Bio
GEAR
For nearly 30 years, “GEAR” has been engaged in the art of graffiti writing and is an acknowledged master of the form. With a practice firmly based in the history of graffiti that is synchronous with human history and more recently dating back to the late 1970s and the emergence of Hip Hop culture, Gear has contributed to the legacy through the invention of unique styles that have, in turn, influenced other artists work.
The culture of graffiti writing is an oral history and a competitive environment; Gear’s aerosol work in
lettering and characters has earned him a place in a number of books about the development of graffiti internationally and, in particular, within the Midwest, which has lately been recognized as being on par with the well-known East Coast and Los Angeles scenes.
Gear was born and raised in Kansas City and was interested in art at an early age. He is a product of the Roman Catholic educational system - the influences of a parochial grade school and a Jesuit-run high school remain with him, along with a street-smart sense of right and wrong learned from periods of deprivation (even homelessness) and from various spots on the food chain of the
labor market. He studied at The Kansas City Art Institute and apprenticed under graffiti kings such
as East, Slang, Skrybe, Dalek, and Trixter.
With a preference for visual forms of communication, Gear believes in the trans formative power of
art. Graffiti changes its environment literally and makes a raw statement about identity and expression. Gear also has mentored a number of so-called “troubled youths with graffiti training, holding them to standards of discipline and respect, and he has shared his painting with young people and their families in general, at settings like the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, Kansas, and a museum-sponsored Hip-Hop festival in Fargo, North Dakota.
A 2003 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Awards fellow, Gear has been exhibiting his work
for more than 15 years, including in group shows in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, and St. Louis,
as well as in the Canary Islands, Canada and Mexico. He has curated themed multi-artist exhibitions,
such as Renegades of Funk and Sorry for the Miscommunication at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center and
After School Special: Midwest Graffiti Expo at James Elementary School. He is influenced by current
events, pop culture and science fiction movies and enjoys seeing the boundaries of visual expression
pushed by the advances in technology and artists’ creativity. He admires the work of Thomas Hart
Benton over that of Jackson Pollock and believes that concept is meaningless without craft.
GEAR
For nearly 30 years, “GEAR” has been engaged in the art of graffiti writing and is an acknowledged master of the form. With a practice firmly based in the history of graffiti that is synchronous with human history and more recently dating back to the late 1970s and the emergence of Hip Hop culture, Gear has contributed to the legacy through the invention of unique styles that have, in turn, influenced other artists work.
The culture of graffiti writing is an oral history and a competitive environment; Gear’s aerosol work in
lettering and characters has earned him a place in a number of books about the development of graffiti internationally and, in particular, within the Midwest, which has lately been recognized as being on par with the well-known East Coast and Los Angeles scenes.
Gear was born and raised in Kansas City and was interested in art at an early age. He is a product of the Roman Catholic educational system - the influences of a parochial grade school and a Jesuit-run high school remain with him, along with a street-smart sense of right and wrong learned from periods of deprivation (even homelessness) and from various spots on the food chain of the
labor market. He studied at The Kansas City Art Institute and apprenticed under graffiti kings such
as East, Slang, Skrybe, Dalek, and Trixter.
With a preference for visual forms of communication, Gear believes in the trans formative power of
art. Graffiti changes its environment literally and makes a raw statement about identity and expression. Gear also has mentored a number of so-called “troubled youths with graffiti training, holding them to standards of discipline and respect, and he has shared his painting with young people and their families in general, at settings like the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, Kansas, and a museum-sponsored Hip-Hop festival in Fargo, North Dakota.
A 2003 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Awards fellow, Gear has been exhibiting his work
for more than 15 years, including in group shows in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, and St. Louis,
as well as in the Canary Islands, Canada and Mexico. He has curated themed multi-artist exhibitions,
such as Renegades of Funk and Sorry for the Miscommunication at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center and
After School Special: Midwest Graffiti Expo at James Elementary School. He is influenced by current
events, pop culture and science fiction movies and enjoys seeing the boundaries of visual expression
pushed by the advances in technology and artists’ creativity. He admires the work of Thomas Hart
Benton over that of Jackson Pollock and believes that concept is meaningless without craft.
