ADAM BERIS

Adam Beris paints amalgamations of decontextualized signs and symbols rooted in American consumerist culture from the late 90s and early aughts. Celebrating and disrupting traditional relationships between object, subject, foreground, and background, Beris perforates these recognizable graphics with unexpected (and abstract) paint applications—squeezing paint directly from tube to canvas, palette knifing shapes of paint, or adhering salvaged bits of failed paintings onto surfaces. Floating in the ether or grounded by a painting’s edge are Beris’ ever- expanding lexicon of extruded glyphs, each informed by language, infographics, slot machines, and social media. Aligned in grids, these symbols function like desktop icons each accessing its own deep well of information, but Beris also paints them discarded and tangled amongst puffy blades of grass. With self-deprecating humor, cultural criticism, and snappy witticism, Beris’ paintings reflect desire and encapsulate the hunt for meaning within a fragmented landscape.

Beris (b. 1987, Milwaukee, WI) received a dual degree in Painting and Creative Writing from Kansas City Art Institute in 2009. Beris' work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues including Tang Contemporary and OTI in Hong Kong, China; Primary in Miami, FL; MCC Longview Cultural Center in Lee’s Summit, MO; Over the Influence in Hong Kong and Los Angeles, CA; Y53 and OCHI in Los Angeles, CA; The Omaha Creative Institute in Omaha, NE; and OCHI in Los Angeles, CA and Sun Valley, ID. Beris’ work has been featured in publications including e-flux, Hyperallergic, Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles, Miami New Times, Juxtapoz, Hypebeast, and Maake. Beris currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA and is represented by OCHI.

Featured Works

This painting shows a number of icons/objects/portraits painted in a grid on a blue, orange, and green surface. The paint that makes up the objects is thick while the background is flat. Some examples of the roughly 75 objects painted include a chili pepper, pretzel, and a spade.Layers of paint in various shades of green are applied to create a three-dimensional affect.In this square painting, there are about 100 small profile portraits on a black background. The paint that makes up the portraits is thick while the background is flat.Layers of paint in various shades of green are applied to create a three-dimensional affect.This painting shows a number of icons/objects/portraits painted in a grid on a blue, pink, and green surface. The paint that makes up the objects is thick while the background is flat. Some examples of the roughly 75 objects painted include a cigarette, watermelon slice, and the division symbol.Installation view of Chapel. Layers of thick shades of green paint are applied

CV

ADAM BERIS

Born 1987, Milwaukee, WI

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA

EDUCATION

2009

BFA Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024

Fantastic Best Wishes, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA
Barely Fair, presented by OCHI, Color Club, Chicago, IL

2022

New Art Dealers Alliance, presented by OCHI, Miami FL
Grids, Over the Influence, Bangkok, Thailand
Monday Morning, OCHI, Sun Valley, ID
Mirrors, Galerie Fran Reus, Mallorca, Spain

2021

Marching Band to Nowhere, Over the Influence, Los Angeles, CA

2019

Daisy Chain, Over the Influence, Hong Kong, China
Rat Trap, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Art Los Angeles Contemporary, presented by OCHI, Los Angeles, CA

2017

Soft Bananas, Fabien Castanier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2015

CAGHFft6SVSIP, BBQLA, Los Angeles, CA
The Steak Flew Over the Rainbow, BBQLA, Los Angeles, CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024

Convergence: From Bytes to Brushstrokes, Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong, China

2023

Spring, Primary Projects, Miami, FL
Chromesthesia: Soaking in Color, Sam Francis Gallery, Crossroad School for the Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA

2022

Wish You Were Here, OCHI, Sun Valley, ID
Open Studio, Maple Street Construct, Los Angeles, CA

2021

A High Disregard: Adam Beris & Will Anderson, Maple Street Construct, Omaha, NE
Anniversary Show, The Pit, Los Angeles, CA
Expanded Field, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA
Over the Borderline, Galerie Fran Reus, Mallorca, Spain

2020

Head(less): Adam Beris & Mia Weiner, OCHI, Sun Valley, ID
Rise and Shine, Over the Influence, Hong Kong, China

2018

Y'all 20, The Omaha Creative Institute, Omaha, NE
Sun Kissed Chokehold, Y53, Los Angeles, CA
Freshly Cut and Softly Bound, Vacation, New York, NY

2017

Family Dinner, Left Field, San Luis Obispo, CA

2015

LA Intersections, Fabien Castanier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

RESIDENCIES & AWARDS

2024

Artist Residency, Fountainhead, Miami, FL (forthcoming)

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2023

“Selected Artists 2024: Fountainhead Residency," e-flux, Oct. 19
Fountainhead Arts. “Miami’s Fountainhead Residency Announces 2024 Selected Artists," Hyperallergic, Oct. 18
Del Busto, Carolina. "Primary's Show Is All About Springtime and Childlike Wonder," Miami New Times, Apr. 19

2021

"Adam Beris: Marching to Nowhere," Over the Influence, May 1

2019

"Daisy Chain by Adam Beris," Timeout, Oct. 18
Estiller, Katie. "Adam Beris Paints a "Daisy Chain" of Colorful Characters and Symbols," Hypebeast, Oct. 9
Pricco, Evan. "When Material Reigns Supreme: Adam Beris' New Solo @ Guerrero Gallery," Juxtapoz, May 4
Martinez, Christina Catherine. "Los Angeles Roundup," E-flux, Feb. 28
Kirk, Katie. "Top Ten Paintings from ALAC 2019," Maake, Feb. 18
Stone, Abigail. "Art Shows and Fairs Color This Weekend in Los Angeles," California Home Design, Feb. 15
Van Straaten, Laura. "San Francisco Art Fairs Buzz with Bay Area Collectors, L.A. Artists, and Pattie Smith Performance," The Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 18

2017

Horst, Aaron. "Adam Beris at Fabien Castanier," Contemporary Art Review LA, Dec. 14
Martinique, Elena. "At Fabien Castanier Gallery, Adam Beris Presents Soft Bahamas," Widewalls, Oct. 31

News

  • Adam Beris
    Conversation with Timo Fahler
    Saturday, June 8, 2024, 5 PM
    OCHI, Los Angeles

  • Adam Beris
    In Praise of the Small: A Review of Barely Fair at Color Club
    New City Art
    April 14, 2024
    LINK

  • Adam Beris
    Miami’s Fountainhead Residency Announces 2024 Selected Artists
    Hyperallergic
    October 18, 2023
    LINK

  • Adam Beris & Ben Sanders
    Primary’s Show Is All About Springtime and Childlike Wonder
    Miami New Times
    April 19, 2023
    LINK

  • Adam Beris
    Marching to Nowhere
    Over The Influence
    April 30, 2021
    LINK

  • Adam Beris
    Daisy Chains by Adam Beris
    Timeout
    October 18, 2019
    LINK

  • Adam Beris
    Top Ten Paintings from ALAC 2019
    Maake Magazine
    February 18, 2019
    LINK

  • Adam Beris
    Art Agenda: Los Angeles Roundup
    e-flux
    February 28, 2019
    LINK

  • Adam Beris
    Adam Beris at Fabien Castanier
    Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles
    December 14, 2017
    LINK