BIO
Gigi Bio was born on July 9,1978 in Oakland, California. Growing up in a military family, she moved frequently; living throughout the east coast in Norfolk & Virginia Beach, VA to Key West & Jacksonville, FL. As a child, she was intrigued by nature, moving cars, concrete pavements, dotted painted lines and street signs seen while traveling on highway I-95. The experience of being an east coast nomad & spending many hours observing the world through a car window would later be the foundation for her work today.
In the early 90's, she was greatly inspired by Graffiti. The organic nature & movement witnessed while tagging was beautiful to her. The mass layers & stylistic lettering on various textures was the inspiration behind the flow & mass layering seen in her work. In 1999, she began painting and was one of first tenant artist of the Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center in Jacksonville, FL . She was deep into freedom of expression, raw emotion and layers of color. It was in painting, where she found her visual voice. In 2001, she pursued her life long dream of being a fashion designer & illustrator, earning degree with honors at Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA.
In 2008, she was featured in exhibits and publications for "Street or Studio - The History of Urban Photography" at Tate Modern in London, UK and "Click - The Changing Faces of Brooklyn" at Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY. Her work is part of permanent collections of the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA and Florida State College in Jacksonville, FL. Most recently, she was part of Art Whino: MIAMI during Art Basel Miami in December 2009 and G40: The Summit in Washington DC in March 2010.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, she is a fashion designer who specializes in women's wear, embroidery design and accessory line Belles and Whistles. She is the co-director of the Brooklyn Artsmith Collective, whose mission is about creating a positive impact and creating a sense of community in the lives of the next generation. She is a renaissance woman living in Brooklyn, New York.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Life, architecture, nature, graffiti, fashion and the city streets are still major influences to me. Today, I am inspired by the changing landscapes of New York because it is a city in constant flow. My current series "Urban Reconstructionist" and "Character Studies" is a reflection of life in the streets. Each piece represents a world full of life, energy and movement. I aim to recreate life & build the world through multiple perspectives. I encourage the viewer how to fully experience the environment by creating a sense of extreme awareness of the world, to appreciate beauty in the mundane and find order through chaos. My artwork is greatly inspired by New York on the surface, but hidden between the layers is a narrative of life.
BORN:
1978, Oakland, CA
EDUCATION
2003:
BFA Degree Fashion Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
2001:
AA Degree Fine Art & Fashion Design, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL
EXHIBITIONS
2010:
Under the Bridge, 47 Monroe Street Gallery Loft, New York, NY
G40: Art Summit, Art Whino Gallery, Arlington, VA
2010 RFS Taste the World, Refugee Family Services Benefit, Atlanta, GA
UPCOMING:
Galerie Geraldine Zberro, Paris, France
JUXTED - Solo Show, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
2009:
Art Whino: MIAMI, Art Whino Gallery, Miami, FL
Rebar & 303rd Collective: Dumbo Festival, Dumbo Loft, Brooklyn, NY
Beta Banger, Die Fabrik Loft, New York, NY
BoConcepts presents: Art for Urban Design, BoConcepts, New York, NY
Brooklyn Artsmith Collective & PS261: Project 261 Art Show & Fundraiser, Galapagos Art Space,
Brooklyn, NY
2008:
Street or Studio – The History of Urban Photography, Tate Modern, London, UK
Click! The Changing Faces of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Girls Dream in Color "Baby, Let me show you what Love is", Harriet's Alter Ego, Brooklyn, NY
2004:
Sense of Otherness, Pinnacle Gallery, Savannah, GA
Sense of Otherness, Savannah Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Faces of SCAD, Hamilton Hall Gallery, Savannah,GA
2002:
Making Sense, Gallery Espresso, Savannah, GA
2001:
Open Studio Night, Alexander Hall Gallery, Savannah,GA
Taste of Five Points, Fuel Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
2000:
Media, River Room, Southend Brewery, Jacksonville, FL
Junio Show, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
1999 - 2001:
First Fridays Group Shows, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
ACTIVITIES:
Co-Director / Art Instructor, Brooklyn Artsmith Collective, Brooklyn, NY
Resident Artist, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
Installation Artist, Pipe Tree Installation, Florida State College - Kent Campus, Jacksonville, FL
Mural Artist, Women of Humanties Mural Project, Florida State College - Kent Campus, Jacksonville, FL
Mural Artist / Art Instructor, Make A Difference Day, Justina Elementary, Jacksonville, FL
PRESS:
"Q&A WITH ARTIST GIGI BIO - Don't Call Her a Cubist, She's Been Here For Years!" Interview on www.sofreshsogreen.com
"Restitching the City in Photos" Article on www.bushwickbk.com
"Friday Art Star: Gigi Bio" Featured Artist on www.protopol.us
"Cityscapes: Street Art Comes to PS261" Article on www.wync.org
AWARDS:
Marian Edna Effing Portfolio Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Visual Arts Talent Grant, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
PUBLICATIONS:
Street or Studio - A Photobook, Tate Modern, London, UK
Click! A Crowd-Curated Exhibition, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Schmaps Guides - Online & Desktop Travel Guides
COLLECTIONS:
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL
REPRESENTED BY:
Galerie Geraldine Zberro, Paris, France
Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
In the early 90's, she was greatly inspired by Graffiti. The organic nature & movement witnessed while tagging was beautiful to her. The mass layers & stylistic lettering on various textures was the inspiration behind the flow & mass layering seen in her work. In 1999, she began painting and was one of first tenant artist of the Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center in Jacksonville, FL . She was deep into freedom of expression, raw emotion and layers of color. It was in painting, where she found her visual voice. In 2001, she pursued her life long dream of being a fashion designer & illustrator, earning degree with honors at Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA.