"Gear"
[email protected]
Curated Group Exibitions(Curator and participant)
2011
Invited participant artist and local curator for live graffiti mural painting for Kansrocksas music festival, Kansas City, Kansas
2009
Third Eye Gallery and Leedy Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Sorry for the Miscommunication
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: Always Taking Tests: After School Special Midwest Graffiti Expo 2
2008
Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Renegades of Funk: A Look into Kansas City's Lowbrow
2007
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: After School Special: Midwest Graffiti Expo
Workshops, Panel Discussions, Lectures
2009
"Midwest Graffiti Evolution," Graffiti art lecture, The Plains Museum, Fargo, North Dakota
2006
"Gajin Fujita," panel discussion, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri
2003
"Bugs in the Park," lecture and workshop (artist-in-residence for Smoky Hill River Festival), Salina, Kansas
Solo Exhibitions
2011
Winhorse Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Modern Fairytales
2007
The Mercy Seat, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
525 Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Seven Deadly Sins
2004
The Cube Gallery at Beco, Kansas City, Missouri: Monkey Text
New Theatre Restaurant, Overland Park, Kansas: (Untitled)
2003
Valle de Guadalupe (Middle School), Michóacan, Mexico: Cicada / Migration outdoor mural
Prépatoria Lazaro Cartenas (High School), Michóacan, Mexico: Evolution: Skull and Monkey outdoor mural
Tangancícuaro (School), Michóacan, Mexico: Name outdoor mural
2000
Westport Coffee House, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
1997, 1998, 1999
Paint Louis outdoor mural project, St. Louis, Missouri: featured artist
Two-Person Exhibitions
2002
Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom / Kansas City Jewish Museum, Overland Park, Kansas: Balance & Flow
2000
Red Chair Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Profetik Postmen
Group Exhibitions
2011
Greenlease Gallery Kansas City, MO: Celestial terrestrials/Between heaven and Earth
2010
The Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota: Hip-Hop Don't Stop (second annual outdoor graffiti mural)
2631 Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Beware All Stylebiters
2009
The Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota: Hip-Hop Don't Stop (outdoor graffiti mural)
la Esquina gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: ComUNIDAD / CommUNITY
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: Always Taking Tests: After School Special Midwest Graffiti Expo 2
2008
54-B Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Calacas
Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, Kansas: Munnys That Bring Happiness
la Esquina gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: ComUNIDAD / CommUNITY
Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: IN CONTRAST: print artists without assignment
La Sala De Arte La Recova, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands: Plátano Rock / Tapper Matters
Meya Metal Works, Kansas City, Missouri: Stylebiters Presents Massive Toy Recall
2007
The Art Mine, Port Haddock, Washington: Counterproof
Mercy Seat, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: After School Special: Midwest Graffiti Expo
2006
Cincinnati Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio: (Untitled)
Creative Arts Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Stylebiters Part II
Terminal Groove Expo, Springfield, Missouri: (Untitled), included live painting performance
The Green Door Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Step Into the Arena, included live painting performance
2005
The Gild, New York City, New York: Fulcrum
Aurora Gallery, New York City, New York: History In the Making, Part II
The Brick, Kansas City, Missouri: Stylebiters
The Vault Gallery at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Newrotica
Fahrenheit Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Tetanus
Troy Swangstu and Alex Whitney Studio, Kansas City, Missouri: Attention Orange
2003
H&R Block Art Space, Kansas City, Missouri: Annual Charlotte Street Fund Awards (site-specific indoor mural)
Fahrenheit Gallery Kansas City, Missouri: Depth Funnel (three-person)
C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, Michigan: Bomb Pop
The Next Space Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Breaking it Down
2002
Johnson County Community College Gallery, Overland Park, Kansas: Shine (invitational auction)
2001
Dirt Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Natural History (three-person)
Johnson County Community College Gallery, Overland Park, Kansas: Beyond Bounds (invitational auction)
1999
Annual Street Art Festival, Canada: Lucky Seven
Annual Street Art Festival, Canada: Tall and Skinny
The Next Space Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
1997
Lokis Solis Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Alphabet Soup
1996
Daily Grind, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled, street art show)
1995
Zowie, Kansas City, Missouri: Primitive Streets
Commissions
Kid Robot toy company Fat Cap series #3 T-shirt and ball cap design
Kid Robot toy company Fat Cap series #3, 2011
Grinder's Wing Sauce series bottle label design for "Wimpy" flavor, 2011
Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina Kansas: solo outdoor mural performance projects, 2003-2006 and 2008-2011
Plains Museum, Fargo North Dakota: Hip Hop Don't Stop, part of featured muralists, 2009, 2010
Lee's Summit Christian High School, Lee's Summit, Missouri: Class of 2010 mascot mural, 2010
