Rick Midler

Rick Midler, is an award-winning artist and creative director based in Brooklyn, NY. He is known for creating cloud-people in quiet reflection within surrealistic cloudscapes.

Midler told these stories in his earlier work with ink, oils and printmaking. His latest body of work "The Cloudman Chronicles" is a collection of mixed media pieces that use decorative papers to tell the story of a spiritual journey and a retreat to a simpler time.

"Papers and patterns were chosen for their ability to transport me back to my childhood - when entering the floral-wallpapered hallway of my great-grandmother’s home meant transforming an insecure boy into a loved and valued member of a nurtured tribe. This house had soup on the stove and cakes and conversation and hugs at all times. It was also home to my older cousins who were circus-folk, in Vaudeville and on Broadway. Each room’s decor evoked a unique type of spectacle - from sparkly gold and silver materials to soft woven Damask fabrics."

Chosen papers are then cut into cloud shapes by hand. The repeated cutting of curved cloud shapes with scissors becomes a meditation. Even the characters within the pieces are represented as curved and semi-amorphic human-shaped clouds to present th...

Rick Midler graduated with a BFA in Visual Communications at the University of Delaware - a 4-year degree program, beginning with 2 years of Core Art & Design courses followed by 2 years of BFA-VC courses. Post-graduation, he continued his studies by attending various courses at SVA (School of Visual Arts) and The Art Students League, both in New York City. He spent his early career as an art director and creative director for BBDO, NY and received an Emmy for his work for HBO and many various industry awards.

2021 (E)mergence, 912 Julia, New Orleans - curated by Stephanie Pearl

2020 Openly Unapologetic, Fable Jones Studios, Brooklyn, NY - group exhibit curated by Fable Jones

2020 Superfine! Art Fair, NY and virtual

2020 Altered States, National Juried Exhibition, Pleiades Gallery, Chelsea, NYC - Curators: Denise Adler, Al Benkin, Joseph O’Neill

2019 Flatbush Artists Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY

2019 Clio Art Fair, Chelsea, NY

2019 Dina Fanai’s Fearless Release Party - Live Collage Event - curated by Bob Kinkel, founder of multi-platinum selling arena rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO)

2019 PS321 Art Auction - Live Collage Event - curated by Shani Ankori, SaSaDi Odunsi, Lauren Gropp Lowry & Hillery Stone

2019 Superfine! Art Fair, SoHo, NY

2019 Melted Everything, The Vanderbilt Republic, New York, NY - Live Painting

2018 Clouds & Trees, Automatic Studios, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY - a two person show with Jeila Gueramian

2018 Pelham Art Center, Pelham, NY: “Studio Café,” curated by Charlotte Mouquin

2018 Flatbush Artists Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY

2017 Solo Exhibition: "Featured in the Unbodied Air," Littlefield, Brooklyn, NY - curated by Julie Kim

2017...