New York City based artist Gavin Spielman is a prolific award-winning painter and painting Instructor at Parsons School of Design. His work is primarily executed using oil on canvas. In the tradition of Cezanne, Corot, Millet and the Barbizon school, Spielman creates landscapes out of still life scenarios. Spielman’s landscape paintings capture a serene and detached view, inherently implying the divinity of nature. His work is often described as ‘timeless’ – as he draws his technique from that of the early masters, incorporating extensive under-painting and glazing. Developed over a period of weeks, often months, his work is solely rendered from life.

Spielman’s still life work incorporates elements of realism, while less integral characteristics understatedly suggest detail. These paintings are abstract narratives – the fruit may be placeholders for people - an exploration of the human condition. The marriage or disconnections between these forms connote the family unit - the surrounding fabric representing the chaotic universe in which these items are united.

Recently featured in the "Boldface Names" column of The New York Times and proclaimed "Metro Masterpieces" by the New York Daily News, Mr. Spielmans paintings have received additional noteworthy praise from Long Islands Newsday, Dans Papers and other prominent media in and around the City.

Mr. Spielman often creates his paintings on the City streets, where owners of the historic and landmark homes that are frequently his subjects often offer to purchase work before the artist has made his final brush stroke. Prominent homeowners whose personal art collections feature works by Mr. Spielman include VH1 President, John Sykes, and Don Taffner, producer of classic sitcoms, including Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort.

Motivated by the works of Nerdrum, Rembrandt and Dine –Mr. Spielman’s portraits evoke numinous feelings of solitude and hope . Mr. Spielman is a member of the National Arts Club, the Salmagundi Club and the Society of Portrait Artists. Dedicating his life to teaching and exploring oil technique –Mr. Spielman is the quintessential painters’ painter.

Exhibitions

2007

West End Gallery
Ongoing Representation

Auld Alliance Gallery
Ongoing Representation

Windham Gallery
Paint The Mountaintop 2007

2006

Windham Gallery
Paint The Mountaintop 2006

Painters on Location
Plein Air Paint Out and Live Auction

The Phatory Gallery
East Village Parks Conservancy Art Exhibition

Salmagundi Club
Junior and Scholarship Exhibition
Frank Dumont. Award Winner for 'West Village Walk' Oil Painting
Annual Members Exhibition
Self Portrait Exhibition

West End Gallery
Ongoing Representation

Barrie Holt Gallery
Ongoing Representation

Pierre's Restaurant
Bridgehampton Upscale French Cuisine

Salmagundi Club
Self Portrait Exhibition

2005

Anne Irwin Fine Art
Small Works Show

Lincoln Center
Los Artistas De Losaida 'Decadence' Exhibition.

Addison Art Gallery
Solo Exhibition of over 15 regional landscapes

Windham Fine Art
Paint the Mountaintop Group Exhibition

Addison Art Gallery
Blooms Group Exhibition

Salmagundi Club
Annual Members Exhibition
Jack Richeson & Co. Award Winner for 'Huguenot Library' Oil Painting

Anne Irwin Fine Art
Ongoing Gallery Exhibition

2004

Lincoln Center
8th Annual 'Artistas De Losaida' Exhibition.

Salmagundi Club
Junior and Scholarship Exhibition
Junior and Scholarship Award Winner for ‘Hampton Home’ Oil Painting

Bobby Vans
Solo exhibition of still life and landscape work

Marquet
Solo Cityscape exhibition.

2003

Lincoln Center
Los Artistas De Losaida 'Synergy' Exhibition.

Marquet
Cityscape exhibition.

Bobby Vans
Landscape exhibition of eastern Long Island.

Jefferson Market Library
Solo exhibition throughout the month of March.

Silver Swan Restaurant
Solo exhibition of 30 new paintings.

Salmagundi Arts Club
'Self Portaiture' group show.

2002

Stephen Downes Gallery
Group Show in SoHo Gallery.

Lincoln Center
Group Show 'Los Artistas De Losaida'

Galerie Pelar
'Locals Past and Present'
Group showing of Long Island inspired scenes.

9th Street Market
'Ten portraits and a Still Life'
Solo show in upscale restaurant.

Nexus Gallery
Small Works 2002 Group Show
Selected to participate in juried exhibition.

Society of Illustrators
Prevailing Human Spirit Group Show
Exhibit in homage to the September 11, 2001 disaster.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent - Wolf Films/Studio USA Television
Scenes of Law & Order incorporates large scale paintings as backdrops.

2001

Gracie Square Art Show
Selected to participate in the 31st annual Gracie Square Art Show.

Pugliese Vineyards
Solo exhibition of limited edition Giclee prints as well as landscape and still life paintings.

Silver Swan Restaurant, New York, NY
Solo exhibition of 20 oil paintings depicting studio work as well as landmark and historic New York City buildings and landscapes in upscale Park Avenue restaurant.

