John D. Gall has been active, professional artist since 1980, and works in many of the traditional art mediums. Since being introduced to printmaking while attending Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, he has made that his primary medium accounting for about half his artistic output, establishing Avonwood Press, a studio/shop, where he creates and publishes his original prints. His works explore a surreal relationship between the human figure and mathematical symbols and equations called “Human Equations.” The works frequently use different scales and perspectives within a single piece, and use these mathematical symbols as metaphors to represent knowledge. Over time the world of fantasy also became an ongoing subject. His work has been selected for numerous solo and national group printmaking shows, and is in various collections including Arkansas State University, the University of Dallas, the University of West Georgia, Guilford College, Perdue University, Capital Bank, and Essex Plastics Corporation. Current gallery representation is with Adam Cave Fine Art, Raleigh, NC; Bennett Galleries, Knoxville, TN; and Hampton House Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC. Delurk Gallery in Winston-Salem,NC.
Although I began as a painter in the mid 1970’s creating traditional landscapes, seascapes, and still-life work, it was while attending Guilford College much later that I discovered my true voice as an artist. Content became as important as technical skill used to paint. From 1990 till about 2012 I created hundreds of original prints (etchings/relief) and drawings/paintings focused on the series called Human Equations (man’s struggle in life and failing much of the time). Other noteworthy mini-series are Souls” (whimsical predicaments of human souls) and “Tuscany” (interpretations from travels in Italy).
As I expand the "box" of my imagination, I began creating images that I call "Nonsense" works, whereby I find myself drifting more into the realm of fantasy and surreal art, admiring the freedom and imagination that surrounds the Ex Libris artists and their traditions as well as the Surrealists. These images evoke a similar freedom to me, allowing creation without strict restriction of content, simply going where my imagination leads me. Consequently In 2012 I also found myself desiring to return to the medium of painting. I’m sure I will continue to create original prints, but as I re-visit painting, I have also found a renewed purpose and focus for this wonderful medium. I firmly believe an artist’s signature will follow him no matter what medium he uses.
- Created: 2021