity to connect with my subject by being fully present and feeling a real sense of belonging with all. I use the camera as the vehicle to capture and bring to life that powerful moment. I always feel empowered and grateful for the results of each photograph. My vision is that everyone who comes across my work can be affected in the same way, feeling as if they are there in that moment.

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

A: I appreciate many artists but my biggest inspiration comes from my grandpa Aristides Eudocio.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

A: I have two strong pieces of advice that I carry with me for my life: The day I left Brazil to pursue my dreams in the US, my dear grandma Anna Bolonhanni held my hands, looked into my eyes, and said “ALWAYS REMEMBER – WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.” Someone I dearly respect for his work and life of bringing peace to the world, the spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said “Clarity in Mind Purity in Heart Sincerity in Action.”

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

A: Exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 is a result of a mental image, that I have created in the past, with a burning desire of sharing my artwork with the world. I feel incredible accomplishment, gratitude, and excitement and I am honored to be part of this event together with so many amazing artists in my hometown.

Alius Fine Art

“We are the recipients of nature’s compassion, nourished by millions of invisible creatures that allow our food to grow and keep us alive. We are cared for by a bounteous and forgiving planet, inseparable from the earth that we came from. I hope my work is a reminder that all of creation is connected, codependent and profoundly beautiful.” – Alius Fine Art

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact your work?

A: I need to keep challenging myself to change, so even as I approach the age of seventy I am still learning about who I am as an artist and how far I can stretch myself creatively. In the past I focused too much on detail and effect, working very tight and slowly. Now I am learning to experiment, and allow chance and accident to play a role in my work. More importantly, I am learning to overcome the fear of what people will think of my imagery and to pay attention to my own voice. 

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

A: Artists who continue to work in spite of severe handicaps and personal difficulties have my undying admiration, whatever I think of their art. Creativity is hard work! It’s physically demanding and mentally exhausting, so I am inspired by artists who dare to think big and overcome hurdles imposed by their chosen media, their subject matter, their community, or their own limitations.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

A: Pay attention while you’re dreaming! I began keeping a dream journal years ago because so much weird and wonderful material floats up while I’m asleep.

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

A: San Diego is my favorite place on earth, the part of the world I call home, even though I also maintain a studio in Canada and sometimes work in Asia. Exhibiting at Art San Diego means showing my latest work to my very best friends and collectors, sharing my vision with my Southern California community, and unveiling my latest ideas to the world at large.  

Arendt Graphics

“Born in 1945, I spent my formative years in Vienna and entered the professional School of Graphic design. Early in my youth, I was drawn to the visual arts and music.” – Arendt Graphics

Q: How long have you been an artist?

A: As a result of my early childhood experiences and dealing with the aftermath of World War II the arts symbolized beauty and permanence for me and I fell in love with music, paintings, sculpture, dance, and theatre. In the mid-50s and 60s, Vienna was a great place to enjoy the arts. The city had recovered from the war and there was a powerful renaissance in music and the performing arts with many famous people coming to perform. We were fascinated with modern jazz and listened to performances from John Coltrain to Beethoven. We did not know it then, but we were able to enjoy some of the best performers of the time. I hung around many of the art places throughout the city and soon became familiar with the struggles and expectations of being an artist. When I reached fourteen, I made the decision to enter the graphic field with the goal of becoming a graphic designer. I took evening classes from some of the best-known designers of the time and immersed myself into this lifestyle learning about composition, design, and typography. On the weekends I played jazz music with several bands to earn extra spending money. I went to all the gallery invites and openings and got exposed to many artists including my two favorite artists Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. I can truly say that I spent most of my life with a pencil in my hand.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: Faces are to me the most fascinating thing. They are the mirrors of our passions, our struggles, failures, and triumphs. They are the calendar of our collective experiences and a most reliable read/reflection of our feelings. Studying people is almost second nature to me wherever I go, particularly when I see a face that happens to fit the subject that I am presently working on, I look for a combination of body language, the tilt of a face, the sudden drop of a head, the look of an uncertain smile, the narrowing of the eyes, an expression of hate or sorrow down the cast of sham, the shimmering of the cheeks as tears are emerging. These are faces that belong to all of us as we experience joy, sorrow, love, and hate. There are many combinations and you can find them. All you have to do is look around you and watch what people are saying silently. 

