John Airo was born in 1971 in Chicago where he still resides as a working artist. He attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago starting in 1990 but dropped out to "find himself". After a decade and a half (or so) of aimlessly searching in shitty nightclubs, bands, and dysfunctional relationships Airo's journey led him to his calling, which is to create art.
Airo focuses most of his energy on painting, using acrylics and pushing the medium from thinned out watercolor techniques to heavy layering to add texture and mimic the richness of oil paint. Airo also hates bio's, and probably should have stayed in school. |
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Solo Exhibitions
John Airo & Michelle Graves collaboration show large scale surrealism Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, Il currently on display Fish Show (virtual opening) Rev. Billies Chop Shop, Chicago, Il. June 2020 Sub=Transversal Homesick Blues Fitting Room Gallery, PDXchange. Portland , OR August, 2019 Studies in Growth and Survival" Ars Memoria Gallery, Chicago April, 19 "Somewhere Between Chicago and Detroit" Sidewinder Gallery, Chicago February, 2017 “The Gilly Show” Delilah’s, Chicago December 2016-Present “Peace for Pits” Dog Rescue Benefit. Solo Show, Northdown, Chicago,Il. November-December 2015 “The Delilah’s Show” Delilah’s, Chicago November, 2015 “Led by Wolves” Solo Show, Rev Billy’s Chop Shop. Chicago, Il . October 2015 “Falling on Deaf Ears”, GMan, Chicago, IL April -May, 2015 Exhibited works, the David Leonardis Gallery, Chicago, IL May, 2014- Present “Rumble Fish” the Bento Box, Chicago, IL March-June, 2014 “Blue: Explorations of the City”, solo show Rev Billy’s, Chicago, IL January, 2014 The Ballroom Gallery; DeKalb, IL December, 2013 Uncommon Ground; Chicago, IL September-November 2013 Division Street Bar and Grill (Humboldt Park) December 2012 “Art and Vision” Spex; Chicago, IL November 2012 Northdown Taproom; Chicago, IL June 2012 Jackalope Coffee and Gallery (Bridgeport); Chicago, IL May 2012 Morseland (Rogers Park); Chicago, IL March 2012 Green Eye; Chicago, IL April 2011 Broken Cherry (Bucktown); Chicago, IL August 2010 Atomic Sketch, Evil Olive (Wicker Park); Chicago, IL July 2010 Green Eye; Chicago, IL May 2010 Royal Flesh (Uptown); Chicago, IL April 2010 Blind Robin (Wicker Park); Chicago, IL January 2010 Q4 Gallery (Humboldt Park); Chicago, IL April 2009 Rudy’s Roundup (Bucktown); Chicago, IL February 2009 Group Exhibition "Confesions" Agitator Gallery, Chicago February, 2019 "SUTURES" Ars Memoria Gallery, Chicago November 2018 "MOTHER" Royal Flesh Gallery, Chicago April-May, 2017 “RED” Ars Memoria Gallery, Chicago, Il August, 2016 “The Art of Memory” Ars Memoria Gallery, Chicago, Il May, 2016 “Size Matters”, Flatiron Arts Building , Chicago, Il. February, 2016 “On the Water” Group show, Chicago/ Miami September 2015 “The Bill Murray Affair” the Syrup Loft. Los Angeles, CA February 2015 “The Bill Murray Affair” The Public Works Gallery, San Francisco, CA August 2014 “Urban Hiking” ADX Gallery, Portland, Oregon March 2014 “Constantly Consuming Art”; Chicago, IL Sept-Nov 2013 “Skull Junkies”: Royal Flesh Gallery; Chicago, IL August 2013 Atomic Sketch INTUIT: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art; Chicago, IL March 2013 Harrison Art Walk: Right Brained Gallery; Oak Park, Il September 2012 “Oh Petite Ahhh”: Spoke Gallery (Bridgeport); Chicago, IL April 2012 The Flat Iron (Wicker Park); Chicago, IL January 2012 Morpho Gallery; Chicago, IL February 2010 "World of Imagination", APW Gallery; Long Island, NY March 2009 Large Works "A Squirrel Named Penelope" Mural on Motrose Ave for the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce Summer 2019 Mural at Navigator Taproom, Chicago Spring 2017 Mural at Haymarket, Chicago, Il July 2016 Mural at Uber Headquarters, Chicago, Il August 2015 Large Bird Installation for the City of Chicago, RogersPark July 2015 Rev. Billy’s Chop Shop August 2014 Big Hair Salon (Roscoe Village); Chicago, IL July 2013 GMan Tavern; Chicago, IL December 2012 The Bento Box; Chicago, IL February 2011 Neo Nightclub; Chicago, IL July 2010 Permanent Residency Transistor Chicago Haymarket Taprooom, Bridgman Mi. Live Art Events Live Painting, Private event at the Harris Theater, Chicago June 16, 2016 Umoja Spring Fling Benefit February 2015 Pitchfork Music Festival, Sponsored by Goose Island Brewery; Chicago, IL July 2013 Exhibition Booth at Halsted Market Days (Lakeview); Chicago, IL August 2010 Animation "We Are The Dead" David Bowie Cover Super Creeps, January 2021 "I Hope It Snows" Naomi Ashley, December 2020 "Modern Superstition" Storms Named After People 2020 Published Works CPD 70, Book One (C2E2 McCormick Place); Chicago, IL April 2013 “The Legend of Henry Brewer: The Axe Man” (Graphic Novel) December 2011 “Houseguest” and “Bogey Doesn’t Live Here” for Red Moon Features Spring 2011 ZZZZ Cover of Mechanicals: Published by Red Moon Features "Crystal Persuasion": Short Story for Cryptic Magazine "Suture Self”: Published by ISM Studios. Poster Design Local H Built to Spill Femi Kuti Clutch Soundgarden Suicidal Tendencies Medina Lake Lucero The Hate Maxes Jeekoos Chris Connely Mr. Bungle When Flying Feels Like Falling Alan Hoffman Design/Logo Work Haymarket Beer Co.- Logo Design and label art for all packaged beers. The Bento Box- Logo and design for all printed material. Local 773- Logo Design Jeekoos (musician)- Logo Design |
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Photo by Bartek Karas.
