Artist’s Statement . Artist’s Bio . Fine Art Exhibition history
Artist’s STATEMENT
The most important moment in story-telling is the climax. I capture the climax in the story of my images during some kind of unsettling action. There is a cause and effect: Flying, falling, shooting, exploding, wind blown or deadly still, each subject is on the verge of epiphany, and faces a new conflict. It is a brief moment, right before the decision of either acceptance or rebellion. And this virginal moment allows the viewer the opportunity to decide the ending.
Art is telepathy; I want my work to be a conversation and to transcend mere decoration. My fans never cease to amaze me. Often a particular edgy piece seems destined to sit badly with an audience, only to become a best seller. And more than once, I have heard an equally insightful interpretation of a piece that is the exact opposite of the work’s original intention.
My process begins with reference images that are extensively altered and Photoshop them to suit my visions. Very little is “made up” as I go along. Each painting is planned for, but can evolve during the work. I love creating with my own hands and I take as much pride in building canvases, art-boxes, frames and mattes as I do the actual painting. I believe in the “sweat, blood, and tears” philosophy.
I worship hundreds traditional artists, yet must steer away from becoming “just like” one of them. Therefore inspiration comes by way of books, movies, comics, architecture, science, current events, and everyday observations.
My best ideas have yet to be created and I wish to spend the rest of my days getting to know them. There is a thrill with every opportunity to display my work, to be exposed and scrutinized and discussed. To me, a gallery showing is the equivalent of a wedding day, career advancement and a dream vacation, all in one.
Artist’s BIO
Danny Roberts was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s worked for the past ten years in the commercial arts field, but has always felt his real strengths will be found in self-expression. Whether in computer graphics, graphite, charcoal, water colors, pastels or oils, his skills are primarily self-taught.
In 2004, his first solo show was The Injured, at The Arts Factory in Las Vegas. The show included fourteen of his pastels and was a stirring success. He followed The Injured seven months later, in 2005 with twenty new oil paintings that were unveiled at the Art’s Factory, in a show called Externalities. Externalities set the standard for success for any guest artist showing there. His most recent show, By Any Means Necessary, at MTZContemporary unveiled 19 new paintings and set the standard for success at that gallery.
Danny Roberts captures the human spirit in metaphorical mid-sentence with realistic skill and in layers of expression that lie beneath the obvious imagery. The human form is central to his work, often with a critical focus on the hands or the face. The recurring imagery of his works include beautiful flying fabric, figures wielding weapons of hand to hand combat can play a characteristic role in the narrative and often a key visual component of a canvas is that it seems to be unfinished. He has recently employed some tattoo imagery around and through his figures.
In style, subject matter and inspiration, Danny Roberts is building a reputation for refined skill and disturbing beauty. He currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife. His original art shows in galleries throughout Las Vegas.
Fine ART
2007
2006
2005
2004
Commercial ART
2007
AWARDS
2006
2004
Juried Show, CCSN Art Club, The Art’s Factory, LV, NV, May 10-20, two entries, 2ed Prize
ORGANIZATIONS
2005-06
Allied Art’s Council of Southern Nevada
2004
EDUCATION
Press
2007
2006
2005
2004
REVIEWS
"Whatever you're into, no matter how obscure or difficult it may be to put into words, odds are Danny's already
reached deep into the collective unconscious, pulled & translated it into an amazing piece of art. I am absolutely
floored by the volumes his work speaks to specific social issues or intricate inner/interpersonal conflicts."
"The new Damned Ink Studios, located in the Arts Facotry, explodes wth the visions of local artist Danny Roberts.
Inspired by 19th century French academic painters and graphic novelists such as Fank Miller, Roberts' works range
from tempestous scenes that romanticize white-collar rage to depictions of grappling DC Comics rivals and diaphanous
forms of ink and jeans struggling to create a compelling ethos."
~Michael Monson, First Friday magazine
“Danny Roberts says his art is representative of the ‘dark underbelly of the corporate world.’ While this
may be the direct motivator of ‘By any Means Necessary,’ [the name of his Aug show] one can argue that
Roberts isn’t just guilty of abusing the corporate culture, but also of using his excellent artistry to
set it ablaze, violently.”
“Danny Roberts blew up MTZ Contemporary with his oily photorealism on canvas.”
“Roberts uses strokes that are crisper and textured while losing none of the monumental dimensionality
and modeling. These are bold and accomplished works that challenge the viewer not to look away.”
