ARTIST JOHNATHON GALLAGHER
Born: Philadelphia, PA 1962
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Graduated Father Judge Catholic High School with the Gold Medal for Excellence in Art, 1980, and won a two year scholarship to the Philadelphia College of Art. Later moved to Los Angeles to further art career and initially held several positions as a graphic designer and archival custom-framer.
Apprenticed as a scenic artist, worked as assistant to the late Robert W. Zentis, renowned Hollywood theater set designer, between 1984 and 1988. Screen credit on several motion pictures as well as much work on Opera, Theater, and Television stage sets, has worked in celebrity homes in Hollywood Hills, Malibu, Encino, and Belair.
In 1998, commissioned into the Restoration Arts and Historic Preservation field, and for two years was the artistic supervisor for the restoration of the Bullock's Wilshire Building, now part of Southwestern Law University. This project has won top awards by The Historical Society of America.
Exhibited my personal paintings throughout the years, and have won a total of 15 public show ribbons including 1st Place, and Best of Show. In August 2003, was presented the Autry Museum of Western Heritage Award at the Burbank Artist Association's Honor's Member exhibit. In November of 2004, held a one man retrospective exhibit at The Burbank Creative Arts Center called, "Myth and Magic". In May, 2005, did a painting demonstration for the Burbank Art Association painting an orchid still life in acrylics. Also presented a DVD of latest 3D animation projects. January and October 2006 brought with it "Art For All Day" at John Burrough's High School, where I was one of five local artists displaying and demonstrating their career arts. It was a multi-media-city day for me. Most recently, this January 2008 I did a demonstration for the Santa Clarita Artist's Association, where my framed "Country into City" painting was raffled to the lucky ticket winner.
Currently, I am exploring work in the multimedia digital arts and computer animation arena, which is truly a new dimension toward personal expression. As a freelance artist I have literally completed hundreds of arts-related jobs. Here are a few of my career "highlights" as a professional Scenic Artist /Set Painter.
Motion Pictures
1989 * “Repossessed” (1st screen credit as a scenic artist )
1989 * ”Welcome Home Roxie Carmichael”
1989* "Dark Man"
1990 * "Countdown- The Big One"
1990 * “Boyz ‘ n the Hood”
1991 * “House Party 2”
1992 * "Dangerous Women"
1992 * "Star Trek IV" (six painted carousel horses)
Commercials: sets
1991 * Kellogg's Rice Crispies (2) * Hall's Mentholyptus * Lens Crafter's
1992 * WKRP in Cincinnati - (2 backdrops) * 7-11 * Ford * Illinois Bell * Mattel's Air Hockey
1993 * Nissan * Pontiac * Mazda * Cadillac Auto
1995 * Clorox Bleach * Denny's * Palmolive Soap * Coca Cola
1997 * Long John Silver's * Kraft Cheese * Tostitos * Pop Tarts * Dodge Durango
1998 * Godiva Chocolates * Loreal * Barbie * Pepsi *
2000 * Verizon
2004 * Weight Watchers
Music Video: sets
1992 * P.M. Dawn Scenic backdrop for a music video
1993 * Janet Jackson Aged wall treatments for a music video set ("Again")
1994 * MTV's "Dead at 21" Apocalypse Mural (<click to view)
Theater & Opera: sets
Over the years I have painted on dozens of theater sets for many non-equity Los Angeles Theaters, as well as The Pasadena Playhouse, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and the Downey Civic Opera. my color elevation of the Alex Theater proscenium was framed and displayed in Glendale's Alex Theater Annex for several years. I am still active in set painting for theater and television sets as well as interior faux finish painting and mural works.
2001 * "Oliver Twist" set. (<click to view) Pan Pacific Park. Hand drawn in the Fireman's Museum in Hollywood.
2002 * "Don Giovanni" Opera Set (<click to view) -Royce Hall, Westwood California
2002 * "Front and Center" guest speaker Christopher Reeve--Granite Set
2003 * Marbleized set for "Front and Center" guest star, Natalie Cole
2005 * "Trombone" set pieces for a one man show held at the Wilshire Ebel Theater, Los Angeles
2005 * "Frazzled" painted set for the Victory Theater, Burbank
2005 * "Friedman Group"(<click to view) set design for a video shoot
2006 * "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (<click to view) set painting and color elevation, The Rubicon Theater, Ventura
2006 * "Dublin Carol" (<click to view>) set design color elevation, The Alhecama Theater, Santa Barbara, CA.
