EYES WIDE AWAKE

As with many contemporary artists, the line between graphic design and fine art is blurry one. Such is the case with the work of Chad Landenberger. The 28-year-old Riverside artist and graphic designer occupies both worlds comfortably and isn’t quick to draw distinctions between them. “I’ve done art my whole life,” Landenberger says. Recognizing that he’d need to able to make a living, he saw graphic design as “a way for me to use my creativity and seemed more financially stable than fine art.”

With a BFA in Motion Graphics from UNF, Landenberger has been able to bankroll his fine art endeavors with a gig as art director at Caraway, Grammel & Goldman, a local advertising agency. His art, however, is heavily influenced by the Lowbrow movement, a punk-influenced, popsurrealist visual art movement that started in 1970s Los Angeles.

He also favors early skateboard graphics and works in a graphic style that’s a tribute to one of today’s biggest art icons, Shepard Fairey (formerly of “Obey Giant” fame; most recently known for his Obama “Hope” silkscreen). “I’ve also been a big fan of DuChamp, Jeremy Fish and David Cho,” Landenberger says. Those influences can be seen creeping into his work, which incorporates computer software, stencils, spray paint and brushwork, though his style

developed over the years, moving to a more polished veneer. Born in Holland, Mich., Landenberger has led a rather nomadic existence, moving “pretty much every five years of my life.” His “homes” have included stints in Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Clearwater, and he feels his travels have given him some insight into the local art scene. He notes that while Jacksonville is not as established as other cities he’s seen, it does have a “great sense of community.” He’s quick to add, however, that “it is not without its drama.”