Jonathan Russell is a senior sculpture major. He is originally from Naperville, Ill., and prefers concept artwork to any other form.

Russell is in his last semester of school and has applied to graduate school. Prior to coming to NIU, he spent two years at the College of DuPage. He said he considers DuPage a good place for learning the craft, but its downside is that it is not very conceptual. Russell then transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago but doesn’t think he would be the artist he is now without coming to NIU.

His artistic influences include Jeffrey Vallance, who is Russell’s favorite artist because of the subject matter Vallance deals with. Other artists that Russell admires are Rodney Graham, Teching Hsieh, Thomas Friedman and Charles Ray.

Russell is currently listening to the music of the Circle Jerks.

One of Russell’s provocative pieces was a punching bag shaped like a pregnant woman titled “White Trash Workout.” Although some parents weren’t too thrilled with the piece, Russell found children took a liking to it.

“There is something amusing as well as sickening about watching a little kid beat a vinyl bag shaped like a pregnant woman while the parents stand there and watch,” Russell said.

Besides constantly creating artwork, Russell enjoys reading for the pursuit of the ever-elusive enlightenment. He also helped run the Glass Gallery through CAB with his girlfriend for three years.

Russell considers the two-man art exhibit that he is a part of at Unit B Gallery in San Antonio as one of his greatest achievements thus far. Just conversing with Unit B Gallery was an achievement for Russell, who would describe himself as shy. The gallery was in Chicago until October but moved to San Antonio in January.

Russell also has a show at the Roy G. Biv Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. The other artist showing, Samuel Blanchard, and Russell are the first Performance/Installation artists to ever show at that particular gallery.

Russell’s work can be seen at his Web site, www.jonathanrussellart.com.

Russell’s upcoming events include shows in Missouri, Ohio, Texas and a festival in Belgium.

If you would like to be Artist of the Week contact Erin Wienke at [email protected].