Chip Fasciana
Chip Fasciana's paintings are large, colorful, deeply-layered, introspective abstractions. Having studied psychology and business in his early college years, his work is a reflection of the internal mental processes of humans. In part, they are an autobiographical account. In another regard, they are an analysis of the trials and tribulations he sees others experience in the world.
Constantly the experimentalist, Fasciana approaches painting with a balanced mix of broad, colorful strokes intermingled with obsessive details throughout his compositions. He breaks all traditional rules with his mixing of all different mediums at once. He often times uses obscure materials in the creation of his work, such as toothpaste, bubble gum, hair, etc. His paintings sometimes take up to a year to complete.
It wasn't always that Chip Fasciana was an artist. In the mid 1990's, while managing a successful career in corporate America, Chip Fasciana experienced a tragic and cathartic life change. One of his best friends committed suicide. This extremely emotionally event turned into a life-changing experience for Chip. It eventually propelled him into a world of making art.
At the time, he was managing a successful career for one of the nation's top Fortune 500 companies, Johnson & Johnson. His career was financially lucrative, but not fulfilling to him. After the loss of his close friend, and some ensuing soul-searching, Fasciana came through the tumultuous time with a rejuvenated outlook, and a new set of priorities to apply to life.
He soon stripped the suit and tie, and left the corporate world. He quit his job, got in his car and traveled around the country for months of self-discovery and redefining life's worth and brevity. Eventually returning to New York, Fasciana made his home in Albany. He soon thereafter randomly moved in below a productive Visual Artist. He worked out a deal in which he would create a living space in a basement below this artists house and studio.
Having grown up in a small removed Western New York town, Fasciana had never even met an artist in his life. He had always doodled and sketched, but had never considered the thought of making art.
He sought refuge in his newly fabricated home; a neglected basement of debris, which included recklessly scattered canvasses and paints. Digging, cleaning and organizing, Chip eventually tried his hand at painting. He picked up the brush, and since that day has never stopped creating art.
A self-taught painter, Fasciana eventually took his artistic energy to the higher education realm. He earned his fine arts degree with cum laude status from The University at Albany. He studied sculpture and spent most of his time welding steel sculptures and making found object assemblages.
During all of this time, he remained diligently working on his paintings, but rarely shared this part of his work with academia. He preferred the idea of his painting work remaining untainted by too many opinions.
As Fasciana's work flowed and portfolio expanded, he took the next natural step, the public showing of his work.. While attempting to set up exhibitions for himself, Fasciana sensed a lack of opportunities for young and new artists, like himself, to show their work in Albany. Because of this, he was inspired to start the Albany Underground Artists (see attached media articles).
Albany Underground Artists started as a scattering of small scale group art shows with friends showing work in vacant storefronts abound in the city's eclectic neighborhoods inhabited by historic late 19th/early 20th century architecture, businesses, local artists, and poverty. In exchange for the opportunity to exhibit one-night public art shows, Fasciana and his fellow artists created a more sale-able storefront for landlords with vacant properties, by reinvigorating their space through elbow grease, cleaning and painting walls.
These grass-roots, do-it-yourself, back-alley shows eventually led Chip to some outstanding success.
He has curated shows and shown his work at The Albany Institute of History and Art, assisted curation at The New York State Governor's Mansion, and shown his work in the prestigious Chelsea Arts District in New York City (2004 &2008).
Chip Fasciana's work is currently represented in .Europe. Asia and The Middle East. He has paintings currently on display at John Bloxham Gallery in London, UK.
He is currently working on a new body of paintings and a large-scale public sculpture to be installed this summer/fall.
Fasciana lives and works in Albany, NY.
Education
2003 Cum Laude, BA Fine Arts, University at Albany, Albany, New York.
1990 BS Business Administration/Marketing, Nazareth College of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
Selected Exhibitions
2008: Proctor's Theater, Solo Exhibition, Schenectady, New York.
2008: The Grimm Building, Troy, New York.
2007: Art Haus, Albany, New York.
2007: Albany Center Galleries, Albany, New York.
2007: Albany Underground Artist vacant building series.
2007: "Obsequi", St Joseph's Cathedral, Albany, New York.
2007: Proctor's Theater Schenectady, New York.
2006: Albany Institute of History and Art, Washington Park Exhibition.
2006: "Albany Underground Artists" present series (shows I, II and III), Albany, New York.
2006: Workspaced Out, Albany Center Galleries, Albany, New York.
2006: Exposed Gallery of Art, Delmar, New York
2006: "Unification", Vacant Space (former Optician building), Albany, New York.
2006: Fresh Produce Gallery, Albany, New York.
2006: Albany Visitor's Center, Albany, New York.
2006: WAMC Linda Norris Auditorium, Solo Exhibition, Albany, New York.
2006/2002: Public Sculpture Installation, Madison Theater, Albany, New York.
2005: "Vacancy Show" Washington Park Lakehouse, Albany, New York.
2005: "The Institute Show" Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, New York.
2005: "Reflections on Indulgence" Solo Exhibition, The former Carosello Bakery building, Albany, NY.
2005: "One-Of-A-Kind" The Palace Theater, Albany, New York.
2005: "16 Windows of Art" public art project, Albany, New York.
2004: "One-Night Stand" The Pinetree Group West Chelsea Gallery building, New York, New York.
2004: "The Bank Show", The Home Savings Bank building, Albany, New York.
2004: "The Bakery Show", The former Carosello Bakery, Albany, New York.
2004: "5 Starving Artists Surrounded by Cheesecake", Vacant Space, Albany, NY.
2003: Solo Exhibition, Fulton Street Gallery, Troy, New York.
2003: Solo Exhibition, Lulu Gallery, Albany, New York.
2003: Solo Exhibition, Spectrum Theater, Albany, New York.
2003: Group Show, Les Bohemes Gallery, Troy, New York.
2002: Group Exhibition, Changing Spaces Gallery, Albany, New York.
2002: "Off the Cuff", Lulu Gallery, Albany, New York.
2002: "Visions and Vibrations", Trink Gallery, Cohoes, New York.
Collections
Currently five private collectors in U.S.
Awards
2006/2007: New York Foundation for the Arts Special Opportunity Stipend
2006: Vacancy Show, Juror's Mention.
2005: Vacancy Show, Juror's Mention
Accomplishments
2006: Albany Center Galleries, 3-Course Discourse series discussions, Panel Member/Speaker.
2006: "Workspaced Out" Albany Center Galleries, Speaker.
2006: Upstate Fashion and Art Magazine, feature artist.