Dan Oliver

How did you get into making art?

I have no recollection of ever having not made art. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of sitting on the living room floor, or at the kitchen table drawing. A relative of mine gave me a huge roll of white paper when I was five years old, and I just drew, nonstop, and haven’t stopped yet.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently obsessed with burning houses. I love how that image can become a metaphor for so many things in our culture right now. In addition to a series of paintings, I am working on a limited edition silkscreen print, and a steel house sculpture which will have real fire burning in it.

What inspired you to get started on this body of work?

The first few manifestations of fire in my paintings had personal, hellish connotations, and it was not a common motif for me. The turning point was in 2019 when the California wildfires were raging. That environmental disaster, global warming, the burning of Notre Dame in Paris (which triggered childhood memories of a burning church), the politics of 2020, the George Floyd killing and protests, riots, Covid 19, and the Ukraine War were all factors that led to me focusing on the theme of fire. The world has been on fire, both literally and metaphorically. As a Chicagoan, I was well aware that the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was such a devastating event that even to this day it has shaped the city’s psyche. So on the 150th anniversary of that fire, my first exhibition of fire paintings opened.

Do you work on distinct projects or do you take a broader approach to your practice?

I work on series of paintings, but I make sure that if I’m inspired to pursue an idea with a different theme, I do it. Having a variety of themes, and being open to take the occasional left turn in addition to my longstanding interests, is my general approach. This makes space for the benefits that come from both sudden inspiration and long term commitment.

What’s a typical day like in your studio?

I usually have two or three paintings in progress at any given time. Alternating what I work on satisfies my need to have a variety of goals, allows me time to think about my next move, and gives the paint time to dry. Each painting begins with a drawing which has evolved through several iterations on paper, first. I make sure the drawing is strong before I commit to paint so that I won’t have to continually make drawing corrections while painting. Trusting that the drawing is solid allows me to focus purely on painterly concerns. I am very thoughtful about color, and spend more time that one might imagine premixing colors for each painting.

Who are your favorite artists?

Historically, I’m inspired by Fernand Leger, Max Beckmann, Christina Ramberg, and Roger Brown. Living artist I love include Kerry James Marshall, Julie Curtiss, Takako Yamaguchi and Gahee Park.

Where do you go to discover new artists?

These days, Instagram is a great place to discover artists. I also discover art by visiting galleries, art fairs and museums in the cities I visit. There is no replacement for seeing art in person.