World-renowned Neon Artist Shows Four Decades of Work

20 North Gallery proudly welcomes Toledo’s own internationally-exhibited neon and mixed media artist Philip Hazard, for his solo exhibition Phil Hazard’s Top 40 Hits: A Retrospective.  The show features a career-spanning, dynamic combination of over 40 pieces of neon sculpture, mixed media paintings, collage and prints.  In addition to work from the last four decades, Hazard has created several new pieces to debut at 20 North Gallery.  The exhibit continues through August 6, 2011.

Gallery owner, Eric Hillenbrand, says, “20 North Gallery has a long relationship with Philip Hazard, ever since Art Director Peggy Grant mounted his first solo exhibit in Toledo in 1983, during her tenure as the Owens-Illinois Curator.  It is no exaggeration to say that Phil’s work in neon has defined the genre.  He and a handful of colleagues created the Neon Resurgence in the 1970s in New York City.  At that time he was an active member of the Pop Art movement, working with the likes of Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg—since then he has continued his artistic identity with work of gestural expressionism that still recalls the light-hearted nature of popular culture.”

20 North Gallery and Philip Hazard will be welcoming friends and collectors at the free public Opening Reception on Thursday, June 16th from 6 – 9 p.m., in conjunction with the downtown gallery “Art Walk” event.  Reception attendees can enjoy light refreshments and conversations with one of the pioneers of the Neon Resurgence.

 Philip Hazard:  The subject matter for Philip Hazard’s paintings and prints stem from personal obsessions, idealized Pop culture, urban decay and ready-made found materials.  Hazard describes his work as "mixed media painting combined with collage, assemblage and neon". 

Philip Hazard lived in New York City for over 25 years, being inspired by the energized and gritty sides of a big city aesthetic.  His diverse personal life experiences influence the content and subject matter of his multi-layered mixed media work.  He holds a BA from the University of Toledo (Ohio) in Film and Design and studied screenwriting and film directing at New York University Film School (New York).  He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) in 2007.  

Hazard combines and layers oil and acrylic paint, photographic silkscreen, mixed media collage and assemblage on canvas to explore the larger context of the relationship between disparate images and their dialogue.  Neon is used as the focus and emphasis within his work. 

Philip Hazard also has a background in film and theatre.  He has written and directed films that have been screened at the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Film Festival and on public television.  Hazard’s The Spider Sisters, shot in New York City’s east village was declared Cult Hit at the 1993 Arizona International Film Festival.  His television film Loco Vida was partially funded with grants from the Tucson (Arizona) Pima Arts Council and The Tucson Community Cable Corporation. Two plays written by Hazard have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City: Take Off Your Sunglasses at the New York Theatre Ensemble and No Brakes at The American Renaissance Theatre. 

Mr. Hazard’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally.  His neon paintings have been published in many books and magazines, including the books Tools as Art and Contemporary Neon, as well as the Japanese magazine Pronto. His artwork is included in many public and private collections including the National Building Museum in Washington, DC and the US Embassy in Katmandu, Nepal. 

After a long career in the neon sign industry in New York City, Mr. Hazard now teaches in the Midwest— Painting at Bowling Green State University and Drawing at Owens Community College in Toledo.    

Hazard currently spends time between his homes in Toledo, Ohio and Callicoon, New York.

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