The Collaborations of John Airo & Michelle Graves
The collaboration of John Airo and Michelle Graves started with Airo’s invite for Graves to collaborate on one of his “Stump” series in April 2019. Even though their individual styles are fairly different, their approach to making was found to be quite fluid as they worked on the piece at the same time. Never ending conversation about life, death, memories and current events seep into the surreal paintings.
(L) Collab for Airo’s “Stump” series
(R) Collab for Airo’s solo show “Sub Transversal Homesick Blues” at the @fitting_room_gallery, Portland, OR.
After the initial Stump collaboration and “Sub Transversal Homesick Blues” piece, the two told each other they would continue this process and go bigger. They started a larger 5×5′ piece in late February 2020 but had to stop meeting because of Covid-19. They attempted to paint at the same time virtually and months later they finally picked up right where they left off and added canvas panels to make their first larger 5×15′ piece titled “The Explosion Is Here” that was exhibited as a window display at Agitator Gallery in Chicago, August 2020.
Pre-pandemic (Feb 2020)
Added Panels (July 2020)
Airo’s garage studio, Chicago
The Explosion is Here, 2020 • 5x15’
Window display opening reception at Agitator Gallery, Chicago. Sept 2020
Exhibit at Fulton Street Collective Jan 2021
Airo and Graves created 5 total large scale surreal collaborations between Sept - Dec 2020 with an exhibit at the Fulton Street Collective on Jan 9, 2021.
This Moment Is, 2020 5x15’ (details below)
Nothing More Important Than Humor, 2020. 5x15’ (details below)
Truth In Sarcasm, 2020. 5x15’ (details below)
Here Comes The Sun, 2020. 5x15’ (details below)
A Weekend Visit After Michelle Moved To Las Vegas
We May Be Vulernable, 2021 5x10’
