Bio

        Chicago artist Richard Shipps explores the ambiguity of form, shape, tone and movement through drawings, sculpture, mobiles and cut paper. His work examines the dynamic tensions between light and shadow and the interplay of negative and positive form. His focus is on the push and pull -- juxtaposition and synergy of image.

        Animation art was at the heart of Richard's first work experience. As an artist and designer, he created animation artwork for slides and motion pictures. In those days, most of the artwork was made with cut paper and painted cels. The tool he most often held in his hand was an X-acto knife. His work today reflects the storytelling notion of "repetition with change" inherent in all sequential animation, expressed in cut paper.

        Since 2000, when Richard left the world of corporate presentation arts to re-focus on his personal art, he has honed and clarified this vision. His goal has always been to stretch himself beyond what is readily seen and understood, and to study form in its purest sense.  The last several years have been an odyssey as a full-time artist in Chicago. This follows a lifetime creating art, design, motion picture animation, video and multi-image presentations for private and public special events around the world.

        Richard's 35-year career as a creative force and executive producer was characterized by cutting-edge (no pun intended) visual communication. He was president of DD&B Studios, a leading producer of large screen presentations for 20 years. As an early adopter of emerging presentation technology, he incorporated animation with multiple projection sources including slides, film, video and various theatrical techniques. He ran the beta-test versions of early computer equipment "through their paces" and did things visually that had never been done before. It was in keeping with this blazing search for newness, creativity and extraordinary methods that his work garnered over 40 awards and was recognized worldwide for creative and technical advancements in the field.

        He is a native of Michigan. He was born in Midland, Michigan and studied at Albion College, Detroit Society of Arts & Crafts, and Wayne State University. His first gallery shows were in the Detroit area in the late 1960s. His mobiles have been sold in museum stores across the country for many years, and he has exhibited extensively in Chicago in recent years.

 

Statement

        My work looks at shadow as light, light as shadow, revealing imagery in both positive and negative space in a framework of changing references. The shapes and their visual rhythms are informed by shape-memories and distant emotions -- defined by adjacent counter-forms -- creating a constant meditative conversion of rhythmic balance.

 

Recent Exhibitions

Artropolis, The Artist Project, Chicago - April, 2008

Morpho Gallery, Chicago - group show, July 11-24, 2008

Morpho Gallery, Chicago - July 25 - Sept. 19, 2008

Columbia College Book & Paper Arts Triennial - July 25 - Sept 12, 2008

Chicago Art Open - Merchandise Mart, October 3 - 27, 2008

Finestra Art Space, Fine Arts Bldg, 410 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL. January, 2009. Exhibit flyer & gallery photos

Morpho Gallery, 5216 N Damen, Chicago, IL - group show, Feb 6th through Feb 28th 2009.

ARTFUTURA 2009, benefit for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago Apparel Center, May-June 2009 - honorable mention

Maison Rouge Gallery 2828 N Clark, Chicago. IL - featured artist, June-July 2009

Energy Gallery, Toronto, Canada - group show 23D13, July, 2009

Art Slant July Showcase Winner for hand cut paper "May Be Love"

Coalition Gallery, Chicago Artists' Coalition, Chicago, IL - group show August, 2009

Artprize 2009, Grand Rapids, MI - September, 2009

Coalition Gallery, Chicago Artists' Coalition, Chicago, IL - Featured artist "Cut & Paste" show, September, 2009

Coalition Gallery, Chicago Artists' Coalition, Chicago, IL - group show October, 2009

Maison Rouge Gallery, Chicago. IL - 2009-2010

A Whole New Mind, 2010 BrainStorm, Governors State Univ., University Park, IL, group show, May - June 2010

Pop-Up Art Loop Gallery, 220 S Wabash, Chicago, IL - One man show - Sept - Dec 2010

Artprize 2010, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI Sept-Oct 2010

Art Loop Open, Block 37, Chicago, IL Oct- Nov 2010

Long Night, Dark to Light, Governors State Univ Gallery, one man show, Dec 2010

INTENSITY, Gallery@220, a Pop-Up Art Loop Gallery, three person show, Jan-Feb 2011

Big Paper, Gallery@220, a Pop-Up Art Loop Gallery, four person show, March-April 2011

Brainstorm 2011, Governors State Univ., University Park, IL, group show, May - June 2011

CUT, Evanston Art Center, group show June - August 2011

living in the counter-form, Gallery @ 220, Chicago, ongoing one man show, June-September, 2011

Built: festival, shipping container show, Wicker Park, Chicago, August, 2011

Artprize 2011, Grand Rapids, MI, international art competition, September 21-Oct 9, 2011

Life in the counter-form, Robert Morris Gallery, Springfield, IL one man show Sept-Oct 2011

Patron "Simply Perfect" Art Project, Chicago, Nov-Dec 2011

Art On The Plaza, Schaumburg, IL December 2011

Swarm Gallery, Chicago, IL 2011-2012

 

 

 

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