Cerner Corp., Kansas City, Missouri: employee appreciation event (Kansas City Power and Light District) live painting, 2010
Kid Robot toy company Fat Cap series #2, 2008
la Esquina Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: featured live painter at street festival, 2008
Kickapoo Boys and Girls Club, Horton, Kansas: solo indoor mural project, 2007
Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, Kansas: solo outdoor mural performance projects, 2003-2006 and 2008-2010
Foxx Equipment Company, Kansas City, Missouri: rotating mural project 2000-present
Jesús Ortiz Murguria's residence, Michóacan, Mexico: Sacred Heart solo mural
The Mercy Seat (tattoo shop/art gallery) Kansas City, Missouri: duo/solo indoor/outdoor murals, 2005
City Nightclub, St. Joseph, Missouri: solo indoor mural, 2004
Science City at Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri: theme park mural, 2000
La Strada D’ell Arte, Kansas City, Missouri: street painting festival, 1998, 1999
Salvation Army Youth Center, Garden City, Kansas: mural project, 1999
Mexicali Alley, Olathe, Kansas: mural project, 1998
AKKA Karate Dojo, Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1997
Zowie (clothing store), Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1997
Bartle Hall Convention Center, Kansas City, Missouri: group mural project with Storytellers, Inc., 1996
Evolution Audio, Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1996
Big Dude’s Music City, Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1995
Publications, Press & Reviews
The history of American Graffiti (book) 2011, Art In America; Crime Time magazine; DF: Idiots on Parade (book) ©2006; FlavorPak magazine; Kansas City Magazine; The Kansas City Star; Life Sucks Die magazine; On the Go magazine; The Pitch; Review magazine; Scribble magazine; Show and Prove magazine; The Source magazine; Twelve Ounce Prophet magazine; While You Were Sleeping magazine,
Awards
Charlotte Street Foundation Award, 2003; see www.charlottestreet.org
Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Grant, 2008
Design / Professional Experience
Freelance Graphic Design and Artwork, USA: Various media, 1990-present
Digigraph Xpress, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri: Digital printing, sign making and installation, 2004-present
Sign Graphics & Design, Inc., Stillwell, Kansas: Sign making and installation, design layout, 1997-2004
Gnat Design, Kansas City, Missouri: Layout, design, promotional murals, 1993-2000
FlavorPak magazine, Kansas City, Missouri: Layout and design, 1990-1995
Art Education
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, 1993
Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, Missouri 1988-1989
Street University, 1982-present (Doctorate of Graffiti)
[email protected]
Curated Group Exibitions(Curator and participant)
2011
Invited participant artist and local curator for live graffiti mural painting for Kansrocksas music festival, Kansas City, Kansas
2009
Third Eye Gallery and Leedy Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Sorry for the Miscommunication
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: Always Taking Tests: After School Special Midwest Graffiti Expo 2
2008
Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Renegades of Funk: A Look into Kansas City's Lowbrow
2007
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: After School Special: Midwest Graffiti Expo
Workshops, Panel Discussions, Lectures
2009
"Midwest Graffiti Evolution," Graffiti art lecture, The Plains Museum, Fargo, North Dakota
2006
"Gajin Fujita," panel discussion, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri
2003
"Bugs in the Park," lecture and workshop (artist-in-residence for Smoky Hill River Festival), Salina, Kansas
Solo Exhibitions
2011
Winhorse Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Modern Fairytales
2007
The Mercy Seat, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
525 Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Seven Deadly Sins
2004
The Cube Gallery at Beco, Kansas City, Missouri: Monkey Text
New Theatre Restaurant, Overland Park, Kansas: (Untitled)
2003
Valle de Guadalupe (Middle School), Michóacan, Mexico: Cicada / Migration outdoor mural
Prépatoria Lazaro Cartenas (High School), Michóacan, Mexico: Evolution: Skull and Monkey outdoor mural
Tangancícuaro (School), Michóacan, Mexico: Name outdoor mural
2000
Westport Coffee House, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
1997, 1998, 1999
Paint Louis outdoor mural project, St. Louis, Missouri: featured artist
Two-Person Exhibitions
2002
Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom / Kansas City Jewish Museum, Overland Park, Kansas: Balance & Flow
2000
Red Chair Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Profetik Postmen
Group Exhibitions
2011
Greenlease Gallery Kansas City, MO: Celestial terrestrials/Between heaven and Earth
2010
The Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota: Hip-Hop Don't Stop (second annual outdoor graffiti mural)
2631 Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Beware All Stylebiters
2009
The Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota: Hip-Hop Don't Stop (outdoor graffiti mural)
la Esquina gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: ComUNIDAD / CommUNITY
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: Always Taking Tests: After School Special Midwest Graffiti Expo 2
2008
54-B Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Calacas
Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, Kansas: Munnys That Bring Happiness
