BIOGRAPHY
Jimi Gleason is a contemporary artist whose work explores the dynamic interplay between light, material, and perception. Born in Newport Beach, California, Gleason studied fine arts at UC Berkeley, graduating in 1985. His artistic journey began with studies in printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute and work as a photo assistant in New York City. Upon returning to California, he spent five years working in the studio of renowned artist Ed Moses, an experience that profoundly shaped his understanding of abstraction and materiality.
Gleason’s paintings are celebrated for their luminous, reflective surfaces created through a meticulous and labor-intensive process. His primary medium, silver nitrate, is applied using techniques inspired by industrial processes. This approach connects his work to the legacy of the West Coast Minimalist and Light & Space movements, which explored the intersection of art, technology, and perception. The result is a body of work that transcends the boundaries of traditional painting, engaging viewers in an immersive, ever-changing experience.
The reflective surfaces of Gleason’s works are activated by light and the viewer’s presence, creating a dynamic interaction that is central to his artistic vision. His paintings echo the alchemical principles of transformation, offering a meditative space where materiality and the ephemeral coexist. Gleason’s work invites viewers to explore themes of duality and connection, where the boundaries between the physical and metaphysical dissolve.
Over his career, Gleason has exhibited in prestigious institutions such as the Hammer Museum, the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Tucson Museum of Art. His work is included in significant public and private collections worldwide, earning him recognition for his innovative approach and technical mastery.
Living and working in Southern California, Gleason continues to push the limits of abstraction and material exploration, creating works that challenge traditional notions of painting while offering a profound and contemplative experience for the viewer.
EDUCATION
1985-86 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
1985 BFA, University of California, Berkeley, CA
SOLO EXHIBITION
2025 Chang Gallery, NewYork, New York
2024 Sugarlift, New York, New York
2023 Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2022 Mark Moore Fine Art, Orange, CA
William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Mark Moore Fine Art, Orange, CA
2018 Orth Contemporary, Tulsa, OK
Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2017 William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2016 William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015 RB Stevenson Gallery, Silver Deposit, La Jolla, CA
William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2013 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2012 RB Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2011 Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
Samuel Freeman, Los Angeles, CA
2010 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Works on Paper, Philadelphia, PA
LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2009 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
Samuel Freeman, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 Patricia Faure Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2006 R.B. Stevenson Gallery, La Jolla, CA
LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Kidder-Smith Gallery, Boston, MA
2005 Patricia Faure Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Works on Paper, Philadelphia, PA
LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2004 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Kidder-Smith Gallery, Boston, MA
Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2003 Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
New Urban Art, Phoenix, AZ
2002 Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1999 Edward Giardina Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
1994 Dakota Studio, New York, NY
1992 637 Gallery, New York, NY
1990 SFA, New York, NY
1988 The World, New York, NY
1987 Clancy Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
WORKS
