Gordon Studer American, b. 1958
Gordon Studer is a California-based painter whose earthy, confident abstractions are rooted in his discipline as an award-winning commercial illustrator, bringing a strong graphic cadence and visual storytelling sensibility to his studio practice. His paintings explore liminal experiences, interstitial moments, and dreamlike states through deliberate compositions of bold forms, rich textures, and layered palettes of black, ochre, sky blue, and crushed clay tones.
Drawing from his background in illustration, Studer approaches abstraction with a sense of intention and narrative, creating works that invite viewers into purposeful encounters between memory, imagination, and perception. His carefully considered arrangements balance structure and spontaneity, reflecting his ongoing interest in how we interpret and reconstruct the world around us.
Studer is based in Sausalito, California, where his surroundings continue to influence his exploration of nature, dreams, and recollection. Following an experience with complete amnesia, he developed a renewed awareness of perception and the ways memory shapes our understanding of the natural world.
Before dedicating himself fully to painting, Studer spent 25 years as a commercial illustrator, developing visual stories for Fortune 500 companies and major media outlets. This foundation continues to inform his refined approach to composition, symbolism, and visual communication. His experience with a period of complete amnesia profoundly shifted his understanding of perception, inspiring a renewed exploration of memory, imagination, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
Studer earned his degree in Fine Art from Penn State University and later taught at the California College of the Arts. His work has been exhibited nationally, including presentations at the de Young Museum as part of The de Young Open, and is held in private collections throughout the United States.
Solo Exhibitions
2026
GRAVITY
Julie Nester Gallery
Park City, UT
January 17 – February 17, 20262025
SURGE
Julie Nester Gallery
Park City, UT
January 28 – February 25, 20252021
Solo Installation
SLATE Art
Clorox Building
Oakland, CA2020
Vantage Point
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CA
Group Exhibitions
2024
Primavera
Julie Nester Gallery
Park City, UT
March 26 – April 23, 2024
Featuring Gordon Studer, Chris Hayman, and AJ Oishi2023
The de Young Open Exhibition
de Young Museum
San Francisco, CA
September 30, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Work acquired by the Ruth Porat Collection2022
Mustard
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CAArt2Life International Juried Exhibition
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Jack Fischer GalleryBold Abstracts
Ruby Living
Mill Valley, CA2021
Crossing Boundaries
SLATE / Cornerstone, SBHG Gallery
Sonoma, CACAMi Vineyards Group Exhibition
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CAArt2Life International Juried Exhibition
Santa Fe, NM
Curated by Nuart Gallery2020
The de Young Open Exhibition
de Young Museum
San Francisco, CA
Two works selected: Precipitate and Excavation12x12 by Nine
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CA
Selected Showroom Installations & Design Collaborations
2025
Kneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti2024
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie GhielmettiKneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti2023
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie GhielmettiKneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti2022
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie GhielmettiKneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie GhielmettiJennifer West
Seattle, WA
Showroom Installation
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti Interiors2021
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie GhielmettiKneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti2020
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
Solo Exhibitions
2026
GRAVITY
Julie Nester Gallery
Park City, UT
January 17 – February 17, 2026
2025
SURGE
Julie Nester Gallery
Park City, UT
January 28 – February 25, 2025
2021
Solo Installation
SLATE Art
Clorox Building
Oakland, CA
2020
Vantage Point
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CA
Group Exhibitions
2024
Primavera
Julie Nester Gallery
Park City, UT
March 26 – April 23, 2024
Featuring Gordon Studer, Chris Hayman, and AJ Oishi
2023
The de Young Open Exhibition
de Young Museum
San Francisco, CA
September 30, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Work acquired by the Ruth Porat Collection
2022
Mustard
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CA
Art2Life International Juried Exhibition
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Jack Fischer Gallery
Bold Abstracts
Ruby Living
Mill Valley, CA
2021
Crossing Boundaries
SLATE / Cornerstone, SBHG Gallery
Sonoma, CA
CAMi Vineyards Group Exhibition
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CA
Art2Life International Juried Exhibition
Santa Fe, NM
Curated by Nuart Gallery
2020
The de Young Open Exhibition
de Young Museum
San Francisco, CA
Two works selected: Precipitate and Excavation
12x12 by Nine
CAMi Vineyards
Calistoga, CA
Selected Showroom Installations & Design Collaborations
2025
Kneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
2024
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
Kneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
2023
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
Kneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
2022
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
Kneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
Jennifer West
Seattle, WA
Showroom Installation
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti Interiors
2021
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
Kneedler Fauchère
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
2020
Kneedler Fauchère
Pacific Design Center
Los Angeles, CA
Curated by Laurie Ghielmetti
