About

John Zilewicz is a Chicago-based artist known for his dynamic mixed media abstract paintings that explore the fundamental elements of line and color. His work is defined by spontaneous, expressive mark-making—gestural, repetitive, and overlapping strokes that create rhythm and energy within a seemingly chaotic visual field. These intuitive gestures are layered with both transparent and opaque applications of paint, forming textured surfaces that evoke the feeling of erosion, decay, and timeworn beauty.

Working out of his home studio in Lemont, Illinois, Zilewicz holds a Master of Arts in Drawing & Painting, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Art Education. His work has been exhibited throughout the Chicagoland area and is held in numerous private collections.

Beyond his studio practice, Zilewicz is a dedicated visual art educator with over 25 years of experience. Since 2005, he has been teaching at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois. In 2016, he was honored as the Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA). He is also the Co-Creator and Executive Director of ArtConnectED, a collective of art educators responsible for producing the Illinois High School Art Exhibition—one of the largest and most prestigious student art exhibitions and scholarship showcases in the nation. The event has earned national acclaim from top art schools and institutions across the country.

Contact: jzilewiczart@gmail.com
@jzilewiczart