Cleveland Dean
The work of multi-disciplined, self-taught, visual artist Cleveland Dean exists to address internally personal and societal quandaries in abstract and conceptual ways. His work speaks to that which is the now and how we relate, what our thought process has become and our place in this new inclusion yet isolation based world.
Cleveland Dean pulls from various elements and life experience and has formed an individual style that reflects his vision and his studies of philosophy, sociology, psychology, history as well as acting as a voyeur of humanity. The centered ideology is to evoke individual thought for the viewer, as opposed to being conditioned to what one should think and see, and how such resonates into other aspects of their lives.
“My goal is to simply recondition people to think, adhere to knowledge and broaden their experience. The time to awaken from this degradation of intellect is now.”
Primarily Cleveland Dean's work finds creation via painting, mixed media, installation, video, sculpture and photography.
Cleveland Dean is a visual artist and creative entrepreneur. His art has been featured in several solo and group exhibitions both gallery and museum. Giving back to the community is paramount to Dean’s mission. In addition, Cleveland has been in numerous publications and in hundreds of private collections.
Cleveland Dean is a visual artist, activist, mentor and entrepreneur.
Education:
-Illinois State University
-Prairie State College
-Harrington College of Design
-Self educated in the arts
Professional Experience
- Board of Directors Member for Chicago Artists Coalition (2009-2010): Participate in Program Development, Event Planning, Marketing/ Promotion, Budget Analysis
- Board of Directors Member Graffiti Zone (2009-2013)
- 400+ works in private collection (September 2005 – Present)
- Juror for multiple exhibitions
- Curated over 70 artist to date
- Committee member and resident Artist/youth mentor for the Union League Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago youth outreach division
SELECTED SOLO/ GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
- Rapport - Art Center of Highland Park, IL [solo]
- Parallel Paradox - Freeport Art Museum , Freeport ,IL [solo]
2021
- Ephemera - Art Center Highland Park, Highland Park, IL [group]
2019
- Blue Collar - Ukranian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago,IL [group]
- I Am? - The Insecurity of Divinity - One After 909 Gallery, Chicago, IL [solo]
- A Sense of Gravity - Hofheimer Gallery, Chicago, IL [group]
2018
- Recto/Verso - Duality of a Fragile Ego - Chicago Cultural Center [solo]
- 7 - Connect Gallery [solo]
- Art Prize - DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids, Mi.
2017
- Black / White - N’Namdi Contemporary Miami [solo]
2016
- Only in the Palace of God and Men - Union League Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL [solo]
- Prizm Art Fair - Art Miami 2016
- Project International Contemporary Art Show - Art Miami 2016
- Exhibition - N’Namdi Contemporary Miami
2015
- Apotheosis - Mathew Rachman Gallery, Chicago, IL [solo]
- In search of sanity and all things related at Governors State University, University Park, IL [solo]
- Somewhere there's Music - Governors State University [group]
2014
- Away With This Inverted World – Bridgeport Arts Center – Chicago, IL [group]
- Burnt Cherry Blossoms – Gallery 914 – Chicago, IL [solo]
2012
- Yielding to Commerce – Gallery 220/ Chicago Loop Alliance – Chicago, IL [group]
- I Shall Be Released – Union Street Gallery – Chicago Heights, IL – [group/feature artist]
2011
- Paint, Pigment and Knives – Gallery 220/Chicago Loop Alliance - Chicago, IL [group]
- Minority Art: Inspiration, Obligation - Governors State University - University Park, IL [group] - Regard*Resist*React - Governors State University - University Park, IL [group]
- I heard he's an Asshole - SENstudio studio project pop up gallery - Chicago, IL [solo]
- Lost in the World Series - Prudential Building - Chicago, IL [group]
2010
- Vice – Creative Lounge in conjunction with Toyota - Chicago, IL [group]
- Aspire - Exhibition at Prudential Building - Chicago, IL [group]
- Principles in Motion – Univ. of Chicago - Chicago, IL [group]
- Massive - Exhibition at Governors State University. - Olympia Fields, IL [solo]
- Nowhere From Here - FR works on Paper Gallery - Chicago, IL [solo]
2009
- Sticks and Stones – Northeastern Illinois University - Chicago, IL
- Equinoccio de Primavera - Chicago, IL [group]
- Spirituality in art – Murphy Hill Gallery - Chicago, IL [group]
- We Are – Zhou B Art Center - Chicago, IL [group]
- Black/White/Abstract -River East Art Center - Chicago, IL [duo]
- Celebration 2009 – Prospectus Gallery - Chicago, IL [group]
- Tube Series: We Are - Chicago Art Department - Chicago, IL [collab]
2008
- Chicago Artist Coalition Art Open - Chicago, IL [group]
- Unlearn - Phaiz Gallery - Chicago, IL [solo]
- Interpretable Chaos - Flatfile Gallery - Chicago, Il [solo]
- Look - Look Gallery - Chicago, IL [solo]
2007
- Q4 Gallery - Chicago, IL [group]
- Resolution - Las Manos Gallery Chicago, IL [group]
- Interpretable Chaos v.1 - Gallery of the Hot House - Chicago, IL [solo]
- PUMA/ Guillermo Vilas tribute - All Rise Gallery - Chicago, IL [group]
- Q4 Gallery - Chicago, IL [group]
- Tzeta Gallery - Chicago, IL [group]
2006
- Collective Reasoning v.2 - Chicago, IL - [solo]
- Espia - Espacino Imagen Alternativa - Mexico City, Mexico [solo]
- Espacio El Galeron- Desde Chicago y en Oposicion - Mexico City, Mexico [group]
2005
- Collective Reasoning v.1 - Chicago, IL - [solo]
Chicago - Streeterville via southside/wild hundreds
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info@imadeyoureadthis.com
instagram: clevelanddean
patreon: clevelanddean