John Wells

EDUCATION
Creative work has always been the foundation of my life. In college I had six years of extensive training in drawing, painting, sculpture, and art history, and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Design. My career in retail design was very fulfilling, working worldwide in architecture and design, and over all these years I have always painted and made sculptures. I have presented figurative and abstract work in varying venues including competitions and private galleries throughout my life.
DISABILITY
In the late 1990’s, I developed an Essential Tremor (ET). ET is a genetically inherited progressive neurological disorder, causing considerable shaking, primarily in my hands. Even with medication, the tremor reduces my ability to use small motor skills, limiting my ability to draw freehand. Faced with ever declining control of line making skills, I chose to refocus my art away from figurative work, to primarily abstract painting and sculpture.
ME
I have always been a very structured person; military school, pre-med, then architecture and design. I prefer compositions that are geometric, rectilinear, symmetrical and controlled. I work to minimize my compositions with forms that embrace regimentation while employing a wide variet...

B.S. Degree in Design, University of Cincinnati.

2023 Exhibitions:
April - Red Wing Arts, Red Wing, MN, “Material Geometry 3”, solo show

2022 Exhibitions:
June/August - Modes of Being, Contemporary Art in Minnesota, Anderson Center, Red Wing MN, group show, included “Material Geometry 2”

2021 Exhibitions:
September - Red Wing Arts, Red Wing, MN, “Material Geometry”, solo show

2020 Covid-19 Pandemic

2019 Exhibitions:
May/June - Red Wing Arts, Red Wing, MN, “Contrast Exhibition” 2 person show with Amy Crickenberger Oath
February/March - Sheldon Theater, Red Wing , Mn, 2 person sculpture show “Then & Now” with Charles Biederman

2018 Exhibitions:
January/February - Red Wing Arts, Red Wing, MN, “Circle” group show

2017 Exhibitions:
September - Red Rock Center for the Arts, Fairmont, MN, solo show
August - Red Wing Arts Association, Red Wing, MN, featured artist show
July - Artist Initiative Open House, Red Wing MN, solo show
March/April - Red Wing Arts Association, Red Wing, MN group show

2016 Exhibitions:
May/June – Red Wing Arts Association, Red Wing, MN 2 person show with Steven Sorman

2015 Moved home and studio

2014 Exhibitions:
October/November – Bloomington Art Center, Inez Greenberg Gallery, Bloomington, MN, group show
March/April – Bloomington Art Center, Atrium Gal...