Born
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1956
Education
Yale University, BA Art, 1978.
Places
Lancaster, 1978-1981
New York City, 1981-1989
Los Angeles, 1989-2008
Austin, 2008 – present
Exhibitions
2022
John Swanger, 2022 Paintings / 701 Tillery St., Austin, TX.
2021
John Swanger, Silver Paintings / 701 Tillery St., Austin, TX.
2020
Studio Life, Current Paintings / Dove Springs, Austin, TX
2019
New Paintings / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX.
John Swanger, 14 Paintings / StartUp Art Fair, Houston, TX.
In Spring / Studio, 701 Tillery St., Austin, TX.
2018
Untitled (house), The Browne Goodwin Collection / Illinois State Museum, Lockport Gallery, Lockport, IL.
Group Show / Springdale General, Austin, TX.
John Swanger New Paintings / 701 Tillery St., Austin, TX
2017
Elizabeth Chiles | John Swanger, Lumens and Currents / Grayduck Gallery, Austin, TX
New Work, Public and Private Spaces / 701 Tillery St., Austin, TX
Due East / Big Medium, Austin, TX
John Swanger / 797 Springdale, Austin, TX
2016
Due East / Big Medium, Austin, TX
Selected Paintings / 701 Tillery St, Austin, TX
Hunting Prize / Finalists exhibition / Houston, TX
2015
John Swanger / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
Selected Finalist, David Bown Projects, Curated by Claire Carter, Scottsdale MoCA, Carmen Hermo, Guggenheim Museum, and Anna Stothart, San Antonio Museum of .Art
Group Show / Big Medium, Austin, TX
John Swanger Paintings 2009-2014 / Hellmann Stribling, Austin, TX
Due West / Big Medium, Austin, TX
5 × 7 / The Contemporary Austin / Annual benefit, Austin, TX
2014
John Swanger, Recent Paintings / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
New American Painting 114 (publication), Curated by Nora Burnett Abrams, Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, CO
Distilled Essence: Selected Work from the Kiyo Higashi Gallery / Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA
Group Show / Big Medium, Austin, TX
Selected Small Works / French & Michigan Gallery, San Antonio, TX
5 × 7 / The Contemporary Austin / Annual benefit, Austin, TX
2013
First Show : Gallery Artists / French & Michigan Gallery, San Antonio, TX
John Swanger, Paintings + Constructions / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
Due East / Big Medium at Canopy, Austin, TX
5 × 7 / The Contemporary Austin / Annual benefit, Austin, TX
2012
John Swanger, Paintings / 2305 Newfield, Austin, TX
John Swanger, Arrangements / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
Charles Demuth Museum / Benefit exhibition and auction, Lancaster, PA
5 × 7 / Arthouse / Annual benefit, Austin, TX
2011
Group Show / Big Medium at Springdale, Austin, TX
John Swanger, Black Lacquer & Other Paintings / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
5 × 7 / Arthouse / Annual benefit, Austin, TX
2010
John Swanger, Large Circles / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
Wish / Dallas Contemporary / Benefit exhibition and auction, Dallas, TX
5 × 7 / Arthouse, Austin / Annual benefit, Austin, TX
2009
Texas Biennial / Multiple exhibition spaces, curated by Michael Duncan, Austin, TX
John Swanger, Reliefs & Tracings + Silver Flowers & Landscapes / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
Group Show / Austin City Hall, curated by Michael Ray Charles, Candace Briceno, Sydney Yeager, Austin, TX
Summer Show / Craighead Green Gallery, curated by Charissa Terranova, Dallas, TX
2008
John Swanger, New Work / 701 Tillery, Austin, TX
2000 – 2007
Studio Exhibitions and Installations / South Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles, CA
1999
Larry Bell, Michael Rouillard, John Swanger, Carolee Toon / Kiyo Higashi Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1998
John Swanger, Lead Paintings / Kiyo Higashi Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art / Benefit exhibition and auction, Los Angeles, CA
1997
John Swanger, Epiphyllum Paintings / Kiyo Higashi Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Drawings / Kiyo Higashi Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
LACE, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions / Benefit exhibition and auction, Los Angeles, CA
1996
Group Show / Catherine Lee, Donald Lipski, Elizabeth Newman, John Swanger, Mitja Tusek, Dario Urzay / Galerie Lelong, New York, NY
John Swanger, Drawing Project / Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art / Benefit exhibition and auction, Los Angeles, CA
1995
Color and Structure / Robert Mangold, Walter DeMaria, Sean Scully, John Swanger, Fredric Matys Thursz, Mitja Tusek, Richard Tuttle / Galerie Lelong, New York, NY
John Swanger, Siteworks / Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
