Craig Cheply

Craig Cheply is both a commercial (Artist Environs LLC) and fine artist. His Contemporary Realism paintings are inspired by observations of the certain elements pertaining to the lighting, colors and textures of the Southwest environment and other travels. Craig's focus on southwestern skies, landscapes and flora captures his vision while also addressing social, political and environmental issues related to the dramatic population growth in the region and beyond. "As we go about our daily rituals, we obviously look at and see many things. Some events register in our memories while others do not. Of the "things" that register, have we done a close observational view or just take the visual information for granted? Some artists are content to work with one subject, group of colors, or time/lighting condition repetitiously, giving them an identifiable "look" desired by art galleries and museums for marketing purposes. I have always embraced the challenge to render the variety of subjects in various media, time/lighting conditions therefore allowing both myself and the viewer a greater scope and appreciation of the art journalism experience." Permanent solo mural and scenic work can be viewed at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, formally Mesa Southwest Museum. In 2003 he put on the largest documented solo museum exhibit (in scope and scale) of any kind in Az.'s history at the museum. "Dawn to Dawn-Past, Present, Possible Futures" utilized his 8 commissioned murals (now 10) and 27 Contemporary Realism Paintings for the theme of the exhibit. The murals  are  "American Lion",  "Desert Walk", "Dinosaur Mountain", "Triassic Forest", "Mosasaur", "Metoposaur",  "Kenyata", "Tropical Deciduous Forest", "Hands on Discovery  Center", Mesa Grande  Ruins, collaborative work in the "Paleoseas" Diorama. He was one of two muralists chosen out of 35 Az. applicants to work with the New York City based Evergreen Painting Studios team to paint 10,000 square feet of murals on the west side entrance in the Bank One Ballpark in 1998 now known as Chase One Field. Educated at F.I.T. (A.A.S.) and Pratt Institute in New York, he received his B.F.A. in Interior Design from Arizona State University in 1980. He has done set design, scenic and special effect painting for the theatrical, motion picture and television industries (member of I.A.T.S.E. local 485). His paintings have been exhibited widely across the U.S. with inclusion into national and international shows in New York jurored by the late Robert Rosenblum (Guggenheim Museum), Tina Kukielski (Whitney Museum), and Charlotta Kotik (Brooklyn Museum). He continues to create his visual journalistic Contemporary Realism fine art, custom murals, trompe l'oeil, faux effects for the institutional, commercial and residential environments along with having self published limited edition prints of some of his original paintings available for purchase. Studio visit by appointment only. Craig's art in Permanent Collections: Private, Arizona Museum of Natural History, -10 murals + fine art, Burton Barr Central Library-Phoenix, Az., City of Glendale, Az. City of Chandler, Az. 2007 Az. Governor's Arts Awards Nominee.  Please just Google Craig Cheply for more worldly info. and feedback... Thank you for your time reading this, enjoy the visuals.

Juried Group Exhibits:

2011:  ArtPrize- Grand Rapids-MI; juror:The B.O.B. Venue,  BWAC Wide Open 2 Brooklyn, NY. Juror - Nathan Trotman, Associate Curator at the Guggenheim Museum of Art.

2010: ArtPrize, juror:The B.O.B. Venue Grand Rapids-MI,   Viridian Artists 21st Annual juror: Elisabeth Sussman-Whitney Museum,  BWAC Wide Open Brooklyn, NY (Co-winner-People’s Choice Award),  jurors: Anne Strauss -Met. Museum of Art NY, Mark Hughes- Galerie LeLong NY, Bill Murphy- Prof. Wagner College NY

2009: Tempe, AZ. Mill Ave. Post Office-“Eco-Friendly”, Sundust Gallery AZ.