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: I am looking forward to developing different series like the “Children of War” and I have just begun with a new series called “Structures.”

Q: Professionally, what is your goal?

A: I would like to find a broader audience for my “Children of War” series. It is a subject that I eel deserves a place in our conscience and needs to be presented as part of our overall understanding of war. The violence and horrors that children experience around the world should no longer be ignorable. 

Art by Joshua

California native, Joshua Rios, is an oil painter in the abstract, expressionism, realism, and allover styles. When he’s not painting, he works as a K-12 visiting teacher for San Diego Unified. He also plays guitar, makes frames, and writes novels and short stories.

Q: How do you work?

A: When painting at home I put away all distractions, sometimes working in complete silence or playing instrumental music in the background. Working with oil requires patience; it takes a while for the paint to set. However since I don’t have any, I am often working on multiple paintings at a time between sessions. Whether painting on site or in my home I absorb myself entirely and work as swiftly as I can. I will paint until a subject is finished or the canvas is completely wet and I can no longer add layers. I try to be efficient and plan out the amount of time and sessions I will work on a single painting. However, this is hardly the case and I accept my process must be free to continue as long as it takes. The process is a journey. I can only control it so much before I find myself working with a painting as much as on it. 

Q: What has been your favorite experience so far as an artist?

A: I started painting to experiment with color and design and decorate my walls. I was hooked when I realized how much artwork can positively change a living space and add to our lives. The more I painted the more ideas I had, and I fell in love with the possibilities. I look forward to bringing more unique artworks into the world for myself and others to enjoy. My favorite experience has been rediscovering a years-old painting and being inspired and reassured by it. It’s like receiving a message from your younger self hoping to tell you how talented you were yesterday, are today, and will be tomorrow. 

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: I learned many years ago that good advice can come from anywhere. One day while painting outside my apartment, my neighbor, an older gentleman who comes from a family of musicians, was walking out of his house and saw me working. He approached my station and asked what I was up to. I told him I was just experimenting with some paintings. He studied my work and then said, “You know, eventually it just comes down to proficiency. How proficient are you at what you do? Because not everybody’s going to like the same stuff. But if you can be proficient at what you do, then you’re doing alright, man.” That might have been the first time I thought of myself as having a distinct style of painting and realizing it doesn’t have to please everybody. 

Q: When you are not working, where can we find you?

A: When I am not working I am working. My day job as an educator keeps me busy during the week. When I come home, I rest, eat, and then start painting, practicing music, or working on a writing project. But aside from work and home, I enjoy exercising, either at the gym, the park, or just around my neighborhood. I like to get out in nature and take hikes or just walk around the city and find a new restaurant to eat at. Sometimes I go out and listen to live music on the weekends at a few different venues. You can find me at Balboa Park, walking through the museums, enjoying the scenery, or just passing through. I also go to Mission Bay or any of the beaches in San Diego when I want to swim or just relax outside. 

Bruce Swift

Bruce Reeves Swift, a distinguished painter with over four decades of professional experience, has earned a well-deserved reputation as “America’s Artist” through his remarkable depictions of everyday American life. With a deep passion for capturing the essence of the ordinary and the extraordinary in the American experience, Swift’s body of work resonates with a profound connection to the heart and soul of the nation.

Swift’s journey as an artist is a testament to his unwavering dedication to portraying the rich tapestry of American life. His paintings are windows into the heartland, cities, and suburbs, revealing the diverse stories, traditions, and moments that define this great nation. Through his skillful brushwork and keen eye for detail, he has immortalized scenes that range from bustling urban streets to serene rural landscapes, from joyful celebrations to quiet moments of reflection.

What sets Bruce Reeves Swift apart is his ability to infuse his canvases with a palpable sense of nostalgia and familiarity. His work evokes a deep emotional resonance, stirring feelings of nostalgia and pride in viewers who recognize the quintessential American scenes he portrays. Swift’s paintings capture the essence of small-town diners, Fourth of July parades, family gatherings, and the unassuming beauty found in everyday life.

Over the course of his prolific career, Bruce Reeves Swift has become not only a masterful painter but also a cultural historian, chronicling the evolution of American society, culture, and values. His dedication to preserving these moments in time has earned him a revered place in the annals of American art.

