T.J. Griffin
T.J. Griffin in his Dallas studio
Originally from the small town of Union City Oklahoma, T.J. Griffin moved to the Dallas area in 2004.
His work has been shown since 2007. In 2008 he received the DeGolyer Awards to Artists grant from the Dallas Museum of Art.
T.J. graduated with his Bachelor in Art and Performance from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2008 and continued on to receive his MFA in 2010. T.J. had his first solo show in 2010 at the University of Texas at Dallas. While working on his PhD in Aesthetic Studies at The University of Texas Dallas, he has begun doing research on identity, superheroes, and masks.
He has been accepted into numerous juried shows, including The Rising Eyes of Texas in Rockport, Texas, where he received the second place award. In 2011, his work was accepted into the juried art expo at 500x gallery in Dallas, Texas and the annual No Dead Artists exhibit, a national juried show at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans, LA. His work was featured in three group shows with Ro2 Art in 2011.
Artist Statement
Through out time and culture, masks and super heroes have played an important role in society. They are not always used in alignment with one another, but they often symbolize similar concepts of humanity and identity. The story of the hero is a way for us as humans to have hope for the good which we know exists in the world. From Greek mythology to modern day Batman, the underlying concept and purpose of the hero transcends time.
In my work, I take the theory of the hero in combination with the idea of the mask to create a story that is unique to my life.
The mask is a major part of my work. Through out history masks have been used in ceremonial acts. These masks allow the person wearing them to transform; to take on another identity. This other identity or hidden identity has become the main focus of my work.
I believe we, as humans, wear masks everyday. We become who we need to be in different situations in life. We sometime conceal parts of ourselves in order to fit in. I use this idea of hidden identity in my artwork in a somewhat ridiculous creepy way, contrasting humor with more serious emotions.
Working with photographs from mostly mature men, I create my own heroes. When men mature in life, their knowledge and experience become more evident and distinct in their faces and bodies; this allows me to take from their apparent narrative to create my own. Working from personal and found photography, I try and let the emotional expressions and posture of the figures influence the character and narrative of the hero.
My art work has a very broad influence. Comic books, native cultures, S&M, Mexican wrestlers, and cartoons have all influenced the apparel of my heroes. While historical and contemporary figure painting influences my style. Film and children’s illustrations often influence my composition, and narrative. I try and take a very cohesive concept and execute it in an unrestrained entertaining fashion.
Education
2010 MFA, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2008 BFA, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Solo Exhibitions
2010 University of Texas at Dallas Gallery, Solo exhibit, Distorted Memory, Richardson,TX
Select Exhibitions
2011
Ro2 Art, Winter Group Show, Dallas, TX
Jonathan Ferrera Gallery, No Dead Artists, New Orleans, LA
500X, 2011 500X Juried Art Show, Dallas, TX
Rockport Center for the arts, Rising Eyes of Texas, Rockport TX
Creato-Finito, Las Angeles, CA
2010
Dallas Contemporary, Wish Auction, Dallas, TX
South Side on Lamar, the Art of Skateboarding, Dallas, TX
Creato-Finito, Las Angeles, CA
2009
South Side on Lamar, the Art of Skateboarding, Dallas, TX
Dallas Contemporary, Wish Auction, Dallas, TX
University of Texas at Dallas Gallery, Say Anything, Richardson, TX
2008
University of Texas at Dallas Gallery, Richardson, TX
2007
Plano Courtyard Theater, Fotophile: Wheres your ID? , Plano, TX
Awards
2011 Second Place, Rising Eyes of Texas, Rockport, TX
2009 Studio, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2008 DeGolyer Award, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
His work has been shown since 2007. In 2008 he received the DeGolyer Awards to Artists grant from the Dallas Museum of Art.
T.J. graduated with his Bachelor in Art and Performance from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2008 and continued on to receive his MFA in 2010. T.J. had his first solo show in 2010 at the University of Texas at Dallas. While working on his PhD in Aesthetic Studies at The University of Texas Dallas, he has begun doing research on identity, superheroes, and masks.
He has been accepted into numerous juried shows, including The Rising Eyes of Texas in Rockport, Texas, where he received the second place award. In 2011, his work was accepted into the juried art expo at 500x gallery in Dallas, Texas and the annual No Dead Artists exhibit, a national juried show at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans, LA. His work was featured in three group shows with Ro2 Art in 2011.
Artist Statement
Through out time and culture, masks and super heroes have played an important role in society. They are not always used in alignment with one another, but they often symbolize similar concepts of humanity and identity. The story of the hero is a way for us as humans to have hope for the good which we know exists in the world. From Greek mythology to modern day Batman, the underlying concept and purpose of the hero transcends time.
In my work, I take the theory of the hero in combination with the idea of the mask to create a story that is unique to my life.
The mask is a major part of my work. Through out history masks have been used in ceremonial acts. These masks allow the person wearing them to transform; to take on another identity. This other identity or hidden identity has become the main focus of my work.
I believe we, as humans, wear masks everyday. We become who we need to be in different situations in life. We sometime conceal parts of ourselves in order to fit in. I use this idea of hidden identity in my artwork in a somewhat ridiculous creepy way, contrasting humor with more serious emotions.
Working with photographs from mostly mature men, I create my own heroes. When men mature in life, their knowledge and experience become more evident and distinct in their faces and bodies; this allows me to take from their apparent narrative to create my own. Working from personal and found photography, I try and let the emotional expressions and posture of the figures influence the character and narrative of the hero.
My art work has a very broad influence. Comic books, native cultures, S&M, Mexican wrestlers, and cartoons have all influenced the apparel of my heroes. While historical and contemporary figure painting influences my style. Film and children’s illustrations often influence my composition, and narrative. I try and take a very cohesive concept and execute it in an unrestrained entertaining fashion.
Education
2010 MFA, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2008 BFA, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Solo Exhibitions
2010 University of Texas at Dallas Gallery, Solo exhibit, Distorted Memory, Richardson,TX
Select Exhibitions
2011
Ro2 Art, Winter Group Show, Dallas, TX
Jonathan Ferrera Gallery, No Dead Artists, New Orleans, LA
500X, 2011 500X Juried Art Show, Dallas, TX
Rockport Center for the arts, Rising Eyes of Texas, Rockport TX
Creato-Finito, Las Angeles, CA
2010
Dallas Contemporary, Wish Auction, Dallas, TX
South Side on Lamar, the Art of Skateboarding, Dallas, TX
Creato-Finito, Las Angeles, CA
2009
South Side on Lamar, the Art of Skateboarding, Dallas, TX
Dallas Contemporary, Wish Auction, Dallas, TX
University of Texas at Dallas Gallery, Say Anything, Richardson, TX
2008
University of Texas at Dallas Gallery, Richardson, TX
2007
Plano Courtyard Theater, Fotophile: Wheres your ID? , Plano, TX
Awards
2011 Second Place, Rising Eyes of Texas, Rockport, TX
2009 Studio, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2008 DeGolyer Award, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
