David Molesky approaches art history with wit, irony, and a playful sense of disruption. Drawing from classical compositions and heroic traditions, he introduces unexpected contemporary elements that shift the narrative. In his recent works, the banana becomes an unlikely central figure, simultaneously humorous and symbolic.Through these images, Molesky challenges the conventions of classical imagery while celebrating its visual language. The result is work that balances satire with technical skill, inviting viewers to reconsider familiar artistic traditions through a contemporary lens. EDUCATION1992-1995 Studied w/ Plein Air Painter, Walter Bartman 1995-1999 B.A. University of California at Berkeley (Art Practice & premed with Neurobiology)2004-2005 Apprenticeship with David Ligare (Central CA)2006-2008 Apprenticeship with Odd Nerdrum (Norway) SOLO EXHIBITIONS2025 Prone to Bruise, Artist Solo-Spotlight, SPRING/BREAK Art Show NYCProne to Bruise, Gallery Port, Reykjavik, Iceland2024 Figural Transitions, Barton College, Wilson, NC 2021 Interiors, Deigland Gallery, Akureyri, Iceland2020 HER, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA (online)2018 Return to Sender, the fridge, Washington, D.C.2016 RIOT, Stephen Romano Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2015 RIOT, University of Georgia, Athens, GA2014 RIOT, the fridge, Washington, D.C.Calm and Unrest, Copro Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2013 A Long Moment, a.Muse Gallery, San Francisco, CA (catalog)2012 AIR/WATER, the fridge, Washington, D.C.David Molesky, Hope & Grace Vineyard, Yountville, CA 2011 Protean Dreams, Artspace 712, San Francisco, CA (catalog) A Journey Back, 12 Gallagher Lane, San Francisco, CA Eclipse of an Undercurrent, Marjorie Evans Gallery, Sunset Cultural Center, Carmel, CA(Two-man Exhibition) Smoke, Basement Gallery, Oakland, CA2010 Turbulent Mirror, Rae Douglass Gallery, Berkeley, CASPUME, Canessa Gallery, San Francisco, CA (catalog)Sea Foam, Serpentine, San Francisco, CA2007 (Two-man Exhibition) Equinox, Terrence Rogers Fine Art, Santa Monica, CA. (Two-man Exhibition) Jan-Ove Tuv and David Molesky. Radhus, Tonsberg, Norway2005 State of Being, Municipal Building, Raleigh, NC (catalog)2004 Pan in Arcadia, Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA2002 David Molesky - Recent Paintings, Faculty Club, Berkeley, CA2001 Poetics of Dream, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Charleston, SCPsychologic Paint, Gamil Gallery, Raleigh, NC2000 Seven Years, Gallery A, Raleigh, NC1996 David Molesky - Recent Paintings, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, MD1995 David Molesky - Recent Work, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, MD TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS2023 2018 2018 2014 2012 2012 2010 2003 2002 2001 Mill Valley City Hall Chamber Office, Mill Valley, CA“Members Showcase”, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CATerra Firma Gallery, Sonoma, CATerra Firma Gallery, Sonoma, CAVin Antico, "A New Season", San Rafael, CA“Kaleidoscopic", Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CAGallery Route One, Pt. Reyes Station, CACommonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, CAJadite Gallery, New York, NYSaint Gregory of Nyssa Church, San Francisco, CAYWCA University of California, Berkeley, CA1994 1992 1987 Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, CAGallery Route One, Pt. Reyes Station, CAFaculty Alumni House, University of California, SF, CA MUSEUM & ART CENTER EXHIBITIONS 2024 Lunar Codex, Permanent installation on the Moon surface2023 Codex Nova, Permanent installation on the Moon surface2022 Moleskine Project, Mesa Arts Center, curated by Harman Projects, Mesa, Arizona2021 Painting the Figure Now IV, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, Illinois2020 Art in the Time of Corona, NUMU (New Museum), Los Gatos, CA2019 Painting the Figure Now, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL (catalog)2018 Grand Opening, Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, Iloilo, Philippines2017 