BARRY FITZGERALD | Artists Statement

My work is driven by the need to discover. It often begins in my sketchbooks, where conscious and subconscious ideas begin to take form. Select compositions and concepts are developed while exploring design possibilities. Texture/pattern relationships, line/shape relationships, and paint application methods have been my current pursuits.

My work also explores visual language. Sometimes a specific message is required in the image, and the pursuit is in seeking a different way to express it. Other times, the content of the images direct the conversation and the discovery of the meanings follows.

Ultimately, the opportunities within the combinations of visual language and image-making methodologies make for a fertile playground to explore.

/////

BARRY FITZGERALD | BIO

Barry Fitzgerald is a multi-disciplinary artist and visual communicator who loves the challenge of making images that engage intellectually, emotionally, and aesthetically. He uses metaphorical, narrative, and symbolic concepts to explore portrayals of personal, social and cultural observations.

He has been in over 100 juried and invitational exhibitions including shows in New York, Los Angeles, and London. He has received over 140 national and international awards for his work.
This year he was selected into 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide, a biennial juried book published by Luerzer’s Archive in Vienna, Austria, for a fourth consecutive time.

His clients include AARP, Ford, Houge Winery, National Public Radio, Collective Arts Brewing, IBM, New York Times, PepsiCo, Playboy Jazz Festival, Verizon Wireless, among others.

Fitzgerald is also a Professor of Illustration at The University of Kansas, and resides in Lawrence, KS.

/////

Keywords:
acrylic
conceptual
collage
design
drawing
enigmatic
graphic
illustration
iconography
ink
instinctive
layered
mixed Media
painting
pictorial
playful
prints
representational
shape
stylized
texture

BARRY FITZGERALD
Born, 1962, Omaha, NE
Resides in Lawrence, KS

EDUCATION:
State University of New York at Buffalo, MFA Illustration, 1990
State College at Buffalo, BS Design, Magna Cum Laude, 1984
Niagara County Community College, AFA Fine Art, 1982

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
The University of Kansas, Professor, Illustration, 2012-present
The University of Kansas, Associate Professor, Illustration, 1999-2012
The University of Kansas, Assistant Professor, Illustration, 1993-1998

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Freelance Illustrator, 1987-present
The Detroit News, Detroit, MI, Features Staff Artist, 1990-1993
Arbitron Inc., Laurel, MD, Graphic Designer, 1986-1987
Mary Byrd Productions, Washington, DC, Senior Graphic Designer, 1985-1986
Ad Resources Inc., Annapolis, MD, Graphic Designer, 1984-1985

AWARDS:
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, 1997-2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2020
American Illustration, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2020
Communication Arts Magazine Illustration Annual, Shortlist, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Lürzer’s 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2011/12, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2018/19
3×3 International Illustration Annual, 2010, 2015, 2018
London International Creative Competition, 2013, 2015, 2018
Studio Visit, 2016, 2017, 2018
Society of Illustrators of New York, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2014, 2017
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, 1997-2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015
University & College Designers Association Design Competition, 1997, 2008, 2011
Creative Quarterly, 2008, 2011
RSVP Competitions, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004
Print Regional Design Annual, 1989-1994, 2000, 2004
Applied Arts magazine, Illustration Annual (pen name as Barion Lörie), 2002
Step-By-Step magazine, Illustration Annual, 1999, 2002
Kansas Artist’s Postcard Series, 1995, 2001
Step-By-Step magazine, Design Annual100, 2000
How magazine, International Design Annual, 2000
Art Directors Club of Houston, 1998
Society of News Design Annual, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
Associated Press of New England, Gold Medal, 1994
Print’s Best Logo and Trademarks Vol. 2, 1990
Art Directors / Communicators of Buffalo, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Merit, 1988-1990
Art Direction Magazine’s Creativity Annual, 1987, 1988
Printing Institute of America Design Award, 1985

JURIED EXHIBITIONS:
The Year the Earth Stood Still, Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 2021
The Annual Coaster Show, Gallery 30 South, Pasadena, CA, 2019, 2020
Mini Masterpieces, Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 2019, 2020
Global Impact, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO, 2020
Something Wicked 2, Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 2019
Child’s Play, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO, 2019
Something Wicked, Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 2018
ICON 10, Red Bull House of Art, Detroit, MI, 2018
Joke’s On You, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO, 2017
Museum of American Illustration, New York, NY, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2017
The Annual Coaster Show, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2016, 2017
Tall Tales: ICON9 Group Show, The Lion’s Nest Gallery, Austin, TX, 2016
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, L.A., CA, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2015
Going Home, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO, 2015
Banned Books Trading Card Competition, Lawrence Arts Center, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Visions of Lawrence, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, KS, 2014
Rag Dolls, Robots, & Rocketships, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO, 2013
Laluzapalooza, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2012
University & College Designers Association Show, Phoenix, AZ, 2011
Everything But The Kitschen Sync, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2008-2010
University & College Designers Association Show, Savannah, GA, 2008
Kansas Governor’s Inaugural, Topeka, KS, 2007
Lawrence Own-Your-Own (LOYO), Lawrence, KS, 2004 – 2006
RSVP Competitions, New York, NY, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004
Hype Gallery, London, England, 2004
University & College Designers Association Show, New York, NY, 1997
SUNY Buffalo Faculty and Alumni Show, Buffalo, NY, 1996
Kansas Artist’s Postcard Series, Traveling Exhibit, 1995, 2001, 2002
Faculty and Invited Alumni Exhibition, Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY, 1996
Imagery and Form, Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, KS, 1994, 1995
SUNY Buffalo Alumni Show, NCCC Gallery, Sanborn, NY, 1993
Art at the Sight, Theodore Roosevelt Historical Sight, Buffalo, NY, 1990
Western New York Exhibition, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 1990
Best of McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1989
Niagara’s Best, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY, 1985

