BIO
Dan Mullens is a Chicago painter who uses oil on canvas to provoke, unsettle, and captivate. His work explores the intersection of pop culture and fine art, often using vintage toys and the human form to bridge the gap between childhood nostalgia and "disturbing" reality. By rearranging familiar visuals into surreal, confrontational presentations, Mullens forces his audience to choose a side. His process is inherently evolutionary; each project serves as a research catalyst for the next, ensuring a cohesive yet constantly shifting body of work that probes the depths of our collective imagination.
A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Mullens’ roots in Indiana inform a perspective that is both grounded and subversive. In addition to his studio practice, he serves the creative community as a public educator and collaborator. Since 2010, his work has gained international recognition, appearing in private collections from the American West Coast to Europe. Mullens continues to live and work in Chicago, maintaining a consistent methodology that pushes the boundaries of traditional oil painting.
CV
West Loop Contemporary Art Expo - Chicago, IL
Group Show
Oct 2025
Bridgeport Art Center - Chicago, IL
Group Show
Sept 2024
The Other Art Fair - Chicago, IL
April 2024
May 2025
Oct 2025
April 2026
Vibrant Cast Gallery - Chicago, IL
Group Show
May 2024
Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists - Chicago, IL
Group Show
May 2023
Stola Contemporary Art - Chicago, IL
Group Show
April 2021
Unladylike Art Collective - Chicago, IL
Group Show
March 2019
Francie’s Chicago City Gallery - Chicago, IL
Solo Show
July 2018
Loft 3A Gallery - Chicago, IL
Solo Show
Aug 2017