Painting has been a part of my life since I was very young; it invigorates and inspires me. Today, I paint because I am passionate about the freedom found in the canvas. My current paintings explore improvised botanical imagery using abstract painterly processes. The works are a result of exploration and discovery. I believe the most complex emotions can be evoked from the simplest of forms, merging and emerging, interlocking and dividing. My vocabulary of color, shape, and texture are given form through movement. The gestures and marks found throughout my work are the result of a journey revealed in many layers.
Daniel Phill has transformed, recreated, reimagined and evolved his unique style of blurring the boundaries of abstraction and representation. Known mostly for his botanical imagery, his paintings bear his signature bold strokes and improvised gestures and marks that are created and composed on layers upon layers of thick, wet, viscous paint on canvas.
Art critics have compared his style to Jackson Pollock’s “anarchic manner” and described it as “unrehearsed expressionism.” Bill Scott, in Art in America Magazine, says Phill’s style in his current series of floral paintings owe a great debt to abstract expressionism's fluidity and improvisational process.
“Not a trace of angst or elegiac feeling is to be found in these calmly sinuous paintings. Phill composes his paintings at the same time that he tries to dissolve the representational element of his images to create what could be called premier-coup abstraction," Scott writes.
First and foremost a colorist, Phill creates fiery, saturated hues critics say are reminiscent of David Hockney's work. Working in an Abstract Expressionist style, he pieces together organic shapes in his abstractions and teases images from splatters of paint in his floral paintings.
His canvases demonstrate an impressive control of his material. In large, loose gestures, he describes essential details - long, slender tendrils become reeds, pressed and flattened globs of paint turn into petals, and delicate veins emerge from colors bleeding together.
Some of the painters that he admires include Joan Mitchell, Willem de Kooning, Gerhard Richter and Helen Frankenthaler. As a long-time San Francisco Bay Area resident, he is quite taken by the Bay Area Figurative artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Joan Brown, David Park, Elmer Bischoff and Nathan Oliveira. Phill is part of a vibrant artist community that continues to expand the Bay Area art traditions.
Phill received his MFA from Stanford University and his BFA from San Francisco Art Institute.
Phill's work has been featured in: ARTnews; Art in America; California Home+Design; House Beautiful; Los Angeles Times; New York Sun; New Yorker; Wall Street International; and Who's Who in the West, among other publications.
Phill's work
is in diverse public and private collections, including: Achenbach
Foundation, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Citigroup; Clear
Channel; de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara, CA; Ernst & Young;
First USA Bank; GTE; Kimberly Clark; Morgan Stanley; Nordstrom;
Pfizer; Santa Clara Valley Medical Center; SAP America;
Sharper Image; Sprint; Stanford University; Sutter Health; Texas
A&M University; Tucson Museum of Art; and US Department of
State, among others.
EDUCATION
1981-83Master of Fine Arts, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
1977-78 Bachelor of Fine Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
1974-77 Washington State University, Pullman, WA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA
2015 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
Sandra Lee Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014 Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA
Ligne Roset, San Francisco, CA
2013 Sandra Lee Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012 Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2011 Ramey Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA
2010 Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Eleonore Austerer Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2009 Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2008 George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA
The Studio Shop, Burlingame, CA
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Edge Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2007 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Eleonore Austerer Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2006 George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Smith Andersen Editions, Palo Alto, CA
Modern Eye Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2005 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Modern Eye Gallery, Charlotte, NC