la Esquina gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: ComUNIDAD / CommUNITY
Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: IN CONTRAST: print artists without assignment
La Sala De Arte La Recova, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands: Plátano Rock / Tapper Matters
Meya Metal Works, Kansas City, Missouri: Stylebiters Presents Massive Toy Recall
2007
The Art Mine, Port Haddock, Washington: Counterproof
Mercy Seat, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
James Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri: After School Special: Midwest Graffiti Expo
2006
Cincinnati Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio: (Untitled)
Creative Arts Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Stylebiters Part II
Terminal Groove Expo, Springfield, Missouri: (Untitled), included live painting performance
The Green Door Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Step Into the Arena, included live painting performance
2005
The Gild, New York City, New York: Fulcrum
Aurora Gallery, New York City, New York: History In the Making, Part II
The Brick, Kansas City, Missouri: Stylebiters
The Vault Gallery at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, Missouri: Newrotica
Fahrenheit Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Tetanus
Troy Swangstu and Alex Whitney Studio, Kansas City, Missouri: Attention Orange
2003
H&R Block Art Space, Kansas City, Missouri: Annual Charlotte Street Fund Awards (site-specific indoor mural)
Fahrenheit Gallery Kansas City, Missouri: Depth Funnel (three-person)
C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, Michigan: Bomb Pop
The Next Space Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Breaking it Down
2002
Johnson County Community College Gallery, Overland Park, Kansas: Shine (invitational auction)
2001
Dirt Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Natural History (three-person)
Johnson County Community College Gallery, Overland Park, Kansas: Beyond Bounds (invitational auction)
1999
Annual Street Art Festival, Canada: Lucky Seven
Annual Street Art Festival, Canada: Tall and Skinny
The Next Space Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled)
1997
Lokis Solis Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: Alphabet Soup
1996
Daily Grind, Kansas City, Missouri: (Untitled, street art show)
1995
Zowie, Kansas City, Missouri: Primitive Streets
Commissions
Kid Robot toy company Fat Cap series #3 T-shirt and ball cap design
Kid Robot toy company Fat Cap series #3, 2011
Grinder's Wing Sauce series bottle label design for "Wimpy" flavor, 2011
Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina Kansas: solo outdoor mural performance projects, 2003-2006 and 2008-2011
Plains Museum, Fargo North Dakota: Hip Hop Don't Stop, part of featured muralists, 2009, 2010
Lee's Summit Christian High School, Lee's Summit, Missouri: Class of 2010 mascot mural, 2010
Cerner Corp., Kansas City, Missouri: employee appreciation event (Kansas City Power and Light District) live painting, 2010
Kid Robot toy company Fat Cap series #2, 2008
la Esquina Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri: featured live painter at street festival, 2008
Kickapoo Boys and Girls Club, Horton, Kansas: solo indoor mural project, 2007
Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, Kansas: solo outdoor mural performance projects, 2003-2006 and 2008-2010
Foxx Equipment Company, Kansas City, Missouri: rotating mural project 2000-present
Jesús Ortiz Murguria's residence, Michóacan, Mexico: Sacred Heart solo mural
The Mercy Seat (tattoo shop/art gallery) Kansas City, Missouri: duo/solo indoor/outdoor murals, 2005
City Nightclub, St. Joseph, Missouri: solo indoor mural, 2004
Science City at Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri: theme park mural, 2000
La Strada D’ell Arte, Kansas City, Missouri: street painting festival, 1998, 1999
Salvation Army Youth Center, Garden City, Kansas: mural project, 1999
Mexicali Alley, Olathe, Kansas: mural project, 1998
AKKA Karate Dojo, Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1997
Zowie (clothing store), Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1997
Bartle Hall Convention Center, Kansas City, Missouri: group mural project with Storytellers, Inc., 1996
Evolution Audio, Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1996
Big Dude’s Music City, Kansas City, Missouri: mural project, 1995
Publications, Press & Reviews
The history of American Graffiti (book) 2011, Art In America; Crime Time magazine; DF: Idiots on Parade (book) ©2006; FlavorPak magazine; Kansas City Magazine; The Kansas City Star; Life Sucks Die magazine; On the Go magazine; The Pitch; Review magazine; Scribble magazine; Show and Prove magazine; The Source magazine; Twelve Ounce Prophet magazine; While You Were Sleeping magazine,
Awards
Charlotte Street Foundation Award, 2003; see www.charlottestreet.org
Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Grant, 2008
Design / Professional Experience
Freelance Graphic Design and Artwork, USA: Various media, 1990-present
Digigraph Xpress, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri: Digital printing, sign making and installation, 2004-present
Sign Graphics & Design, Inc., Stillwell, Kansas: Sign making and installation, design layout, 1997-2004
Gnat Design, Kansas City, Missouri: Layout, design, promotional murals, 1993-2000
FlavorPak magazine, Kansas City, Missouri: Layout and design, 1990-1995
Art Education
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, 1993
Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, Missouri 1988-1989
Street University, 1982-present (Doctorate of Graffiti)