Kaloust Guedel

Kaloust Guedel (born October 31, 1956) is a Cyprus-born American artist of Armenian descent. He is a self-educated artist and theorist. Guedel is known as the founder of the Excessivism movement. He lives and works in Los Angeles, California since 1975.

Works
Kaloust Guedel's work explores contemporary issues often taking a critical stand on various societies shortcomings. Throughout the years, it has explored subjects as genocide, war, abuse and others. Regardless of the styles and technics he has employed, his work has been consistent with contemporary sensibility and has reflected the consciousness of its time. Guedel is the first artist who used vinyl as a medium in paintings. He has been featured in publications like Masters of Today and has been known to explore capitalism and excess in his minimalist conceptual artworks.

Kaloust Guedel presented the Excessivism movement in an exhibition "Excessivist Initiative" in LA Artcore Brewery Annex, and the Excessivism Manifesto was published in Downtown News weekly in September 2015. Downtown News, Excessivism Manifesto, September 28, 2015 p. 10.

Immersive paintings
Later he rediscovered inlay technique as a method of investigation of immersion with his new group called Immersive paintings. When he placed one of his three-dimensional works into a painting by carving its shape out of it and inserting it into the hollow space that corresponded with the shape of the object, the result was unexpected. An ancient technique known as inlay was discovered by chance. The use of inlay is a key element of this artistic concepts. The inserted object has more visual weight, while the surrounding space, which is less conceptually important, is seen as the body of the painting. Use of the inlay produces a silhouette of the subject; most often, it is used with a contrasting background, or texture to draw attention to the main subject, which is then seen as the relationship between the two objects.

Selected exhibitions



 * The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan, 2019
 * Saatchi Gallery, London, UK 2013
 * Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, 1986

Awards and commendations



 * Laura Friedman, Assemblymember, 43rd Assembly District, April 19, 2019
 * Anthony Portantino, Senator, April 19, 2019
 * Marquis Who's Who in American Art Lifetime Achievement, 2017
 * ArtSlant 1at 2015 Prize Showcase Winner
 * Adam B. Schiff, Member of Congress, April 25, 2013
 * Ara Najarian, Council Member Chair, June 18, 2009
 * Frank Quintero, Mayor of Glendale, April 25, 2003
 * New American Paintings, Number 31, by The Open Studios Press, 2000