top of page
oslo art gallery

John Long

Collection

 
oslo art gallery

John Long is a third-generation artist who has trained in various forms of art including photography, filmmaking, poetry, and typesetting. Over the last twenty-five years, he has created nearly 2000 pieces of art in different media, such as 3-dimensional assemblages in painted boxes, 2-dimensional collages and woven photos, Tape on Books (which involves wrapping discarded books and art magazines in colorful electricians tape), abstract painting with acrylics, and calligraphy with Sumi ink.

 

When it comes to painting, John uses a variety of techniques to explore different ideas. He prefers spontaneous expression over planning, hence many of his paintings are like jazz music. He often builds up multiple layers of acrylic paint and sometimes sands and scrapes the surface to reveal earlier layers. This gives his paintings a sense of geological history, like the layers of the earth revealed in mountains or a worn surface like an old building. John likes to explore geometric order and pattern, often contrasting that with chaotic energy. He mostly paints on plywood panels, but increasingly, he is also painting on large canvases. His color palette ranges from black and gray monotone to bold primary colors and warm pastel shades. John builds his own wooden frames from poplar or alder.

​His artwork has won awards in juried art shows and has been featured in both one-person and group exhibitions. The individual grew up in Flint, Michigan, which was a thriving mid-west factory town when he moved away. Since then, John has lived in various places such as Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; South Bend, Indiana; Washington, DC; Kabul, Afghanistan; and New Haven, Connecticut. In 2018, the artist decided to move to Estes Park, Colorado, in response to the calling of the mountains and the geography of the soul.

oslo art gallery

John's Statment


"I have a deep love for the Estes Valley, its breathtaking scenery and the natural rhythm of the seasons in the Colorado mountains. This land's beauty and spirit inspire me every day. As a third-generation artist, I live and work at Blue Gate Garden & Studio in Estes Park, creating paintings and calligraphy that reflect this landscape's essence, the changing seasons and the spirit of the mountains. Every morning, I wake up eager to work in the studio or explore the high mountain trails for inspiration."

ACHIEVEMENTS

 
 
 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

​

  • The Other Art Fair * Dallas, TX * 2023

  • “Two painters: places real & imaginary” * Art Center of Estes Park * Estes Park, CO * 2023

  • “Regional Fine Arts Show” * Lincoln Gallery * Loveland, CO * 2023 Estes Valley Open Studios Tour * Estes Park, CO * 2023

  • Solo Show * Bucey’s Brew Pub * Nederland, CO * 2023

  • “Colorado Creatives Unleashed” * R Gallery * Boulder, CO * 2023

  • “Magic of Masks”* Art Center of Estes Park * Estes Park, CO * 2023

  • “Industrial” * R Gallery * Boulder, CO * 2023

  • “Labyrinth: 57th Annual Own an Original” (third place award) * Littleton Museum * Littleton, CO * 2022

  • “The Keller Prize” * online show * Aspen, CO * 2022

  • Solo Show * U.S. Bank * Estes Park, CO * 2022-2023

  • Estes Valley Open Studios Tour * Estes Park, CO * 2022

  • The Other Art Fair * Dallas, TX * 2022

  • “Absolutely Abstract” * Modern Visual Arts Gallery * Bethlehem, PA * 2021

  • Estes Valley Open Studios Tour * Estes Park, CO * 2021

  • The Other Art Fair * Dallas, TX * 2021

  • “The Second Half (50 & older)” * Las Laguna Gallery * Laguna Beach, CA * 2021

  • “Motion & Flow” * R Gallery * Boulder, CO * 2021

  • “New Artists” * Art Center of Estes Park * Estes Park, CO * 2021

  • “Political Discord 2020” * Las Laguna Gallery * Laguna Beach, CA * 2020

  • “Red” * Webster Art Center * St Louis, MO* 2020

  • “Meaning in Abstraction” * R Gallery * Boulder, CO * 2020

  • “The Show Must Go On” * Kallinen Gallery* Houston, TX * 2020

  • “February Show: Mentors & Mentees” * Art Center of Estes Park * 2020

  • “TRUTH Be Told” * Harris County Democratic Party Friendsgiving * Houston, TX 2017

  • “Trump This” * The Art Car Museum * Houston, TX 2017

  • “Reincarnation” * The Art Car Museum * Houston, TX 2015

  • “The Gun Show” * The Art Car Museum * Houston, TX 2013-14

  • “Wells Fargo Advisors” (group show) * Houston Racket Club * 2013

  • “Tape on books and woven photos” (solo show) * Farrago * Houston, TX * 2008

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2007

  • “The Big Show” (juror: Rita Gonzalez) * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2007

  • “The Big Show” (juror: Michael Olijnyk: Juror’s Award) * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2005

  • “Faces” * Artcar Museum * Houston, TX * 2005

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2004

  • “Houston Fotofest Group Show” * Blossom Street Gallery * Houston, TX * 2004

  • “The Open Show” (jurors:Robert Card and Karol Kreymer) * Art League Houston * Houston, TX * 2003

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2003

  • “Photowork ’03” (juror: Carol Squires) * Barrett Art Center * Poughkeepsie, NY * 2003

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2002

  • “Nat’l Juried Competition” (juror: Maria-Christina Villasenor) * Long Beach Island Foundation * Loveladies, NJ * 2002

  • “The Dishman Competition” (juror: Volker Eisele) * Lamar University * Beaumont, TX * 2002

  • “Group Photo Exhibition” * Houston Fotofest * Blossom Street Gallery * Houston, TX * 2002

  • “The Fingernail Art Show” * The Art Guys Museum * Houston, TX * 2001

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2001

  • “The Open Show” (juror: Virgil Grotfeldt) * Art League Houston * Houston, TX * 2001

  • “Seventh Annual Cross Exhibit” * Los Manos Magicas * Houston, TX * 2001

  • “Illuminance 2001” (juror: Rod Slemmons) * The Buddy Holly Center * Lubbock, TX * 2001

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2000

  • “Woven Photos” * Houston Fotofest * Blossom Street Gallery * Houston, TX * 2000

  • “Mania” (invitational) * Artcar Museum * Houston, TX * 1999 – 2000

  • “El Dia de los Muertos” * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 1999

  • “September Show” * Fusion Gallery * St. Petersburg, FL * 1999

  • “The Big Show” (juror: Lane Relyea) * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 1999

  • “Beyond This Point Be Dragons” (solo show) * Café Artiste * Houston, TX * 1999

  • “Invitational Exhibition” * Winter Street Studios * Houston, TX * 1998

  • “Under Construction” (solo show) * The Fox Diner * Houston, TX 1998

  • “The Open Show” (juror: Bert Long: “of note”) * Art League Houston * Houston, TX * 1998

 

EDUCATION

​

  • M.Ed Cleveland State University

  • M.Ed Washington Montessori Institute

  • B.A. Yale University

​

​

​

AWARDS

​

  • “Third place” * Labyrinth: 57th Annual “Own an Original” * Littleton (CO) Museum * 2022

  • “Juror’s Award” * The Big Show * Lawndale Art Center * Houston, TX * 2005

  • “Of Note” * The Open Show * Art League Houston * Houston, TX * 1998

​

​

​

CATALOGS & PUBLICATIONS

​

​

​

​

GALLERIES

​

 
 
  • Artsy_logo
  • artmajeur_badge_edited
  • Instagram
bottom of page