George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2002 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2001 Bradford Campbell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2000 Bradford Campbell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1998 John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1994 John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1991 John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1989 Wade Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1987 John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1986 John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1985 Woodside/Braseth Gallery, Seattle, WA
1984 Dana Reich Gallery, San Francisco, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016 George Billis Gallery Southampton, Southampton, NY
Ruhlen – Owen Contemporary, Flowers & Fields, 2 person show, Santa Fe, NM
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
Art Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
2015SFMOMA Artists Gallery, 3 person show, San Francisco, CA
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Conversations on Abstraction, 3 person show, Santa Fe, NM
Art Market San Francisco, Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2014The Studio Shop, Contemporary Organic, 3 person show, Burlingame, CA
Art Market San Francisco, Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
Art Essex Gallery, 3 person show, Essex, CT
New Year Group Show, Sandra Lee Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2013Red Dot Miami Art Fair, Miami FL
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, California Dreaming, 2 person show, Santa Fe, NM
Houston Fine Art Fair, Houston, TX
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
2012The Studio Shop, New Paintings, Burlingame, CA
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2011San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
ARTFeast, Annual Event, Tour of the Homes, Santa Fe, NM
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Eighteenth Annual Red Show, Santa Fe, NM
2010William Havu Gallery, Abstracts – A Group Exhibition, Denver, CO
Los Angeles Art Show, Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
The Studio Shop, 95th Anniversary: Time and Place, Burlingame, CA
Aqua Art Miami, FL, Art Fair, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts
2009Bonhams & Butterfields, Made in California, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Art Show, Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
Red Dot Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL
AAF Contemporary Art Fair, New York, NY
2008Red Dot Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL
2007Red Dot Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, The Big Show, Santa Fe, NM
Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, NY
2006ARTScottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ
Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, NY
Eleonore Austerer Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2005Emerging Artist ‘05, Scottsdale, AZ
2004Smith Andersen Editions, New Monotypes, Palo Alto, CA
George Billis Gallery, Fresh Assortment, New York, NY
SFMOMA, Modern Art Council Auction, San Francisco, CA
AAF Contemporary Art Fair, Pier 92, New York, NY
Art Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
Hearts in San Francisco, Public Art Commission, San Francisco, CA
2003Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Small is Beautiful, Santa Fe, NM
Wayne Art Center, Quita Broadhead Tribute Exhibition, Wayne, PA
Aafordable Art Fair, Pier 92, New York, NY
2002Austerer – Crider Gallery, Flower Power, Palm Springs, CA
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Fresh Paint, Santa Fe, NM
Michael Martin Galleries, ‘Tis the Reason, San Francisco, CA
2001Bradford Campbell Gallery, SF et al., San Francisco, CA
Bradford Campbell Gallery, Earth and Sky, San Francisco, CA
Austerer – Crider Gallery, Gallery Artists, Palm Springs, CA
2000 Bradford Gallery, Monotypes, San Francisco, CA
1998 California Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum,
Miniature Chair Show, San Francisco, CA
1997 John Pence Gallery, Figures and Interiors, San Francisco, CA
1996Tucson Museum of Art, William A. Small Collection, Exhibition and
Catalog, Tucson, AZ
Marie Park Fine Arts, Paintings and Works on Paper, Dallas, TX
1995 Mckesson Plaza Building, San Francisco, CA
1993 San Diego Museum of Art, Artist Guild All-California
Juried Exhibition, San Diego, CA
San Mateo Arts Council, Bay Arts 1993, Belmont, CA
1991Carolyn Hill Gallery, New York, NY
Berkeley Art Center, 7th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Berkeley, CA
Marie Park Fine Arts, Silk/Paper/ Paint, Dallas, TX
1990 Rococo Gallery, A Stanford Perspective, San Francisco, CA
SOMAR Gallery, Artists Equity Annual Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
1989Butterfield & Butterfield, Art Against AIDS, San Francisco, CA
1988Wade Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA
1986Rancho Santiago College, New California Painting: Dealer’s Choice, Santa Ana, CA
1984SOMA Cultural Center, Gallery Space, Romantic Abstraction,
San Francisco, CA
1981San Francisco Art Commission Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1979Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
