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 Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

Biography

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

Cuban Cuban or Cubans may refer to: Related to Cuba * of 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 Americ ...

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 Pennsyl ...

and in 2000 received an

Associate of Science Associate may refer to: Academics * Associate degree, a two-year educational degree in the United States, and some areas of Canada * Associate professor, an academic rank at a college or university * Technical associate or Senmonshi, a Japa ...

mechanical engineering technology Mechanical engineering technology is the application of engineering principles and technological developments for the creation of useful products and production machinery. Technologists Mechanical engineering technologists are expected to apply ...

. 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 pursuing a professional education in the visual arts, Fine art, or performing arts. In some instances, it is also called a Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA). Background ...

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 admi ...

degree from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

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 c ...

and as an Engineering Technician in the biomedical industry. He was previously married to photographer Deana Lawson 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 feature a bright and moody palette, and 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 The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, Music of the United States, music, and Visual art of the United States, art. Its fixed number ...

as the 2010 “Young American Painter of Distinction.” His work is currently in the permanent collection of the

Brooklyn Museum of Art The Brooklyn Museum is an art museum in the New York City borough (New York City), borough of Brooklyn. At , the museum is New York City's second largest and contains an art collection with around 500,000 objects. Located near the Prospect Heig ...

, the

Whitney Museum The Whitney Museum of American Art, known informally as "The Whitney", is a Modern art, modern and Contemporary art, contemporary American art museum located in the Meatpacking District, Manhattan, Meatpacking District and West Village neighbor ...

, and the

Studio Museum in Harlem The Studio Museum in Harlem is an African-American art museum at 144 West 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States. Founded in 1968, the museum collects, preserves and interprets art created by African A ...

. 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 The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome, Italy. The academy is a member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. History 19th century In 1893, a group of American architect ...

. He has exhibited his work at PPOW New York (2021),

Deitch Projects Jeffrey Deitch (pronounced ''DIE-tch'';Mike Boehm (January 12, 2010)''Los Angeles Times''. born July 9, 1952) is an American art dealer and curator. He is best known for his gallery Deitch Projects (1996–2010) and curating groundbreaking exhi ...

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.

Exhibitions

* 2008 – ''Conceptual Figures'',

, 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. Gallery, 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