Liam Dean | Abstract Artist

About

 

BIO

Liam is a self-taught painter with no formal training as a fine artist. Instead, his process has developed from inventing methods and techniques that are entirely his own. Believing that ordinary approaches yield ordinary results, Liam has continually demonstrated a unique perspective to application, spawning an aesthetic that dually reads as both sophisticated and approachable. In March of 2009, he sporadically began experimenting on canvas in his Philadelphia apartment for fun. Ignited by the exercise, he was possessed to take up painting full-time from that moment forward, rapidly draining his savings on supplies and working around-the-clock. By April, there were so many pieces throughout every workable inch of his space he had to start sleeping in his closet. Clearly, something was unleashed.

Like so many hungry emerging artists Liam began selling on the streets in places like Rittenhouse Square and Olde City, or up in Manhattan at Union Square. Soon he partnered with local businesses, restaurants, and galleries to position his abstracts for sale throughout the tri-State area. Month after month, Liam continued to create, position, sell, and widen his radius of exposure, growing a larger following of collectors and building a business in the process. His industrious nature combined with a keen network of friends and family have been quintessential in fueling each endeavor; one foot simply following the next. Over the last thirteen years, his work has gone from the floor of an apartment to international contemporary attractions like the L.A. Art Show. He has been commissioned by private collectors, celebrities and interior designers to paint custom pieces for homes and businesses throughout the country.


" Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art. "

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is characterized by a distinctively elemental quality that echoes phenomena found in the natural world. Compositions are charged, readily engaging the imagination with animated forms, textures, and tones that feel reminiscent. My aim is building an immersive experience that disarms viewers with an evocative mystique.

Rightfully, some people find abstract expressionism underwhelming. They aren't sure what exactly they should be seeing or feeling, and often, I think, maybe the artist’s intentions just didn’t match execution. Art is personal. But, I believe art should be charming - in whatever way - not challenging. Hidden meanings and pedantically cryptic messages are just crutches. A writer crafts stories. Painters should paint.

In a visual medium your task as maker is to successfully guide an array of details into focus. You learn from every piece. every mark that you make, each triumph, every failure, and all of the happy accidents that occur lead you to a cleaner articulation of what you are trying to express. “Paint” can be many different kinds of material, and there are endless ways to place it on a surface without even considering a brush. Intentions. Execution. Ordinary approaches to painting will always result in ordinary paintings, so the methods I develop as an artist mostly employ unusual tools & techniques inherent to my specific vision. They are an alphabet for me alone that never stops growing.

I paint because I crave change, and I challenge myself everyday to imagine newer, unthinkable ways to move paint.

remarkable things happen because someone bothers to make them happen.

 

EXHIBITIONS + EXPOSURE

 

Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist 

• 45 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ  

• February - June 2020

Art Palm Springs  |  Sergott Contemporary Art Alliance

• Palm Springs Convention Center  

• February 2017

L.A. Art Show  |  Sergott Contemporary Art Alliance

• Los Angeles Convention Center  

• January 2017

Naivasha Studio & Gallery  |  resident Artist

• 1499 Grant Ave. San Francisco, CA  

• August 2016 - December 2017

Hudson Home  |  featured Artist  

• 366 Warren St. Hudson, NY  

• August 2015 - April 2016

Design On A Dime  |  Nile Johnson Interior Design  |  featured Artist

• Metropolitan Pavilion  |  125 W. 18th Street New York, NY  

• April 2015

Warburg Realty  |  curated by Element 6 Arts  |  solo exhibition

• 124 Hudson St. New York, NY  

• February - April 2015

Philadelphia Home Show  |  Concept 2 Design Interiors  |  featured Artist

• Philadelphia Convention Center  

• January 2015

NEST Interiors  |  featured Artist

• 172 9th Ave. New York, NY  

• November 2014 - May 2015

Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist 

• 45 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ  

• October 2014 - February 2015

Bucks County Designer House & Garden  |  Concept 2 Design Interiors  |  featured Artist

• Serendipity Farm  |  Bucks County, PA  

• March 2014

Copper Hill Real Estate  |  resident Artist 

• 30 S. 15th Street Philadelphia, PA  

• February 2014 - May 2016

InLiquid Art + Design  |  silent auction  |  featured Artist 

• Crane Arts Building  |  1400 N. American St. Philadelphia, PA  

• February 2014

Bridgette Mayer Gallery  |  "Benefit for BalletX"  |  featured Artist

• 709 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA  

• July - August 2013

Impact HUB  |  co-working space  |  resident Artist 

• 1227 N. 4th Street Philadelphia, PA  

• July 2013 - October 2015

The Resolution Project  |  charity gala  |  solo booth 

• Copia  |  307 E. 53rd Street New York, NY  

• June 2013

DeRose Method  |  coaching + consulting  |  curated by Element 6 Arts  |  featured Artist 

