Info + Contact
— About
JOHN DEMPSEY is an
Urban Abstract Painter in Chicago
Transforming Chicago's Street Art into Contemporary Masterpieces
As a Chicago-based contemporary artist, I create dynamic abstract paintings that celebrate the raw energy of urban art. Through my unique conceptual approach, I bridge the gap between street-level graffiti typography and fine art abstraction, bringing the overlooked beauty of city walls into gallery spaces.
The Art of "The Line"
My artistic obsession centers on "the line" – that essential element found in urban graffiti that weaves, darts, and twists with unexpected energy. I capture this spontaneous movement through hand-cut stencils and spray paint, creating bold geometric shapes inspired by graffiti letter silhouettes. These structured elements merge with my intuitive layers of acrylic and oil paint, resulting in works that pulse with unabashed urban vitality.
Controlled Chaos Meets Contemporary Art
Each of my paintings represents a careful balance between chaos and control. My fluid abstractions incorporate organic shapes alongside urban influences, creating moments that feel like witnessing something beautiful in mid-creation. My work speaks to current dialogues about modernist painting while maintaining deep roots in street art culture.
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Born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago area. I received an art scholarship by the Woman’s Club of Evanston and attended Ohio University where I studied art under Aethelred Eldridge. My painting "The Great American Landscape" won first place in Chicago's Art Loop Open - the city's first public voting contest, and a giant check that made me feel like a golf pro. Thanks Chicago! CV upon request.
BILLY TOKYO is an
Urban Figurative Painter in Chicago
Constructing the City Through Shape, Color, and Character
Under the name Billy Tokyo, I create vibrant figurative paintings that explore the relationship between people and the urban environments they inhabit. My work is built from geometric forms that evolve into original characters, tilted buildings, futuristic vehicles, crowded streets, and densely layered cityscapes.
I am fascinated by how far a figure can be reduced, simplified, and reconstructed while still remaining unmistakably human. Rather than striving for realism, I use shape, pattern, color, and composition to create visual narratives that capture the energy, complexity, and unpredictability of contemporary city life.
From Influence to Individual Voice
My early work was shaped by the bold visual language of Japanese Pop Art and the irreverent spirit of the Chicago Imagists. Their embrace of color, graphic form, humor, and unconventional figure-making helped establish the foundation of my artistic practice.
Over time, those influences have evolved into a visual language of my own. Today, my paintings are less concerned with individual portraits and more focused on constructing imaginative worlds where architecture, transportation, people, symbols, and patterns coexist within a unified geometric universe. The city itself becomes both subject and stage, populated by characters that emerge from shape, color, and rhythm.n.
Reimagining Urban Life
Ultimately, my work is an ongoing exploration of how shapes can become people, how cities can become characters, and how visual complexity can communicate universal human experiences. Through layered compositions and an evolving cast of geometric forms, I seek to create worlds that feel both familiar and imagined—places where viewers can discover new connections between themselves, the city, and the endless patterns that shape modern life.
Contact
Studio visits by appointment; for available works and pricing, please contact via email.
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Check out the recent article about my artwork (and Billy Tokyo's) in The Common Reader by the talented writer John Griswold.
Both artists share a studio at:
355 North Laflin Street, Chicago, IL 60607
located in the Fulton Market district
General Inquiries
— I’d love to hear from you