Biography

Canada, b.1973
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from Polish descent, James Verbicky lived the majority of his early life between Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. As an adult, Verbicky moved to the U.S., and after struggling with legitimacy for many years, he was awarded the rarely bestowed ‘Extraordinary Ability’ green card from U.S. government due to his extensive involvement with a myriad of museums, galleries, charity organizations, and publications across America. In 2008, his work was selected for a 110 year-old juried exhibition at the Louvre, in Paris, France, with the Societie Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

In 2010, Verbicky debuted the media paintings, mixed media works that stimulate the viewer with both content and texture. The three dimensional surfaces transcend traditional painting and venture into the realm of sculpture, and by utilizing vintage media and graphics, advertisements, and obsolete branding materials, Verbicky presents us with the result of decades of attempts to persuade, manipulate, and coerce through subtle and suggestive imagery. His works are at once deeply conceptual and hauntingly beautiful and abstract, capturing both forgotten and persisting icons of media and reminding us that we are constantly being influenced.

Verbicky original works are counted in thousands of important private, public, celebrity, and museum collections in countries all over the world. He collaborates frequently with philanthropic organizations, using his artwork to raise thousands for nonprofits like Waterkeeper Alliance and the Art of Elysium. His works have been the focus of international exhibitions, from Berlin, to New York City, to Boston, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and have been auctioned by Sotheby’s & Christie’s.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2019

Solo exhibition, DTR Modern, Boston, Massachusetts
Man Exhibition, Laura Rathe Fine Art, Huston, Texas
ZONA MACO, Mexico City, Mexico
Gilman Contemporary, Solo Exhibition, Sun Valley, ID

2018

Chin’s Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
Belvedere Art Space, Beirut, Lebanon
GE Galeria, Monterrey, Mexico
Galerie Le Royer, Montreal, Canada
Christies Contemporary Auction, Los Angeles, California
Madison Gallery, Solana Beach, California
Zona Maco, Ge Galeria, Mexico City, Mexico
MCASD, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, California

2017

DTR Modern Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts
Sotheby’s, Waterkeeper Alliance, New York City, New York
Art of Elysium Auction / Sotheby’s / Los Angeles, California
Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
Gilman Contemporary, Sun Valley, Idaho
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California
Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California

2016

Gilman Contemporary, Sun Valley, Idaho
Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
Art Miami Context, Kostuik Gallery, Miami Florida
Context Miami, New Gallery of Modern Art, Miami, Florida
Sotheby’s, Art of Elysium, Los Angeles, California

2015

Coral Springs Museum, Coral Springs, Florida
Art of Elysium Fundraising Auction / Sothebys Auction House
Laura Rathe Fine Art, Dallas, Texas
Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California
DTR Modern, Boston, Massechusetts

2014

Art Silicon Valley, Joanne Artman Gallery
ArtAspen, Forre Fine Art, Aspen, Colorado
Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California
DTR Modern, Washington D.C.
DTR Modern, Boston, Massachusetts
Dallas Art Fair, Madison Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
Art Basel, Scope, Forre Fine Art, Miami, Florida
Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Laura Rathe Fine Art, Houston, Texas
Houston Fine Art Fair / Laura Rathe Fine Art, Houston, Texas

2013

Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
DTR Modern, Boston, Massachusetts
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Madison Gallery
Art of Elysium Charity Auction / Christie’s Auction House

2012

DTR Modern, Boston, Massachusetts
Cheryl Hazan Contemporary Art, New York City, New York
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California / ‘Palette to Palate’ Charity Dinner
Cheryl Hazan Contemporary Art, New York City, New York
Art for Water’ Sotheby’s Auction to Benefit the Waterkeeper Alliance, Madison Gallery / Mathew Marks
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California / Charity Fundraising Live Auction
Los Angeles Art Show / Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA
Fellini Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California
Cheryl Hazan Contemporary, New York City, New York
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Madison Gallery
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, Madison Gallery
Houston Fine Art Fair, Cheryl Hazan Contemporary Art

2011

Fellini Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California
Charity Auction, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
Cheryl Hazan Gallery, New York City, New York

2010

Madison Gallery, Solo, La Jolla, California
Charity Auction Billabong Design for Humanity, Paramount Studios, LA
Laguna Art Museum, Group, Laguna Beach, California

2009

Joanne Artman Gallery, Solo, Laguna Beach, California
Madison Gallery, Solo, La Jolla, California
Joanne Artman Gallery, Group, Laguna Beach, California

2008

Societie Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Group, The Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Karen Lynne West Gallery, Beverly Hills, California
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, California

AWARDS

Invitation, Societie Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Louvre, Paris, France
‘Extraordinary Ablity’ Green card / Residency

PRIVATE & PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Aria Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Hotel Zetta, San Francisco, California
Stanford Medical Center, Stanford, California
Tisch Family Collection
Chip Wilson, Lululemon Founder
Lara Stone, Supermodel
Dr. Phil McGraw, Television Personality
Drew Houston, CEO, Dropbox
Josh James, CEO DOMO
Nick Woodman, Founder of GoPro
Alexander Gilkes, Co-Founder, Paddle8 Auction House
John Cryer, Actor
Cameron Mathison, Actor, Television Personality, Host, Entertainment Tonight
Jane Kaczmerek, Actor
Sartini Family Collection
Frank Sinatra Estate Collection
Smith & Wesson Collection

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

2017

Sotheby’s NYC, Waterkeeper Alliance

2016

Art of Elysium Sotheby’s Auction, Los Angeles, California

2015

Art of Elysium Fundraising Auction, Sothebys Auction House

2013

Art of Elysium Charity Auction, Christie’s Auction House

2012

Sothebys Charity Auction to Benefit the Waterkeep Alliance, New York, NY
Houston Ballet Charity Fundraising Auction, Houston, TX
Laguna Art Museum, Annual Fundraising Charity Live Auction, CA
Laguna Art Museum, Palette to Palate Charity Fundraiser

2011

Laguna Art Museum, Fundraising Auction, original work donated, CA
LA ARTSEEN Charity Launch, To Benefit the ‘Identify’ Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

2010

Billabong’s Design for Humanity’, original work donated
Cool Globes Project, original work donated
‘The Collective Sound’, original works donated
‘Schoolpower’ Annual Fundraising Auction, original works donated

2009

Rady’s Children’s Hospital Annual Fundraising Auction, original work donated

2008

‘Teen with a Dream’ Foundation, original works donated

2007

Boys & Girls Club, Annual Art Judge (2007-2009)
One.org, Combating Extreme Poverty, original works donated

2006

Zimmerman Children’s Museum of Los Angeles, original works donated