CJ, originally from Pittsburgh completed his graduate degree at Northern Illinois University. He has created many public art projects in Chicago. Some of these projects are the 2012 Ryder Cup 5 foot golf ball displayed on Michigan Avenue, 20 13–25 foot fire hydrants displayed at various fire houses in Chicago, 20 14–5 painted horse sculptures in the horses of honored project for fall police officers of the city. The Police Memorial Foundation project commission CJ to paint three canine sculptures for the canine officers and animals that have given their life in the line of duty in the city of Chicago. He also worked with a lighthouse organization, of Chicago, which promotes the inclusiveness of disabled people, and all aspects of life. The lighthouse CJ created is located by the school of they are Institute. Another sculpture he has painted for the magma Public art program is the historic water tower, which turned 150 and 2019. Selected by James , RONDEAU, the curator of contemporary art at the Arden students, Chicago, for first place in the art Fura 2012 show. That piece was sold from the show to the Chicago artist Maya Romanoff. 2013 one of CJ’s pieces One, the Alice and Arthur BA ER award from the Beverly Arts Center. 2014 was the first year he received the grand from the Illinois art Council agency in order to exclusively produce art. Fulton Market Kitchen has also been gracious to host, CJ live painting for a few single night events, and one week long painting residency.
CJ was awarded a purchase prize from the art and architecture program for the math and science Academy in Aurora Illinois. His most notable piece of artwork, funded by the mayors office, and the city of Chicago, is a 500 square-foot original artwork he conceived and created for the new China Town library in Chicago. That project granted him inclusion in the historic art collection, owned by the city with all the famous artist that I’ve done major art pieces for the city of Chicago. He has created a 1680 square-foot installation piece for the Islamic Food And Nutrition Corporation Of America. He has created a mural for the Lincoln Square community of Chicago as well. CJ created an installation in the Pittsburgh airport for 2020 and has a 75‘ x 22‘ wall at City Hall in Elgin Illinois in October 2019, CJ created a 25‘ x 17‘ mural for the historic Bline project in Chicago, which is 2 miles stretch of outdoor murals that was started in 1972 and has currently been revitalized. CJ has completed 100’ x 22‘ mural on the wall around the installation artist TOSHIKO HORIUCHI MACADAM in Houston Texas. The latest Merrill has created are a 22‘ x 16‘ portrait of Zeus for the former San Diego Padres pitcher Cesar Carrillo and his new workout facility in Saint Charles, Illinois, a 13‘ x 20’ piece and a two-story by 30 foot piece for Art and fusion in Janesville Wisconsin. One of the largest custom jobs CJ has created is at the Ziggy hotel on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood California that consist of 13 individual murals the largest being 110‘ x 26’. In April 2024 he created a five -story wraparound at the Arcada theater in Saint Charles Illinois.