As “America’s Artist,” Bruce Reeves Swift’s enduring commitment to celebrating the everyday American experience through his paintings serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of the nation. His work continues to resonate with people of all backgrounds, reminding us of the shared stories that unite us and the beauty that can be found in the simplicity of life. Bruce Reeves Swift stands as an iconic figure in American art, capturing the heart and soul of the nation with each stroke of his brush.

Deborah M G Cassolis

“My name isDéborah M. GiVogue Cassolis and I have a love for nature and enjoy expressing my studies of cycads, palm trees, monocots, and tropical plants for over a decade, and a lifetime of loving the contrasts of light and shadows.  Fawn and fauna have always inspired me from my backyard and traveling to tropical places like Africa, Australia, Hawaii, Mexico, San Diego, California, and other places around the world.

My story began when I was a child, my parents knew I had artistic talents, and my mother entered one of my pieces when I was 9 years old a competition and heard back from them telling her that there was no way a 9-year-old child could ever be that good; I remember her crying because they didn’t believe her child was a gifted child.   Thereafter, in high school, often the teachers would claim my art and keep it for the schools, and I never got my art back, this was starting to get to me then.

After some years of just keeping my art to myself, I did do some commissioned work, and a company I worked for asked me to design logos for their shipping department, an architect asked me to design a banner for his new company, but these things were minor, and I loved to do art in any way I could.  Eventually, after years of never sharing my talents, I went to Africa to meet my husband’s family, I was bored so I painted the children of the family we stayed with, my husband didn’t even realize I was a good artist.   Then, we moved to the United States where again I took up art classes and sold lamps to businesses that did not intrigue me at all, so I quit my job and went straight to college and enrolled to get my Fine Arts and Liberal Arts Degrees, I knew I was in my element, no turning back.  I graduated with Honors and pursued my life as a full-time artist.” – Deborah M G Cassolis

Q: What is my work philosophy and how does that impact your work?

A: As a painter I always believe that I should know everything I can about what or whom I am to paint.  The more I know about the subject(s) the more I feel that I can convey to canvas the spirit of how they impact our lives through my paintings.

I chose palm trees and tropical plants because how I see it is if we know about the environment they are from, we can also help animals who rely on the forests to bring awareness of their importance to the ecosystem.  I feel that giving back to what I believe in by donating art or some proceeds from the sales, is a good way to send a message to the world that our animals forests and ecosystems are important to care about.

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

A: When I heard about Art San Diego, the city that I yearn to live in, was having an art show at the convention center, I knew I wanted to be a part of this event.  I got tickets to the event but COVID-19 happened, then the next time that the show opened, the Governor of San Diego closed the convention center to the public due to the building may still be contaminated by COVID-19.  So, finally the next year in 2022 I went to the show with the help of Mark Shapiro who helped me get the tickets. He advised me to talk to as many artists as possible to learn about this event.

I left there and I was excited, I got home, and I knew I wanted to be a part of this event in 2023. 
This means I can be in front of a larger audience connect with key people and fellow artists and be inspired to new levels with my skills.  I think it is important to participate in events like Art San Diego to help grow my name and to share my art with people who would love to know the story behind my artwork and acquire pieces. 

Stephen Robeck Photographs

“My more serious work with a camera began through long wilderness treks in the High Sierras around Yosemite. Surrounded by grand vistas and natural wonders, I felt driven to capture grand panoramic landscapes. But once I began to really see the abstract forms, colors, and textures that abound in nature, all my preconceptions of what my work should be were fundamentally changed. In a sense, I was set free. Now I find that images are everywhere.

I love creating photographs whose origins may not be readily clear. This kind of abstraction can lead to images that are peaceful, but also a bit mysterious. I want my work to engage viewers through color, texture, and depth, and to keep their eyes moving. If they ask, “What is that?” I feel I’ve succeeded in some way. My intent is to make photographs that people want to look at and explore every day.” Stephen Robeck

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact your work?

A: The first tenet is, don’t ever try to imagine what others will like or want to collect. It’s impossible. One of the first things I learned as an artist is to focus on those images that speak to me. When I trust my own vision, others are much more likely to respond.

The second tenet is, to just keep doing the work and learning from the process. I think this is key for all kinds of artists.

The third tenet is, when the work connects with others, understand this is the gift. Sales are great, but it’s the personal connection with strangers that is the core of the virtuous circle.

