Bio

Blake Aaseby, a San Francisco Bay Area artist, explores themes of memory, loss, and the understanding of place. Inspired by a nomadic suburban childhood he describes as, "a floating root system,” his work wrestles with the transient nature of belonging through the use of impasto oil, handmade carving tools, and layered mark-making. His work has been exhibited across the United States, most notably at the de Young Museum.

Education

2017 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Masters of Fine Arts in Studio, Drawing and Painting

2013 Azusa Pacific University, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting

Solo Exhibitions

2024 MacArthur Tides, Uprise Art, New York City, NY (online)

2024 Works on Paper, Uprise Art, New York City, NY (online)

2024 Re Membered, The Barn Gallery, Petaluma, CA

2020 Placeholder, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2018 Gather Round, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2013 Norsk Amerikansk, Duke Gallery, Azusa, CA

Group Exhibitions

2025 Summer Collective, MABE Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland

2025 In Soft Motion, Uprise Art, New York City, NY

2025 Vive Le Printemps, MABE Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland

2024 True North, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Napa, CA

2024 Cubism, Uprise Art, New York City, NY (online)

2024 National Juried Exhibition, Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, VA

2024 Texas National, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

2024 Team Picks, Uprise Art, New York City, NY (online)

2023 Year-End Exhibition, The Barn Gallery, Petaluma, CA

2023 Form & Function, Uprise Art, New York City, NY

2023 Keepsake, Uprise Art, New York City, NY

2023 The de Young Open, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

2023 Diptychs & Triptychs, Uprise Art, New York City, NY

2023 California Dreaming, Marin Society of Artists, Marin, CA

2022 Holiday Collection, Uprise Art, New York City, NY

2021 Tactile, Uprise Art, New York City, NY

2019 Art Miami, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Miami, FL

2019 Seattle Art Fair, Uprise Art, Seattle, WA

2018 EXPO Chicago, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2018 In/Scriptions, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2017 EXPO Chicago, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2017 MFA Exhibition, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL

2014 Minuscule, Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, CA

2014 Of History & Hope, Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, CA

2014 A Matter of Death & Life, Exhale Unlimited, Los Angeles, CA

2013 Curator, Exhibit A, Robert Bullock Gallery, Azusa, CA

Residencies

2024 Uprise Art x MacArthur Place Artist Residency

Grants & Awards

2025 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant Recipient 

2024 Juror’s Choice Award, Academy Center of the Arts

2023 Honorable Mention, Marin Society of Artists

2022 The Best of Petaluma, Art Studio

Representation

Uprise Art

(315) 888-1727

advisors@upriseart.com

264 Canal Street, #4W

New York, NY 10013

Zolla/Lieberman Gallery

(312) 944-1990

info@zollalieberman.com

325 W. Huron Street, #1E

Chicago, IL 60654

Bibliography

Corroon Skakel, K. “A Review on ‘In Soft Motion’ at Uprise Art.” Art Currently, May 2025. https://artcurrently.com/review-in-soft-motion-at-uprise-art

McLaughlin, K. “Tour a Smooth and Sleek Dumbo Loft That’s All About the Views.” Architectural Digest, 18 October 2023. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/tour-a-smooth-and-sleek-dumbo-loft-thats-all-about-the-views

Geisel, L. “Not Going Dark and Moody in Your Windowless Bathroom Is a Missed Opportunity.” Domino Magazine, 14 February 2022. https://www.domino.com/content/dark-bedroom-and-bathroom-renovation-cobble-hill/

Safavi, C. “Nordic Soul.” Home & Design Magazine, July 2021. https://www.homeanddesign.com/2021/07/01/nordic-soul/

Pocaro, A. “Book-Smart Painting Hits the Streets: A Review of “In/scription” at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery” Newcity Art, 22 January 2018. https://art.newcity.com/2018/01/22/book-smart-painting-hits-the-streets-a-review-of-in-scription-at-zolla-lieberman-gallery/