JEFF OVERLIE

Jeff Overlie, born in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1968 has established himself as a prominent figure in contemporary art, drawing inspiration from the realms of science, geometry, and mathematics. Influenced profoundly by his grandfather, a scientist, Overlie's artistic evolution began against the backdrop of his early studies in marine biology, later transitioning into a dedicated exploration of visual arts. Overlie's creative process is deeply rooted in his predominant work in sculpture, where spatial form, meticulous precision and technical proficiency are paramount.

Overlie approaches these canvases as a sculptor would, intricately molding straight lines, shapes, into a balance of spatial relationships. This then beckons Joseph Albers' Color Theory, reflecting a profound engagement with the underlying principles of form and color to Albers, and a radical rejection of the principles of Color Theory for which Albers is so well known. These paintings are, in a sense, polemical responses to the confining rules of color theory, wherein the artist purposely chooses color combinations that are radically wrong, in theory. And yet these paintings are charged with harmonic energy and emotional pull.

Overlie's work represents a convergence of scientific inquiry and artistic expression. His ability to fuse mathematical rigor with artistic intuition results in compositions that resonate with both intellectual depth and visual allure, utilizing scale and proportion in nuanced dialogue with his prismatic blocks of color. In addition to his geometric explorations, Overlie occasionally incorporates color overlays within his canvases, further enriching the visual narrative and challenging perceptions of depth and dimensionality. Each piece serves as a testament to his ongoing dialogue between art and science, capturing the essence of geometric purity while inviting interpretations that are both contemplative and visually stimulating. Jeff Overlie's artworks have garnered acclaim for their unique blend of technical sophistication and aesthetic elegance, making significant contributions to the discourse on contemporary abstraction and the intersections between art and science.

Overlie's work has been shown internationally at galleries and museums such as the Riva Yares Gallery, in Santa Fe, NM; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Laguna Beach, California; and the Contemporary Arts Forum in Santa Barbara, California. His work has been featured in publications such as ARTnews, Western Interiors, Sunset Magazine, The Santa Fean, Santa Barbara Magazine, Trend, and the Albuquerque Journal, and Santa Barbara News Press among others. He received a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1995 and completed fellowships with Beverly Pepper and Japanese master carver Takio Ogai at The Carving Studio in Vermont. He lives and works in Southern California.

Jeff Overlie, a multidisciplinary artist, delved into a captivating photographic series in 2010 using his Blackberry phone. Uncovering an unexpected glitch in the lens system that radically altered the image, “the Horizon photographs were nothing like anything I had ever seen and I knew I had an opportunity and that I had to capitalize on the compromised lens,” said Overlie. He turned landscapes and horizons into visual marvels during an intense 11-day period, marked by minimal sleep. The resulting images, including glimpses into his studio and daily artistic practice, held an inherent value that he sensed but wasn't certain how to process at the time. Over the course of nearly 14 years, he meticulously developed these pieces until technology advanced enough to allow large-scale printing, ensuring the preservation of their distinctive essence and originality.
At the heart of my artistic process lies rectilinear geometry—an intricate world of straight lines, shapes, and spatial relationships. With meticulous precision, I employ geometric forms such as squares and rectangles to construct a visual vocabulary that engages the viewer in a dialogue between order and chaos. Through the careful manipulation of these fundamental elements, I unveil the inherent beauty that emerges from the interplay of line, shape, and space.
As viewers engage with my artwork, they are invited to immerse themselves in a multisensory experience. The interplay of mathematics and art intertwines, transcending the boundaries of each discipline. Through my unique artistic approach, I strive to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, sparking conversations about the profound connection between mathematics, visual perception, and the power of artistic expression.
2023
Intersect Aspen, Marc Straus Gallery, Aspen Colorado
2020
The Art Show at The Park Avenue Armory, Art Basel, Miami, FL
2018
Art Silicon Valley, Contemporary Artifact Gallery, San Francisco CA
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Contemporary Artifact Gallery, Palm Springs CA
2017
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Yares Arts Gallery Artists, Yares Art Projects, Palm Springs, CA
2016
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Yares Art Gallery, Palm Spring CA
Gallery Artists, Yares Art Santa Fe NM
2015
Art Silicon Valley, Yares Art Projects Art, San Francisco, CA
Aspen, Yares Art, Aspen, CO
Gallery Artists, Yares Art, Santa Fe NM
2014
Art Silicon Valley, San Francisco, CA
Yares Art Projects/Riva Yares Gallery, “50 Years 50 Artists” Santa Fe, NM
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
2013
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair
Gallery Artists, Riva Yares Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2012
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair
2011
* “Maximum Minimalism” Riva Yares Gallery Santa Fe, NM
2010
“Modern Masters”, Riva Yares Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
The Amory New York City, NY
2009
* “Cellulae” Riva Yares Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
* “Cellulae” Riva Yares Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2018
“Five Ranges” Homewise at Camino Crossing Development, Santa Fe, NM
2017
Prull and Associates, Santa Fe NM
2016
“Flower of Life” Archaeo architecture, Santa Fe, NM
2013
Santa Fe University of Arts and Design, Santa Fe, NM
2011
Lannon Foundation, Santa Fe, NM
2005
Plaza Entrada Corp., Santa Fe, NM
Hvl Interiors, Santa Fe, NM
Tierra Concepts Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
French and French Inc., Santa Fe, NM
Chord Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
2004
Gross/Kelly Warehouse, Barker Real Estate, Santa Fe, NM
Moore Law Firm. Dallas, TX
Dolce Salinas, Santa Fe, NM
The Hogan Group inc., Santa Fe, NM
Putnam Pritchard Interiors Ltd., Santa Fe, NM
Lloyd and Associates, Santa Fe, NM
Chord Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
2003
i.e., Designs, Santa Fe, NM
Gross/Kelly Warehouse, Barker Real Estate, Santa Fe, NM
The Hogan Group Inc., Santa Fe, NM
Hurlocker Investment Inc., Santa Fe, NM
Putnam Pritchard Interiors Ltd., Santa Fe, NM
Chord Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
Earth and Water Inc., Santa Fe, NM
2002
Site Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
Museum of New Mexico
Foundation, Santa Fe, NM
Museum H ill Café, Santa Fe, NM
Michael Bauer
Architect, Santa Fe, NM
Praxis Architects, Santa Fe, NM
Putnam Pritchard Interiors Ltd, Santa Fe, NM
Chord Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
Earth and Water Inc., Santa Fe, NM
2001
Villa Hermosa Community Center, Santa Fe, NM
San Ysidro Catholic Church, Santa Fe, NM
Praxis Architects, Santa Fe, NM
Chord Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
Putnam Pritchard Interiors Ltd, Santa Fe, NM
Earth and Water Inc., Santa Fe, NM
Chord Architecture, Santa Fe, NM
2016
“Manifesting the Divine”, Trend Magazine
2011
“Maximum Minimalism”, Albuquerque Journal
2010
“Modern Masters”, Art news
“Stilled grace”, Santa Fe Magazine
2002
Albuquerque journal
Santa Fe new Mexican
2001
Real Estate Now
1996
Paralaxix, Westaf Publications
1995
Santa Barbara News Press
1993
Ventura County Star Free Press
1992
Metro
1991
Santa Barbara Magazine
Estates International
1990
Santa Barbara News Press
Santa Barbara Independent
The Nexus
1989
Scene Magazine