Et in Arcadia ego, W Rolland Gallery. Cal Lutheran University. Thousand Oaks, CA (catalog)2015 Transmission, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA 20 years under the influence of Juxtapoz, Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, CAOpus Hypnagogia, Morbid Anatomy Museum, Brooklyn, NY (catalog)ICON, University of Georgia, Athens, GA2014 Enriching and Engaging: New Acquisitions, Long Beach Museum of Art, CA2013 Risqué, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA (catalog)Suggestivism, Casa dell’Architettura, Rome, ItaSurreal Salon, Baton Rouge Gallery for Contemporary Art, Louisiana2011 Suggestivism, Grand Central Art Center, Cal State Fullerton, Santa Ana, CA (catalog)2010 100 Artists See Satan, Grand Central Art Center, Cal State Fullerton, Santa Ana, CA2009 Kitsch mer unn kunst, Telemarksgaleriet, Nottoden, Norway (catalog)2008 Kitsch Biennale, Passinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany (catalog)2007 Intimate Landscape, Sesnon Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz (catalog)2005 My California: Views from the Golden State, National Steinbeck Center, Salinas, CA2001 Winner’s Circle, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD (catalog)1995 National Scholastic Gold Key, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC EDUCATION1992-1995 Studied w/ Plein Air Painter, Walter Bartman 1995-1999 B.A. University of California at Berkeley (Art Practice & premed with Neurobiology)2004-2005 Apprenticeship with David Ligare (Central CA)2006-2008 Apprenticeship with Odd Nerdrum (Norway) SOLO EXHIBITIONS2025 Prone to Bruise, Artist Solo-Spotlight, SPRING/BREAK Art Show NYCProne to Bruise, Gallery Port, Reykjavik, Iceland2024 Figural Transitions, Barton College, Wilson, NC 2021 Interiors, Deigland Gallery, Akureyri, Iceland2020 HER, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA (online)2018 Return to Sender, the fridge, Washington, D.C.2016 RIOT, Stephen Romano Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2015 RIOT, University of Georgia, Athens, GA2014 RIOT, the fridge, Washington, D.C.Calm and Unrest, Copro Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2013 A Long Moment, a.Muse Gallery, San Francisco, CA (catalog)2012 AIR/WATER, the fridge, Washington, D.C.David Molesky, Hope & Grace Vineyard, Yountville, CA 2011 Protean Dreams, Artspace 712, San Francisco, CA (catalog) A Journey Back, 12 Gallagher Lane, San Francisco, CA Eclipse of an Undercurrent, Marjorie Evans Gallery, Sunset Cultural Center, Carmel, CA(Two-man Exhibition) Smoke, Basement Gallery, Oakland, CA2010 Turbulent Mirror, Rae Douglass Gallery, Berkeley, CASPUME, Canessa Gallery, San Francisco, CA (catalog)Sea Foam, Serpentine, San Francisco, CA2007 (Two-man Exhibition) Equinox, Terrence Rogers Fine Art, Santa Monica, CA. (Two-man Exhibition) Jan-Ove Tuv and David Molesky. Radhus, Tonsberg, Norway2005 State of Being, Municipal Building, Raleigh, NC (catalog)2004 Pan in Arcadia, Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA2002 David Molesky - Recent Paintings, Faculty Club, Berkeley, CA2001 Poetics of Dream, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Charleston, SCPsychologic Paint, Gamil Gallery, Raleigh, NC2000 Seven Years, Gallery A, Raleigh, NC1996 David Molesky - Recent Paintings, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, MD1995 David Molesky - Recent Work, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo, MD TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS2023 2018 2018 2014 2012 2012 2010 2003 2002 2001 Mill Valley City Hall Chamber Office, Mill Valley, CA“Members Showcase”, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CATerra Firma Gallery, Sonoma, CATerra Firma Gallery, Sonoma, CAVin Antico, "A New Season", San Rafael, CA“Kaleidoscopic", Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CAGallery Route One, Pt. Reyes Station, CACommonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, CAJadite Gallery, New York, NYSaint Gregory of Nyssa Church, San Francisco, CAYWCA University of California, Berkeley, CA1994 1992 1987 Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, CAGallery Route One, Pt. Reyes Station, CAFaculty Alumni House, University of California, SF, CA MUSEUM AND ART CENTER EXHIBITIONS 2024 Lunar Codex, Permanent installation on the Moon surface2023 Codex Nova, Permanent installation on the Moon surface2022 Moleskine Project, Mesa Arts Center, curated by Harman Projects, Mesa, Arizona2021 Painting the Figure Now IV, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, Illinois2020 Art in the Time of Corona, NUMU (New Museum), Los Gatos, CA2019 Painting the Figure Now, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL (catalog)2018 Grand Opening, Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, Iloilo, Philippines2017 Et in Arcadia ego, W Rolland Gallery. Cal Lutheran University. Thousand Oaks, CA (catalog)2015 Transmission, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA 20 years under the influence of Juxtapoz, Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, CAOpus Hypnagogia, Morbid Anatomy Museum, Brooklyn, NY (catalog)ICON, University of Georgia, Athens, GA2014 Enriching and Engaging: New Acquisitions, Long Beach Museum of Art, CA2013 Risqué, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA (catalog)Suggestivism, Casa dell’Architettura, Rome, ItaSurreal Salon, Baton Rouge Gallery for Contemporary Art, Louisiana2011 Suggestivism, Grand Central Art Center, Cal State Fullerton, Santa Ana, CA (catalog)2010 100 Artists See Satan, Grand Central Art Center, Cal State Fullerton, Santa Ana, CA2009 Kitsch mer unn kunst, Telemarksgaleriet, Nottoden, Norway (catalog)2008 Kitsch Biennale, Passinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany (catalog)2007 Intimate Landscape, Sesnon Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz (catalog)2005 My California: Views from the Golden State, National Steinbeck Center, Salinas, CA2001 Winner’s Circle, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD (catalog)1995 National Scholastic Gold Key, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS2026 “A Celebration of Contrasts”, Falkirk Cultural Center, Richard Shaw and Susan Pressjurors, San Rafael, CA2025 “Monochromatic”, O’Hanlon Center fro the Arts, Suzanne Gray and Chandler Simpsonjurors, Mill Valley, CA2025 2025 “Line”, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Online Show, Tara Anne Dalbow, juror, Brooklyn, NY“Women Making Their Marks”, O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Online ShowDonna Seager juror, Mill Valley, CA2025 “What Can’t Be Spoken”, Annual Juried Show, Gallery Route OneFrances McCormack juror, Cash award, Pt. Reyes Station, CA2024 2023 2023 2023 2022 2020 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 “An Act of Radical Optimism”, Lori Austin Gallery, Sebastopol, CA“DeYoung Open Exhibition”, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA“Connections VII”, Atlantic Gallery, New York, NY“Big Names, Small Art”, Crocker Art Museum Auction, Sacramento, CA“True North”, DiRosa Art Center, Sonoma, CA“DeYoung Open Exhibition”, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA“Quintessence”, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA“25MillionStitches”, collaboration project curated by Jennifer Kim Sohn, Sacramento, CA“Bridge to Abstraction”, Juried Bay Area Exhibition, MOS Artists, Project Gallery, SF, CA“Ensemble”, Exhibition MarinMOCA Artist Members, Marin Community Foundation“Bay Area Women Artists”, O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Donna Seager Juror“Selections”, SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Maria Medua/Michelle Nye jurors“Double Yellow”, Orangeland Gallery, Candace Loheed juror“Monochromatic”, O’Hanlon Center Gallery, Suzanne Gray juror“Open to Interpretation”, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Chandra Cerrito JurorHonorable Mention2018 2018 2017 “Rise, Empower, Change, Action”, Whitney Modern Gallery, Los Gatos, CA“Noh Kimono”, Orangland Gallery, San Francisco, CA“Fall