Biography

Tim Harrier, born in 1950 in Santa Monica, California, is a trailblazing artist whose work defies categorization. Internationally exhibited, Harrier navigates the rich interplay of painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography, creating a body of work that speaks to the complexities of contemporary abstraction. His bold geometric patterns and dynamic compositions breathe life into his paintings and sculptures, demonstrating a profound mastery of form, color, and composition that transforms static mediums into dynamic, non-literal narratives.

 

From his striking Circles & Squares Overlap series to his internationally acclaimed photographic series Shamans & Spirit Guides, Harrier continually redefines artistic boundaries. “Abstraction doesn’t have to confine itself to rigid geometries,” he explains. “Shapes and colors can narrate stories—non-literal, but evocative—just as powerfully as words.” This philosophy underscores his approach, uniting technological innovation with classical techniques in ways that feel both timeless and revolutionary.

 

His photographic series Shamans & Spirit Guides captures a mystical journey through the lens of spiritual exploration, merging the corporeal and the esoteric. Through meticulously crafted images, Harrier invites viewers into an immersive experience, blending art and photography to traverse a spiritual odyssey that blurs the tangible and the ethereal.

 

In his latest series, Dark Passages: Dante’s Hell on Earth, Harrier turns to Dante Alighieri’s Inferno for inspiration, reinterpreting its allegorical depth for a modern audience. Using charcoal derived from war-torn timbers, pen-and-ink, and washes of India ink and gunpowder, Harrier crafts a haunting meditation on suffering, morality, and redemption. These works challenge viewers to confront their own perceptions of despair and resilience, offering a deeply humanist visual narrative that is both provocative and profoundly moving. “In darkness, there is light,” Harrier reflects, “and art can guide us there.”

 

With ‘Cocoon of Despair’, Harrier continues to explore themes of trauma and transcendence, presenting a feminist perspective that critiques societal structures while celebrating resilience and creativity. Drawing on influences ranging from Francis Bacon’s intensity to Yoko Ono’s conceptual poetry, this series resonates with a raw emotional immediacy. Harrier’s work remains uniquely his own—deeply intuitive, fiercely contemporary, and unafraid to confront the complexities of the human condition.

 

National & International exhibitions:

 

FOTOFOCUS Biennial: ‘In Pursuit of Empathy’ ABB Gallery 2024

ART-ICON, ‘Corporeality’ Exhibition, Paris 2024

Eisele Fine Art ‘ Shamans & Spirit Guides’, Solo Show, 2024

FOTOFOCUS Biennial: ‘Backstories’ Art Beyond Boundaries Gallery 2023

ABB Gallery ‘ Sweet 16’ Group Show, Cincinnati 2023

FOTOFOCUS Biennial: ‘On the Line’, ABB Gallery Cincinnati 2022

ABB Gallery Group Show, 2022

 

Other:

Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, NM, F-Space Gallery in Santa Ana, the I.D.E.A. in Santa Monica, Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery, and Solo Show Eisele Gallery of Fine Art. His influence stretches to notable venues such as New Mexico History Museum, New Mexico Museum of Art, Newfields, and the esteemed Santa Fe International Film Festival, JP Morgan Chase in Indianapolis, PNC Bank, The Joule Hotel in Dallas, The Hotel Riu Palace Baja California, HALL Arts Hotel, The ARIA Resort & Casino, The Oppenheim Group Los Cabos, Mexico and Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This recognition from both prestigious institutions and discerning private collectors speaks volumes, highlighting the profound impact and lasting value of Harrier’s contributions to the art world.