Current Show - 2021 Solo Show at McCormick Gallery - "Mid-Century in 2020 Postponed"
After much delay, I'm proud to present my latest solo show "Mid-Century in 2020 Postponed". This show was impacted due to Covid, hence the title, and had to be pushed back to March 2021. The influence for this body of work came to be from my wife and I looking for a house and discovering mid-century modern homes. Not only was I impressed by the architecture of the style and era, I became fascinated with items from this time period too. What I enjoy the most about these items from the 50's and 60's is how they distinctly different they look from items before or after them. These objects are encapsulated in an era of forward thinking and designs that are still beautiful today. Portraying this beauty is the objective of this group of work, not to mention the monumental amount of nostalgia.
Like shows in the past, it will be held at McCormick Gallery in Chicago. The opening day will be March 6th and run through April 24th. I will be at the gallery March 6th to meet guests, but by appointment only. There is a 10 person max at the gallery, so please contact me if you would like to stop by on the 6th. I will schedule a time for you to visit. Otherwise, Tom is in the gallery Tuesday-Thursday 10ish to 3ish and you can always see the show at anytime by scheduling with the gallery at gallery@thomasmccormick.com
Like shows in the past, it will be held at McCormick Gallery in Chicago. The opening day will be March 6th and run through April 24th. I will be at the gallery March 6th to meet guests, but by appointment only. There is a 10 person max at the gallery, so please contact me if you would like to stop by on the 6th. I will schedule a time for you to visit. Otherwise, Tom is in the gallery Tuesday-Thursday 10ish to 3ish and you can always see the show at anytime by scheduling with the gallery at gallery@thomasmccormick.com
"Royal Empress" detail - oil on panel
Welcome
My name Kyle Surges and I'm Chicago based artist with a bachelors' degree from the American Academy of Art. My medium of choice is oil paint. Like many of the great artists before be, I have recognized oil paint as the superior medium for my approach to painting. It's slow drying time and smooth texture allows for excellent control with a fine sable brush to create trompe l'oeil works of art. The term trompe l'oeil which is French for, deceive the eye, is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that depicted objects exist in three dimensions. This type of art can also be considered photorealism or hyperrealism. I fell in love with this approach to painting while studying at the Academy and have been fascinated with it ever since. It is a very time consuming style that demands precision and concentration. Each of the paintings on this website have taken me hundred - thousands of hours to complete. However, this site is frequently updated, so check back often to see my latest paintings and events.
You can view my personal blog and painting information website at nitpickyartist.com
You can view my personal blog and painting information website at nitpickyartist.com
Kyle's Artist Statement
My paintings are derived from close visual observation. Primarily my subjects are manufactured items; of which I find their surfaces beautiful, and I enjoy the challenge of accurately recreating them in paint. Mainly, I prefer a smooth panel on which to work because it allows me to paint small detail. It also allows the paint to communicate to the viewer without interruption from textures of the physical surface. I prefer to pair these items with a minimalistic background to heighten the emphasis on the object. Often I paint them their actual size to add to the simulated reality of the paint.
Pop artists utilized mass-produced objects to create a dialogue between high and low culture. My work is rooted in that dialogue. I consider myself a sort of pop realist. Objects I choose are based on my fascination with manufactured items; mostly vintage and sometimes witty things. They are often bits of discarded Americana that still hold some factor of importance in the present day. Over time everyday items make the transformation from ordinary to collectible. They inherit nostalgia and plead to be preserved. I like to present these items as sort of cherished icons and let the object dictate the theme of the painting. Some pieces can be historical while others are rather simple, amusing juxtapositions. These are items that require close observation in order to correctly present them. In my opinion, accurately representing these objects in paint is the only clear method for the viewer to identify these objects.
Pop artists utilized mass-produced objects to create a dialogue between high and low culture. My work is rooted in that dialogue. I consider myself a sort of pop realist. Objects I choose are based on my fascination with manufactured items; mostly vintage and sometimes witty things. They are often bits of discarded Americana that still hold some factor of importance in the present day. Over time everyday items make the transformation from ordinary to collectible. They inherit nostalgia and plead to be preserved. I like to present these items as sort of cherished icons and let the object dictate the theme of the painting. Some pieces can be historical while others are rather simple, amusing juxtapositions. These are items that require close observation in order to correctly present them. In my opinion, accurately representing these objects in paint is the only clear method for the viewer to identify these objects.
