Bernard Bahr
"Bernard Bahr's paintings and drawings sizzle with energy. They recount the story of the relation between inside and out, and between an introverted impulse and an extroverted susceptibility in the constant battle with each other in the form of visual skirmishes that explode and ignite over Bahr's pictorial surfaces. Bahr is a superb colorist who uses oil stick to create gestural lines and colorful hand strokes that contest, disrupt and often violate the stability of his interiorized, squared off formats..."
-Dominique Nahas, Curator, The New Abstractionists V
A Chicago native, Bernard studied art and design, then apprenticed at several commercial art studios, and became an award-winning magazine art director. He had a long and successful career as an advertising Art Director, working at some of the most well-known and respected advertising agencies in the country, including Doyle Dane Bernbach, Leo Burnett and McCann Erickson. His advertising campaigns, both in print and broadcast, won countless regional and national awards over his distinguished career.
Selected Shows and Awards
Evanston Art Center, Second prize
New York Art Directors Club, 4 illustration awards / 6 design awards / 1 Clio
Society of Illustrators, 2 second prize awards
Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Representation / plus group show
Stanford Art Center, CT. First prize of group show on color / judged by Yvette Lee / Curator Special Project Whitney Museum of American Art
San Diego Art Museum, Group Show judged by Peter Frank
Waco Art Museum,Group show / judged by Martin Sullivan / Director New York State Museum / author Diamonds are Forever
Art Basel Miami Design District, Solo Show,
101 Painting Show at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago
Solo Exhibit at Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago
Group Show, The New Abstractionists V, Walter Wickiser Gallery, NYC
Solo Booth, Verge Art Fair, Miami
Solo Exhibition at John Reilly, Chicago
National Juried Show, First Street Gallery, New York
Bernard's work can be found in numerous private and institutional collections nationwide.
Full list upon request.