We invited multi-discipline artist Phil Dunn out to the studio to share his story and his art. This was an amazing talk that dug deep into where our vision and how our art comes to life. You can see Phil this 1st Friday at Apex Artspace with previous Perspectives alum, Justin Canja!

April 3, 2026
5pm-8pm
Apex Artspace (1819 Wyandotte Street, KCMO).

A message from Phil,

I am a self- taught artist. I graduated with a degree in film and video production in the early 90’s but I didn’t find painting until much later in life. I started painting and working with resin as a form of therapy. I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity early in my art career to work on several large scale projects around Kansas City for Society, The Uptown Theater and The Fall among others.

I am drawn to the ambiguous nature of abstraction. There is a freedom to painting organically and letting the subject matter present itself to me through mark making. I consider myself a “blue collar” artist in that I value destruction as much as construction. I often use nontraditional tools such as masonry trowels, putty knives, scrapers and sandpaper, along with my brushes and palette knives. I try as often as possible to use materials taken from job sites of the construction jobs I work on. Scrap wood, doors, cabinetry, cardboard, anything that I can reclimate into a useful surface. Often, I finish my work in resin. Resin provides a crystal-clear finish that adds magnification and clarity. Resin makes the colors I use jump back to life giving the appearance of wet paint. I am open to all mediums in service to each particular piece I create, utilizing acrylics, inks, collage and found or repurposed objects

I view art as a conversation. My work is a physical manifestation of seeking a connection. A connection to the natural world, the technological world, to myself and to each other. I enjoy creating work that has a meditative quality in that it often continues to reveal itself with prolonged viewing. My aesthetic combines elements of abstraction and surrealism. My love for abstraction is deeply rooted in the unspoken conversation between the artist and the viewer. Perception is uniquely individual and malleable…and fun to mess with.

I have been exhibiting work professionally in the Kansas City area since 2019. I have been a resident artist at InterUrban Art house since June of 2025 and am currently represented by Smalter Gallery.

Phil's Instagram
Click hereSmalter Gallery
Click hereInterUrban ArtHouse
Click hereMoD Gallery
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