• 55 Murray St. New York, NY  

• May 2013 - March 2016

Anotheroom  |  bar  |  featured Artist 

• 249 W. Broadway New York, NY  

• April 2013 - January 2014

Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist 

• 45 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ  

• March - June 2013

Fatty 'Cue  |  restaurant  |  resident Artist 

• 91 S. 6th Street Brooklyn, NY  

• March - November 2013

Fabio Doti Salon  |  featured Artist 

• 40 Exchange Place New York, NY  

• January 2013 - February 2014

Kelly-Cataldi Home  |  featured Artist 

• 280 N. Keswick Ave. Glenside, PA  

• December 2012 - February 2013

John Allan's  |  featured Artist 

• 418 Washington St. New York, NY  

• July - September 2012

Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist 

• 45 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ  

• June - November 2012

Center for Family Representation (CFR)  |  charity gala  |  solo booth 

• Capitale  |  130 Bowery New York, NY  

• November 2011

Sorelle  |  salon + spa  |  featured Artist 

• 520 Limekiln Pike Ambler, PA  

• October 2011 - February 2012

La Chele  |  medical spa  |  curated by Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist 

• 430 Union Square Drive New Hope, PA  

• September 2011 - June 2012

Knapp Gallery  |  solo exhibition 

• 162 N. 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA  

• June 2011

Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist

• 45 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ  

• April - November 2011

LiveWell Network's "Mary Talks Money" (ABC)  |  interviewed by Mary Caraccioli 

• 604 S. Washington Square Philadelphia, PA  

• February 2011

John Allan's  |  featured Artist

• Saks Fifth Avenue  |  611 5th Avenue. New York, NY  

• January - June 2011

Sporting Club at The Bellevue  |  solo exhibition

• 224 S. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA  

• January - June 2010

Fourth Wall Arts Salon  |  featured Artist 

• WHYY News Room  |  150 N. 6th Street Philadelphia, PA  

• January 2010

Teen Nickelodeon's "HALO Awards"  |  (artwork featured in episode) with Ashton Kutcher 

• John Allan's  |  418 Washington St. New York, NY  

• November 2010

John Allan's  |  featured Artist

• 418 Washington St. New York, NY  

• November 2010 - April 2011

Reinboth & Company  |  featured Artist

• 45 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ  

• September - December 2010

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts  |  solo booth exhibition

• Jenkintown, PA  

• September 2010

NuVision  |  medical spa  |  featured Artist

• 20 E. 46th Street New York, NY  

• June - September 2010

Glenside Arts Festival  |  solo booth exhibition 

• Glenside, PA  

• April 2010

Sweet Magnolia  |  featured Artist

• 117 S. Easton Rd. Glenside, PA  

• March - June 2010

John Allan's  |  featured Artist 

• 46 E. 46th Street New York, NY  

• March - July 2010

Ozzie Perez Salon  |  featured Artist 

• 260 S. 20th Street Philadelphia, PA

• March 2010 - April 2011

Kellijane  |  featured Artist 

• 1721 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA  

• December 2009 - September 2010

Comcast Center  |  silent auction  |  solo booth

• 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Philadelphia, PA  

• November 2009

Chris' Jazz Cafe  |  solo exhibition 

• 1421 Sansom St. Philadelphia, PA  

• November 2009

Washington Square Dental Group  |  featured Artist

• 604 S. Washington Square Philadelphia, PA  

• November 2009 - March 2010

SLATE  |  restaurant  |  resident Artist 

• 102 S. 21st Street Philadelphia, PA  

• November 2009 - February 2015

Thread Beauty Bar  |  featured Artist

• 1903 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA  

• October 2009 - March 2010

Dada Rug & Art Gallery  |  solo exhibition

• 113 S. 12th Street Philadelphia, PA  

• September 2009

Zot  |  restaurant  |  featured Artist

• 122 Lombard St. Philadelphia, PA  

• August 2009 - February 2010

Tbar  |  tea house  |  featured Artist

• 117 S. 12th Street Philadelphia, PA  

• July - September 2009

Daffy's  |  solo exhibition in Artist's window

• 1700 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA  

• July 2009

Blink Art Gallery  | solo exhibition

• 108 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA  

• June 2009