THE ART OF THE LANZA

Raised on an underground language of imagery from the flat world contained on the front of cereal boxes, toys and television programs, Lanza blends ironic spice into the expected charm of his visual treats.

Using found objects and words to develop his paintings; Lanza mixes the old with his new. His antique frames are built using old trimming and moldings, found scraps of wood, and old wooden drawers. Combining features of cartoon and folk art, his work is a composition of extractions and rearrangements from his drawings and sketches that explore a self-contained realityanother universe incorporating fantasies and illustrations.  He brings to it a distinctive liking for tightly stitched paintings, amiable art patterns and crystalline, hard-edged shapes as well as an affection for old wallpaper, tin toys and cartooning. Lanza works both big and small and in two and three dimensions, depicting emotional relations between characters with a touching, comedic sense.

Raised in a small town north of Milwaukee WI, Gabe Lanza craved more in life. After leaving his job as a product designer at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, he set out to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a poor artist eating ramen noodles in an overpriced city. Now a full-time painter and sculpture, Gabe lives and works out of his studio in Bridgeport, a southern neighborhood in Chicago, IL.  When hes not on the road traveling to art shows, Gabe enjoys sipping Whiskey Old-Fashions, riding his vintage motorcycle, and playing board games with his wife, baby boy and 26 pound cat.

Please visit gabelanza.com to see more awesomeness that is Gabe Lanza.