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

A: As a young photographer, I soaked up monographs of the work of many photographers who were known for particular things. Gene Smith made a variety of photo essays that were featured in Life Magazine. He was also famous for his coverage of fighting in the Pacific during WWII. Ansel Adams made the Yosemite and the High Sierra come alive with his dramatically manipulated Black and White images. Eliot Porter was one of the first to open my eyes to color in the natural world. These and other artists were inspiring because their work was so distinctive, each unlike any other. So part of that inspiration was the understanding that they couldn’t really be emulated, only appreciated and admired.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

A: When my mother was nearing the end of her life, I asked if she had any advice for me. After thinking about it overnight, the only thing she said was, “Have no regrets.” Of course, this pertains to everything, not just art, but it has been a lodestar for me ever since.

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

A: I exhibited in Santa Barbara galleries for a number of years, but usually with just a few pieces at a time. Art Santa Fe was my first Art Fair experience, followed by others in Santa Fe, Dallas, and Miami. The most valuable thing I derive from all these fairs is learning more and more about how to curate more of my own work and present it in a way that gets the attention of others.

Whitney Anderson

Whitney is a self-taught multi-disciplinary fine artist practicing in the mediums of drawing since she was 3, painting since she was 15, and collage since she was 27. Born in Alaska into a 3^rd generation commercial fishing family, she and her family moved to Breckenridge, Colorado in 1996. She took up ski racing for 4 years before switching to cross-country and track. Excelling in sports, she attended Duke University on a full-ride athletic scholarship and in 2009 received her B.A. in Fine Arts.

Whitney’s signature style is contemporary realism with a flare of pop-cultural nostalgia. She considers herself as “old school, raw, a purist”: everything is free-handed and that stems from the thousands of hours refining her fundamental art skills over the past 25 years. This is reflected early on in her childhood: “I didn’t like coloring books or tracing, I was always a blank, white slate kid.” Her blue-collar upbringing also prepared her way as an artist. There were no shortcuts to being successful: pure passion, drive and long hours make up a signature Whitney L Anderson art piece.

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact your work?

A: I’m not going to romanticize becoming a great artist: it’s plain old work harder— in labor and in your smarts– than your peers. That’s it. People who view my art have expressed to me how they see the hard work and depth of emotion put into it—it’s almost 3D in the way it escapes Its 2D nature and permeates the atmosphere around it, uplifting spirits. The subtleties are everything in the art world—one that makes a piece go from good to a masterpiece. You have to catch the soul. I call it the Three C’s: I’m Calculating, Controlled, and Commanding in my craft. By the time I was 30, I had put in my 10,000 hours of mastering my field and I believe it’s because it’s the one thing in my life that I have complete 100% control and confidence in. When it comes to art, I like to capitalize on my emotions—they will bring out the potency of my work (because I was creating it with a lot of heart). One more thing: do art for yourself first and then for the world second. You’re never going to please everyone so don’t turn into a pleaser—you’ll end up losing yourself altogether.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

A: “Stay hungry.” Several people over the years have told me that during my career. I think they saw where I could go and how prolific I was becoming. Other people believing in me helps fuel my drive even more—that angst to produce more and make something of myself. It’s the feeling that time is finite and I need to accomplish great works with the skill set God gave me. There is also another quote that I discovered years ago, one that I have always told myself in order to stave off comparison and self-doubt: Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous line, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” I just love it as it automatically snaps me back to the stoic composure I need in my life because I am such a deep feeler and empathetic—I have this default weakness of feeling like that if I get rejected I have to feel rejected and inferior by the person doing the rejection. Sometimes, yes, we should feel the retribution in certain circumstances, but I have learned that most of the time it is the other person. So, I have had to be very judicious about what I do with it. Never has that been more true in the art world: highly subjective, political, and fickle—“you’re too this” or “too that.” If you absorbed all the critics around you it would make you go crazy. 

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

A: I discovered George Condo’s work a few years ago after watching the documentary “The Price of Everything” and it was so arresting. Ingenious. The other work I like is Kazimir Malevich whose stark abstract pieces were the forerunner to the hyper-modernist movement. He was ahead of his time. I could name a lot more musical artists that inspire me to actually create art— some pieces that I recall have a “soundtrack” to them because I usually listen to a ton of music while I create. 