National”, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Catharine Clark JurorHonorable Mention2017 Salon at the Triton, Juried Competition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2014 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2006 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 San Francisco Women Artists, Artists Choice, Juror’s Choice Award, San Francisco, CAHayward Arts Council Open Juried, Hayward, CA“Juried Members Show”, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Don Soker Juror2nd Place Award“Summer National Juried”, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Brian Gross Juror"18th International Open", Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Il"Bay Area Women Artists", O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, Donna Seager JurorArtik 2014 Exhibition, Artik Art and Architecture, San Jose, CAStudio Gallery, "Tiny", San Francisco, CA"State of Mind", Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Honorable MentionGallery Route One Annual Juried, "Out of the Blue", Pt. Reyes Station, CAArtWorks Downtown, "Drawing", San Rafael, CASebastopol Center for the Arts, "Blue", Sebastopol, CA"Equilibrium", Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Chris West juror, First Place AwardGallery Route One, "January Juried", Pt. Reyes Station, CA“Shattered”, National Juried Show, Kenneth Baker Juror,Marin Museum of Contemporary ArtPacific Art League National ,"Painting Only", Honorable Mention, Palo Alto, CAFall National Juried, "Solitude", Maria Medua juror, Museum of Contemporary ArtFalkirk Cultural Center, "Annual", San Rafael, CAArtWorks Downtown, "The State of Painting", San Rafael, CAArtisans Gallery, "Abstract Art", San Rafael, CAGallery Route One, "January Juried", Pt. Reyes Station, CAOakland Art Gallery, "Drawn", Oakland, CA"Twentieth Annual Exhibition", Emeryville, CaMendocino Art Center, "Artists in Residence Exhibition", Mendocino, CASFMOMA Artists Gallery, "Furniture As Art", San Francisco, CAOakland City Gallery, "Inner Workings", Oakland, CAOff the Preserve Gallery, "Poets and Painters", Napa, CAUC Berkeley, "Art Alumni Group Exhibit", Berkeley, CARogue Community College, "Chair As Metaphor", Grants Pass, ORSebastopol Center for the Arts, "Reflections, Forms, Patterns", Sebastopol, CAd.p.Fong Galleries, "Contemporary Portraits: Revealing the Human Spirit", San Jose, CAInstitute for Contemporary Art, "Monotype Marathon", San Jose, CABill Gould Design, "Art and Architecture", Los Gatos, CASun Gallery, "Art 96", Hayward, CADanville Fine Arts, "Women and Spirituality", Danville, CAMeridian Gallery, "The Drawing Show", San Francisco, CACalifornia Museum of Art, "Small Works", Santa Rosa, CAGallery Route One, "June Juried", Pt. Reyes Station, CACivic Center, "Multi-Media Exhibit", San Rafael, CAArt in Embassies Program, California Collection, BurmaSouthern Exposure Gallery, "Drawing First", San Francisco, CAWentachee Valley College, "Tenth Annual National", Wenatchee, WAMesa Art Center, "Drawn To the Extreme", Mesa, AZArt in Embassies Program, Riyadah, Saudi ArabiaFarrington-Keith Creative Arts Center, "Invitational Exhibition", Dexter, MICollege of Marin, "1st Annual Marin Arts Council Artists Exhibition", Kentfield, CACalifornia Museum of Art, "Small Works", Santa Rosa, CACrocker Art Museum, "Crocker-Kingsley Exhibition 66th Annual", Sacramento, CASouthwest Texas University, "Twentieth Annual Works on Paper", San Marcos, TX2025 AFTERLIGHT, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA2023 Kollegars, Gallery Port, Reykjavik, IcelandTime of Day, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY (second place award)2022 New York Figurative, Salmagundi Club, New York, NYFamiliar Strangers, WOW x WOW, Scotland 2021 Kaleidoscope, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame,Tondo, Spoke Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA2020 Moleskine Project IX, Pow Wow, Honolulu, HawaiiNYC, DFN Project, New York, NY 2019 Nature, Habitat, and our place within it, Mystic Osprey, Beaufort, SCBig