Shows & Awards

My work has received recognition from ArtTour International Magazine (ATIM's Top 60 Masters Award 2022), 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), Viridian Artists Inc. (NYC), Greg Moon Art (Taos NM), Contreras Gallery (Tucson AZ), Tubac Center of the Arts (Tubac AZ), H Gallery (Ventura CA), Naples Art Assoc. (Naples FL), Axis Gallery (Sacramento CA), The Center for Contemporary Political Art (Washington DC), Blackboard Gallery (Camarillo CA) and was part of the Museum of American Illustration 2000-2001 Traveling Exhibition (40 selected works).

 

New publication: I have 8 paintings & commentary in "Not Normal: Art in the Age of  Trump" by Karen Gutfreund (available on Amazon).

Upcoming, Current & Recent Shows

  • "SOLO Show" (international juried show)

    Red Bluff Art Gallery
    601 Walnut St, Red Bluff CA
    Solo show at: http://www.redbluffartgallery.com/aagaard.htm
    Jun 25, 2022 -  Jun 24, 2023                    

  • "Texas National 2022"

    Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House
    329 E. Main St.
    Nacogdoches TX 75961
    Apr 8 - Jun 30, 2022, Opening: Apr 8, 6 - 8pm                   

  • "CAL National 2022"

    Conroe Art League/Madeley Gallery
    127 Simonton St.
    Conroe TX 77301
    Mar 1 - Apr 2, 2022, Opening: Mar 5, 6 - 8pm                   

  • "Valdosta National 2022"

    Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery
    Valdosta State University
    1500 N. Patterson St.
    Valdosta GA 31698
    Jan 18 - Feb 4, 2022, Opening: Jan 18, 6 - 7:30pm                   

  • "All About Women" (national juried show)

    Marin Society of Artists
    1515 - 3rd St.
    San Rafael CA 94901
    Online juried show at https://shows14.wixsite.com/mysite/all-about-women
    Aug 28 - Oct 28, 2021, Zoom opening: Sept 12 @ 5pm                    

  • "Chiaroscuro" (international juried show)

    San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center
    Encino CA 
    Online juried show at https://sfvacc.org/chiaroscuro
    Sept 1 - Sept 30, 2021, Zoom Reception: Sept 4 @ 5 - 7pm PST                   

  • "Expressions 2021" (national juried show)

    Marin Society of Artists
    1515 - 3rd St.
    San Rafael CA 94901
    Online juried show at https://shows14.wixsite.com/mysite/expressions-2021
    Jul 10 - Aug 27, 2021, Zoom opening: Jul 18 @ 5pm                    

  • "BLUE" (international juried show)

    O'Hanlon Center for the Arts
    6i6 Throckmorton Ave.
    Mill Valley CA 94941
    Online juried show at https://www.ohanloncenter.org/2021/05/blue-online-ohanlon/
    May 17 - Jul 2, 2021, Zoom Opening: May 18, 4pm PST                  

  • "2021 National Fine Art Show"

    Lincoln Gallery
    429 N. Lincoln Ave.
    Loveland CO 80537
    May 8 - May 28, 2021
    Tue - Sat, 12 - 6pm
    Opening: May 8th, 6 - 8:30pm
                      

  • "Artist's Vision 2021" (national juried show)

    Marin Society of Artists
    1515 - 3rd St.
    San Rafael CA 94901
    Online juried show at https://shows14.wixsite.com/mysite/artists-vision-2021 
    Mar 1 - May 1, 2021, Zoom opening: Mar 7th, 5pm                    

  • "Painting Through the Pandemic" (national juried show)

    Rhode Island Watercolor Society
    831 - Armistice Blvd.
    Pawtucket RI 02861
    Online juried show at https://rhodeislandwatercolorsociety.wildapricot.org/page-1860419 
    Mar 6 - Apr 9, 2021, Zoom opening: Mar 6th, 7pm                    

  • "Galex 55 National Competition & Exhibition"

    Galesburg Civic Art Center/ Joanne Goudie Gallery
    114 E. Main St.
    Galesburg IL 61401
    Mar 5 - Apr 3, 2021
    Tue - Fri, 10:30am - 4:30pm & Sat, 10:30am - 3pm                     

  • "Fresh Art 2020" (national juried show)

    Marin Society of Artists
    1515 - 3rd St.
    San Rafael CA 94901
    Online juried show at https://shows14.wixsite.com/mysite/fresh-art-2020
    Nov 7, 2020 - Jan 6, 2021, Opening: Nov 15th, 5pm                    

  • "PANIC" (international juried show)

    O'Hanlon Center for the Arts
    Online juried show at https://www.ohanloncenter.org/2020/11/panic-november-2020-15/
    Nov 16, 2020 -                      

  • "Picturing 2020: A Community Reflects"

    University of Arizona Museum of Art
    1031 North Olive Road
    Tucson AZ 85721
    Online juried show at https://picturing2020.artmuseum.arizona.edu
    Sept 26, 2020 - Mar 28, 2021                      

Recent Awards

This painting was inspired by Trump's statement that he thought he looked like the Lone Ranger while wearing his protective black mask. Trump's silver bullet is Hydroxychloroquine aka HCQS (stamped on every pill). As usual, he's blind to Covid-19, despite being infected by it.

