Josh Grotto is an artist, designer, and illustrator born and based in Chicago. Beginning with graffiti writing as a young kid, his interest in art intensified and evolved at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from where he holds a degree. Grotto maintains an active studio practice and has exhibited work in solo and group shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Grotto's works are an elegiac confluence of abstract expressionism, urban wheat-pasting, and traditional portraiture. Working intuitively, he splices together hundreds of pre-existing images, adding paint and texture to create new characters that are hauntingly abnormal, yet intimately familiar. Despite their melancholic mood, these works are a celebration of Chicago’s complex history, the artist’s personal narrative, and the long lineage of picture-making.
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@jashua77
EXIBITIONS
BOP! Adventures in American Collage, Curated by Tony Fitzpatrick
Satchel Projects New York, NY (2022)
Vinyl Vandals Project
Bierwax Brooklyn, NY (2022)
Heroes & Villians, New Works by Josh Grotto
Grace Jane Chicago, IL (2022)
Wet Paint Atlanta
ABV Gallery Atlanta, GA (2021)
2021 Rockford Midwestern Biennial
Rockford Art Museum Rockford, IL (2021)
To Gather Together
Co-Prosperity Sphere Chicago, IL (2019)
Winter Group Show
Grace Jane Projects Chicago, IL (2019)
Line Dot's 4th Anniversary Group Show
Line Dot Editions Chicago IL (2019)
Bull in a China Shop, New Works by Josh Grotto
Line Dot Editions Chicago, IL (2017)
Onset
First Amendment San Francisco, CA (2017)
Woman with a Broken Nose, New Works by Josh Grotto
Standing Passengers Chicago, IL (2017)
Carol Nasaw Fine Art presents The Sides of a Coin
Jeffery Breslow Gal Chicago, IL. (2017)
Secret Walls: The Chicago Collaborators Pop-Up
Gallerie F Chicago, IL. (2017)
Unfolded: Made with Paper
Chicago Design Museum Chicago, IL (2016)
DEF CON FIVE
Chicago Truborn Chicago, IL. (2016)
You Are Beautiful: DIY Sticker Show
Gallerie F Chicago, IL. (2016)
Alphabet Soup 2
Gallerie F Chicago, IL. (2014)
Fear: An homage to all things that go bump in the night
Maxwell Colette Chicago, IL (2013)
Leave the Beef on the BBQ
Guerrero Gallery San Francisco,CA (2012)
Alphabet Soup
Gallerie F Chicago, IL. (2012)
Amass by Swindle Magazine
Scion Space L.A. Culver City, CA. (2007)