John Koller

My artwork is a reflection of my own unusual cultural background. As the first-born son of immigrants from El Salvador and Germany, I’ve been deeply influenced by a unique cultural experience and wide range of interests. Music, fashion, archeology and the theater are among the many inspirations that fuel my work.

The theater is a specific source of my inspiration, where multiple perspectives and sensations are elemental to the overall experience. I am interested in how the theater can be used as a space and a place for different rituals and identities to unfold. The hidden spaces and shifting scenery of a stage provides an intriguing environment to explore and improvise.

Now living and working in Los Angeles, I continue to use a melting pot approach in my studio as I push the boundaries of my creative practice. Sculpture, printmaking, collage and painting are often integrated in unexpected ways that are intended to surprise, seduce and connect with the viewer in memorable ways.

Education:

2005 Master of Fine Arts, California State University at Long Beach
1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts-Painting, San Jose State University

Select Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Malaga Gallery, Palos Verdes Library, Palos Verdes, CA
2016 Night Moves, 4th Street Vine, Long Beach, CA
2013 Booms and Breaks, 4th Street Vine, Long Beach, CA
2010 Into the Mirror, 4th Street Vine, Long Beach, CA
2010 Funk-Fetish, Fullerton Art Center, Fullerton, CA
2009 Odd Additions, 4th Street Vine, Long Beach, CA
2008 Tish-a-Lish, Madu Salon, San Francisco, CA
2006 Flutter-Struck, Madu Salon, San Francisco, CA
2005 John Koller, enView Gallery, Long Beach, CA
2005 Funky Fetish, Gatov Gallery, CSULB, Long Beach, CA
2004 Funnel Gallery, Pasadena, CA
2004 Props, CSULB, Long Beach, CA
2004 Hard-Soft, Werby Gallery, CSULB Long Beach, CA
2001 Edo Salon, San Francisco, CA

Select Group Exhibitions:
2022 Surface Play, LAUNCH LA, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Reflection (curated by Terrell Tildon and Sunook Park), Korean Cultural Center and LAUNCH LA, Los Angeles, CA
2020 Activism and Art, South Bay Contemporary, SoLa Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Fresh (curator: Steven Wong), South Bay Contemporary, SoLa Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Interplay (curator: Holly Jerger), South Bay Contemporary, SoLa Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Polychromatic Mojo- Color As Content, Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA
2018 The Usual Susp...