DIANA LEVITON GONDEK
www.DianaLevitonGondek.com
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Art is created in stories. Stories are created in art. My paintings have their foundation in stories of my life told in bold, engaging one act canvas. How each tale is received and the meaning conveyed is left to those experiencing my work.
Years of water color influence have welcomed new freedoms created by the addition of thin layers of oil - as all of our life stories are ingrained with many layers. Original. Individual. Unique. Our past and where we may go.
BIOGRAPHY:
Diana majored in Fine Arts and went on to become Art Director at Northwestern University. She also taught Art Awareness in the Naperville 203 School District for seven years.
Diana's is back to Fine Art and is now an artist-in-residence at Chicago's Zhou B Art Center. She is well established in the Chicago art scene with numerous group shows, solo shows, gallery representation and multiple publications including two bookcovers. CBS News also did a special segment on her and her art.
She has designed and painted three public art horse statues for Horses of Honor, owned by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Ed Burke and Alderman Tom Tunney.
Outside of the US, Diana has sold artwork in Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. She was also part of a group exhibition in Busan, Korea. Most recently she was commissioned by Special Oympics to create a painting to be used internationally to promote their 50th Anniversary in 2018.
www.DianaLevitonGondek.com
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Art is created in stories. Stories are created in art. My paintings have their foundation in stories of my life told in bold, engaging one act canvas. How each tale is received and the meaning conveyed is left to those experiencing my work.
Years of water color influence have welcomed new freedoms created by the addition of thin layers of oil - as all of our life stories are ingrained with many layers. Original. Individual. Unique. Our past and where we may go.
BIOGRAPHY:
Diana majored in Fine Arts and went on to become Art Director at Northwestern University. She also taught Art Awareness in the Naperville 203 School District for seven years.
Diana's is back to Fine Art and is now an artist-in-residence at Chicago's Zhou B Art Center. She is well established in the Chicago art scene with numerous group shows, solo shows, gallery representation and multiple publications including two bookcovers. CBS News also did a special segment on her and her art.
She has designed and painted three public art horse statues for Horses of Honor, owned by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Ed Burke and Alderman Tom Tunney.
Outside of the US, Diana has sold artwork in Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. She was also part of a group exhibition in Busan, Korea. Most recently she was commissioned by Special Oympics to create a painting to be used internationally to promote their 50th Anniversary in 2018.
Education
Northern Illinois University Majored in Fine Arts and minored in Art History Professional Experience Past Art Director at Northwestern University Diana Leviton Gondek Studio at the Zhou B. Art Center Board Member and Art Liaison for the Chicago's Public Arts Campaign, Horses of Honor Gallery Representation 4Art Inc. Gallery; Chicago, Illinois 2011-2012 Group Exhibitions 2011 7th Annual National Self Portrait Exhibition, 33 Contemporary Gallery; Chicago, IL 2012 I Shall Be Released, Union Street Gallery; Chicago Heights, IL Love Apple, 33 Contemporary Gallery; Chicago, IL Facemask, 8th Annual National Self Portrait Exhibition, 33 Contemporary Gallery; Chicago, IL State of Mind, Centerline 2012, Zhou B. Art Center; Chicago, IL Bustes En Rose, 4Art Inc. Gallery; Chicago, IL Particle, Noyes Studio; Chicago, IL 2013 Rebirth, Archer Loft; Chicago, IL Within, 9th Annual National Self Portrait Exhibition, 33 Contemporary Gallery; Chicago, IL Velvet Revolution, The Infusion Project; Chicago, IL Art After Dark, The Uptown; Westmont, IL Metamorphic DNA-You are what you create, Zhou B. Art Center; Chicago, IL 2014 Eggsistentail: Do I Eggest, 4Art Inc. Gallery; Chicago, IL Solo Exhibition Insight / In Sight, Schoenherr Gallery, North Central College; Naperville, IL 10th Annual Self Portrait Exhibition, Curator's Choice, Zhou B. Art Center; Chicago, IL Bon Voyage to the Bloat, Bridgeport Art Center; Chicago, IL Horses of Honor, Public Art Installation; Chicago, IL. Owned by Mayor Emanuel. (On permanent display at City Hall in front of his office.) Solo Exhibition, DeCOLORES' Gallery; Chicago, IL Centerline, 2014, Zhou B Art Center; Chicago, IL Annual Small Works Show, White Ripple Gallery & Co; Hammond, IN |
2015 Horse of Honor, Public Art Installation; Chicago, IL. Owned by Alderman Edward M. Burke. On permanent display at the Alderman's Chicago office. Solo Exhibition Out of My Hands, White Ripple Gallery & Co; Hammond, IN Horses of Honor, Public Art Installation; Chicago, IL Owned by Alderman Tom Tunney. In process for permanent display. Centerline, 2015, Zhou B Art Center; Chicago, IL Exhibition for Busan Great Arts; Busan, Korea 2016 Ian Sherwin Gallery Grand Opening; Chicago, IL Evanston Made Exhibit, Evanston Art Center; Evanston, IL Chicago Artists Interpret Shakespeare; Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago; Chicago, IL Another Point of View Self Portrait Exhibition; Art NXT Level Projects/33 Contemporary; Chicago, IL Centerline, 2016, Zhou B Art Center; Chicago, IL 2017 Ian Sherwin Gallery; Chicago, IL Layered; Art NXT Level Projects/33 Contemporary; Chicago, IL Chicago Artists Interpret Shakespeare; Water Street Studio; Batavia IL Solo Exhibition Balance, University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago, IL Centerline, 2017, Zhou B Art Center; Chicago, IL Commission The Chicago International Produce Market; Chicago, Illinois Many private paintings. Three Horses of Honor Public Art Installations. The book cover art for, "Trip's Tips". Commemorative painting for Special Olympics 50th Anniversary. Collections The Chicago International Produce Market; Chicago, Illinois Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Commemorative painting Diana’s work has been featured in publications of the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Art Magazine, Glancer Magazine, DNAinfo Chicago, Arts & Cultural Strategies, as well as numerous books including Annual National Self-Portrait Exhibition books and recently 'Journey of Dream'. She was also recently completed art for the cover of an upcoming book. Diana also had a featured segment on Chicago CBS News and is part of Chicago Artist's Interpret Shakespeare and is an active member of The Chicago Art Institute's Society of Contemporary Art. Most recently Diana was asked by Special Olympics to design and paint a commemorative painting celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2018. |