Jon C. Kwak
P.O Box 1532
Fletcher, NC 28732
Ph: 408-674-3842
Email: jonkwakx1@gmail.com
Education
L’accademia Belle Arti di Firenze, Italia (The Art Academy of Florence) 1998-1999
San Diego State University, B.A (Studio Art) 2001
Solo Exhibitions
2010 Temescal Library, Oakland, CA
2008 Auto Row Smog Gallery, Oakland, CA
Stone Griffin Gallery, Campbell, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Healing Art, Tryon painters and Sculptors, St. Luke Hospital, Columbus, NC
2017 Bloc 5, Micro gallery, San Jose, CA
2016 Super Hunger Anti-Valentine day show, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
Altered painting, Redux Gallery, Alameda, CA
Fuse, Citadel Art Gallery, San Jose, CA
Vote Your Subconsciousness, Works Gallery, San José, CA
2015 Over the top, Works gallery, San Jose, CA
A portrait in Diversity, studio one art center, Oakland, CA
Jjag artist group show (10pcs), Citadel Art Gallery, San José, CA
2014 Benefit Auction, Works gallery, San Jose, CA
Bits and Pieces, Studio Channel Island Art Center, Ventura, CA
Shelter, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
Shelter, The Citadel Gallery, San Jose, CA
Anti-heart valentine, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
2013 Transport, Member exhibition, Pro-Arts, Oakland, CA
Seed, The Citadel Gallery, San Jose, CA
Momentum 2013, Buongiorno Studio Gallery, Santa Clara, CA
Influences, The Citadel Gallery, San Jose, CA
Drink and be Merry, member show, The Works gallery, San Jose, CA
2012 Benefit Auction, Works gallery, San Jose, CA
2012 Cross Currents 6th Annual Exhibition of California Artists, Alameda Museum, Alameda, California
2012-2011 The Fine Art of Recycling, Sculpture Exhibition, Santa Clara City Hall, Santa Clara, California
Annual Holiday Show, The Prescott-Joseph Center, Oakland, California
2011 “Milvia Street and Literacy Journal Show,” Berkeley City College, Berkeley, California
“The Silicon Valley Artists Collaborative,” Firehouse North Gallery, Berkeley, California
“Biennial Indoor Sculpture Exhibition,” Santa Clara City Hall, Santa Clara, California
“L’accademia Belle Arti Alumni Show,” Lakeview Library, Oakland, California
2009 Milvia Street and Literacy Journal Show, Berkeley City College, Berkeley, California
“Past, Present, Future,” Expression Gallery, Berkeley, California
2008 “Box Art Benefit Auction,” Pro-Arts, Oakland, California
2007 “Peace Imagining,” Art of Living center, Berkeley, California
“Fleeting Moments,” Giorgi gallery, Oakland, California
2006 “Makeshift Metaphors,” Brooks College, Sunnyvale, California
“Mask, Myth, Magic,” Expression Gallery, Berkeley, California
2005 “Love and Chaos Revisited,” Alameda Artworks, San Jose, California
2004 “Melt,” Art Explosion Open Studio, San Francisco, California
“Structures of Sufferings,” Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, California
2003 “Similar and Differences,” Wine Gallery, San Jose, California
“Taste of the Arts,” South County Regional Center Lobby Gallery, Chula Vista,
California
2002 “Artist’s Collective,” Broker Building Gallery, San Diego, California
“Off-The Beaten Track,” Broker Building Gallery, San Diego, California
1999 “Odyssey,” Galleria Vialrga, Florence, Italy
“Cinquacento,” L’academia Belle Arti di Firenze, Florence, Italy
Awards
2011 Artist Fellowship Grant, New York, NY
2010 Creative Capacity Fund, CCI, San Francisco, CA
2008 Business of Art, Creative Entrepreneur Grant, CCI/San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs
2003 “Taste of Arts” The National Arts Program, “Honoary Mention Award” San Diego, CA
Publications
2011 Milvia Street Arts and Literacy Journal, Berkeley City College
2009 Milvia Street Arts and Literacy Journal, Berkeley City College
Artist Residency
2003 San Jose Downtown art project, daytime artist resident at African-American Agency space
2004 Jentel Art Residency, (accepted as an alternative space list) Fall Season
Volunteer and Assistant Projects
2012-2008 Susan Felix, Artist Assistant, Berkeley, CA
2003 James Hubbell, Sculptor/Architect, Tijuana Mexico
Andy Goldsworthy, International British Sculptor, La Jolla Contemporary Museum of Art
2003 “The Little Prince” a group set design project for Cinco de Mayo, Coleglio Esperanza, Tijuana, Mexico
1999-2004 Conchita V. Amata, Artist Assistant, San Diego, CA
Affiliation
Pro-Arts Gallery, current
Jingletown Art and Business Community, 2008
San Jose Art League/ PAN (Progressive Artist’s Network) 2003-2005
Artist Statement
My artwork is about the image of ‘X’– this creative foundation was discovered while I was a studying at L’accademia Belle Arti di Firenze (The Fine art of Academy of Florence) in Italy. This foundation was laid out as an emotional context–the feeling isolation at the time as a foreign student which has led me to exploring the possibilities of image of ‘X’ for thirteen years. To me 'X' evokes and signifies childhood memory or life being x-ed out, marked, finished, reborn-liked in my work. During my creative process of the 'X', I do not read the ‘X’ as a Roman numeral or letter; I am more interested in observing the shapes when juxtaposed with the found objects. There is an inexplicable mystery when the image of ‘X’ juxtaposed with found objects
Biography
Jonathan C. Kwak is a graduate San Diego State University and studied at L’accademia Belle Arti in Firenze (The Art Academy of Florence) in Italy from 1998-1999. Mr.Kwak has worked with famous international artists like Andy Goldsworthy, Conchita Amata, James Hubbell and Susan Felix. Recently, Mr. Kwak was one of recipient at Artist Fellowship,Inc from New York in 2011. Mr. Kwak has taught art all age groups (k-12) in California and Vermont. He has been shown his work in Italy, San Diego, and around the Bay Area.
Jonathan C. Kwak is a graduate San Diego State University and studied at L’accademia Belle Arti in Firenze (The Art Academy of Florence) in Italy from 1998-1999. Mr.Kwak has worked with famous international artists like Andy Goldsworthy, Conchita Amata, James Hubbell and Susan Felix. Recently, Mr. Kwak was one of recipient at Artist Fellowship,Inc from New York in 2011. Mr. Kwak has taught art all age groups (k-12) in California and Vermont. He has been shown his work in Italy, San Diego, and around the Bay Area.