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

A: It means exposure to a larger audience, hopefully, direct sales, and definitely residual sales. I want to be discovered by a formal reputable gallery and be represented by them. When I visited Art Basel in 2021 and got acquainted with several galleries: DTR galleries along the east coast, Galerie Leroyer in Toronto, Space Gallery in NYC, and Art Angels in Los Angeles. Those are the places that would sell my art really well. Any galleries similar to their curation I would love to meet at Art San Diego–my first major art fair appearance!

World Chinese Art Committee

The World Chinese Art Committee Art San Diego 2023 exhibition mainly focuses on the works of artist Huang Yue. At the same time, they additionally display the works of two other artists Huang Simi, and Huang Ziyao.

Huang Yue was born in Beijing, China in 1960. In 1982, he graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Beijing Film Academy; in 2000, he created a new style of oil painting – Huang Yue Bird-Flower Oil Painting; in 2014, he created Huang Yue Ink and Color painting.

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact your work?

A: My work philosophy is to keep discovering and innovating, so I need to keep practicing.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?

A: Create paintings that do not exist in this world.

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

A: Impressionist paintings inspire me.

Q: What does exhibiting at Art San Diego 2023 mean to you?

A: The art fair will let me know and compare the art of 2023.

For tickets to Art San Diego 2023 visit this link.

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5Art Gallery, located in Los Angeles, California, will be showing unique pieces from well-known street artists at this year’s Art San Diego. “Our exhibiting artworks are very diverse. They differ in materials, sizes, themes and colors.” Check out a few of their pieces below!

KAWS | 4ft KAWS FOUR FT DISSECTED BLACK, 2009 (50×23.6x14in), limited Ed 100, Signed and dated

JISBAR is a french artist who’s fun, culturally diverse, paintings are offered in different sizes making them a perfect addition to any home for a pop of color!

Banksy’s Pulp Fiction will be exhibited with 5Art Gallery. This hand-signed, limited-edition piece comes with a certificate of authenticity.

5Art Gallery will be showing five unique pieces from Shepard Fairey, who made them for his 30th career anniversary. They will also be showcasing rare collections from Banksy and KAWS. Art San Diego visitors will have a chance to see some very outstanding french street artists’ works, some of which are very difficult to find in the United States.

Attending Art San Diego this year? Stop by Booth 413 to see 5Art Gallery and these incredible pieces in person!

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Spotlight Artist Recipient, Johannes Boekhoudt, is an exclusive self-thought fine art painter with more than twenty years of experience. His original modern expressionist artwork is indeed one of a kind since Boekhoudt does not create nor authorize any reproductions of his artwork. He has an exceptionally loyal clientele since they can privately own original museum-quality artwork that will never be displayed on a commercial level. Boekhoudt’s clientele includes high-profile entrepreneurs, CEOs, and professionals in several locations around the world.

Born in Willemstad Curacao, Dutch Antilles. At an early age his family moved to Costa Rica where he adopted all his Latin American influences. Rich with this mix of culture, he blends inspirations from Europe, Africa and Latin America into his work. He believes that “Between Basquiat, de Kooning, Miró & Picasso he also exists.” Boekhoudt works mostly with oil on canvas or linen but will also create artworks with mixed media and works on paper. Ranging from large to small, size is no obstacle when it comes to his communication through art. He simultaneously works with several paintings in various stages in order to convey his message. His works are easily recognized by his unique strokes in crosses, which are his signature.

Johannes utilizes various materials for his artworks based on the need of the idea itself.  Ranging from sketches, collages, drawings, and painting on multiple two-dimensional materials, his necessity for creation and expression dictates the form of the artwork. Although he has applied various styles and techniques in different stages of his career, his “Crucillism abstract“ is predominant.

“I am an abstract expressionist artist. Oil paintings are my passion. As time passes, I become part of my own masterpieces. I paint to denounce social injustice. My only intention is to empower others to make a change. My pieces reflect the legacy of de Kooning, Basquiat and Picasso. During the night, I create and capture ideas. The days that follow, I execute those ideas with lots of colors onto the linen with indifference to outside criticism. Because after all: ‘… Art is a lie that we like even though it misleads us at the same time…’”

Attending Art San Diego? See Johannes Boekhoudt, Johannes Boekhoudt Fine Art in person at booth #325.

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Catalyst Contemporary is pleased to premiere at Art San Diego and to introduce our artists to the West Coast. They are a fine art gallery focusing on contemporary art that tells stories. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood – the cultural heart of the city, Catalyst forges relationships between artists, collectors, and both creative and civic-minded individuals.