Top, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA 2018 Skies of Gold, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CAChronicles of a Future Foretold, 33 Contemporary, Chicago, IL (catalog)2017 Surf Story Project Two, Gregorio Escalante Gallery & Hurley HQ, Los Angeles, CA (catalog)August Exhibition, Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Westport, MANocturnes: From Dusk till Dawn. Winfield Gallery. Carmel, CA (catalog)2016 Fourth Wall, Booth Gallery, New York, NYArt New York Fair, Booth Gallery, New York, NYThirteenth Hour, Booth Gallery, New York, NYPortraits, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA 2015 Portal to the Future, Gregorio Escalante Gallery, Los Angeles, CAForces of Nature, Mighty Tanaka Gallery, New York, NY (catalog)Lexicon Infernali, Stephen Romano Gallery, Brooklyn, NYUndeniable, DAX Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA2014 Pupils of Apelles, Copro Gallery, Santa Monica, CA2012 Suggestivism NYC, Bold Hype Gallery, New York, NY (catalog)100 Grand, Sullivan Goss, Santa Barbara, CA 2011 City Hall & Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC2010 A History of Flight, Terrence Rogers Fine Art, Santa Monica, CAEmpty Time, the fridge, Washington, D.C.Aqua: Art on Water, Artzone 461, San Francisco, CA2009 The Genesis of Bay Area Figurative Art Now, Art Space 712, San Francisco, CA On the Bay, Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, Monterey, CA2008 400 Meter Kunst, Voss, Norway (catalog)2007 Kitsch, Gallerie KS, Tønsberg, Norway2006 Intimate Landscape, Winfield Gallery, Carmel, CA (catalog)All Wet, Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA2005 Auto Show, Charles Campbell Gallery, San Francisco, CA2004 Objects of Obsession, Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CAContext, Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CAArt Alumni, Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS2024 Impact of Technology on Figurative Art. Barton College. Wilson, NC — April 92021 The New Figurative. Akureyri Art Museum, Akureyri, Iceland — March 232018 The Future Trajectory of Representational Painting and Sculpture. Leeuwarden, Netherlands — May 3 2017 Real-Photoism: Implications on the dematerialization of art. FACE. Miami, FLCurator’s exhibition tour of Et in Arcadia Ego. Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA — Feb 9thLecture.. Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Westport, MALecture. Cuttyhunk Island Artist Residency. Cuttyhunk, MALecture. Illustrator Master Class, Amherst, MA2016 Lecture. New Museum Los Gatos, CAPanel Moderator. The Future of Figurative. Booth Gallery, New York, NY 2015 “Contemporary narrative art. Interview with Greg Escalante.” Ventura, CA. NovemberLecture. University of Georgia. Athens, GALecture. Concordia University. Montreal, Canada2014 “Nerdrum” Lecture. The Representational Art Conference (TRAC2014). Ventura, CA2011 Golden Gate Collectors, lecture. 2009 Storytelling & live painting before Odd performed by Axis dance company. Oakland, CA2007 “David Molesky.” Potluck Lecture # 54. September 9th TRAVEL/RESIDENCIES2021 Artist in Residence, Akureyri Art Museum, North IcelandArtist in Residence, Herhusid, Siglufjordur, IcelandArtist in Residence, Hafnarborg, Hafnarfjordur, Iceland2012 Morris Graves Foundation Residency2009 May Artist in Residence, Fine Art Base, Sand City, CA2008 Late Spring Artist in Residence, Fundacia Nakjelska, Naklo Palace, PolandLIncoln SUV. Commercial SELECTED COLLECTIONSArt in Embassies, California CollectionWilliam F. Black, Honorary British Consul at San DiegoRon CollinsDavid and Lucile Packard FoundationKaiser HospitalMarin General HospitalStanford University Medical CenterTempe Public Library, Arizona MUSEUM AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONSLong Beach Museum of Art, CaliforniaIloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, PhilippinesCal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California Barton College, Wilson, NCCity of Rocky Mount, North CarolinaNerdrum Museum, Norway