• My work is an exploration-- emotional, spiritual and physical-- of what is seen and unseen in nature. My focus is to bring attention back to sculpture as a finely crafted object while conveying a dialogue between the work and the viewer. In an effort to investigate the relationship between the sculptural form and the material, I choose to use bronze, steel and stainless steel because of their permanence and inherent beauty. In addition, these materials allow me to push the physical limits of balance. For instance, my current body of work features figures, in various poses, balanced on the edge of I-beams and a variety of other fabricated environments. In addition to the permanence and strength of the materials I use, they are also appropriate indoors and out. Consequently, they lend themselves well to both tabletop and monumental sculpture.

  Brian Chessmar

• Born:

1968  Santa Barbara, California

• Education:

2003 - AA Santa Barbara City College—Phi Theta Kappa-AA 2003.

2005 - BFA The School of the Art Institute of Chicago- BFA 2005

• Awards:

2002 - Santa Barbara City college: Purchase award- Painting

2003 - Honorable Mention-Painting

2003 - Student of the Year-Studio Art

2004 -The School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Scholarship Award

2010 - Obispo Beautiful Association

• Exhibitions

2001 - Atkinson Gallery

2002 - Atkinson Gallery

2004 - Magnificent Mile Exhibition-Chicago “Lovers”

2004 - Remet Corporation “Shaping the Future”- Honorable Mention “Limbo”

2005 - Cialis Western Open

2005 - BFA Exhibition Chicago

2009 - Bella Arte at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara

2010 - Ocean Studio and Gallery – Santa Barbara

2012 - Santa Barbara Frame and art Gallery

• Competitions:

2008 - San Luis Obispo, Buena Vista Ave, Garfield and Monterey St. Project

• Publications:

2007 - Dinning and Destinations 

2008 - The Guild Sourcebook # 23

2009 - The Guild Sourcebook # 24

2009 - The Tribune San Luis Obispo, Ca.

2010 - The Tribune San Luis Obispo, Ca.

2011 - Montecito Journal Vol.17 Issue 19

2011 - Casa Magazine September Issue, Front Page & Page 19

2011 - Santa Barbara News Press,  Dec. 18

2011 - Santa Barbara News Press, Jan. 22

• Apprenticeship:

2001 - 2003  Aristides Demetrios

• Sculpture Studio Foreman

2004 -  2011  Chessmar Sculpture Studios LLC 2001 – 2009 Demetrios Sculpture

• Commissioned Art:

2005 - Cialis western Open / Velocity Sports and Entertainment

2006 - Alliance / Sharon Lee Erwin

2007 - Yin & Yang / Ken Chiate – Malibu CA.

2007 - Wu Wei Fountain / Frank and Parm Williams / Hope Ranch, CA.

2007 - Vision / Brian Gianesin / Laguna Beach, CA.

2007 - Conviction / Brian Gianesin / Laguna Beach, CA.

2008 - Dancers / Ken Chiate – Malibu, CA.

2008 - Adagio / Santa Barbara Rescue mission

2009 - Bill & Lilli Tregos Montecito, CA.

2010 - Bill & Lilli Tregos Montecito, CA.

2011 – Orbital Salutations /Ken Chiate – Malibu CA.

• Public Art - Sculpture Fabrication Commissions:

                2000 - Santa Barbara City College

          2002 - 2003 - 2007 -2008 - Freemont Ca. Pacific Commons shopping center

          2003 - 2004 - 2005 - Dryer Building- Santa Barbara Ca.

          2007 - ATT Building, Minneapolis Minnesota

          2008 - 2009 – USC Fountain

          2010 - San Luis Obispo, Buena Vista Ave, Garfield and Monterey St. Project 

          2010 - 2011 Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital