John Paul Berry was born in Reno, Nevada. Here he grew up chasing jackrabbits through the sagebrush by day and nights mesmerized by local carnivals and fairs. He currently lives and works in Southern Utah.
Statement
I find myself revisiting youthful memories of fairs, clowns and carnivals to interpret my current state and the state of society.
Using bright color and spontaneous lines that emerge beneath layers of paint, alongside thought-provoking titles I created oil paintings that, like poetry, utilize sharp juxtapositions to laugh at or with the absurdities and irony of life.
The push-and-pull nature of the paintings create a dialogue between the seen and the unseen, the said and unsaid; of the circus playing out in front of me. I purposefully leave space for the viewers’ unique interpretations.
I am an explorer. Each piece I create is a search into uncharted paths. At times I am surprised or terrified, but never bored.