Derek Gores: Collage Artistry and the Zen of Creative Chaos Derek Gores, born in New York in 1971, is a renowned artist whose innovative collage portraits recycle magazines, labels, data, and assorted found analog and digital materials. This unique approach has earned him a place among the important figures in the New Contemporary Movement. Gores' art is celebrated in galleries across major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, and Cologne, among others. His impressive client list includes Dwell Magazine, Lincoln Motor Co., ESPN, Lenny Kravitz, Lucasfilm, U2, Adidas, Madonna, and the NFL. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA, 1993), Gores now lives and works in Melbourne, Florida. The Space Coast’s vibrant intellect and culture influence his work and collaborations with local bold upstarts. He was honored to participate in the Manifest Hope DC exhibit coinciding with the Presidential Inauguration in 2009 and was named "One of the 40 important artists of the New Contemporary Movement" in 2010 during an exhibition in London. Artistic Philosophy and Style Gores' collage portraits reflect his contrasting interests in the living beauty of the figure, the angular and abstract design aesthetics of fashion, and a fearless sense of play. "I like my pictures to barely come together with teasing little details," he explains. "Sort of like how the mind can't help but wander, even when trying to focus on one thing. In the collages, some of the little bits I use are deliberate, but in most I'm trusting randomness to help build an end result more interesting than I could have planned. One friend calls it a 'Zen Narrative.'" His work is influenced by artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Franz Kline, Rube Goldberg, and Max Ernst. Gores aims to create more than just a picture; he seeks to evoke a genuine experience. “I play in the gap between what you see and what you think you see. Inside your head is the real canvas. As in those great old long-exposure photos from 150 years ago, where you can feel the whole minute inside each image, I’m after a buzzing stillness.” The Creative Process Gores' process is dynamic and often embraces chaos and spontaneity. "I'm always looking to reduce my own control. If I start to get too comfortable in my process, I like to remove a step or remove visibility, make parts more random or blind for a while." This approach allows him to maintain an element of surprise and discovery in his work. "The art is best when I have just a spark of an intuition, then let it be wild a while, and see if I can pull the magic together in a brief flurry." His palette is inspired by a variety of influences. “Burnt orange, Tiffany blue, cobalt blue like in European doors... patterns from Burberry or Chanel... and any variation of optical checkerboards make me smile.” These colors and patterns reflect his playful and exploratory nature. Life and Inspiration Living in Satellite Beach, Florida, Gores draws inspiration from his surroundings. "I live in Satellite Beach, FL, on the Space Coast. A pinch of tech, a pinch of surf culture - it all shows through somehow in the collage pieces." His ideal day involves a blend of creativity and exploration: "Good coffee with my love, a hike on a wandering path, studio time with ambient music to stir up the possibilities, several hours of discovery time at the canvas." Gores' collages are not just about visual aesthetics but also about creating a narrative and an experience for the viewer. "When it goes well, there’s a chance to create a real experience, instead of just a picture of an experience.” His work often juxtaposes timeless beauty with disposable materials, echoing the pop art, post-Warhol idea that advertising and throwaway materials can indeed be art. "I enjoy the contrast of timeless beauty with disposable materials – the pop art, post-Warhol idea that advertising and throwaway materials just maybe could be art. That anyone can touch or use, or reuse, these materials." Derek Gores continues to push the boundaries of collage art, exploring the interplay of randomness and control, chaos and order, and creating works that invite viewers to see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder. SELECT PAST EXHIBITIONS SCOPE MIAMI 2019 Show with JonLouis GonzalezROBOT LOVE V Producer & Curator, Melbourne, FL, 202MONIKER Art Fair NYC, 2019REVEAL Art Fair Saratoga Springs, NY 2019LUMAS Gallery London, 2019LOCAL EDITION Solo Exhibit Retrospective at the Foosaner Art Museum, Melbourne, FL, Nov 2018 – Feb 2019MONIKER Art Fair NYC, 2018REVEAL Art Fair Saratoga Springs, NY 2018ROBOT LOVE IV Producer & Curator, Melbourne, FL, 2021LOEWS SOUTH BEACH Artist in Residence, 2018LUMAS x LONGINES Paris, 2016AQUA ART MIAMI 2016LUMAS x LONGINES Paris, 2016HOTEL BEL-AIR Artist in Residence, Los Angeles, CASCOPE MIAMI with Thinkspace Gallery Dec 1, 2014 – Dec 7, 2014LAX/PDX at TOGETHER GALLERY Portland, OR Mar 31, 2012 – Apr 24, 2012THINKSPACE GALLERY, Torn and Tattered Show with Craig ‘Skibs’ Barker and Liz Brizzi Mar 12, 2011 – Mar 26, 2011Thinkspace @ SCOPE Miami Dec 3, 2013 – Dec 8, 2013RE:FORM SCHOOL Group exhibition New York City Oct 8, 2010 – Oct 11, 2010LOVE CONQUERS ALL Group show, Thinkspace LA Aug 7, 2010 – Aug 28, 2010THINKSPACE 5th ANNIVERSARY SHOW Group Exhibition Los Angeles Nov 6, 2010 (Opens November 6, 2010)LOCAL EDITION Foosaner Art Museum Melbourne, Florida in 2018-2019