Statement 

My work celebrates an obsession with pop culture, fashion and art. I choose to work with fashion magazines, because they perfectly capture these elements at a specific point in time; what’s in and what’s out, the clothes, the slang, what’s top of mind and current. I also like to deconstruct classic themes and present them in a new light, employing concepts from opposite ends of the spectrum. I like to push boundaries and juxtapose beauty with the unexplained and mysterious. Using multiple layers, I explore the beauty in chaos to draw attention to the struggle between our private thoughts and public personas, flirting with mortality and creating a sense of being overwhelmed by information. Incorporating celebrity and fashion helps me create a relate-able framework to probe these ideas and emotions.

My process begins with searching through hundreds of magazines. I take images from different sources and hand-collage them to create something entirely new. Like a film director, I dictate wardrobe, make-up and set design, directing every element of the scene to ensure that the visual dialogue is exact. As I work, I build layers upon layers using ink, acrylic paint, paper and transfer medium.

Art is my life, my passion. Creating art everyday makes me happy and provides a way to explore and question the world around me. It’s an opportunity to play with circumstances and pose alternative results. I may struggle to verbalize my emotions, but with art, I can convey my unfiltered thoughts with clarity and precision.

Bio

John Roggari (née Rogers) was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1972. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Louisville’s Allen R. Hite Art Institute in 1997, with an emphasis in graphic design and photography. His formal education and professional graphic design background are evident in his prevalent use of iconic imagery and bold text, coupled with a passion for pop culture and fashion.

Roggari’s work makes use of mixed mediums, with a current focus on compositions that explore the mysterious and unexplained, portraying complex emotions within multiple layers of imagery.   

He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois and has exhibited work throughout the Midwest.