Jim Bilgere

My work is constantly evolving as I travel through this big crazy world. I only hope I can give a smile or a reflection to another, that for a moment, can relate to my way of seeing this trip we call "Life on Planet Earth".

My love of painting and the artists' way of life began in my teen years in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where I watched and listened to professional street artists and met people from all over the world on a daily basis.After formal studies at the University of North Texas for many years and exhibiting in the Deep Ellum area in Dallas I felt I needed to learn from experience. My early work was concerned with combining surrealism and cubism in a post modern way after which I lived in Kings Canyon National Park where I experienced nature in the redwoods and then later at the Grand Canyon National Park where I continued my study of natural light. At this time I was concerned with painting the great American landscape, which I worked on for five years before moving to Vienna, Austria in 1995.

In Vienna I had the chance to study European art in it's true element as well as the current trends of European art. Somehow, I infused these styles to create a style that has influence in Monet, Picasso, Dufy, Klee, Kandinsky, Matisse, Stuart Davis,Basquiat,as well as the New York art of the 80's.

Through all of these influences I try to create an art that speaks to the spirit rather than preaches to peoples biases or prejudices.