Aaron J. Gilbert (born 1979), also known as "AJ", is an American visual artist. He is known for creating symbolically and psychologically charged narrative paintings. He lives and works in Brooklyn.

Biography

Gilbert was born in 1979 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He is of

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

descent. Gilbert attended

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

and in 2000 received an

Associate of Science An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. The f ...

in mechanical engineering technology. He returned to school at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and in 2005 received a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachelor ...

degree in Painting. In 2008, he received his

Master of Fine Arts A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.) is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admini ...

degree from Yale University in Painting. Prior to his full time career as an artist, he worked in

CAD Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve co ...

and as an Engineering Technician in the biomedical industry. He was previously married to photographer

Deana Lawson Deana Lawson (1979) is an American artist, educator, and photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her work is primarily concerned with intimacy, family, spirituality, sexuality, and Black aesthetics. Lawson has been praised for her ability to co ...

and together they have two children. Lawson and Gilbert's work is mutually influential, and much of Gilbert's artwork depicts Lawson and their children. His paintings reflect his own ethnic background, as well as more a traditional Western approach to the medium. The paintings feature his bright and moody palette, and the staged but self-aware subjects. In 2010, Gilbert was awarded the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award for Painting. He is a 2015 Louis Comfort Tiffany Award recipient, and has been awarded by the American Academy of Arts and Letters as the 2010 “Young American Painter of Distinction.” His work is currently in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, and the

Studio Museum in Harlem The Studio Museum in Harlem is an American art museum devoted to the work of artists of African descent. The museum's galleries are currently closed in preparation for a building project that will replace the current building, located at 144 W ...

. Residencies include a 2013 Fountainhead Residency, a 2012 Yaddo residency, a 2008 LMCC Workspace Residency as well as the 2008 Affiliate Fellowship of the American Academy in Rome. He has exhibited his work at PPOW New York (2021), Deitch Projects New York (2008), among others. In the fall of 2020, he had a two-person show with Martin Wong at PPOW New York which was reviewed in The New York Times and

Art in America ''Art in America'' is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world in the United States, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It i ...

Exhibitions

* 2008 – ''Conceptual Figures'', Deitch Projects, New York City, New York * 2008–2009 – ''The New Akademiks'', Galerie Schuster, Berlin, Germany * 2009 – ''The Open'', Deitch Studios Long Island City, Long Island City, New York * 2012 – Lessico Famigliare (Family Talk), FUTURA Center for Contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Republic * 2013 – Exposure, Spinello Projects, EXPO Chicago, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois * 2013 – ''Bent In'', Primetime Gallery, Brooklyn, New York * 2014 – ''Selfies & Friends: Contemporary Portraiture'', Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, Rhode Island *2014 – Aaron Gilbert: Possessed, Mottahedan Projects, Dubai, UAE *2016 – "BRIC Biennial: Volume 2 – Bed Stuy/Crown Heights Edition", BRIC, Brooklyn, New York *2019 – Solo Booth with Lulu, Mexico City, NADA, Miami *2019 – Psychic Novellas, Lyles & King, New York City, New York *2021 – 1981–2001, Martin Wong / Aaron Gilbert, P·P·O·W, New York *2021 – Chris Sharp Gallery, Los Angeles, California

Awards

*2010 – Rosenthal Family Foundation Award for Painting * 2015 –

Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation was founded in 1918 by Louis Comfort Tiffany to operate his estate, Laurelton Hall, in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. It was designed to be a summer retreat for artists and craftspeople. In 1946 the estate ...

Biennial Award

References

External links

*
Some examples of Aaron Gilbert's work
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Aaron 1979 births American contemporary artists Penn State College of Engineering alumni Rhode Island School of Design alumni Yale University alumni People from Altoona, Pennsylvania Artists from Brooklyn American people of Cuban descent Place of birth missing (living people) Living people

Biography

Exhibitions

Awards

See also

References

External links