Joseph Hronek
I believe the act of observational painting is an act of fiction because the painter is taking many separate moments and combining them into one unified moment. While this may seem more apparent when using a model who is constantly in a state of flux (blinking, shifting weight, etc.), the same holds true when observing a still life object. In this case, it’s the artist whose psychological makeup and perceptual abilities change from day-to-day. One could take a single object with set lighting and do painting after painting for the rest of one’s life and never come up with the same painting. I think all painting rooted in observation has a truly conceptual component. It all starts in our heads. This is why I have remained fascinated with representational painting over many years. You can never get a complete answer to what human perception is all about.
EDUCATION
M.F.A., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1986
B.A., Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1981
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007
Solo Exhibition, The Gwenda Jay/Addington Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2006
Transfigured, The Gwenda Jay/Addington Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2005
The Ever-Changing Landscape, Kentucky Museum of Art & Design, Louisville, Kentucky
2004
Exhibition of Gallery Artists, Gwenda Jay/Addington Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Solo Exhibition, The Gwenda Jay/Addington Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2002
The New Realism: 4th Annual National Realism Invitational, Center of the Earth Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina
2001
The Object Considered: Contemporary Still Life in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, Portsmouth, Ohio
The Object Considered, The Southbend Regional Museum of Art, Southbend, Indiana
2000
The Object Considered, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, Ohio
Solo Exhibition, Visiting Artists Series, The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
Solo Exhibition, The Gwenda Jay/Addington Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1999
60th Annual National Exhibition of Contemporary American Paintings, The Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, Florida
1998
Spiva Biennial 98, George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, Missouri
Absolut Vision 3—Chicago, Gwenda Jay Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Texas National ‘98, SFA Gallery, Stephan A. Austin University, Nacogdohes, Texas
Second Annual Derriere Guard Festival: Millenium Art and Architecture, The Graham Foundation, Chicago, Illinois
1997
Northern National, L.R.C. Gallery, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Milwaukee Art Expo, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Solo Exhibition, Gwenda Jay Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Two Person Exhibition, Saint Francis College, Fort Wayne, Indiana
1996
58th Annual National Exhibition of Contemporary American Paintings, Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach, Florida
Small Wonders, Gwenda Jay Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Inside Outside In, Carlson Tower Gallery, North Park College, Chicago, Illinois
Contemporary Realism, Community Cultural Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chicago Dealer’s Choice Exhibition, The Northern Indiana Arts Association Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Munster, Indiana
46th Spiva Biennial ‘96, George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, Missouri
A New Leaf, Gwenda Jay Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
National Art Exhibition: Form and Metaphor, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico
Flora ‘96, Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois
1995
Solo Exhibition, Union League Club of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
32nd Annual Patron Purchase Juried Competion, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, Georgia
Westmoreland Nationals, Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Westmoreland Nationals, Westmoreland Community College Exhibition, Westmoreland Community College, Youngblood, Pennsylvania
The Armory Art Center Annual Figurative Small Works Exhibition, Alfred K. Colaciello Gallery, Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida
8th Annual Artstravaganza, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee
12x12x12x95 International Small Painting and Sculpture Competition, San Jacinto College, Houston, Texas