Justin Adian
(Born 1976)
Justin Adian was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1976. He graduated with a BFA from the University of North Texas in 2000, and an MFA from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of Art in 2003.
His core process involves stretching oil, enamel or spray painted canvas around foam cushions, often combining two or more shapes to form composite wall-mounted sculptures. Adian’s work comfortably straddles the theoretical divide between painting and sculpture with wry assertiveness.
Adian’s practice gives depth and color to three-dimensional forms without having them part from the mounting wall and becoming freestanding objects. His paintings embody a pioneering, if not punk rock, spirit: demonstrating an effervescence, looseness and playfulness in their rebellious composition and unexpected colors.
Selected exhibitions include Skarstedt, London, 2014; Luxembourg & Dayan, New York, NY, 2014; Blackston, New York, NY, 2012; Martos Gallery, New York, NY, 2012; Bryant Park, New York, NY, 2010-11: Blackston, New York, NY, 2010; Rachel Uffner Gallery in New York, NY, 2010; Jack the Pelican Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, DepARTment Gallery, Toronto Ontario, HBC Gallery, Berlin, Germany, all in 2009; North Hall Gallery, New York, NY, 2008; and at UNT Artspace, Fort Worth, TX, 2007.
EDUCATION
2003
Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of Art, MFA
2000
University of North Texas, BFA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Waltz, Almine Rech Gallery, Paris
2015
Fort Worth, Skarstedt Chelsea, New York
2014
Strangers, Skarstedt, London
Backlits, The National Exemplar, New York
2012
Come and Take It, Blackston, New York
2010
Afterglow, Blackston, New York
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
In Different Ways, Almine Rech Gallery, London
Puff Pieces, Rachel Uffner, New York
2015
Rascal House, Half Gallery, New York
Sprayed, Gagosian Gallery, Britannia Street, London
2014
The Shaped Canvas, Revisited, Luxembourg & Dayan, New York
Legs, The National Exemplar, New York
2013
Sculpture after Artschwager, David Nolan Gallery, New York
Justin Adian & Tristano Di Robilant, National Exemplar Gallery, New York
Steven Parrino/Blair Thurman/Justin Adian, Half Gallery, New York
2012
Salon Zürcher, Galerie Zürcher, Paris
I’m So Goth – I am Dead!, Queen’s Nails, San Francisco
New Traditionalist, Martos Gallery, New York
Can’t Stop Rock Lobster – Merkx & Gyrnne, Shoot the Lobster, New York
2011
Battle of the Brush: An Outdoor Painting Exhibit, Curated by Alexander Glauber, Bryant Park, New York
2010
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Benefit Auction, Lehmann Maupin, New York
You Were There, Curated by Thomas Duncan, Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York
Painting Comes Alive, Artjail
2009
Before the wind blows it all away, Rover Yonder, New York
Untitled, Jack the Pelican Gallery, New York
Conceptual Furniture, DepARTment Gallery, Toronto
Lynchmob, HBC Gallery, Berlin
2008
$999 Christmas Bizarre, Honey Space, New York
Collapsed Present, North Hall Gallery, New York
2007
UNT/NYC #2: Painting, the Semi Sublime, UNT Artspace, Fort Worth
2004
Into the Woods, Morsel Gallery, New York
Pushing Paint,Center for Visual Arts, Brookdale College, New Jersey
The Very Rich Hours, Elizabeth Line, New York
2003
Toxic, Max Protetch Gallery, New York
New Slang, Luhring Augustine Gallery, New York
Off the Top, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York
Painting’s Edge Summer Residency Exhibition, Idyllwild, California
Art for Democracy, Phillips de Pury & Luxembourg, New York
Selections from the MFA Annual, OSP Gallery, Boston
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Rutgers University Gallery, Mason Gross School of the Arts, New Brunswick, New Jersey
CAA MFA Exhibition, Hunter College, New York
2002
Faculty & Graduate Student Exhibition, Rutgers, New Brunswick, New Jersey
2001
Master of Reality, Four Walls Gallery, Fort Worth
Five by Seven by X, Dunn & Brown Gallery, Dallas
2000
Pretty Paintings by Rejects, Good/Bad Art Collective, Denton, Texas
Expo 2000, 500X Gallery, Dallas
Beautiful Intentions, Cora Stafford Gallery, Denton, Texas
1999
Video Night, Good/Bad Art Collective, Denton, Texas
Senior Thesis Exhibition, Cora Stafford Gallery, Denton, Texas
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2015
Prince, Richard. “Justin Adian”, Interview Magazine, January 2015
2014
Strangers, Skarstedt, London, United Kingdom (exhibition catalogue)
Justin Adian: Soft and Loose, Fulton Ryder, New York
Meghan Dailey, “Artist Justin Adian Thinks Like a Painter”, W Magazine, June 2014
2010
Smith, Roberta. “Abstraction in Manhattan”, The New York Times, August 2010
2007
O’Brien, Titus. “New York Accents”, April 2007
2004
Conner, Jill. “The Very Rich Hours”, Contemporary, August 2004, issue 65
2003
Rinder, Lawrence. New American Paintings, MFA Annual, 2003 (illustrated)
Wallach, Amei. “Driven to Abstraction”, Artnews, November 2003, Vol.102, No.10