  • “The Lone Danger” received the following recognition:

    1) Best of Show Award - "Hi Ho Silver" (Art on 30th/Ashton Gallery national juried show, San Diego CA)

    2) Best of Show Award - "MSAG 2021 Virtual Juried Show" (Mt. Si Artist Guild national juried show, Mt. Si, WA) 

    3) Honorable Mention (Gallery) - 3x3 International Pro Show No. 18 Competition

    4) 2nd Place/Gold Award - The Lakeland Art Guild 49th Annual Art Exhibition

    5) Certificate of Merit (Gallery) - Illustration West 59 (Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles)

    6) Communication Arts 2021 Illustration Shortlist (Unpublished)

Half-Cocked & Loaded - Original & giclee available

  • “Half-Cocked & Loaded” received the following recognition:

    1) Best in Show Award - "No Justice, No Peace: Global Protest, Unrest & Conflict" (James Wise Gallery international juried show, Norfolk VA)

    2)  Merit Award (Books) - 3x3 International Pro Show No. 18 Competition

    3) American Illustration "AI40 Chosen Winner" (selected to permanently appear in The Archive, AI-AP's exclusive online juried collection at www.ai-ap.com - 559 images selected from over 7,000 submissions)

    4) 3rd Place Winner - "Fresh Art 2020" (Marin Society of Artists national juried online exhibit)

Gary Aagaard

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

    1) Merit Award (Books) - 3x3 International Pro Show No. 18 Competition

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

I swore I'd never use the tired Pinocchio cliche for lying, but I succumbed to the flagpole usage opportunity. This painting calls out the Heritage (vs Hate) rationale used by many after the church shootings in Charleston SC.

  • “White Lie” received the following recognition:

    1) Honorable Mention Award - "Chiaroscuro" (San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center international juried online exhibit)

    2) 2nd Place Winner - "Celebration of Art 2020" (Marin Society of Artists national juried online exhibit)

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:

    1) 1st Place Award - "The Next Big Thing 2019" at the Blackboard Gallery/Studio Channel Islands (Camarillo CA)..... juried by Mat Gleason

    2) CFA (Circle Foundation for the Arts) Artist of the Year Award 2019 - "Finalist Award"

    3) American Illustration "AI38 Selected Winner" (selected to appear in the 2019 American Illustration 38 Annual - 386 images selected from over 7,000 submissions)

    4) 2nd Place Winner of "Mind Spirit Emotion 2018" international fine art online juried competition - "Art-Competiton.net" @ www.art-competition.net

    5) Honorable Mention Award - "Artist's Vision" (2020) at Marin Society of Artists (San Rafael CA)

    6) Award of Distinction - "Every Color Has a Story" (2020), Flagler County Art League national juried online competition

This is a 47 percenters' view of the turmoil and unrelenting spin coming from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

  • “Spin Cycle” along with "Giant On Holiday", "God According to Voltaire" & "Blinded by Delight Redux" received the following recognition:

    3rd Prize Winner (Premium Artist 4 Page Presentation in "International Contemporary Masters" Vol. 13, Oct. 2019) - "Artavita 32nd Contest" @ www.artavita.com (selected 3rd from 4,185 entries)

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) 1st Place Winner - "Open Call 2022", Red Bluff Art Gallery international juried online exhibit

    2) 3rd Prize Winner -  "Rough Road Ahead: Viridian's 30th International Juried Competition, Part II" (Viridian Artists, NYC)

    3) 1st Prize Winner (front cover of "Current Masters" Vol. 4, 2019) - "Artavita 30th Contest" @ www.artavita.com (selected 1st from 3,764 entries)

    4) Winner (Gallery) - Applied Arts 2018 Photography & Illustration Awards

    5) Certificate of Merit (Unpublished) - Illustrators 60 (Society of Illustrators)    

    6) Silver Award (Gallery) - Illustration West 56 (Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles)

    7) Merit Award (Gallery) -  3x3 Pro Show No. 15 Competition

Gary Aagaard

  • “Sambuca & Cigarettes (after Degas)” received the following recognition:

    1) Best of Show Award - "WHATEVS" (Art Fluent international juried show, MA - Nov. 2021)

    2) Best of Show Award - "53rd Founders Juried Awards Exhibition" (Naples Art Assoc., Naples FL - Dec. 2019)

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) Honorable Mention Award - "50th Annual Melvin Gallery Art Exhibition" (Apr 2022)

    2) Merit Award (Unpublished) - 3x3 Pro Show No.15 competition

    3) Winner (Unpublished) - Applied Arts 2018 Photography & Illustration Awards

    4) Communication Arts 2018 Illustration Shortlist (Unpublished)

Kellyanne Conway channels Samara, the dead girl from the movie “The Ring” starring Naomi Watts. When I see Kellyanne on Fox and occasionally on other cable news channels, I'm often reminded of Samara rising from the well and then coming through the television to wreak havoc.

  • “FOX Muse” received the following recognition:

    1) Honorable Mention Award - "All About Women" (Marin Society of Artists national juried online exhibit)

    2) Merit Award (Books) - 3x3 International Pro Show No. 18 Competition

    3) American Illustration "AI39 Chosen Winner" (selected to permanently appear in The Archive, AI-AP's exclusive online juried collection at www.ai-ap.com)

Swamp Shell Game - Original & giclee available

  • “Swamp Shell Game” received the following recognition:

    1) 1st Place Award (Oil painting category) - The Lincoln Gallery 2020 National Fine Arts Show (Loveland CO)

    2) Honorable Mention (Gallery) - 3x3 Pro Show No. 16 Competition

Gary Aagaard

  • “She's a Concept, More or Less” received the following recognition:

     1st Place Award (Oil painting category) - The Lincoln Gallery 2019 National Fine Arts Show (Loveland CO)