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Big Ink: Sketchbooks Blown Up, Tallgrass Studios, Lawrence, KS, 2019
Animal Kingdom, Wonder Fair Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2019
Disegni Revisitati, Tallgrass Studios, Lawrence, KS, 2018
The New Normal, Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg, KS, 2018
Mostly New, Wheatfields, Lawrence, KS, 2016
Dis/Re/Con.nect: New Works, Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, KS, 2015
In Between, Wonder Fair Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2015
Connecting The Dots, The Collinson Gallery, Weston, MO, 2011
Heartland Art Series, Cowley County Community College, Arkansas City, KS, 2002

INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS:
Drawn Out, Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 2020
Origins: A Distinguished Alumni Art Exhibit, Dolce Valvo Art Center, Sanborn, NY, 2019
99: Locally Brewed, Cider Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2017
Art On Fire, Percolator Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2017
Kent Smith: Collaborations, Landmark Bank, Lawrence, KS, 2017
Post It Show 12, Giant Robot Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2016
Hott Sheets, Wonder Fair Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2010, 2013, 2016
Hint Mint Art for Awareness Event and Auction, Los Angeles, CA, 2010
Opening Collection, The Collinson Gallery, Weston, MO, 2010
Art On The Clock, Percolator Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2010
The 1950 Ford Show, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2007
Illustrators Who Teach, Museum of American Illustration, New York, NY, 2006
For The Arts: Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Overland Park, KS, 2005
Dialogue, Barrett Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, 2004
Dialogue, Abbey Church, San Diego, CA, 2004
Dialogue, Studio Fly Contemporary Art Gallery, Charleston, SC, 2004
Heaven and Hell, Abbey Church, San Diego, CA, 2003
Heaven and Hell, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
Ben Franklin Portrait Show, Hamilton Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
The Hell Show, Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY, 1997

ADDITIONAL EXHIBITIONS:
Design Faculty Show, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 1993-2019
Lawrence Art Auction, Lawrence Art Center, 1995-2010, 2013-2019
Thieves Guild Show, Phoenix Gallery, Lawrence, KS, 2014
Selected Works, Landmark National Bank, Lawrence, KS, 2012
KPR Listeners Exhibit, Lawrence, KS, 2007
M.F.A. Thesis Show, Bethune Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 1990
Group Nine, Seneca Street Gallery, Buffalo, NY, 1989

PUBLISHED ARTICLES:
Communication Arts, “The Whole Picture”, July 1995

PRESS: PUBLICATIONS AND WEB:
Bibliocolors.blogspot.pt, Ice Cream Flavored, Cocentaina, Spain, 2019
Bibliocolors.blogspot.pt, Fruit Smiles, Cocentaina, Spain, 2017
Bibliocolors.blogspot.pt, The Sun King, Cocentaina, Spain, 2017
Bibliocolors.blogspot.pt, Spring Love/Love in the Spring, Cocentaina, Spain, 2016
Bibliocolors.blogspot.pt, A Bouquet of Flowers, Cocentaina, Spain, 2016
Thesmirkmag.blogspot.com, Afterlife, Issue 3, Barcelona, Spain, 2011
Kansas Alumni Magazine, Full Bloom, Issue 2, 2011
The Oread, Design Professor Named One of ‘Best Illustrators Worldwide’, 2011
The Oread, Prof’s Art To Be Shown In Elite Competition, Mar. 5, 2007
Step-By-Step Magazine, 2002
Lawrence Art Center Newsletter, 2001
Step-By-Step Magazine, 1999
Step-By-Step Magazine, 1998
Lawrence Journal-World, 1996
Print Magazine, 1991

LECTURES:
Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery, The 120th Annual Midwest Art Exhibition, 2018
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, 2006
Cowley County Community College, Arkansas City, KS, 2002
Art Directors Club of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, 2001
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS, 2000
Society of Newspaper Design Annual International Conference, San Diego, CA, 1997
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS, 1997
Society of Newspaper Design Regional Workshop, Lawrence, KS, 1995
Society of Newspaper Design Annual International Conference, Kansas City, MO, 1994
Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL, 1992
Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI, 1992
Fredonia State College, Fredonia, NY, 1990

SELECT CLIENT LIST:
AARP
American Medical Association
Business Week magazine
Boston Globe
Chicago Review Press
Children’s Television Workshop
Collective Arts Brewing Co.
General Motors
Grolier Publishing
Harvard Business Review
Houge Winery
IBM
McGraw-Hill
Millennium Pharmaceuticals
New York Times
National Public Radio
Pepperidge Farm
PepsiCo
Playboy Jazz Festival
Verizon
Wall Street Journal
Washington Post