Jim Isermann

Jim Isermann (born 1955, Kenosha, Wisconsin) is an American artist. He is based in Palm Springs and Guerneville, California. In 1977 he graduated from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and then received an MFA from CalArts in 1980. His artwork has focused on post-war industrial design and architecture. He has participated in numerous exhibitions in art galleries and museum, and has also created large scale commissioned projects utilizing industrial manufacturing processes. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Richard Telles, Los Angeles (2017, 2014, 2009, 2000, 1998, 1994), Praz-Delavallade, Paris, Corvi-Mora, London (2011), Mary Boone Gallery, New York (2011 & 2012) and others. Recent commissioned projects include works for the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, CA, Yale University Art Museum in New Haven, CT, University of California, Riverside, Los Angeles Metro, and an installation for the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, TX.

Life and career Isermann grew up in a 1922 Prairie Home in Wisconsin, and moved to Los Angeles, California to attend graduate school at Calarts. In 1997, with David Blomster, Isermann purchased a prefabricated steel and glass houses in Palm Springs that had been designed by Donald Wexler, and after refurbishing the building, eventually moved from Los Angeles to the property full time in 2000.

Education and Teaching In 1977 he graduated from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and then received an MFA from CalArts in 1980.

Isermann is a professor of Art at UC Riverside where he has taught since 2006, and has also taught at Occidental College, Otis College of Art and Design, and UCLA. Much of the discussion around Isermann's work from this period focuses on the cyclical nature of style, taste, fashion, camp and kitsch. In 1987 the Isermann stated, "My art is about fine art becoming popular culture and then coming back around to fine art."

Crafts & the Construction of Pattern Since the 90s Isermann's work has frequently been discussed as addressing issues of style and decoration at the intersection between art and applied design. Christopher Knight described "The domestic realm animates Isermann's art. He had spent the prior half-dozen years teaching himself a number of homespun craft techniques, gleaned from how-to handbooks. Stained glass panels, wall hangings of pieced fabric, woven textiles and hand-braided rugs are techniques that embrace a homey, lived-in, DIY aesthetic for objects, crossing art and design, functional and not."

Commercial Fabrication By the new century Iserman began increasingly incorporating commercial fabrication into the production of his work. Beginning with vinyl decals of repeating patterns that were placed on the walls like wallpaper. These installations include an exhibition at the Portikus, Frankfurt, Germany in 2000, and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles in 2002.

Paintings Painting has been reoccurring mode of production for the artist since the beginning of his career. The paintings are hard edge geometric abstractions that artist produces himself with multiple layers of house paint applied by hand.

Queer Sensibilities Isermann's work is frequently referred to as having a strong relationship queerness and camp. Notions of Camp are also frequently brought up in relation to Iserman's work. Andy Warhol had a significant impact on the artist and Iserman's vinyl wall coverings are often discussed in relation to Warhols wall paper. “Untitled”, Vacuum formed wall commission. Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas. Installed 2010. UCR Genomics Building, modular metal and light wall sculpture, Riverside, CA. Commissioned 2005, projected completion 2009. LA Metro Customer Service Center at Wilshire and La Brea, Los Angeles, CA. Monumental architectural screen. Commissioned 2005, projected completion 2006. Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, Metro A Line, 5th Street Station, Long Beach CA, completed 1995 “T.V. Lounge,” American Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria NY

Collections Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL Le FRAC Poitou-Charentes, Poitier, France Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, France Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles CA Laguna Art Museum, Laguna, CA. Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago IL Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles CA Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA Museum of Modern Art, New York NY Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco CA The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Awards 2001 -Guggenheim Fellowship 1999 -California Community Foundation, J.P. Getty Fellowship for the Visual Arts 1987 -National Endowment for the Arts, Visual Artist's Fellowship, Painting 1986 - Art Matters, Inc., New York, NY, Fellowship 1984 -National Endowment for the Arts, Visual Artist's Fellowship, Sculpture