Sergio Farfán blends the experiences from his hometown in Peru with the life he’s lived in Chicago to create works that focus on the struggles, dreams, and emotions that people go through in their life. Farfán began to draw as a form of therapy as he struggled through his anxiety. Whatever was troubling him or whenever he just wanted to forget what was going on in the world around him, he found refuge in his art and would draw his favorite cartoon characters he would see on TV. As he grew up, he noticed that other people had their own stories to tell which he related to and uses as inspiration. Farfán’s creative process comes from utilizing a range of mediums and integrating stylistic techniques from realism to abstraction to create his pieces. He has provided artwork for public and private events, some of which included Chad Smith, from the band “Red Hot Chili Peppers”, performing in front of his work to rapper Gucci Mane during Four Loko’s Lollapalooza pre-game party. Farfán is a full-time artist and works out of his studio at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work explores the idea of innocence and the human conditions such as happiness, anxiety, depression, and playfulness which are relatable subjects that we all possess.
I utilize a wide range of mediums like spray paint, acrylic, and graphite all while integrating classical techniques with childlike sketches. My work is influenced by the genres of pop art, cubism, and urban contemporary art. The addition of phrases or words that I pull from the music and ideas that pop into my head aid in hinting at the overall conceptual idea of the piece. The way I compose the writing transforms into a code meant to be deciphered by the audience. The mark-making symbolizes emotion, from quick, anxious scratches to carefully placed, soothing strokes. Each piece contains multiple layers of different paintings and drawings, creating the foundation for my main focus.
“Kans” is the name of the characters I created. They represent the emotions I’m going through at the time. The use of horns and halos stand as a metaphor for the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, emphasizing how each one of us has a good and bad side. The common factor the characters share is that they reflect the masks we put on to hide our true feelings. Anyone can put on a façade and happy on the outside, but struggle with anxiety and depression on the inside. These are the stories I wish to tell and where I draw much of my inspiration from. At first glance, my artworks can have a very playful and nostalgic vibe but also have a very meaningful and serious undertone. The layers on the canvases reflect all the aspects of life we build up. Bumps, cracks, splatters, and drips are the stories that lay underneath the foundation of the person we become.
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RESUME
Gallery Representation
Pure Evil Gallery, London UK
Vertical Gallery, Chicago, IL
Solo Exhibitions
Vertical Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2021
Duo Exhibitions
Don’t Play with your Drugs, Positive Space, Chicago, IL - 2019
Curated Shows
Vinco’s SYNC, Lagunitas Chicago Taproom, Chicago, IL - 2019
Holiday Pop-Up, Bishops, Chicago, IL - 2018
Complex II, CC’s Art Garage, Chicago, IL - 2018
Complex, CC’s Art Garage, Chicago, IL - 2017
Up and Coming Chicago Artists, Genesis Art Supply, Chicago, IL - 2016
Selected Group Exhibitions
Vertical Gallery 7th Year Anniversary, Vertical Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2020
4th Anniversary Show, Line Dot, Chicago, IL - 2019
Chicago Artists Only, Gallery Colondro, Milwaukee, WI - 2019
ComplexCon, All Star Press, McCormick Place, Chicago IL - 2019
Letter Love, All Star Press Chicago Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2019
Slaps! Vol. 2, Vault Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2019
Art Gala on Fremont, Chicago, IL - 2019
Vertical Gallery 6th Year Anniversary, Vertical Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2019
Group Show, Vault Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2018
SLAPS A National Sticker Art Exhibition, Chicago, IL - 2018
Mix-N-Mash Art Show, Baderbreau Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2018