1977Museum of Art, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
1976Silver Image Gallery, Tacoma, WA
REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS
Professional Artist Magazine,
Brenda Hope Zappitell, Different Views on Creating Commissions, October/November, 2013
Atomic Ranch Magazine, Cover image, Fall issue, 2013
Santa Fean Magazine, Show Time, Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, Summer issue, 2013
Wall Street International, Daniel Phill: Solo Show, Sandra Lee Gallery, June 17, 2013
House Beautiful Magazine, Interior design by Christina Murphy, May 2012
Albuquerque Journal, Kate McGraw, review, Karan Ruhlen Gallery, solo exhibition,
Santa Fe, NM, April 20, 2012
Studio Visit, Volume 8, A Juried Selection of International Visual Artists, 2009
ARTnews, Hollis Walker, review, Karan Ruhlen Gallery, solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM Summer issue, 2008
California Home+Design Magazine, November 2006
The Reporter, Zane Fisher, Gallery Preview, Santa Fe, NM, February 7, 2006
Creative Loafing Magazine, Linda Luise Brown, review, Petal to the Mettle, Modern Eye Gallery, solo exhibition, Charlotte, NC, January 18, 2006
FOCUS, Emily Van Cleve, Nature
and the Magnificent Landscape Inspire Artists at
the Karan Ruhlen Gallery, June 2005
ARTnews, Dottie Indyke, review,
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, solo exhibition,
Santa Fe, NM, October 2005
The New York Sun, Art Calendar, Paintings by Daniel Phill, New York, NY, June 9, 2005
The New Yorker, Kathryn Jones, State of the Arts, New York, NY, April 11, 2005
Santa Fean Magazine, Artists & Exhibitions, Santa Fe, NM, 2005
Hearts in San Francisco, Public Art Commission Catalog, 2004
Los Angeles Times, Calendar Weekend, Florals Blossom, December 30, 2004
Art in America Magazine, Bill Scott, review, George Billis Gallery, solo exhibition,
New York, NY, September 2003
Santa Fe New Mexican, Paul Weideman, Flower Power, review, April 18, 2003
Art of Northern California, Alcove Books, 2003
Desert Sun, Jean McKig, Visual Arts – review, Palm Springs, CA, August 11, 2002
Art & Antiques Magazine, Gallery Watch, Atlanta, GA, October 2000
Nob Hill Gazette, Cover Art, San Francisco, CA, June 1999
Who’s Who in the West - 1998-1999, 26th Edition
Antiques And The Arts Weekly, Newton, CT, March 13, 1998
San Francisco Art Institute i Magazine, San Francisco, CA, Summer 1998
International Economy Magazine, Washington, DC, July-August 1998
Who’s Who in the West - 1996-1997, 25th Edition
Arts Monthly, San Francisco, CA, October 1993
Art Talk, Scottsdale, AZ, March 1991
California Art Review, Les Krants, 1989
Artweek, Andrea Liss, Lyrical Abstractions, solo show, San Francisco, March 24, 1984
Peninsula Times Tribune, David Winter, Palo Alto, CA, May 29, 1983
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Art, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA
de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ
SELECTED CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Akili Software Systems, Dallas, TX
ALLTEL Corporation, Little Rock, AR
American Cometra Inc., Fort Worth, TX
Ameritrust, Houston, TX
AMRESCO, Dallas, TX
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, Attorneys, San Francisco, CA
Casa de los Ninos, Tucson, AZ
Citigroup Private Bank, Beverly Hills, Palo Alto, San Francisco, CA
Citicorp, San Francisco, CA
Clear Channel Communications Inc., New York, NY
Cottonwood Property Management, Dallas, TX
Cutanix Corporation, Los Altos, CA
DDB Needham, Advertising, Dallas, TX
Ernst & Young, Dallas, TX
First National Bank of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
First USA Bank, Dallas, TX
GTE, Dallas, TX
Healthpoint Ltd., Fort Worth, TX
Hollins University Art Collection, Roanoke, VA
Jossey-Bass Inc., Publishers, San Francisco, CA
Kimberly Clark Inc., Dallas, TX
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Attorneys, San Francisco, CA
KMS Financial Services Inc., Seattle, WA
Koret Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Morgan Stanley, Los Angeles, CA
Nordstrom, Seattle, WA
Pacific Place, Dallas, TX
Penn Davis McFarland, Inc., Investment Advisors, Dallas, TX
Pfizer Inc., New York, NY
Sabre Holdings, Southlake, TX
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Sobrato Pavilion, San Jose, CA
SAP America Inc., Foster City, CA
Sapphire Properties, Dallas, TX
Sharper Image, Corporate Headquarters, San Francisco, CA
Societe General Bank, Atlanta, GA
Southwestern Bell Wireless, Dallas, TX
Sprint, Overland Park, KS
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Steve Waddill & Co., Design, Dallas, TX
Sterling Software, Dallas, TX
Sutter Health Corporate Offices, Emeryville, CA
Texas A&M University Library, Killeen, TX
Towers Perrin Management Company, Dallas, TX
Tolleson Wealth Management, Dallas, TX
Transwestern Properties, Dallas, TX
University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
University of West Florida Collection, Pensacola, FL
U. S. Department of State, Washington, DC