2000

Gracie Square Art Show
Selected to participate in the 30th annual Gracie Square Art Show.

Bentley Manhattan Gallery
Exhibition of auto-related and still life paintings on exhibit at Madison avenue Rolls Royce and Bentley showroom.

2000 Bowery Gallery National Competition
Selected for national juried competiton in SoHo Gallery.

Silver Swan Restaurant, New York, NY
Still Life and Village Street Scenes
Solo exhibition of 27 oil paintings depicting West Village landmark and historic buildings as well as studio work in upscale Park Avenue restaurant.

1999

Pat Pong, New York, NY
Solo exhibition of nine oil paintings, New York landscapes and still lifes in downtown Thai restaurant.

Catherine Moore Fine Arts, New York, NY
Group Exhibition, Catherine Moore Fine Arts Gallery. Curated by Catherine Moore.

The Wave Cafe, New York, NY Faces and Places
Solo exhibition of 25 New York City-inspired drawings and mixed media paintings in popular West Village restaurant. Curated by Drew Jacobs.

1998

Manhattan Motor Car, Rolls Royce, New York, NY
Solo exhibition of automotive-themed oil paintings in highline car dealership.

Commissions

2000-2004

Gavin Spielman Fine Art
Various personal still life, portraits, landscape and design commissions.

1999

Classic Audi, East Chester, NY
Commissioned by owner to create a series of seven automotive-themed murals for permanent display in highline car dealership.

1998

Commissioned landscape watercolor painting for John Sykes, VH1 president.

Princeton Review/State Farm Insurance, New York, NY
Commissioned by founder and president, John Katzman, to design and illustrate the 1998-99 College Admissions Roadmap, a full-color, fold-out guide, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, widely-distributed to high schools across the country.

NARAL, New York, NY
Commissioned to design and illustrate the 1998 New York State Pro-Choice Voting Guide, distributed to pro-choice organizations and individuals throughout New York State.

National Aphasia Association, New York, NY
Commissioned to create poster for National Aphasia Awareness Month, distributed to more than 5,000 public hospitals nationwide for display.

Finkelstein, Levine, Gittlesohn & Partners, Newburgh, NY
Commissioned by Finkelstein, Levine, Gittlesohn & Partners law firm to illustrate and author Harms Way, syndicated comic strip featured in six New York newspapers.

1997

Women in Data Processing (WDP), New York, NY
Commissioned by senior vice president, Larry Willson, to design and illustrate corporate holiday greeting card, distributed to more than 1,000 industry organizations and professionals.

Manhattan Motors, Rolls Royce, New York, NY
Commissioned by owner to create a series of five automotive-related murals for permanent display in highline New York City car dealership.

Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
New York City-themed pen and ink drawing featured in Parsons School of Design 1997-98 Portfolio & Catalog.

1996

FlatIron News Magazine, New York, NY
Contributing illustrator to regional monthly magazine.

1995

Everybodys Magazine, Brooklyn, NY
Contributing illustrator to monthly magazine of Caribbean-American culture.

Private Collections

Mr. Warren Davis, Mrs. Debrah L. Cavanaugh-Schultz, Dr. Deborah Draving, Ph.D., Mr. Richard Grand, Mrs. Virginia Gordon, David and Jill Jacobs, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Koocher, Mrs. Doris Mandell, Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Meade, Mr. Matthew Minkin, Mr. Marshall Minkin, Mrs. Lissa Minkin Marquez, Mr. Brian Miller, Mr. Arthur Miller, Mr. Joe Monge, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Moscatt, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Nathanson, Ms. Jennifer Noble, Mr. Philip Ryan, Mr. Tony Sander, Mr. Glenn Nilson, Mr. Henry Schleiff, Mr. Gerald Siverman, Mr. John Sykes, Mr. and Mrs. Don Taffner, Mr. and Mrs. Lois Whitman and Eliot Hess

Teaching Experience

2000 - Present

Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
Painting Instructor

Other Courses Taught:
Material and Methods
Summer Intensive Study
Summer Academy
Advising
Semester Reviewer and Guest Lecturer

2000

'Nurture your childs love of art. '
Private tutoring for young artistic adults.

1998

In the Spotlight Performing Arts School, Queens, NY
Drawing and painting instructor for fifteen 8-15-year-old art students.

Awards:
Frank Dumont Award for 'West Village Walk'
Junior and Scholarship Award Winner for 'Hampton Home'
Jack Richeson & Co. Award Winner for 'Huguenot Library'

Education

1993-1997

Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration 1997
Courses: Illustration Concepts, Painting, Life Drawing
Honors: Dean's List

1991-1993

State University of New York, New Paltz, NY
Majors: Art and Philosophy

Courses: Painting, Drawing, Sculpting

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