Painting a blank canvas or wandering around city streets with a camera in hand gives me the most important ingredients when I'm creating art: spontaneity and freedom.

My palette — whether using paint, a camera, or a computer is strongly influenced by the unlimited sights, sounds, and colors of the city. From my paintings of cityscapes and people to my architectural photographs, screen prints, and abstract digital images — I work to capture the textures and sensations of the city.

I value the process of creating art and like to experiment with new techniques. I draw inspiration and ideas from the city, music, other artists, street art/graffiti, observing people, technology, and the media.

solo shows
The Writers WorkSpace, Chicago, IL: 2010-2012
Scot’s Bar, Chicago, IL: 2012
Urbanest, Chicago, IL: 2006-2011
Wishbone, Chicago, IL: 2009, 2006, 2004
StoryStudio, Chicago, IL: 2008
Feed the Beast, Chicago, IL: 2006-2007
Emerald City, Chicago, IL: 2005-2006
Andie's Restaurant, Chicago, IL: 2005
Pause, Chicago, IL: 2005
Café Boost, Chicago, IL: 2005, 2001-2003
Starbuck's (Roscoe Village), Chicago, IL: 2005, 2003
Seattle's Best Coffee (Various Locations), Chicago, IL: 2002-2004
Pauline's, Chicago, IL: 2003
Bourgeois Pig, Chicago, IL: 2003

group shows
Rochester Contemporary Art Center (6x6x2012), Rochester, NY: 2012
South Loop Acupuncture, Chicago, IL: 2012
Transistor*, Chicago, IL: 2011-2012
Studio Open House (Cornelia Arts Building), Chicago, IL: 2006-2012
Blackbird Gallery* (Ravenswood PinkWalk), Chicago, IL: 2011
Ravenswood Art Walk* (Cornelia Arts Building), Chicago, IL: 2002-2011
The NextWave Art Salon*, Elgin, IL: 2010
CAC Chicago Art Open* (Merchandise Mart), Chicago, IL: 2008
Art on the Move Tours* (Cornelia Arts Building), Chicago, IL: 2008
Friends of the Arts* (Annual Members Show), Chicago, IL: 2003-2009
Wishbone, Chicago, IL: 2007-2008
Angel's Restaurant, Chicago, IL: 2006
The Art House* (Better Living Through Chemistry), Oak Park, IL: 2006
Bailiwick Theatre*, Chicago: 2004-2006
Andersonville Arts Weekend*, Chicago, IL: 2003-2006
Mount Adams Pavilion, Cincinnati, OH: 2005
Cornelia Arts Building (Art for Charity Days), Chicago, IL: 2004-2005
Landmark Arts Gallery* (Urban Consonance), Chicago, IL: 2005
Around the Coyote Winter Arts Festival* (Flatiron Arts Building), Chicago, IL: 2005
@tmosphere* (Silent Auction for Pierce Elementary School), Chicago, IL: 2004
Café Boost (FOTA Artist Showcase), Chicago, IL: 2003-2004
Fast Frame (Andersonville), Chicago, IL: 2004
Izzo/Jones Gallery* (Art-On), Chicago, IL: 2004
Laine-Art Gallerie* (Chicago Photography Project) Berlin, Germany: 2003-2004
University of Chicago Hospitals* (75th Anniversary), Chicago, IL: 2003
Aldo Castillo Gallery* (Genesis House Benefit Auction), Chicago, IL: 2003
The Know Show* (Andersonville), Chicago, IL: 2002

*Denotes exhibition as curated, juried selection process or by invitation.

representation/projects
Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
DAC Hospitality, Atlanta, GA
Faulkner & Locke, Atlanta, GA
Chicago Art Leasing, Chicago, IL

education, volunteer + work experience
Marketing & Planning Committee, Cornelia Arts Building, Chicago: 2012
Board of Directors - President, Chicago Writers Conference: 2012
Email Marketing Communications, Friends of the Arts (FOTA): 2006-2012
Panelist, DIY Art Marketing Workshop - RAWednesdays, Chicago: 2010-2011
Logo design/photography, CreatorCamp Chicago: 2011
Screen-Printing for Paper, Lill Street Art Center: 2008
Curator/Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator, FOTA: 2003-2006
Life Drawing, Lill Street Art Center: 2005
Art Business Boot Camp, Evanston Art Center: 2005
Matting and Presentation, Chicago Photography Center: 2004
Drawing into Painting, Lill Street Art Center: 2001
Internet Marketing, various tech + dot-com companies, 1994-2011
Web Designer/Email Campaign Manager, Arts eVentures, Inc., 2002-2003
Freelance Design + Marketing, 2001-2003
Bachelor of Arts - Media Communications, Northern Illinois University, 1993
DJ, Music Staff, and Station Manager, WKDI Radio, DeKalb, IL 1989-1993

affiliations
Cornelia Arts Building, Studio: 2006-2012
ArtBarcs, Featured Artist: 2012
Chicago Art Leasing, Artist: 2012
ArtSlant, Member: 2010-2012
ArtWorldChicago, Online Gallery Artist: 2003-2012
Chicago Art Database, Online Gallery Artist: 2012
Friends of the Arts (FOTA), Member: 2002-2012
Chicago Artists Coalition, Member: 2006-2009
Around the Coyote, Member: 2005-2006
Lill Street Art Center, Member: 2005-2006
Evanston Art Center, Member: 2005-2006

commissions/press/awards
- Work in Various Private Collections: Illinois; New York; Washington, D.C.; Minnesota; Seattle, WA; Portsmouth, VA; Phoenix, AZ; Barcelona, Spain
- Corporate Collection, Chicago Cityscape (photo reproduction), Sheraton Hotel, Elk Grove, IL, 2008
- Commission Painting, Chicago Lakefront Cityscape, Private Collection, 2012
- Commission Painting, West Loop Cityscape, Private Collection, 2012
- Commission Painting, Wrigleyville, Synapse Medical, Chicago, 2007
- Commission Painting, Lobster Boy, Private Collection, Chicago, 2006
- Interview, NeotericART, Chicago, IL (2011)
- Featured artist in Off the Rocks: Volume 12 by NewTown Writers, a national literary journal. (2005)
- Featured artist in CenterstageChicago.com Visual Arts column: "The Art of Self-Promotion: How to market yourself as an artist" (2005)
- Awarded Best in Show - Third Place for "Punk Bach" painting, The Art House (Better Living Through Chemistry), Oak Park, IL (2006)
- Recipient of the Friends of the Arts (FOTA) "Service to the Arts Community Award" for contributions to the Chicago art community (2004)

Kevin Swallow, artist
Chicago, IL
kevin@swallowstudios.com
773.551.4602