INFO

“Currently, I have three avenues of work. Everything-bagel, liminal and found-object paintings. The everything-bagel paintings on linen, cotton canvas and wood panel are like sandboxes. I allow myself unfettered, acritical spontaneity in their making. Some are maximalist like with a density of cultural, societal personal mash-up of ideas, animals, monsters, feelings and commentary, solidified in imagery and mark making. The liminal paintings are often minimal, spacious, suggestive yet intentionally ambiguous and open ended. The found object paintings use a variety of manufactured goods as media and content. Much like Japanese Ikebana flower arrangement, I am searching for a visual harmony with these paintings. A balance. However, I reimagine the dirty, ordinary, and iconic materials into pretty, seductive and gross arrangements that express our entanglements, hopeful to defamiliarize us from their norm, into new possibilities and meanings.”

Ian Torres McLaughlin (b.1979) grew up in Chicago Illinois. He’s participated in a number of unique projects including, Marc Chagall’s “Four Seasons” restoration project, The Chicago Cultural Center’s Tiffany stained glass dome restoration project, The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art. His art has shown in Boulder, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, and Kansas City.

EDUCATION

2021 MFA, Painting, Cranbrook Academy of Art
2002 BFA, Painting, The Kansas City Art Institute

SELECT SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021 House-Trained, Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2020 Google, Boulder CO, (canceled covid-19)
2018 Messinger Gallery JCC, Boulder, Colorado
2017 Alternative Facts, Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2016 Colorado Ballet, Denver CO
2016 Love Bombs, 530 Sante Fe Dr, Denver, Colorado
2015 Nature’s Line, Space Gallery,Denver, Colorado
2013 Mind over Matter , Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2010 Synesthesia for the Times, Living Room Gallery, Chicago, IL

SELECT GROUP SHOWS & PROJECTS

2022 Risky Business, Firehouse Art Center, Longmont Colorado
2022 Might Real Queer Detroit, Collected Detroit, Detroit, Michigan
2021 Graduate Degree Exhibition, Cranbrook Art Museum, Michigan
2021 Speculative Histories, Saarinen House, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan
2020 Fresh Paint, Painting Dpt, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
2020 Second Year MFA show, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
2019 Pearl Street Project, Boulder Creative Collective, Boulder, Colorado
2019 Grand Open Space Gallery Annex, Denver, Colorado
2017 Best of, Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2016 Winter Show, Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2016 Longmont Front Range Film Festival, Firehouse Art Center.
2014 End of Year Best of, Space Gallery, Denver Colorado
2014 Space Gallery New Building Grand Opening, Denver, Colorado
2013 Total Abstraction, Republic Plaza, Denver, Colorado
2013 Summer Show, Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2012 Winter Invitational, Buena Suerte a los Compañeros, Telephonebooth Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2010 Sonar Donkey-Deer Days music, Rogers Park Peoples Radio, Chicago IL
2010 Sonar Donkey-Deer Days, shown at US Social Forum, Detroit, Michigan
2010 Dharma Art, Chicago, IL
2008 Around The Coyote Spring Show, Chicago, IL
2008 Bubble Burst Time, d/vision gallery, Chicago, IL
2002 Kansas City Art Institute BFA Show, H & R Block Art Space, Kansas City, MO
2002 Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, Kansas City, MO
2002 Treehouse Meeting, Kelvin Gallery, Kansas City, MO
1998 The Opie Gallery, Kansas City MO

PRESS

·2020 Barbed Magazine, Spring 2020, Detroit
·2017 Review: Layered Takes in Alternative Facts at Space Gallery, Denver Westword
·2014 Earls Restaurant on the 16th Street Mall Gets sleek new renovation, Denver Post
·2013 Review of Mind over Matter show at Space Gallery, Westword Denver
·2013 Interview with Ian McLaughlin, Gaurdian Stewardship Editions
·2011 Studio Visit Magazine, Vol 16
·2010 Chicago Art Magazine

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

·2021 Cranbrook Academy of Art: President’s Award for Sustainability
·2002 Kansas City Art Institute: Graduated on the Deans List
·1998 Kansas City Art Institute: Scholarship
·1998 The Chicago Academy for the Arts: Humanitarian Award
·1996 The Chicago Academy for the Arts: Polk Brothers Foundation scholarship
·1994 The Chicago Academy for the Arts: Scholarship

Professional Experience

·2015-17 Guest Teacher, Boulder Prep Highschool & Picture Woods Ltd Mural Painting project, Boulder CO
·2011-12 Northwestern University Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art, Preparator team
·2009 The Chicago Cultural Centers Tiffany stained glass dome restoration project
·2002-06 Ranger, Colorado
·2002-06 Wild land Fire Fighter, Colorado
·2001 Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Preparator, Kansas City MO
·2000-02 & ’08 Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Prep Department subcontractor, KCMO