2006 * "Hansel and Gretel" (<click to view) painted opera set, "Hansel and Gretel" El Portal Theater, North Hollywood
2006 * "Man of La Mancha" set painting, The Rubicon Theater, Ventura
2007 * "The Diary of Anne Frank" set painting, The Rubicon Theater, Ventura
2007 * "Hamlet" set painting, The Rubicon Theater, Ventura
2008 * " Bus Stop" set painting for the Rubicon Theater, Ventura
Television: sets
1995 * Fox Cubhouse - 60' forest cyclorama
1995 * Wild Animal Games - 100' tropical forest backdrops. Four large, animal backdrops.
1996 * Glendale Studios - Interior Hawaii mural, Exterior signage.
1996 * A & E - Ancient Mysteries "The Greatest Pharaohs" - Egyptian sets (<click to view)
1997 * Fox Kids- painted cyclorama; set painting ( my last job with Bob Zentis )
1998 * College Jeopardy (two 75 foot backdrops and painted props for the Boston & San Francisco shows )
2000 * Traveling Jeopardy (props, set)
Art Exhibits:
1984 * "Windows 1" Aeolus Gallery, Los Angeles 1984
1985 * Del Mano Gallery, Brentwood "Treasures" Exhibit
1988 * Beverly Hills Art Affaire Exhibit (Ribbon Award)
1990, 1991 * Toluca Lake Art Fair ( two Second-Place ribbons)
1991 * Burbank Fine Arts Federation (Award winner), Creative Arts Center
1991 * Polar Design" Beverly Hills- Group Exhibit "A Human Sensibility" One of my paintings was stolen:"The Grey Nexus."
1993 * Best of Show, Burbank Art Association at the Coast National Bank Multimedia : "Neon Angel"
1993 * 1st Place Award Toluca Lake Art Fair - Judge's Committee "The Jester"
1993 * "Paradox" Solo Exhibit at the Swan Fine Arts Gallery at the Toluca Lake Tennis Club
1994 * "Wild Animals" Exhibit by Four Painters. Sales to benefit Tippi Hedren's Wildlife Refuge, Swan Gallery Toluca Lake
2002 * Fine Arts Federation Award For "Angelfish"- This Painting was also purchased by the gallery director of the Creative Arts Center, Burbank
2003 * Autry Museum of Heritage Award won at the Burbank Art Association's Master's Exhibit for "Celestial Bodies #3".
2004 * "Myth & Magic" A retrospective exhibit of 100 paintings, and ceramic works of art, Creative Arts Center Gallery, Burbank
2005-6* Burbank Fine Arts Federation Annual Exhibition
2007 *Burbank Art Association Honors Exhibit in October. First Place Multi-Media for "Strawberry Fields" given by Valley Frame and Molding
Commissions: interiors
1990 * The Enchanted Forest Theater - Encino - Children's Murals (painted over)
1991 * Restoration - Palm Springs Plaza Theater -1st International Film Festival Faux finishing, decorative painting retouch.
1992 * Kayla Cosmetics Beauty Salon - Beverly Hills - faux finishing
1992 * Pasadena Playhouse Library - historic restoration Painting and glazing.
1993 * Water lily Mural (<click to view), Decor Arts Building in Burbank, CA. (painted over)
1993 * Burbank Bar and Grill - New Orleans Murals (painted over)
1993 * Macy's - Trade Show Display Flats
1993 * Art Carver's - antique carousel horses (‘93-’96) Sample (<click to view>)
1995 * Actor Chaz Palminteri - faux-finishing home interior
1996 * Actor Ed McMahon - faux-finishing - restoration- home interior
1997 * Shaker's Restaurant - Pasadena - Arroyo Seco Bridge - Mural
1998 -2000 * Bullock's Wilshire Building - interior historic restoration
2002 * CD design for REDHAWK, Red Nations Records
2003 * Julian Dixon Courtroom -Bullock's Wilshire Building - SW Law University -cherry stain and glazed woods
2003 * "Alphabet Salad" A DVD original animated alphabet for children
2004 * "On Cue" (<click to view) Two paintings commissioned for BillyBob Thornton's pool room
2004 * "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe- DVD short starring, Scott Craig Jones
2006 * Restoration of the Portico "Spirit of Transportation" Mural -Entrance Portico Foyer at the Bullocks Wilshire Building
2007* Portrait of Father Louis Brisson, Founder of the Oblates of St. Francis. Philadelphia, PA. 2007* Portrait of Saint Francis De Sales
2007* Mock Courtroom at Southwestern Law University - cherry stain and glazed woods
