Justin Gradin is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice encompasses painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, sound, animation, video and performance. 

Across these mediums, Gradin juxtaposes multilayered visual elements that he appropriates from various sources both original and found within popular culture. Abstract and figurative elements compliment instead of contrast, while absurdist ideas play out under a pseudo wabi-sabi facade. A large inspiration for the work comes from a deep obsession with the multidimensional and multi-layered nature of every day life. This includes everything from simple tasks like driving a car to the supermarket, to trying to navigate his chronic insomnia. His artwork frequently reflects on memory, existential crisis, self reflection, disembodiment, hoarding, nightmares, childhood cartoons, generic product placement, destruction, and anxiety. Many of these themes are portrayed through a grotesque and often satirical lens.

Gradin has written for many publications, but most notably (and recently) has had his short story “Wounded Candy” published by renowned graphic novel/comic publishers Fantagraphics.

Musically, over the last two decades, Gradin has toured and played as a member or session musician for groups from L.A., Portland, Vancouver, and Japan. He has been on a dozen albums and designed over twenty album covers.

As director, writer, producer, and art department, Gradin has completed twenty music videos for companies such as Sub Pop, Converse Shoe Company, and Domino Records to name a few.

 Currently Gradin works as an art assistant to Rodney Graham.

justingradin@gmail.com

CV

EXPERIENCE/AWARDS 

2012. Best album artwork. NME Magazine readers choice award 2011. 
President. Dynamo Arts Association. Vancouver, British Columbia 2010. 
Mime School. Founder/Curator. Los Angeles, California 2006-2008. 
Emergency Room. Founder/Curator. Vancouver, British Columbia 2006. 
Grotesque Modern Records/Books. Founder. Vancouver, British Columbia 2005-2006. 
Emergency Room Granville Island. Co-Founder. Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Vancouver, British Columbia 2002-2009. 
Dynamo Arts Association Board Of Directors. Vancouver, British Columbia. 1998. 
Diploma. George Pringle Secondary School, Canada 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 

Solo 
January-May 2022. Ear Drums for Guitar Eyes. Burnany Art Gallery offsite show at Bob Prittie Library 
March 2014. Inside Out Dream. Mograg Garage, Kokubunji, Japan 
September 2010. Man Vs. Poodle. L.A. Art Walk, 105 Spring St. Los Angeles, California 

Group 
September 2015 The Office. Ecole-Des-Beaux-De-Montreal, Montreal, Quebec
 
March 2014 Current Positions. AMPcafe, Suginami-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
 
February 2013 Fuse – Projectile Vomit.
 
July 2013 Fuse – Communication. Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
 
February 2012 Dialate/day laid/die late. A- H- Gallery. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
February 2012 A Call With No Response. Long Beach, Florencia Bay Beach, Tofino, British Columbia.
 
January 2012 January Music. Street Performances, various locations, Vancouver, British Columbia.
 December 2011 Create Your Own Occult. Dynamo Gallery. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
September 2011 Oops fantasy. Waldorf Hotel. Vancouver, British Columbia.
  
August 2011 Guts. Shudder Gallery. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
February 2010 Clamour and toll. Candahar bar, PTC Studio, Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
February 2010 Here Is Now. The Chapel. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
November 2009. Radar Eyes. Space LIC. Queens, New York.
 September 2009 The Video World Made Flesh. 107 Shaw Gallery. Toronto, Ontario
 
July 2009 C/R/I/T/I/C/S. Hotel Gallery. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
June 2009 C/R/I/T/I/C/S. Art Spot. Calgary, Alberta.
 
October 2008 There Is Nothing Funny About A Clown In The Moonlight. Artists’ Television Access. San Francisco, California.
 
September 2008 Radar Eyes. Art Car Museum. Houston, Texas.
 
May 2008 Radar Eyes. De Player. Rotterdam, South Holland.
 
March 2008 Radar Eyes. Co-Prosperity Sphere. Chicago, Illinois.
 
November 2007 Noise paintings. Concourse Gallery. Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
September 2007 Construct And Decay. Emergency Room. Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
February 2007 Body Show. Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr University of Art and Design Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
June 2005 Punk Assemblage. Gallery Gachet. Vancouver, British Columbia. 

MUSIC 

A Call With No Response. 12” Record with Justin Patterson. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. November 2013 Jokes/Laughter  Split. 7” Record with Justin Patterson. Student Loan Records. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Now #11. Fantagraphics Publishing. Seattle, Washington. March 2022 
Arazi. Arazi Publishing. Los Angeles, California. June 2019 
Punk Chicken Pt.2. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. October 2014 
Gang’s All Here (+cassette tape). Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. April 2014 
Pool Kappa. Grotesque Modern. Tokyo, Japan. April 2014 
Rut. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. January – December 2013 
Oops Fantasy. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. September 2011   
Ramona Lodger. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. June 2011 
Color Magazine. Music Editor. Four Corner Publishing. Vancouver, British Columbia. March 2011 – Present. 
Social Meme For The Social Mime. . Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. May 2010 
Open Faced Sandwich Coffin. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. March 2010 
Shaman Vs. Lil’ Hamburger Face. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. November 2009 
Man-Hole. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. September 2009 
C/R/I/T/I/C/S. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. May 2009 
What Luck Vol.1. Lucky’s Comics. Vancouver, British Columbia. November 2007 
Bad Blood. Grotesque Modern. Vancouver, British Columbia. April 2007 

FILM 

Lié “Drowning in Piss” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2020 
Lié “Digging in the Desert” music video. Writer, director, puppeteer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 
2020 Melbourne International animation Festival “Whom Cares” short. Melbourne, Australia. 
Louise Burns “Cheers” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2019 
Louise Burns “Cry” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2019 
Lightning Dust “Led Astray” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2019 
Necking “Big Mouth” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2019 
Autogramm “Cool Kids Radio” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2019 
Yukon Blonde “Feeling Digital” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2018 
Lié “Weaponized” music video. Writer, director, animator. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2018 
Jo Passed “Millennial Trash Blues” music video. Writer, director, producer, actor. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2018 
Louise Burns “Moonlight Shadow” music video. Writer, director, producer, puppeteer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2017 
Louise Burns “Who’s the Madman” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2017  
Louise Burns “Storms” music video. Writer, director, producer, puppeteer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2016
White Lung “Sister” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2016 
Skye Wallace “Not Ready for This to Start” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2016 
White Lung “Hungry” music video. Writer, director, producer. Los Angeles, California. 2016 
Black Mountain “Mothers of the Sun” music video. Writer, director, producer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2016 
Pink Lung “Chinese Watermelon” music video. Writer, director, producer. Los Angeles, California. 2015 
White Lung “In Your Home” music video. Writer, director, producer, pupeteer. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2014 
No Fun City. Documentary Film. Cast Member. Vancouver, British Columbia. 2010 

ASSISTANTSHIPS 

August 2021 - ongoing. Art assistant to Rodney Graham. 
September 2005 – August 2006. Senior Sculptor’s Assistant for David Fushty. Public sculpture for the City of Richmond, British Columbia.