Joseph Murdach

Joseph Murdach is a San Francisco Bay Area artist who blurs the lines between representational and abstract art. He is mainly an Oil and Acrylic painter, but likes to use a variety of mediums including Watercolor, Ink, Spray paint, and Marker. His earliest influences were his father and brother then Picasso, Klee, Magritte, Guston and currently many of his contemporaries. He graduated from Chabot College (AA) and the California College of Arts and Crafts in 2002 (BFA) in Painting/Drawing. He has worked in the areas of graphic design, silkscreen printing, printmaking, drawing, and painting. Besides working on a body of personal work he has been curating at the 63 Bluxome Street gallery in San Francisco for 2 years.

I grew up in a great environment for art.  My parents had renditions of masterworks around our home and encouraged me to pursue any creative impulse I had at a young age.  My earliest influences were my father and brother.  I still remember the day when my father showed me his cartoon drawings he did for his high school newspaper, and the pages of illustrations my brother would create over his homework notes.  Alongside these memories, I recall becoming engaged with paintings I would see in the museums that my mother would bring me to. As I have become more involved with art, I find myself questioning the works in museums and galleries, comparing them to my own thoughts and pieces.

I am currently engaged in the visual experience and dialogue one can create with pieces of art.  I find that when a work of art really speaks to you and makes you think past the initial viewing, a special relationship is created.  My work at the present portrays compositions that not only seeks a visual experience but also tries to create a dialogue with the viewer.  I have been working within the realms of figurative abstraction as well as image-based narratives in hopes of achieving this relationship.

I hope that I can add to the rich history of art and do all of my precursors justice.  One of the reasons I started to create art is because I was inspired and impressed by the techniques and creative thoughts of the artists I came in contact with.  If my pieces inspire others to create art and/or think about what is being portrayed then I will feel that I have done my job.

EDUCATION

2002 – CCAC / Oakland, CA / BFA- Painting and Drawing

2001 – CCAC / Paris, FR / Study abroad

1999 – Chabot College / Hayward, CA / AA- Arts and Humanities

PROFESSIONAL

2013 – Present – Curator for 63 Bluxome Street Gallery

EXHIBITIONS

2017 – Fe Gallery / Sacramento, CA / Fauna Anomoly III

2017 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / RESIST!

2016 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Krampusmas16

2016 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Punks Not Dead

2016 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Lead Poisoning drawing show

2016 – Fe Gallery / Sacramento, CA / Fauna Anomoly II

2016 – Spoke Art/ San Francisco, CA / Lord of the Thrones

2016 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Decked Out II

2016 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Starman, A David Bowie Tribute Show

2015 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Krampusmas III

2015 – Modern Eden / San Francisco, CA / Wanderlust III group show

2015 – Yay!LA / Los Angeles, CA / Horror Movie A Day online show

2015 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Freak Show

2015 – O Gallery / Los Angeles, CA / Art The Jewels

2015 – Galerie Abyss / Montreal, QC / 12 x 12

2015 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Art The Jewels

2015 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Swim Season

2015 – Fe Gallery / Sacramento, CA / Fauna Anomoly

2014 – Modern Eden / San Francisco, CA / Wanderlust II group show

2014 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Krampusmas II

2014 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / Bad Dads V

2014 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / Kubrick, An art show tribute

2014 – Lacuna Artist Loft / Chicago, Il / Artists on Board

2014 – Thumbprint Gallery / San Diego, CA / All the wrong moves, Bill Murray tribute show

2014 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Half the Story, portrait show

2014 – Madelife / Boulder, Co / Irreverent Eclectic, Ween show

2014 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / Quentin vs Coen

2014 – Olive Hyde Gallery / Fremont, CA / Decked Out

2014 – MF Gallery / Brooklyn, NY / Dave Brockie Memorial Show

2014 – Fe Gallery / Sacramento, CA / Point of no return

2014 – Modern Eden / San Francisco, CA / The Grotesque

2014 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / In Dreams-David Lynch show

2014 – Modern Eden / San Francisco, CA / Nostalgia

2014 – Future Shock Store &amp Gallery /Portland, OR/ ARTISTS ON BOARD

2013/14 – Peter Thomas Salon /Berkeley, CA / Solo “Hair Related” Show

2013/14 – 63 Bluxome Street Gallery / San Francisco, CA / KRAMPUSMAS

2013 – Faultline Artspace / Oakland, CA / 8X10 group show

2013 – Modern Eden / San Francisco, CA / Wanderlust

2013 – Farley’s East Cafe / Oakland, CA / Solo show

2013 – 111 Minna / San Francisco, CA / Chillin’ Productions Annual Holiday show

2013 – System Gallery / England, UK / Play Dress Up group show

2013 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / Bad Dads IV group show

2013 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / Lil Bub group show

2013 – 63 Bluxome / San Francisco, CA / Draw Show!

2013 – Modern Eden / San Francisco, CA / “Mona” group show

2013 – Gallery 4N5 / San Francisco, CA / Pancakes and Booze Show

2013 – 63 Bluxome / San Francisco, CA / Hands and Pants group show

2013 – f8 Nightclub and Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Among Us

2013 – Blonde Grizzly / Salt Lake City, UT / Star Wars Group show

2013 – Warehouse 416 / Oakland, CA / Zing! Semi Annual Smart Art Show

2013 – Fe Gallery / Sacramento, CA / Slippery Slope

2013 – Emerald City / Seattle, WA / Comicon

2012 – Spank Salon / Alameda, CA / Hair Show 2

2012 – Spoke Art / San Francisco, CA / Bad Dads 3

2012 – Zocalo Coffee House / San Leandro, CA / Solo Show

2012 – 63 Bluxome / San Francisco, CA / Full Spectrum Group Show

2012 – Pro Arts Gallery / Oakland, CA / Open Studio Review Show

2012 – Revolution Wines / Sacramento, CA / Group Show

2012 – Pro Arts Gallery / Oakland, CA / Mutation Show

2011 – Spank Salon / Alameda, CA / The Hair Show

2011 – Cinema Place Gallery / Hayward, CA / All Media Exhibit

2010 – Hayward Senior Center / Hayward, CA / Solo Show

2009 – Adobe Art Center / Castro Valley, CA / 32nd Annual Juried Exhibit

2009 – Hayward Arts Council / Hayward, CA / Fall Arts Extravaganza

2007 – San Leandro Arts Association / San Leandro, CA / Festival of Fine Art

2007 – Pro Arts Gallery / Oakland, CA / New Visions

2007 – Adobe Art Gallery / Castro Valley, CA / Spring at the Adobe

2007 – Hayward Arts Council / Hayward, CA / Members Show

2007 – Adobe Art Gallery / Castro Valley, CA / Mixed Palettes

2004 – Sun Gallery / Hayward, CA / Solo Show- Visions of the Competitive Apocalypse

2003 – Bonhams & Butterfields / San Francisco, CA / Art for AIDS

2002 – Umbrella Studios / Oakland, CA / Artists Inspiration

2002 – Green Shutter Gallery / Hayward, CA / Hayward Arts Council Members Show

2001 – CCAC – IPW Gallery / Oakland, CA / Graduate Show

2001 – Home Studio / Oakland, CA / Pro Arts Open Studios

2001 – CCAC- West Gallery / San Francisco, CA / Seemed Like A Good Idea

2000 – CCAC- IPW Gallery / Oakland, CA / Patterns

1998 – Sun Gallery / Hayward, CA / Hayward Arts Council open studios