John Aquilino
John Aquilino is a native of the New York metropolitan area. His artistic journey has taken him from Manhattan to Maryland. With a solid foundation as a New York City commercial artist for two decades, he embarked on a new path in 2003, moving to Montgomery County, and becoming a full-time fine artist. His studios are in Maryland and Delaware.
Aquilino’s artwork currently finds representation in DISTRICT Arts and the Main Street Gallery in Maryland, the Chester Gallery and the George Billis Gallery in Connecticut, and Boston Art in Massachusetts. He has had 13 solo exhibitions and participated in over 75 juried and invitational group shows, garnering recognition through various awards. Galleries have exhibited his work at art fairs including Red Dot Miami, SOFA Chicago, Art Fair 14C, Affordable Art Fair NYC, Architectural Digest Home Design Show, and Boston International Art Fair. He has received grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (Art Bank Collection), the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. His paintings are included in over a dozen corporate, nonprofit, and museum collections.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The urban landscape has been the focus of my artwork. In exploring the cityscape theme, I'm fascinated by the endless patterns of colors and shadows produced by the changing light throughout the day and even at different times of the year. My goal is not to document a particular city or view. Instead, I manipulate shapes and shadows to create striking compositions. The colors are exaggerated, the surfaces are simplified, and architectural features are rearranged or eliminated. My work often combines realistic and abstract elements, and I find this contrast interesting. My preferred media are oil and gouache, but I also use photography, drawing, and collage to create urban landscapes.