David Jien "All Is Not Lost", 2019, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 16 x 30 in.
David Jien "Bad Kitty", 2019, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 8.5 x 11 in.
David Jien "Jericho", 2017, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 11 x 35 in.
David Jien "Kristen's Picture", Colored pencil and graphite on paper, 8.5 x 11 in.
David Jien "Nabemono", 2019, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 24 x 36 in.
David Jien "Palaios", 2019, Colored pencil, holopgraphic film and graphite on paper, 14 x 20 in.
David Jien "Tong Poo", 2019, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 8.5 x 11 in.
David Jien "Maestros Movement", 2017, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 21 x 34 in.
David Jien
Born 1981, Los Angeles, CA
Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA
Richard Heller Gallery is pleased to present the second solo exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist, David Jien.
In this second chapter of Jien’s epic narrative, he continues the chronicles of an allegorical future detailing a battle in which human and anthropomorphic beings continue the struggle against a race of balloon-headed creatures and cold-blooded reptilian overlords who seek world domination
The title piece of the show, "Exodus," is also Jien’s largest work to date measuring 25.5 x 92 inches in length and took him the better part of two years to complete.
Taking inspiration from the infinite possibilities of science fiction, the storytelling of Henry Darger, the isometric perspective and narrative geography of Nintendo and Chinese scroll paintings, the eroticism of Japanese pillow books and the limitless transformations of graffiti, Jien has once again painstakingly crafted these new and intensely detailed scenarios in colored pencil on paper and sculpture.
Jien grew up in Los Angeles, immersed in his own world of Nintendo, Legos, puzzle toys and manga. Obsessed with drawing animals and monsters as a child, he later transferred that passion to graffiti, and spent many years bending, melting and transforming letter forms upon the walls of the city. After the graffiti lifestyle turned "complicated," he enrolled at Art Center College of Design, graduating in 2009 with a BFA in Illustration. He initially focused on graphite drawings of metamorphosis, alphabets, rubbery forms, alien biology and geometric Psychedelia, establishing the setting of his narrative landscape and evolving his own folklore about the dawn of time, when mythological beings still walked amongst men. David Jien’s work has been enthusiastically received at EXPO CHICAGO, Pulse Miami Contemporary Art Fair and at The Armory Show in New York.
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2009 BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
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2019
All is Not Lost, Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (Opening September 7th)2018
Time Will Tell, Tarble Arts Center, Charleston, IL.2015
Exodus, Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA2011
The Plight of the Who, Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA -
2017
Zing Zam Blunder, Harbinger gallery, Reykjavík, IcelandBeheaded, Richard Heller gallery, Los Angeles, CA
21, Left Field gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA
Expo Chicago, Richard Heller, Chicago, IL
Untitled, Richard Heller, Miami, FL
2016
EXPO CHICAGO, Richard Heller Gallery, Chicago, ILHow High?, Left Field Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA
Seattle Art Fair, Richard Heller Gallery, Seattle, WA
Geo Necro, curated by Casey Smith, ADA gallery, Richmond, VA (forthcoming)
Tales that must be told: Contemporary narrative art, curated by Siobhan McClure, Cypress College, Cypress, CA
Some Americans and Some More, curated by David Pagel, Peggy Phelps gallery, Claremont University, Claremont, CA
2015
Expo Chicago, Richard Heller Gallery, Chicago, ILNovember Group Show, Narwhal Contemporary, Toronto, ON
Ill Squad, curated by Andrew Hem, Giant Robot Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014
Duck Show, Greenpoint Terminal Gallery, New York, NY2013
Armory Show, Richard Heller Gallery, New York, NYAnxiety, The New York Times, New York, NY
2012
Miami Project, Richard Heller Gallery, Miami, FLArt on Paper Biennial: The 42nd Exhibition - Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC
Art Platform, Richard Heller Gallery, The Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA
The Beginning, Beginnings Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Where my cones at? (curated by Ryan Travis Christian) Double Break, San Diego, CA
Armory Show, Richard Heller, New York, NY
2011
Armory Show, Richard Heller, New York, NYDecember Group Show, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Art Platform, Los Angeles, LA Mart, Los Angeles, CA
2010
Pulse Art Fair, Richard Heller Gallery, Miami, FLPost-it Show, Giant Robot, Los Angeles, CA
Select Survey, Wonder Bread Factory, San Diego, CA
2009
Relocation (curated by Aaron Smith) Sloan Fine Art, New York, NYDevil’s in the Details, Giant Robot, New York, NY
Tree Show, Giant Robot, San Francisco, CA
2008
Destined to Rise (benefit show) Nucleus Gallery, Los Angeles, CALine Weight, Nucleus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Flaunt, Junc Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
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2019
Claire Milbrath, Editorial Magazine issue 19, Spring 20192018
Andy Smith, Recent Futuristic Visions, Hi-Fructose Magazine, September 5Solvej Schou, David Jien: Epic Drawings, DOT Magazine, July 25
2017
Andy Smith, David Jien’s Colored Pencil Works Recall 8-Bit Adventures, Mythology, Hi-Fructose Magazine, February 72015
Kristin Farr: “Who riding with a lizard man,” Juxtapoz issue 176, SeptemberAndrew M. Goldstein: “8 Rising Stars to Watch at EXPO CHICAGO,” artspace.com, September 19
David Pagel: “Ancient mythology meets the modern video game in David Jien’s ‘Exodus,’” LA Times, April 19
James Cartwright: “Superbly surreal new show from narrative wizard David Jien,” Itsnicethat.com, April
2013
Marc Valli and Ana Ibarra: “Walk the line,” Laurence King, OctoberTunica Magazine, “Second issue,” August
Justin Blyth: “David Jien,” Iconograph Issue 2, January
2012
Liv Siddall: “David Jien,” Itsnicethat.com, March 152011
David Pagel: “Journey into an epic Plight,” Los Angeles Times, September 22Tracey Harnish: “David Jien at Richard Heller Gallery,” Huffington Post, September 29
“David Jien: The Plight of the Who,” Artweek.la, September 5
“David Jien’s ‘The Plight of the Who,’” Erratic Phenomena
2010
“David Jien,” New American Paintings, Issue 91, December“David Jien,” Beautiful/Decay, November 18
Jess Wheaton: “Now Featuring David Jien,” Little Paper Planes, April 18
2009
Allison Gibson: Beautiful/Decay book, July