Jeff Overlie: Block Theory

Born in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1968 Jeff Overlie 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.