Simon Berson
Education

Pratt Institute — 1972
Fairleigh Dickinson University, BFA (MCL) 1977

Selected Exhibition History

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibition New York, NY (1970-1972)
Salmagundi Club, NY (1972)
Bergen County Chamber of Commerce, Paramus, NJ (1973)
Art in the Park, Montclair, NJ (1973)
Burlington County Hospital, Burlington, NJ (1974)
The Red Barn Gallery. Ridgewood, NJ (1975)
Gallery Elizabeth, Chicago, IL (1977)
International Sculpture Exhibition, Boston MA (1978)
Rene's Gallery, Soho, NY (1980-1984)
Sharp Electronics Corp. Mahwah, NJ (1982 - 1990)
Crestron Electronics, Inc. (1999-2012)
The Red Eft Gallery, Wurtsboro, NY (2002)
Art in the Park, Hillsdale, NJ (2003)
The Star Gallery, Middletown, NY (1999 - 2003)
The Stray Cat Gallery, Bethel, NY (2012)
The Atlantic Gallery, New York, NY (2013)
The River Tree Gallery, Kennebunkport, ME (2014)
The Cooper-Finn Gallery, Millbrook, NY (2015)
Maryland Fine Arts (Circle Gallery) Annapolis, MD (2016)
Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2018)
Zurich Art Walk, Zurich, SW (2019)
Artists and Charity, Palm Beach, FL (2019)
Continuum, West Palm Beach, FL (2019)
The Arts Council of Martin County, Stewart, FL (2020)

Artist Statement

Growing up in New York City had many advantages. I used to skip school and spend days at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Modern Art and the Guggenheim museums. The influence of Tanguy, Duchamp, Picasso, Calder, Kandinsky, Nevelson, Bontecue, and many others, is apparent in my work. I spend 30+ years as a technical writer/illustrator, in various corporations (also apparent in my work).

The collage/mixed media begins with a series of unique organic part drawings, that share a property, like color, basic shape, and Sometimes a only a curved line. They are cut out and then inter-related, Usually with surprising results in the process or combining and assembling into an overall superstructure. Technical illustrations/photos taken from technical journals, are added as are necessary to achieve a kind of balance. It's a process that relies on serendipity, and I never know exactly what will happen, which keeps it “fresh”.

The observer puzzles over the resultant images that combine quasi-organic and inorganic technical forms. Which is why I call it “Industrial Surrealism”. Can your mind find or make a story to fit? Do these images depict a kind of machine, or an alien landscape? In any case, the work invokes a thoughtful response.

Employment History

2016~2019: Ferrari/Berson Studios, Las Vegas, NV and Fort Lauderdale FL
2002~2013: Crestron Electronics, Inc., 15 Volvo Drive, Rockleigh, NJ
1999~2002: Telcordia Technologies, Piscataway, NJ
1998~1999: Metropolitan Life, Madison Ave, New York, NY.
1997~1998: Ernst & Young, Carlstadt, NJ
1980~1997: Sharp Electronics Inc., Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, NJ
1972~1980: Minolta, Ramsey, NJ
1969~1972: Heathkit, Fairlawn, NJ
1966~1969: USAF

Portfolio: