Cesar Conde ART

Born: Manila, Philippines, 1963

Cesar Conde 

A product of Filipino diaspora, Conde landed in Chicago’s west side 40 years ago. He then moved to Seattle and where he participated in Seattle’s first school busing integration program. He resettled in the Windy City 28 years ago.

Conde is contemporary painter who deals with relevant social issues. He is an artist and activist who believes that art is a powerful tool for social change. He tackles issues across color lines and communities. As an intersectional artist, Conde believes that we can create empathy and with that we can affect actions for the good of humanity. He studied at Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. He also studied with the French master, Patrick Betaudier in his atelier in southern France and with Ed Hinkley in Chicago.

Angered by the shooting of Trayvon Martin, Conde created “In The Hood – Portraits of African American Professionals Wearing a Hoodie” in collaboration with his friends and other activists who were his subjects for the series placing professionals in a hoodie altering their reality to our racist societies perspective of black bodies. The main theme is “Perception” vs. “Reality”. African American lawyers, doctors, business owners, pilots, Artists were amongst his collaborators who wore a hoodie to re-examine and co-protest with societies biased against black men and women and the disproportionate amount of killings by the police. This series won the first “Paul Collins Diversity Award” in ArtPrize 2014. On November 2014, “The Bang Bang Project” was conceptualized during the protest march on Michigan Ave. after the acquittal of Michael Brown’s killer in Ferguson, Missouri. It focuses on “Racism” and “Police Brutality”. Conde found collaborators to be subjects of this difficult works placing collaborators on the sidewalk as if they were holding on to their last breath, having their dreams deferred. The collaborators in the  paintings became the activators for the viewers to re-think about our current judicial and policing system. They became the ACTIVISTS.

Conde’s current series called “AmeriKKKa – Reflection of a Divided Nation” which echoes the racist narrative of the current Trump regime recording epithets thrown at immigrants, POC’s, marginalized groups and African-Americans during his campaign to his current white house occupancy.

Conde has exhibit nationally and internationally most recently in Purdue University, The Field Museum, Chicago, Museo de Arte Moderno in Turin, Italy, He is part of the 17th annual juried exhibition at Freeport Art Museum in Freeport, IL. Conde has exhibited in France, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan, Germany and in and around the U.S.A.

a little side note

Conde came to the states at an early age of 9 in Chicago's west side. The following year, Conde found himself in Seattle and became part of the desegregation program. It was in these early years when Conde experienced racism. Often bullied and picked on for his size, color and accent, Conde relied on silence and invisibility. His strong black female pricipal and vice-pricipal realized the challenges of the few minorities in their middle school, they sent Conde along with other students of color to a "Race Camp" where he would soon be politicized. In "Race Camp", Conde learned about the power of the vote, our voices mattered no matter who we are , the color of our skin, our gender, or where we came from. This week long session about Racism and it's effects ignited Conde's passion about Art for Social Movement. He found his voice as he learned  that "Voices unheard are useless." During college, Conde lived in Sevilla, Spain and Guadalajara, Mexico. He attended demonstrations against Apartheid and had the privilege to ask the Rev. Demond Tutu a question during a tele-onference at the University of Washington.

Prior to becoming a full-time painter, Conde was performing with Pintig Cultural Group, a Filipino American Theatre Company based in Chicago where they tackled issues on immigration, identity and diaspora. He served briefly as the executive director of the company and has performed with Rasaka Theater Company and had done various commercials as well as video and film work. As an out and proud member of the LGBTQ community, Conde is always conscious about the inequity and microaggressions we encounter on a daily basis. Though most of his works have political and social justice undertone, Conde redeems the beauty of humanity. Forever hopeful that we all can get along and that ART can bring us together.

EDUCATION:

Master Patrick Betaudier

Atelier Neo-Medici

Monflanquin, France

2005 - 2007

Master John Michael Angel

The Angel Academy of Art

Via Nardo di Cioni 10

Florence, Italy
2005

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

BA in Speech Communication

1982 -1987

Universidad de Sevilla

Seville, Spain

Emphasis on Spanish Literature and Language

1984-1985

Universidad de Guadalajara

Guadalajara, Mexico

Emphasis in Latin American Relations and Literature

1983 - 1984

Museum Show

2017 “14th Regional Exhibition”, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL.

2016 “24” x 24” “,  Museo Naturali Di Scienze Naturali, Turin, Italy.

2015-17  “Art and Anthropology – Portrait of an Object as Filipino”, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL.

2011 “Network: From Turin to Chicago and Vice Versa”, Museo Regionale Di Scienze Naturali, Turin, Italy.

International Art Fair

2015 Art Taipei, Blue Ryder Art Gallery, Taipei Taiwan.

2014 Miami Art Basel, Spectrum, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Miami, FL.

2013 Miami Art Basel, Spectrum, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Miami, FL.

Solo

2017 “AmeriKKKKa – Reflection of a Divided Nation”, Reuff Galleries, Pao Hall, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN.

2017 “AmeriKKKa – Reflection of a Divided Nation, Fulton Market Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2016 “Collision”, Lee E. Dulgar Gallery, South Suburban College, Chicago, IL.

2016 “Collision”, The Elephant Room Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2015 “The Bang Bang Project”, Art NXT Level Project-Fine Art Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2015 “Collision”, The University Church, Chicago, IL.

2015 “In The Hood – Portraits of African American Professionals Wearing a Hoodie, Oct 16 – Dec 20, 2015, ACS Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2013 “In The Hood – Portraits of African American Professionals Wearing a Hoodie”, Nov 15 – Dec 14, 2013, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2013 “Figures and Faces”, Sep 12 – Nov 4, 2013, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL.

2012 “Celebrating Humanity – A Tea Party”, F*M Gallery, Chicago,IL

International Group

2016 “Tempo Memoria”, MIIT Museo Internazionali Arte Italia, Turin Italy.

2015 “Art Taipei”, Taipei, Taiwan.

2015 “Art and Anthropology”, Erehwon, Quezon City, Philippines.

2015 “Chicago Invasion”, BlueRiderArt Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.

2012 “Synergy”, 33 Contemporary Gallery Artists, ARTSPACE 191, Vienna, Austria.

Group

2017 “Connection”, Phantom Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2017 “2nd Annual Portrait Show”, CC’s Art Garage, Chicago, IL.

2017 “Impolite-ic Politics: Let’s Get Civilly Disobedient”, Lesley University College of Arts &Design, Cambridge, MA.

2016 – 2017 “Inspired By Social Issues”, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2016 “Faces Not Forgotten”, Genesis Art Exhibition Space, Chicago, IL.

2016 “Freak Out”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2016  “Cultural Bridge Art Exhibition”, Scharpenberg Gallery, Dank Haus, Chicago, IL.

2015 “I American”, Dordt College, Sioux City, Iowa.

2015 “Art and Anthropology”, Field Museum, Chicago, IL.

2015 “Art and Anthropology”, Erehwon, Quezon City, Philippines.

2015 “Centerline”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2015 “ArtPrize”, Grand Rapids, MI.

2015 “Chicago Invasion”, BlueRiderArt Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.

2015 “Good Dog, Better Art”, Sidetracked Studio, Evanston, IL.

2015 “Remnants”, Open Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2014 “ Blue November”, Nych Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2014 “I American”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2014  “Borderlines”, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago

2014 ARTPRIZE – Grand Rapids Michigan.

2014 “7 Deadly Sins”, Hermann & Audrey Gallery, Lacuna Artists Lofts, Chicago, IL.

2014 “I AM American”, White Ripple Gallery, Hammond, IN.

2013 “From Motion To Stillness”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago IL.

2013 “33 Contemporary Exhibition”, JCC Art Gallery, Julliet Junior College, Julliet, IL

2012 Juried “Sacred Spaces”, The Art Center, Highland Park, IL.

2012 “Bustes and Rose”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2012 “Art for Haiti”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2012 “F*CK EM/Forgive ME”, F*M Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2011 “Impetus”, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2010 “The Filipino as an Artist in Chicago”, Philippine Consulate of Chicago, Chicago, IL.

2010 “Centerline”, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2009 Juried “5th Annual National Self-Portrait Exhibition”, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2005 “Beyond The Barrelmen”, Acme Art Works, Chicago, IL (Juried)

2004 “Works On Paper”, Prairie State College,  Chicago, IL (Juried)

2004 “FCPA 2ndAnnual Members Art Exhibition. Joliet, IL.

2004 “No Straight Lines”, High Risk Gallery, Chicago, IL.

2004 “Best in Show”, Urban Studio, Chicago,IL.

2003 “Chicago”, La Galeria Samuel Menace, Zona Rosa, Mexico City, Mexico. Juried show.
2003 “The Elements”, High Risk Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2003 “CHOP”, A Collective Benefit Show. The Hothouse. Chicago, IL.

RESIDENCIES

Lacuna Artists Lofts with Hebru Brantley, Chicago, IL, 2014

Monastir, Tunisia, 2008

Awards

ArtPrize 2014, Paul Collins Diversity Award, Grand Rapids, MI.

“Best in Show”, La Galeria Samuel Menache, Mexico City, Mexico. 2003.
Certificate of Appreciations for contribution to the Chicago Art Scene. Presented by Mayor Richard Daley. May 28, 2002.

PUBLICATIONS:

Poets and Artists, May 2015

Poets and Artists, Feb 2013

Poets and Artists, Oct 2011

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