Material Dreams / Han Feng, Ava Gerber, Jim Hodges, Beverly Semmes, John Swanger / The Gallery at Takashimaya, curated by Lynn Gumpert. Catalogue. New York, NY
LACE, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions / Benefit exhibition and auction, Los Angeles, CA
1994
John Swanger, Project Room / John Weber Gallery, New York, NY
A Perhaps Hand / Thomas Solomon’s Garage, Los Angeles, CA
LA Mail / Jose Freire Fine Arts, New York, NY
1993
Salad Days / Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Richard Lodwig, Joe Mancuso, John Swanger / Kiyo Higashi Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
The White Show / Susan Landau Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
One Nail / Susan Landau Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1992
Mark Lere, Robert Levine, John Swanger / Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Boomerang / Thomas Solomon’s Garage, Los Angeles, CA
1991
Five Days / Thomas Solomon’s Garage, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show / Richard Green Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1990
Six Painters / Matthew Scott Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
1989
Sculpture / Vaughan & Vaughan, Minneapolis, MN
14 Solo Exhibitions / Dennis Anderson Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1988
John Swanger, Annunciation / One Main, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
Group Show / Vaughan & Vaughan Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Vital Signs / 10 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY
1987
Jumbo Dumbo / 10 Jay Street, curated by Bill Arning, Brooklyn, NY
Art, Bridges, Space / Ammo Gallery, New York, NY
1986
Endangered Species / Puck Building, curated by Lori Ledis, New York, NY
On the Edge / 10 Jay Street, curated by Valerie Smith, Brooklyn, NY
Decisions, Divisions / Federal Courthouses, curated by Deborah Masters, Brooklyn & New York, NY
1985
Selected Artists / Marion Art, Lancaster, PA
Drawings / Marion Art, Lancaster, PA
1984
John Swanger (with Scott Stenhouse) / Marion Art, Lancaster, PA
1983
Selected Artists / Marion Art, Lancaster, PA
1981
John Swanger (with Gregory Costello) / Marion Art, Lancaster, PA
Ellen Groff, Jerome Hershey, John Swanger / Community Gallery (now Lancaster Museum of Art), Lancaster, PA
Paint on Paper / Art Gallery, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Annual Invitational / Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA
1980
Small Works / Grey Art Gallery, New York University, curated by Patterson Sims, New York, NY
Annual Exhibition / Art Gallery, University of Delaware, Dover, DE
Echo Valley Invitational / Community Gallery (now Lancaster Museum of Art), Lancaster, PA
1978
John Swanger, Senior Project Exhibition / Ezra Stiles College, Yale University, New Haven, CT
1977
John Swanger, Independent Project Exhibition / Gallery, Art and Architecture Building, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Other Projects
2017
Artist talk for exhibition, Grayduck Gallery, Austin, Texas.
2016
“Spaces” (set design, projected paintings) / Jennifer Hart & Performa Dance, Ballet Austin Theatre, Austin, Texas.
2014
Blanton Museum Group / curators Veronica Roberts and Evan Garza / Studio visit and talk, Austin, Texas.
2009
Flatbed Press Collectors Forum / Studio visit and artist talk, Austin, Texas.
2000 – 1994
Collaboration, design, fabrication of artwork elements with numerous artists / including Barbara Bloom, Joseph Kosuth, Sol LeWitt, Maria Nordman, Stephen Prina / New York and Los Angeles.
1998
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Collectors Group, curator Howard Fox / Gallery exhibition visit and artist talk, Los Angeles, California.
1996
Artist in Residence / Production of work, exhibition and artist talks / Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California.
1995
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Acquisition Committee, curator Howard Fox / Studio vist and artist talk, Los Angeles, California.
Artist in Residence / Site specific installations (in landscape and buildings) and artist talks / Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California.
1984
“Anatomy of a Triangle” (set design and interactive elements) / Victoria Marks and Company, Dance Theatre Workshop, New York.
1983
“Small Revolutions” (set design and interactive elements) / Victoria Marks and Company, Ethnic Folk Arts Center, New York.
1982
“Detail” (set design and interactive elements) / Victoria Marks, Alma Project, Ethnic Folk Arts Center, New York.
1980
“Light Plot” (site specific light sculpture), Mount Hope, Pennsylvania.