For this new series of monographs, Koeb asked people to share their stories, their secrets…the things no one would assume about them from just looking at them. The knowledge of this process puts our minds in motion to question and imagine these anonymous subjects through rich and often haunting hints at what may lie beneath the surface in others. It may also reflect back on us our own secrets and cause us to wonder if they are as well hidden as we’d like to think they are.
"It has been said that each of us is three people: how others see us, how we see ourselves, and who we really are. I don't know if I agree with this entirely, but I do think that when we begin our lives, we are the same person in private as we are in public. But then, at some point-usually around the time we become aware of our sexuality-we begin to keep parts of ourselves hidden behind a front. As adults, we are one person at work, another with family, and yet another when we are alone.
In this series of monotypes, I am interested in exploring the relationship between what we see on the surface and what lies beneath. We all have hidden lives, and desires that we keep to ourselves; stories we never share with others. I believe we have more in common than we often think and my hope is that this work will shed some light on our commonalities.” ~Bill Koeb
About the Artist:
Bill Koeb was born in Los Angeles in 1965; while he was very young, his family relocated to San Jose, CA where he spent most of his childhood. His interest in art began when he discovered comic books and book illustration. He attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco where he studied under Barron Storey, who introduced him to etching, and Bill Shields. While at school Koeb often visited museums and galleries and discovered the works of Richard, Diebenkorn, Robert Rauschenberg, Nathan Oliveira, and several other painters and printmakers. His first exposure to monotypes came when longtime friend and fellow student Tim Bower showed him the process; Koeb liked the freedom and fluidity of the monotypes. Koeb’s love for drawing from life and visual journalism can also be seen in his 20 years of personal sketchbooks; a daily documentation of his observations, thoughts, experiences, and the lives of those around him.
Koeb’s professional career includes drawing and painting comics and illustrations for magazines, books, and advertising campaigns. In 1995 he created paintings for the sets of the film "The Crow, City of Angels" (the works he created were used as artwork attributed to the character Sarah-a central part of the story.) This experience proved to be a catalyst for Koeb to pursue a focus on his personal art while he continued to work as an illustrator for several more years. Koeb has had numerous exhibitions of his work in the U.S. and currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and son where he continues to paint and teach.
Opening Reception: November 6, 2015 RSVP
Music: DRKMTRLS performing throughout the night
Exhibition:November 6–December 12, 2015
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