Artists using Pareidolia

There are many contemporary artists exploring pareidolia, one being Ismael Cavazos, the inventor of the term “Abstract Extractionism” in 2005.  He resides within Austin and Houston, Texas.  Cavazos is primarily interested in Scriblism, and using automatism as means of extraction.  The other half of his work is sculpting away parts of a peanut, finding images like a bat, faces, and potted plants.  In the year 2000, Rob Nye, invented the term “Extractionism” as a term to describe how his work reflects pareidolia.  He received his BFA from the university of Southern California, and studied at L.A Art center.  He worked as a film producer, a senior advertising executive, and a creative director for thirty years before becoming a professional artist to explore Extractionism with his painting.  He has displayed his work in national and regional competitions, and had solo exhibits in San Francisco and California.  He believes his dyslexia enhances the images his mind projects onto surfaces.  “His work is very abstract and bright, Nye creates his work by extracting human and natural forms he sees embedded in tiny bits of weathered stone and metal. His perceptions are then translated into large scale paintings using a unique, self-developed process combining oil paint, ink dye, oil-based pastels, and high gloss acrylics to produce images”(Studio 47).  A gallery that seems fond of displaying Extractionst work is Studio 47, in Vermont, houses work from local, national, and international artists.  It is a colossal historic sight, encasing three galleries within the walls.  
        Another exceptional artist using pareidolia for her work is Maya Erdelyi.  Erdelyi received her BA in studio art with a minor in film from Hunter College.  She went to Harvard Graduate school of education, and CalArts.  She has a long list of awards and recognitions throughout the nation, mainly for her film and animation.  Her work is very bright, painterly and quirky.  Collaged materials seems to be a favorite and she often incorporates text within her work.  
    Award winning artist, Vesna Jovanovic, born in Chicago, Illinois,1976, works with combining her interests in science and perceptual phenomena.  She usually works within well-established visual languages such as scientific illustration, often including chance occurrences in her process.  Her work often represents the duality between order and chaos.  Jovanovic currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.  


Works Cited

Studio 47.< www.artpolonaise.com>.