South Florida visual artist Skip Hartzell is not your typical Dog Artist, his work is anything but ordinary

Contemporary artist Skip Hartzell creates paintings, sculptures and works on paper of man's best friend. Skip Hartzell's dogs are anything but ordinary. Donning a shirt that reads, “I support putting dog abusers to sleep,” with dog patterned suspenders – it’s clear from the first introduction that Hartzell’s affinity for canines transcends the average. But the story of Hartzell’s career is more convoluted than one might assume.

The recipient of a BFA in Sculpture and an MFA in Painting, young Hartzell taught high school students for two years while continuing his creative studies at the University of Iowa. Soon after, he relocated to Chicago, Illinois with the intent to pursue art full-time. After struggling to make end’s meet as an artist, Hartzell began taking up freelance illustration work which eventually evolved into a full fledged 35-year career in advertising and marketing. It wasn’t until Hartzell retired from his illustrious career that he fell back into art making full time. The most noteworthy of his inspirations? You guessed it. A longstanding, and deeply embedded love of dogs! 

The biggest disservice a viewer could do to Hartzell’s work is liken it to mere dog-art. Hartzell is not a dog-painter, but instead an artist who is keen on exploring the movement, form, and energy embodied by man’s best friend. Hartzell will be exhibiting at Aqua Art Miami during Miami Art Week this coming December 5-9, 2018.

Aqua’s unique environment in a classic South Beach hotel with spacious exhibition rooms that open onto a breezy, intimate courtyard has become a favorite gathering spot for collectors, curators and art lovers to discover fresh talent and acquire new works while exchanging cultural ideas and forming meaningful connections. Stay tuned for more information as we lead into Miami Art Week.

Skip Hartzell Collector, Curator Dr. Milagros Bello of Curator Voice Art projects (CVAP)

For sales, commissions or more information about the work, email or call: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / 561-389-2148.
www.skiphartzell.com