Movement Gallery Group Show, Movement Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2018
The Pink Tap Party, AMFM Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2018
Holiday Group Show, Line Dot Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2017
4th Annual City of Big Dreams Fundraiser, Chop Shop, Chicago, IL - 2017
Turn Around Arts *Chad Smith*, Audio Tree, Chicago, IL - 2017
Complex Pop-Up, CC’s Art Garage, Chicago, IL - 2017
Chicago Sleepers Pop-Up, Chicago Sleepers, Chicago, IL - 2017
Vertical Gallery Holiday Pop-Up, Vertical Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2016
Centerline Group Show, Zhou B. Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2016
3rd Annual City of Big Dreams Fundraiser, Chop Shop, Chicago, IL - 2016
Pokémon Show, Secret Vault Boutique, Arlington Heights, IL - 2016
Diffused Galleria Opening, Diffused Galleria, Chicago, IL - 2016
Open House, Secret Vault Gallery, Arlington Heights, IL - 2016
Maskerade by AMFM, Chicago Art Department, Chicago, IL - 2016
You Are Beautiful Show, Galerie F, Chicago, IL - 2016
Smalls Show, Paper Crown Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2015
Covers by Genesis Supply, Iridium Clothing, Chicago, IL - 2015
Slanted Canvas, Art Genesis Supply, Chicago, IL - 2015
TMRucker Group Show, Throop Studio, Chicago, IL - 2015
Third Friday, Zhou B Art Center, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL - 2015
West Loop Show, Jimmy Fishbein Photography, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL - 2014
Access Group Show, Ian Sherwin Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2014
The Mighty Mini’s of March, Ian Sherwin Gallery, Chicago, IL - 2014
Honors
Northeastern Illinois Upstate 8 Conference Show Judge - 2015
Slanted Canvas Best Ramp Award, Art Genesis Supply, Chicago, IL - 2015
Alumni Recipient and Attendant to
West Leyden High School Entrepreneur Day - 2015
Special Recognition, graduation class of West Leyden High School - 2014
Best Artist Award, graduating class of West Leyden High School - 2014
1st place, Washington Congressional Art Contest - 2013
Selected Experience
Live Painting for Ferrari USA, City Hall Venue, Chicago, IL - 2020
Mural for SoHo House Chicago, Chicago, IL - 2020
Mural for Four Loko, Chicago, IL - 2019
Mural for Number Project, Chicago, IL - 2019
Berwyn Metra Station Mural, Berwyn, IL - 2019
Mural for Faded Culture Studios, Melrose Park, IL - 2019
Yo-Yo Ma’s Chicago Concert Poster, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago, IL - 2019
WNDR Museum Live Painting, Chicago, IL - 2019
Mural for Bishops Barber Shop, Chicago, IL - 2018
BPAI Assistant for Cranio Mural, Berwyn, IL - 2018
Auctioned Art at One Goal Gala, Morgan Manufacturing, Chicago, IL - 2018
Delta Airlines Mural for Night Before the Oscars, Fox Studios, Los Angeles, CA - 2018
Provided art for Hudson Jeans Event, Hudson’s NYC Headquarters,
New York, NY - 2018
Farfan x Marie Hell Clothing Collaboration, USA - 2018
Provided Art for DRW Chicago Event, Chicago, IL - 2017
Live Painting TEDx Chicago, SIX10, Chicago, IL - 2017
Mural for Number Project offices, Chicago, IL - 2017
Mural for Farpoint Development, Chicago, IL - 2017
Live Painting Chicago Sleepers Pop-Up, Chicago, IL - 2017
Buckfeet x Farfan collaboration for Four Loko pre-game Lollapalloza - 2017
Provided art for Four Loko Pre-Game Lollapalooza, Studio Paris, Chicago, IL - 2017
Windy City Smokeout Festival (VIP Pass), Chicago, IL - 2017
Provided Art for YPO Chicago Event, Chicago, IL - 2017
Live Mural Chicago Sleepers Pop-Up, Chicago Sleepers, Chicago, IL - 2017
Live Mural So ILL Car Show, LifeZone360, West Dundee, IL - 2016
Live Painting Up and Coming Artists, Genesis Art Supply, Chicago, IL - 2016
Live Painting Pokémon Show, Secret Vault Boutique, Arlington Heights, IL - 2016
Astro Mural, Secret Vault Boutique, Arlington Heights, IL - 2016
Live Painting, The Wheatlands Elementary School, Aurora, IL - 2015
Live Painting by Art Genesis Supply, Hard Rock, Chicago, IL - 2015
Live Painting by TMRucker Gallery for cars.com company,
Fulton Market Kitchen, Chicago IL - 2015
Logan Square Mural, Flash ABC Crew, Chicago, IL - 2015
Ed Paschke Mural, Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL - 2013