2008: Shemer Museum, AZ. “Landscaped” juror Lindsay Palmer. “Art for Health-Breaking The Cycle” juror Gail Peterson, Herberger Theater, AZ “Garden of the Soul” juror Joan Thompson. Tempe Center for the Arts, AZ. “Masters of Illusion” jurors: Michelle Dock, Larry Yanez. Tempe Public Library, AZ “Valley Stories”, “Flowers & Fauna” jurors: Michelle Dock, Larry Yanez.  Artoconecto, “A-B(o)MB!”, Miami, FL jurors: Claire Breukel, Jen Stark, Byron Peck, Annie Warton.

2007: Coos Art Museum, OR, juror: Amy Pence-Brown -Boise Art Museum. ViridianArtists Gallery NY City affiliate member  group exhibit. “WaterLust” Tempe Public Library AZ, curator: Michelle Dock. ViridianArtists  Gallery NY City 18^th Annual National Exhibition juror: Charlotta Kotik-Brooklyn Museum NY   Agora Gallery New York City 22^nd Annual International Exhibition, juror: Tina Kukielski-Whitney Museum NY   Cultural Arts Council 21^st Annual National Exhibit, Douglasville, GA, juror: Dr. Bill Eiland director Georgia Museum of Art

2006: Glendale Arts Council 43^rd Ann. Juried, (1^st place in Oil/Acrylic division + Best of Show). Art Detour #18 Phx., AZ Coos Art Museum, OR juror: Ed Musante.  ViridianArtistsInc. 17^th Annual National Juried Exhibit New York City, juror: Robert Rosenblum Guggenheim Museum NY

2005: Coos Art Museum, Oregon, juror: Norman Lundin, emeritus Professor of Art -Seattle, Wa. Vision Gallery, AZ. Foundry Art Centre, Missouri juried.       Herberger Theatre, AZ. juried “Inside -Outside”.

2004: Artlink’s AZ. juried 8^th Annual  Art Exhibition. Grand Canyon University, AZ. “Landscape Realisms Visited”. Sky Harbor Art Program, AZ. juried-“Flights of Fancy”. Herberger Theatre, AZ juried “Summer Delights”.

2003: Imbeau Gallery, Mesa AZ Vision Gallery, Chandler AZ Dinnerware, Tucson AZ 10^th Biennial Juried Nat’l. Sky Harbor Art Program, Phoenix AZ juried “Capturing the Wild” & “Fish Stories”.           Art Detour, Phoenix AZ

2002: Artlink’s AZ juried 6^th Annual  Art Exhibition.       Wind River Valley Artists Guild, WY 53^rd Annual Art Exhibition (honorable mention in watercolor division). Phippen Museum, AZ 28^th Annual Fine Art Show.

2001: Mesa Southwest Museum, AZ “Artists Expansion Group Exhibit”.       Art Detour, Phoenix AZ

Solo Exhibits:

2005: Joan Cawley Gallery, AZ “Some Old Thoughts, Some New Thoughts”

2004: Joan Cawley Gallery, AZ Debut Exhibit.

2003: Mesa Southwest Museum, AZ “Dawn To Dawn-Past, Present, Possible Futures”. Mayo Health Center, AZ.

2001: Burton Barr Central Library, AZ “Some Thoughts”

Articles:

April ‘08 Phoenix Home & Garden magazine featured artist. May ’08 944 magazine. Mar. 2005-Book -“17 Interviews with 17 Visual Fine Artists” writer James Leonard-Amodeo, Sierra Arts Productions. Jan. 2005 SouthwestArt Magazine “Start Your Collection” column. Nov. 14, 2004 Arizona Republic a&e. Oct. 30, 2003 The State Press Magazine: Steve Ganczaruk Oct. 24, 2003 AZ.  Sentinel. Oct. 19, 2003 Arizona Republic a&e section: John Villani. Oct. 18, 2001 Arizona Republic, the rep: Richard Nilsen. May 15, 2001 Arizona Daily Star: Helena Elling.

Permanent Collections:

Private, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Burton Barr Central Library-Phoenix, AZ, City of Glendale, AZ, City of Chandler, AZ