Catalyst will be showcasing five artists at this year’s fair including Alberto Cavalieri, Se Jong Cho, Brian P. Miller, James von Minor, and Arthur Jedson Smalley.

Alberto Cavalieri

Alberto Cavalieri s a Venezuelan visual artist who, throughout his long career, has achieved renown for his monumental sculptures and public works integrated into architectural forms. His oxidized sculptures and digital drawings deal mostly with the paradox between form and matter, as well as the duality between the essence of a material, and its visual possibilities.

Metal allows him to create an overriding paradox between matter and form. It enables him to create sinuous forms that are full of life and movement, which contrast diametrically to the rigidity and structure of the steel used to make them. Knots are a metaphor for life and one of the abstract forms used. And its multiple symbolisms enrich his work and increase its scope and resonance. Knots imply human activity and have different symbolic connotations in terms of how they are used, to the point that the connotations could be contradictory and/or ambivalent.

Se Jong Cho

Se Jong Cho is an environmental engineer and self-taught painter who embraces science’s counterpoint: art and creativity. She paints forms that offer intriguing entryways into the surreal, an art form that is equally concerned with reality (based in science) and with the mind’s unconscious thoughts (where creativity exists). In surrealist art, one finds juxtaposed objects and settings that make no sense. But the Surrealists were also interested in those scenarios as pathways to the unconscious and subconscious—in their terms, into one’s dreams—for in dreams one’s true nature is revealed. Fascinated by botany and the sun, Cho finds poetry in the intermingling of science and artistic creativity.

Her works sit at this intersection of dreams and reality. Cho’s paintings featuring eclipses and other celestial bodies remind us that the sun is life-sustaining, and eclipses are a spectacular and unusual reminder of its centrality. In her work, the sun brings together concerns about the fragility of human existence in a world and universe that we have no hope of controlling. It is also a universal presence in our human experience, tying our prehistoric origins to our future.

Brian P. Miller

Brian P. Miller is a photographic-based artist steeped in all aspects and history of the medium. With a Mercurial disposition, his explorations in photography flit from one idea to another and back again. As a photographer, he is drawn to the moment of image-making – of light impressing upon silver, as a contemplative exercise where synchronicity exists between that which lies within and the outward perception.

Using traditional and new imaging techniques alike, Miller works with a process that suits the needs of the work at hand. “Alt/Arc” is a series begun in 2017 and focuses on dissolving the evidence of photographic, reducing the lens and film-based imagery to graphic impressions. The brightly colored and sometimes tessellating lines and shapes in this work celebrate and call attention to urban architecture and the spatial relationships it generates as an overwhelming array of abstraction.

James von Minor

James von Minor is a Maryland-based artist who is internationally known for his paintings, drawings, constructions, and sculptural installations. In his work, abstract, organic forms integrate into geometric patterns and shapes. These seemingly opposite styles depend on a delicate juggling act of balance, shape, color, and pattern. Humans are predisposed to look for dualities as an organizing principle; for every idea, there is a counter idea. But Von Minor suggests that this is an artificial concept in need of deconstructing.

He has dedicated his lengthy career to uncovering ways to move beyond the limitations of that duality-based thinking. The inspiration for this body of work is the Islamic architecture of southern Spain in which strict, rational, logical geometries are coupled with decorative, organic calligraphy and plant forms. In his work, Von Minor unifies concept and experience, as well as geometric and organic. In addition, the artist questions the nature of painting, drawing, and sculpture. Most of his work merges qualities of all these classical approaches: the paintings are sculptural, sculptures are painterly, etc. Von Minor blurs these boundaries to construct a new union of pattern and organic abstraction.

Arthur Jedson Smalley

Arthur Jedson Smalley is an artist who is deeply committed to the balancing act of control and chance. In fact, it is an essential part of his creativity. Smalley makes sculptures in wood, using both found and milled lumber, which form organic Möbius strips, and paintings of landscapes using latex house paints dripped from brushes attached to long sticks. The tension between the artist’s hand and the inherent tendencies of the medium tips one way or the other within the course of making the work. It is only in the struggle between artist and material that Smalley is uncomfortable enough to be comfortable with the results.

