John Colao



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BIOGRAPHY

John Colao was born in Paterson New Jersey.  Upon completing his studies at Boston University, he moved to New York and studied fine art at NYU, inspired by the masters of photography, he began a career as a photographer. Traveling extensively, Colao sojourned in Big Sur before moving to Los Angeles in the 1980’s, continuing to shoot advertising, editorial and portrait assignments.  His work has appeared in Vogue, Interview, Traveler, Los Angeles Magazine, New York Times, LA Times Magazines, to name a few. His documentary film project, “Memphis is in Egypt: A Portrait of Charles Lloyd”  profiles the great jazz tenor saxophonist and his quartet, filmed on tour.  The film premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Colao has exhibited in several group shows in New York, Italy, and California.

His portraits of William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg were included in the William S. Burroughs Retrospective exhibited at the Robert Berman Gallery at Bergamot Station. His photographs were included in the Robert Berman Gallery’s 25th year anniversary exhibit in 2004, and in the Berman /Turner Projects inaugural group show in the spring of 2005. His current work, images of seascapes and deserts reflects a personal sense of the ethereal balance of light and color, exploring the phenomenon of perception. The embodiment of extended space gives these images their impact. .

Colao is the recipient of a 2005 International Photo Award for fine art.

Colao lives and works in his studio in Venice Ca.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2006
Red House Gallery    Venice  CA
Berman / Turner Gallery     Santa Monica  CA

2005
International Photo Award IPA:  Fine Art
FOA 11   Director ‘s Guild  DGA   West Hollywood  CA
Berman  / Turner Gallery    Santa Monica  CA

2004
Robert Berman Gallery   CA 
25tTh Anniversary Exhibit
FOA 10   Director’s Guild  DGA    West Hollywood  CA

2003
Thomas Lavin Gallery    West Hollywood  CA

1996
Santa Barbara Film Festival   Santa Barbara  CA
Robert Berman Gallery   Santa Monica  CA

1995
200 Mildred   Venice  CA

1980
New York University   New York


STATEMENT

This current work in progress of seascapes / landscapes, reflects a personal sense of synchronicity between light, color, shape…searching for the abstract, that sometimes appears in our worlds. The untitled: Salton Sea is such an image which manifests the illusion, “as above, so below.” 

The untitled: Salton Sea 1999, received an International Photo Award  (IPA) In 2005 for fine art.


At Bergamot Station Arts Center      Santa Monica California