_______________________________________________________________________ Danny is available for commissions. An online
store is coming in the future since most of the work on my site is for sale. Whether the originals
are available or not, we are in the process of providing the originals as limited edition giclee
prints on canvas. And we will always have open edition poster prints for sale. Please
Contact
Danny regarding purchases, commissions or to simply comment on his work.
EXHIBITION HISTORY
Underdogs, Perihelion Arts, Phoenix, AZ , Dec 7–29, three entries
Vinyl Wednesday, TAO Nightclub in the Venetian Hotel on the LV Strip, LV, NV Oct 10, solo
Heavy Hitters, D.I.S., First Friday's 5th Aniversary, LV, NV, Oct 1–31, solo
Hell Will Be Worth It, , The Arts Factory, Common Area 1, LV, NV, Oct 1-31, one entry
Two Against..., MTZ Contemporary, Las Vegas, NV, Oct 1-31 – collaboration
Revelations,The Box Office, Las Vegas, NV, Jul 6-26, one entry
Downlow Artshow, Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, June 29-30, one entry
Material Discourse, M Modern, Las Vegas, NV, Jun 1 - Jul 13 solo
Melt Town Collaboraton Show, Twelve18, LV, Jun 8-29 " Ascending" by Dray & DR
Trifecto; Art, Music, Life, Rockhouse Nightclub on the LV Strip, LV, NV, Apr 6, one entry
Fools of April, Damned Ink Studios, LV, NV, Apr 6-27, one entry
Us vs. Them, Grand Opening of Damned Ink Studios, LV, NV, Mar 2-28, solo
Museum of Oddities, The Box Office, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 2-28, one entry
Gotham , M Modern, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 2-28, two entries
Blonde Bombshell, M Modern, Palm Springs, CA, Jan 27 - Feb 24, one entry
Underdogs, Toyroom, Sacramento, CA, Jan 19 - Feb 11, 2-30, six entries
LVSK8, MTZ Contemporary, Commerce Street Studios, Las Vegas, Nov 3-Dec 14 one entry
Confluence, Rake Gallery, Portland, Oregon, November 2-30, ten entries
Naked Lady, MTZ Contemporary, Commerce Street Studios, Las Vegas, NV Sep 8-30
By Any Means Necessary, MTZ Contemporary, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 7-30 – solo
Five 5ive Five Show, The Arts Factory, Common Area 1, May 5–30 – four entries
9 Iron Curtain for Obstacle Art, First Friday Street Fair, Apr 7
Vivid Portrayals, The Bridge Gallery @ City Hall, Feb 3 – Apr 7 – two entries
9 Iron Curtain for Obstacle Art, Commerce Street Studios, Mar 3 – Jun 30, commissioned entry
Friday the 13th, Gallery Au Go Go, Las Vegas, NV, Jan 13-30 – solo
Best of the Best, The Art’s Factory, Las Vegas, NV, Oct 7-30 - two entries
Collections, Seat Gallery, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 5-30 – six entries
Externalities, The Arts Factory: Common Area 1, Las Vegas, NV, Jun 3-30 - solo
Heroes & Villains, The Arts Factory: Common Area 2, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 4-30 - one entry
Collection, Studio 5ive, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 4-30 - two entries
The Injured, The Arts Factory: Common Area 2, Las Vegas, NV, Nov 5-30, - solo
Juried Show, CCSN Art Club, The Arts Factory, Las Vegas, NV, May 10-20, two entries, 2ed Prize
Juried Show, CCSN Art Club, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 1-30, three entries, Hon. Mention
HISTORY
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Get Out of Town Dec 13-19 2007
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Ditigal File Sharing Nov 8-14 2007
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Apocalupse Now, Sep 27-Oct 3 2007
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Church of Geek Aug 2-8 2007
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Mission Impossible, Apr 5-11 2007
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Las Vegas Drivers Mar 15-27 2007
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, The List, Jan 18-24 2007
2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Get Out of Town Dec 14-20 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Best of the Valley Nov 16-22 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, 7th Ann. Literary Issue, Oct 30 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Smoke and Mirrors, Oct 5-11 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Capital Soup, Sep 5-11 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, UNLV for Dummies, Aug. 17-23 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas Business Press, Corporate Bucks for Art, Aug14 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, The Two Reids, Jul 22-26 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Broadway is Dark Tonight, Jun 22-28 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Of Human Signage, Jun 8-14 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas Business Press, Gas Woes, Apr 10 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Who Gives a Flick?!, Mar 2-8 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, All Children Left Behind, Feb 2-8 2006
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, The List Issue Jan 19 -25 2006
2005
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Get Out of Town Dec 15-21 2005
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, What Lies Beneath, Dec 8-14 2005
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Attack of the Books Oct 13-19 2005
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, The Last Crusade, Sep 22-28 2005
Cover Art: by Danny Roberts, Las Vegas City Life, Juice Train, Sep 15-21 2005
2000-6 Free-lance / Consulting / Commissions – fine art, murals, graphic illustration
2000 Graphic Design Production, Computer graphics
1995-6 Interior Design, Murals, faux finishing - Las Vegas NV
Best Illustration, Nevada Press Association (NPA) Awards, Better Newspaper Contest,
Cover: When Books Attack, Publication: Las Vegas CityLife, 2ed place
Juried Show, CCSN Art Club, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 1-30, three entries, Hon. Mention
Contemporary Arts Collective
Whirlygig: Non-profit First Friday Arts Event.
5ive Finger Miscount: Nonprofit Arts collective that included such fine artists as
KD Matheson, Amy Sol, Joseph Watson, Casey Weldon, Iceberg Slick, and Jon Hul.
2004 CCSN
REVIEWS
Review & Photo: Art Walk: Damned Right, Racket Magazine, Jennifer Henry, Dec 7
Feature & Photo: In Flight Magazine, Vegas Culture, Oct
Review: Stephen Christmas, Vintage Vegas Internet site, Danny Roberts-My favorite artist..., Jul 12, 2007
Blurb: Racket Magazine, Downlow Artshow, curated by M-Modern, Jun 29
Photos & Blurb: Erinn, Las Vegas Daily Photo internet site, Jun 11
Photo: Hazard All, Las Vegas Weekly, Pick of the Week, May 31-Jun 6:p36
Photo & Review: Sheeps Clothing, Michael Monson, First Friday magazine, Apr/May/Jun Vo.2-Issue 4
Photos: TRIFEKTO, Rock House, LV, Spy On Vegas! internet site, Apr, 8 April Live painting
Blurb: Kelle Schillaci, Las Vegas City Life, Pick of the week: Naked Lady, Sep 22-29
Photo: By Any Means Necessary, Las Vegas Weekly, Pick of the Week, Aug 3-9:p79
Review: Art Renegades, LV Internet Collective, MTZ CONTEMPORARY:Danny Roberts, Aug 7
Blurb: Bridge Gallery, Review Journal: Neon-Arts, Bridge Gallery, Mar 3-9
Feature: Las Vegas Weekly, Gray Matters, Feb 23 - Mar 1
Feature: Kristen Peterson, Las Vegas Sun, Lets play nine holes of art, Feb 19
Review: Art Renegades, LV Internet Collective, Gallery Au Go Go: Danny Roberts, Feb 18
Photo: In with the New, Las Vegas Weekly, Pick of the Week, Jan 12-18:p70
Photo: 9-Iron Curtain, 944 Magazine, 944’s Choice, Issue 5.5 May :p36
Blurb: Kelle Schillaci, Las Vegas City Life, Pick of the week: Unhappy Hellidays, Dec 22-29 2005
Blurb: Gene Wood, Concrete Skyline web review, Alternative Press Expo; Danny Roberts, Apr 10, 2005
Feature: Kelle Schillaci, L.V. City Life, Paint, sweat and tears: 5ive Finger Miscount, Mar 24-30:p. 20
Photo: Alter Ego (Superman), Las Vegas Weekly, Super Friends Unite!, Mar 17-23 2005:p.37
Review: F. Andrew Taylor, Las Vegas Mercury, Exquisite Corpses: The Art of S. Victor Whitmill and Danny Roberts, Nov 25,
Feature: Leigh McCormick, Stoke’d Magazine, Welcome to His Nightmare. Oct 16, 05
Photo: Hostile Takeover, Stoke’d Magazine, Art After Dark, Oct 13-24
Stephen Christmas, Vintage Vegas Internet site, Danny Roberts-My favorite artist..., Jul 12, 2007
~Aaron Thompson, Las Vegas Weekly, Pick of the Week, Aug 2006, 3-9:p79
~Art Renegades, LV Internet Collective, Aug 2006
~F. Andrew Taylor, Las Vegas Mercury, Exquisite corpses, Nov 2004