Today we’d like to introduce you to John Gibbs.
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Originally from the Detroit, MI area, I live and work in Greensboro, NC after living in Chicago, IL and Lancaster, PA for a few years. I graduated from the University of Michigan where I studied sculpture and scientific illustration. I got my start in Chicago in the print graphics industry where I was worked as a production artist and art director. Along the way, I painted and showed my artwork in galleries and festivals. In 2007, I was a featured artist in New American Paintings magazine. After leaving the design industry for a career in the arts I worked at a bronze foundry as a technician and artist-in-residence. I also worked as a welder and fabricator for many public art sculptures as an artist assistant.
For the past few years, I’ve been a stay-at-home dad working mostly on painting commissions and personal paintings for sale. During the pandemic, I started making fun things out of cardboard boxes for my son. I made him pirate ships, space ships, and submarines. It gave me the idea of making sculptures with cardboard. I’ve always loved creating 3D artworks and it was a way for me to produce them in my home studio.
One of my first sculptures was a knight chess piece. I thought it was a great way to combine my interests in sculptures, animals, and chess. I started playing chess online during the pandemic. I created two knights, a white and black one in slightly different styles in preparation for an artist-in-residency at Greenhill Center for NC Art. During my residency I began a polar bear relief sculpture. Working with recycled materials invites conversations about the environment and our impact on it. So the polar bear seemed like an obvious choice. I’m currently producing a series of endangered and vulnerable species including a lion, an African Forest Elephant, and a Blue whale. Though creating with cardboard is not limited to endangered species and makes an excellent medium for all kinds of work. My most recent pieces have been ballet dancers for a show with three other artists to celebrate the art of dance. We will be looking for a venue to show the artwork as well as have dancers from the Triad International Ballet perform. Though, my next show will be at the TAG gallery in High Point, NC where I will also be doing another Artist-in-Residency with an Opening May 14th. More details can be found at tagart.org . I am very excited to showcase all of my current sculptural works in one place and create a new piece in the TAG gallery.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. There are always challenges as an independent artist. Deciding what to work on, when and all the duties of running a small business while trying to be creative and market your work can be extremely overwhelming. I battled with depression for quite a while too. The depression zapped my motivation and I found it hard to get things done. The last three or four years, I have found new motivation and passion working with cardboard in 3D. It has even motivated me more in my 2D work, as well, where I recently completed my first public mural. Something about working in 3D again has reinvigorated my confidence and drive to create new work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in creating the sculptures out of cardboard boxes from amazon or different products that come in boxes. I tear and cut the pieces to form animals and people mostly. Two of my most popular pieces recently were a Lion and a Polar Bear. Both are deep relief sculptures that create a stunning visual impact. I am very proud of those pieces as well as my latest figurative pieces of the Ballet Dancers. Since I studied figurative sculpture in college and it had been quite a few years since sculpting the human form, I am super happy with how they turned out. I think what sets me apart is the lifelike appearance that I can get with an untraditional material with a low carbon footprint that lets people know that I care about the environment as well as making beautiful work. These pieces definitely make a statement about recycling and how creativity can be used to make a difference.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is making artwork that makes a statement as well as being beautiful. It makes me happy when people connect with my work and purchase it for their home or office. As an artist, we all want our work to be enjoyed. When someone connects with it enough to make it a part of their lives and wants to show it off to their friends and colleagues or customers to reflect something about themselves or their business, and their values means they really get it and we are on the same page. That makes me very happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.johngibbsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johngibbsart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johngibbsart
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gibbs-6716753/
- Other: https://www.threads.com/@johngibbsart
