Shows & Awards

My work has received recognition from American Illustration, 3x3 Magazine, the Society of Illustrators (NYC), the Society of Publication Designers, Print, Art-Competition.net, the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Artavita and Applied Arts. My paintings have been displayed in many galleries including the Museum of American Illustration (NYC), Gallery-Henoch (NYC), the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum (Washington D.C.), Gallery 110 (Seattle WA), The Studio Door (San Diego CA), David Anthony Fine Art (Taos NM), Arte Ponte Gallery (NYC), Whatcom Museum (Bellingham WA), Gallery 25N (Online gallery), POP Gallery (Santa Fe NM), Greg Moon Art (Taos NM), Contreras Gallery (Tucson AZ), Tubac Center of the Arts (Tubac AZ), Meadows Gallery (University of Texas at Tyler), Axis Gallery (Sacramento CA), The Center for Contemporary Political Art (Washington DC) and was part of the Museum of American Illustration 2000-2001 Traveling Exhibition (40 selected works).

Upcoming, Current & Recent Shows

  • "Bellingham National 2019 Juried Art Exhibition & Awards"

    Whatcom Museum (Lightcatcher Bldg.)
    250 Flora St.
    Bellingham WA
    Feb. 2 - May 19, 2019
    Wed. - Sun., 12 - 5pm

  • "Defining the Art of Change in the Age of Trump" (national juried show)

    Center for Contemporary Political Art - Mather Studio
    916 G Street NW, 2nd floor
    Washington DC 20001
    Sept. 30 - Nov. 14, 2018
    Wed. - Sun., 12 - 6pm

  • ”Aagaard, Carlson, Fitzsimmons”

    Contreras Gallery
    110 East 6th St.
    Tucson AZ 85705
    Sept. 1 - 29, 2018
    Opening: Sept. 1st, 6 - 9pm

  • “The New Dadaists: New Mexi-Low 6" (invitational show)

    Greg Moon Art
    109A Kit Carson Rd.
    Taos, NM 87571
    Aug. 11 - Sept. 1, 2018
    Opening: Aug. 11th, 5 - 8pm

  • “After Dark 7” (national juried show)

    Greg Moon Art
    109A Kit Carson Rd.
    Taos, NM 87571
    June 9 - 30, 2018
    Opening: June 9th, 5 - 8pm

  • “Taos Art Insurgency: The New Protagonists” (national juried show)

    David Anthony Fine Art & Greg Moon Art
    132 & 109A Kit Carson Rd
    Taos, NM 87571
    April 21 - May 12, 2018
    Opening: April 21st, 4 - 8pm

Recent Awards

This painting is an update of my 20 year old painting, Ma Nature: This Time It’s Personal. This revisited version examines Mother Nature's reaction to years of environmental neglect and in particular, the probable results of the current Pruitt-led EPA's oversight, or lack thereof. Remnants of Trump donors lie in the rubble.

  • “Ma Nature Revisited” received the following recognition:

    1st Prize Winner (front cover of "Current Masters" Vol. 4, 2019) - "Artavita 30th Contest" @ www.artavita.com

Gary Aagaard

  • “Trumpcula: Old Habits Die Hard” received the following recognition:

    "The Christopher E. Burke Fine Art Grant" winner of "RED 2018" international fine art online juried competition - Gallery 25N online gallery @ www.gallery25n.com

This painting is an update of my 20 year old painting, Ma Nature: This Time It’s Personal. This revisited version examines Mother Nature's reaction to years of environmental neglect and in particular, the probable results of the current Pruitt-led EPA's oversight, or lack thereof. Remnants of Trump donors lie in the rubble.

  • “Ma Nature Revisited” received the following recognition:

    1) Merit Award (Gallery) - 3x3 Pro Show No.15 competition
    2) Winner (Gallery) - Applied Arts 2018 Photography & Illustration Awards
    3) Certificate of Merit (Unpublished) - Illustrators 60 (Society of Illustrators)
    4) Silver Award (Gallery) - Illustration West 56 (Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles)

This painting warns of the dangers of blind love. Whether it manifests itself via unprotected sex, obsession, infidelity, etc., there is often an unhappy ending.

  • “Blinded by Delight Redux” received the following recognition:

    2nd Place Winner of "Mind Spirit Emotion 2018" international fine art online juried competition - "Art-Competiton.net" @ www.art-competition.net

In the classic movie Being There, many of the pundits, talk show hosts, advisors, etc. thought the sheltered Chauncey Gardiner was a financial genius based on his gardening tips. This painting addresses the belief of many pundits (think FOX), talk show hosts (Limbaugh, Ingraham, Hannity, etc.), advisors (don't get me started) and Trumpites that Jared Kushner’s limited real estate experience makes Jared qualified to bring peace to the Middle East, solve the opioid crisis, initiate criminal justice reform and tackle a litany of other problems. With respect to expectations versus actual ability, I think Jared Kushner is our present-day Chauncey Gardiner minus the innocence (with apologies to Chauncey, of course).

  • “Being Jare (w/apologies to Chauncey Gardiner)” received the following recognition:

    1) Merit Award (Unpublished) - 3x3 Pro Show No.15 competition
    2) Winner (Unpublished) - Applied Arts 2018 Photography & Illustration Awards
    3) Shortlist (Unpublished) - Communication Arts 2018 Illustration Competition