I was born in the suburban town of Torrance located just outside of Los Angeles.

Growing up in the world of Skateboarding has profoundly shaped every aspect of who I am. Skateboarding was a way to immerse myself into many sub-cultures while never being defined by just one. 

Through skating I found solace in music and visual art, I learned about philosophy and psychology which taught me the idea that to find out who I am I would need discipline and a willingness to pay attention during hardships. To become a fully realized person I would need to learn to take criticism, risks, and to travel directly into the eye of storm. This is probably why art has replaced everything I learned spending years in Catholic school and in fact become my religion.

Over many years of personal ups and downs, a voice started to emerge and continues to develop. I often do art that has no meaning other than the meaning of doing. Having purpose is how I remain on a path of never becoming too lost.

I have never questioned why I am here in this life. I am here to dive deep into the 1000’s of generations occupying my D.N.A. and have conversations with them. This may explain why my art takes shape in so many ways and mediums. I am not only learning of my history but all of our history so I am able to understand how I got here and maybe where I am going. I am in no rush for the latter and am satisfied dwelling in my imagination present day.

Above all, when I am connecting to my creativity and being true to myself , art helps me to be authentically me without distraction.

Some common themes are dualities such as connection, disconnection, depression, joy, pain, love, darkness, spirituality, self sabotage and personal growth.

My work has been featured in Solo and Group shows in Galleries such as Walled City, Thinkspace, C.A.V.E. Gallery, Copro Nason, Cannibal Flower, Gallery 1988, also I have been featured in numerous publications and alongside some of my favorite musicians. Clients include The C.W. Network, Atlantic Records, Lava, as well as many Independent Record Labels and has even popped up in auction houses as my career and body of work expand..

I am profoundly thankful for the people literally around the world who have expressed a connection to my art. That is my personal success, that is what people who downplay what art can offer an individual who devotes their life to something cannot understand, so thank you.

Contact me anytime as I would love to hear from you.

-John

"When was the last time you painted on your mom’s family heirloom? John Michael Gill may not exactly be painting on an heirloom, but he sure is rocking layers of paint on an unassuming surface: vases. And that’s really just scratching the surface. Gill creates unique ceramic work, adorned with some truly sick imagery, as well as stickers and paintings, to name a few." 

Juxtapoz.com

"John's art is a personal, straight from the spigot storytelling that reflects an intense looking inward, both within himself as a human and into the souls of those he observes. His style leapfrogs from retro-modernism to post-cartoon lowbrow goodness, capturing both the joke and the truth of human existence with casual grace." 

Marshall Astor.

"Gill’s work is a refreshing step back from all the incessant egocentricity that many artists seem to ride on nowadays." 

FORMAT MAGAZINE..

Feel free to contact John Michael Gill with any questions or inquiries.