Smalley starts his paintings with a particular landscape in mind, one that he is deeply familiar with and visits often to study its forms and the way light plays across its features (only very rarely does he paint en plein air). Working with the painting surface (he uses artists’ board not canvas) lying on the floor, Smalley drips colors onto the board, all the while trying to control what that daubs or drips do. Because of the length of the tool of application and the viscosity of the paints, Smalley must embrace the pooling of the paint, accepting and counting on any accidents. He says, “paintings are compromises,” and admits that he tries to paint from his subconscious, letting go of any predetermined ideas save for the generalized landscape giving it visual structure.

Catalyst Contemporary will be exhibiting September 9-11. 2022 at Art San Diego, booth #313.

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James Gage has been an artist since a very young age. He was featured in his local newspaper as a kindergartener for a sculpture he made in art class. From there, he enrolled in college art classes while still in high school to advance his career, and won two awards for his photography and painting skills.

From there, he understudied a well-known professional artist in his area and broke out of realism and into abstract. Gage has owned several startup businesses and began selling his work as a side hustle, the one consent in all his endeavors.

“Throughout my life, I have faced my share of hardships and struggles. I have always had an entrepreneurial inclination and have learned a lot. There came a point in my life where it was evident that I was on the wrong path and, at one point, I threw aside my career and went fully self-employed to figure out my purpose. On my mission, I came to the realization that I have a set of abilities that I am supposed to use to impact people. I believe that is why my art has persevered through all of my other business endeavors. I believe that fulfilling my purpose is to use my experiences, the lessons learned and my work to inspire and invigorate the viewer(s).”

James Gage, will be showing his 2022 collection, a celebration of organic elements and modern design. “For this collection, I wanted all earth tones, largely monochromatic, and the marriage of perspective and clean lines with organic shapes and textures.  The textures in my work are one of my favorite aspects. I paint a lot of my work in layers to create a final piece that the viewer can stare into repeatedly. I want my work to evoke a feeling from a wide view but I also want work that you can get lost in up close” says James.

He unveiled his collection at this July at Art Santa Fe 2022 where he was presented the award for Best SOLO Exhibit. “Since Santa Fe, I have been spending my time in the southwest United States, creating these new pieces and I cannot wait to bring them to California and unveil them at ART San Diego!

I feel so fortunate and grateful that my collection is so well received, it allows me to serve my purpose on this giant, beautiful rock. I am so happy for this opportunity to be selected for the Spotlight program and cannot wait to show what I have been working on!”

Gage will be exhibiting at booth #141. Tickets for Art San Diego can be found here.

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Johannes Boekhoudt, Johannes Boekhoudt Fine Art — Booth 325

Boekhoudt is a painter who works in the abstract expressionist style. His creations reflect his passion. He paints to express his displeasure with social injustice. His only goal is to inspire others to make a difference. At the core of his work are his strong ideas on human rights, social justice, children’s rights, and women’s rights. He openly addresses atrocities such as child abuse, domestic violence, organ trafficking, as well as social injustice issues of political instability occurring around the world.

Boekhoudt’s work is included in a number of public and private collections nationally and internationally. His exhibition at Art San Diego will showcase some of his newest works.

5Art Gallery — Booth 413

Established in the heart of the West Hollywood design district in March 2018, 5Art Gallery was co-founded by Parisian entrepreneurs and art collectors Jean-Jacques and Julie Darmon. The gallery represents a wide array of international pop and urban artists with a special focus on bringing European artists to U.S. collectors.

It is Jean-Jacques and Julie’s mission to provide their clientele with the opportunity to buy art of the finest quality, cultural relevance, and appreciative value. Blessed by the couple’s lucky number, 5Art Gallery is the duo’s joint adventure into the passion that brought them together.

For Art San Diego 2022, 5Art Gallery will be featuring works from renowned international artists such as Kaws, Banksy, Invader, Bearbrick Medicom, Shepard Fairey, among others. It’s no wonder that 5Art Gallery has rapidly become a destination for international art collectors and celebrity clients.

Catalyst Contemporary Gallery — Booth 313

Art that tells stories — that’s what you’ll find at Catalyst Contemporary. Catalyst Contemporary is a fine art gallery located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the cultural heart of the city. Catalyst forges relationships between artists, collectors, and both creative and civic minded individuals. At Art San Diego 2022, Catalyst will be featuring new and existing works by Se Jong Cho, Brian P. Miller, James von Minor, and Arthur Jedson Smalley.

James Gage, Gage — Booth 141

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