In 2008, she was featured in exhibits and publications for "Street or Studio - The History of Urban Photography" at Tate Modern in London, UK and "Click - The Changing Faces of Brooklyn" at Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY. Her work is part of permanent collections of the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA and Florida State College in Jacksonville, FL. Most recently, she was part of Art Whino: MIAMI during Art Basel Miami in December 2009 and G40: The Summit in Washington DC in March 2010.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, she is a fashion designer who specializes in women's wear, embroidery design and accessory line Belles and Whistles. She is the co-director of the Brooklyn Artsmith Collective, whose mission is about creating a positive impact and creating a sense of community in the lives of the next generation. She is a renaissance woman living in Brooklyn, New York.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Life, architecture, nature, graffiti, fashion and the city streets are still major influences to me. Today, I am inspired by the changing landscapes of New York because it is a city in constant flow. My current series "Urban Reconstructionist" and "Character Studies" is a reflection of life in the streets. Each piece represents a world full of life, energy and movement. I aim to recreate life & build the world through multiple perspectives. I encourage the viewer how to fully experience the environment by creating a sense of extreme awareness of the world, to appreciate beauty in the mundane and find order through chaos. My artwork is greatly inspired by New York on the surface, but hidden between the layers is a narrative of life.
BORN:
1978, Oakland, CA
EDUCATION
2003:
BFA Degree Fashion Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
2001:
AA Degree Fine Art & Fashion Design, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL
EXHIBITIONS
2010:
Under the Bridge, 47 Monroe Street Gallery Loft, New York, NY
G40: Art Summit, Art Whino Gallery, Arlington, VA
2010 RFS Taste the World, Refugee Family Services Benefit, Atlanta, GA
UPCOMING:
Galerie Geraldine Zberro, Paris, France
JUXTED - Solo Show, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
2009:
Art Whino: MIAMI, Art Whino Gallery, Miami, FL
Rebar & 303rd Collective: Dumbo Festival, Dumbo Loft, Brooklyn, NY
Beta Banger, Die Fabrik Loft, New York, NY
BoConcepts presents: Art for Urban Design, BoConcepts, New York, NY
Brooklyn Artsmith Collective & PS261: Project 261 Art Show & Fundraiser, Galapagos Art Space,
Brooklyn, NY
2008:
Street or Studio – The History of Urban Photography, Tate Modern, London, UK
Click! The Changing Faces of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Girls Dream in Color "Baby, Let me show you what Love is", Harriet's Alter Ego, Brooklyn, NY
2004:
Sense of Otherness, Pinnacle Gallery, Savannah, GA
Sense of Otherness, Savannah Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Faces of SCAD, Hamilton Hall Gallery, Savannah,GA
2002:
Making Sense, Gallery Espresso, Savannah, GA
2001:
Open Studio Night, Alexander Hall Gallery, Savannah,GA
Taste of Five Points, Fuel Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
2000:
Media, River Room, Southend Brewery, Jacksonville, FL
Junio Show, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
1999 - 2001:
First Fridays Group Shows, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
ACTIVITIES:
Co-Director / Art Instructor, Brooklyn Artsmith Collective, Brooklyn, NY
Resident Artist, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
Installation Artist, Pipe Tree Installation, Florida State College - Kent Campus, Jacksonville, FL
Mural Artist, Women of Humanties Mural Project, Florida State College - Kent Campus, Jacksonville, FL
Mural Artist / Art Instructor, Make A Difference Day, Justina Elementary, Jacksonville, FL
PRESS:
"Q&A WITH ARTIST GIGI BIO - Don't Call Her a Cubist, She's Been Here For Years!" Interview on www.sofreshsogreen.com
"Restitching the City in Photos" Article on www.bushwickbk.com
"Friday Art Star: Gigi Bio" Featured Artist on www.protopol.us
"Cityscapes: Street Art Comes to PS261" Article on www.wync.org
AWARDS:
Marian Edna Effing Portfolio Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Visual Arts Talent Grant, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
PUBLICATIONS:
Street or Studio - A Photobook, Tate Modern, London, UK
Click! A Crowd-Curated Exhibition, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Schmaps Guides - Online & Desktop Travel Guides
COLLECTIONS:
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL
REPRESENTED BY:
Galerie Geraldine Zberro, Paris, France
Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
