Rick Berry Studio

Parallel Evolutions in Italy

2009-10-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

The exhibition is up! Some words from the curator, translated loosely from Italian...

“Lucca Center for Contemporary Art in partnership with Lucca Comics and Games Festival present the art of Rick Berry and Phil Hale with several oil canvas and three site-specific pieces. The exhibition is intended as a small homage to a creative collaboration ...

Parallel Evolutions is a little show with a big ambition. It aims to portray the work of two artists who are emblematic of the fluid, shifting nature of contemporary art. Moving from illustration to fine arts, mixing references to pop culture and renaissance painting, employing digital techniques at the same time as classical oils, experimenting in collaborative works as well as following personal paths, Rick Berry and Phil Hale were chosen as duo to represent the spirit of evolution and growth.”

Artist Talk, Saturday, August 22, 4:30-6pm

2009-08-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

Rick Berry will give an artist's talk in conjunction with his solo exhibition "Seeing in the Dark: The Figurative Works of Rick Berry", open through August 30, 2009 at Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery, Downtown Peterborough NH

603-924-7676

Press Release: On view through August 30 at Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery are Berry's large figurative works in oils and charcoals. Berry is "a stunning painter whose brush strokes simultaneously invoke movement and emotion...compelling," writes Linda Laban of Metro Boston. Leonie Bradbury, Director and Gallery Curator of Montserrat College, MA, describes Berry's work as "uniquely ethereal and thoughtfully designed."

Rick Berry will be in the downtown gallery for an Artist Talk including Q + A. He will discuss his artistic approach and vision, including his original process of painting that begins, not with models and photography, but with "scribbling".

Join the conversation with Fine Artist Rick Berry, whose career highlights include four provocative solo exhibitions for Tufts University's international symposia on global issues, and Juror's Choice award from Arthur Dion of Gallery Naga, Boston. In addition, Berry's diverse commissions run the gamut from pop-culture comic covers for Neil Gaiman; to acting as cyber-stunt double for Keanu Reeves in film; to current work on his own graphic novel supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. A pioneer in new media, Berry is credited with creating the first digital cover painting for a novel worldwide (Neuromancer by William Gibson). Berry's work is featured in art annuals, magazines, and anthologies, as well as in his own books, Sparrow and Double Memory. Noted authors Stephen King and Neil Gaiman are among private collectors of his work.

Whether you are a seasoned professional artist, an aspiring artist, or simply curious about the artistic process, an art gathering with Rick Berry is a rare opportunity to gain both inspiration and insight into the working process of this unique artist. Please join us on Saturday, August 22nd at 4:30 p.m. The event is accessible, free and ample parking is available in Depot Square.

Interview by ARTSAKE, Mass Cultural Council

2009-08-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

ArtSake recently caught up with the painter Rick Berry to ask him about his work. Seeing in the Dark: Pattern Recognition/Discovery in the Marks, The Figurative Works of Rick Berry opens today at the Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery. The show runs through August 30th.

What artists’ work do you admire most but paint nothing like? Here’s the problem. Any artist I’ve ever admired, known or anonymous, has affected my work, my choices. It’s impossible for me to not do things because of this. Here’s an example: One could look at the paintings and say, “Well that’s nothing like Jackson Pollock,” and not know about how often I sling turp and paint directly at the formative surface searching for lyric geometries; the painting may wind up sharply figurative but all that movement? Just go back to its initial musical chaos, and you’ll find a painter that I “paint nothing like.”

What is the most surprising response to your art you have ever received? Read the full interview and leave comments here

Seeing in the Dark:The Figurative Works of Rick Berry

2009-07-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery, Peterborough, NH

Aug 7 - 30 Opening Reception, Aug 7th, 5-7pm

Artist Talk, August 22nd, 4:30-6pm

Sharon Arts announces an exhibition of large oil paintings and charcoals of Rick Berry—fine artist; pop culture illustrator for comics, gaming, books: and pioneer in new media (first digital cover painting for a novel worldwide, Neuromancer by William Gibson). His diverse experience ranges from provocative solo exhibits for Tuft’s international symposia on global issues; acting as Keanu Reeves’ cyber-stunt double for Berry's award-winning CGI climax in Columbia TriStar’s Johnny Mnemonic; paintings for collector editions of Stephen King novels; to his current residency with OperaBoston. Sparrow and Double Memory, two books of his art, are available on Amazon.com.

“A stunning painter whose brush strokes simultaneously invoke movement and emotion...compelling" writes Linda Laban in Metro Boston. There is a uniquely ethereal quality to the work with room for viewer collaboration. Berry states, “My goal isn’t to create a finite image. I value the viewer’s sophisticated response to create a shared wavelength, giving the work added meaning and opening up dialog.”

Without models, photos, indeed any external references, Berry manages to draw and see things with such convincing clarity that it approaches clairvoyance. It's as if he can see in the dark. Come see why.

Gallery Hours: Open Tues-Thurs 10-5, Fri-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-4, closed Mondays

Painting Demo/Book Signing at Comic Con

2009-07-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

July 23-26 Rick Berry will be at San Diego Comic Con International.

Stop by for Berry's oil painting demonstration at Donato Arts sponsored by Spectrum: Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art. And don't miss Greg Manchess demo Saturday

Friday, July 24th at 1:30 Booth #4503

Tor Books captured last year's Berry Demo in three parts for YouTube and posted photos on Flickr by Irene Gallo

Sunday at 3:30, Booth # 1705

Rick will be signing copies of his art book SPARROW at IDW

Scarecrow in Oz

2007-11-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

Ozspirations: New Art Inspired by The Wizard of Oz

Rick Berry's, Scarecrow, was in the juried exhibition honoring the 100th anniversary of L. Frank Baum's classic book series at New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University, Boston. This thought provoking exhibit asks how we interpret characters and story in light of modern day realities and includes the work of 30 artists selected from world wide submissions. Berry's work "uses the scarecrow as icon on several levels to explore social and psychological issues surrounding eating disorders in this land of plenty where body image is dictated by the media." Sadly, those who try to meet that fantasy may live a dangerous reality.

Being There

2007-10-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Rick Berry's solo exhibition, Designer Beings: the Anatomy of Presence is highlighted in Boston Metro—

Being There

"Boston-based artist Rick Berry is well known as a renegade in the art world, one who designed the cover art for William Gibson’s groundbreaking cyberpunk novel, “Neuromancer.” And, while designing the “extraction” sequence in the much-underrated “Johnny Mnemonic,” he also “body doubled” for Keanu Reeves in the computer-generated choreographed graphics. Discover Berry’s other side, a stunning painter whose brush strokes simultaneously invoke movement and emotion, at “Designer Beings: The Anatomy of Presence,” a compelling exhibit of the Tufts teacher’s paintings showing at Newton Free Library Gallery daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., through Oct. 30. Call 617-796-1360" Linda Laban

Present Tense - A Drawing Show

2006-07-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

Director Sand T and ArtSPACE at 16 continued to highlight the significance of the fundamental medium of drawing through this exhibition. Juror Heidi Marston wrote "Drawing is the most immediate expression of a thought...it is a universal form of communication." Works selected from Rick Berry were Dancing Mug, red chalk and Bad Robin, oil stick. The opening reception was held on July 8, 2006 with a gallery talk lead by Marston, followed by artist talks.

click for images from reception
click for news article

Dancing in the Paint

2006-06-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

New oil paintings by Rick Berry and Annie Newbold
Gallery 263, Cambridge, MA
June 11 - July 15, 2006