Jeff Abbey Maldonado
b. 1969. Chicago
“Mr. Maldonado is a Now artist. He lives in the present moment, the moment which encapsulates the future and the past, all at once.”
He is a “master of his art” and a “cultural conductor.” ~ Artist Mario Castillo
Jeff Abbey Maldonado studied under the artist Mario Castillo at Columbia College, Chicago in the early 1990’s. Castillo is credited with painting the first Latino mural in Chicago. After his studies, Maldonado acquired a painting studio at the APO Building on 18th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Originally named for the the Asociacíon Pro Derechos Obreros / Association of Workers’ Rights, now filled with artist studios, galleries and workshops. Four months earlier was the opening of the renown Cafe Jumping Bean across the street.
Maldonado’s first major exposure was his installation for The Day of the Dead at The National Museum of Mexican Art (previously MFACM) in 1996. Next Maldonado was included as one of six Pilsen muralists chosen for The Pilsen / Little Village Exhibit at The Chicago History Museum, in 1997 with Mexican luminaries Alejandro Romero, Hector Duarte, Marcos Raya, Marios Castillo and Oscar Romero. The same year, Maldonado was commissioned by The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to paint a series of portable murals, which were rededicated in 2019.
In 2000, Maldonado received a solo exhibit at The National Museum of Mexican Art for six months. He is the recipient of three Governor’s International Artist Exchange Grants which led to an exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, where he traveled to twice to complete a series of 33 etchings with the assistance of Mexican printmaker Nicolas de Jesus.
Maldonado is one of the founding members of the annual 18th Street Pilsen Open Studios which began in 2003. In addition, he was a participating artist in The Chicago Artist Month held every October and on the Advisory Committee representing Pilsen Artists.
In 2009, Jeff Maldonado Junior, aka JDEF, was murdered in broad daylight on 18th Street. JDEF was a lyricist, writer, and was on his way for his first public appearance when he was gunned down. In response , Maldonado Sr. initiated a non profit community based organization called the JDEF PEACE PROJECT.
The mission of the JDEF PEACE PROJECT is to empower youth through the arts. The non-profit impacts the lives of Chicago teens in need and helps them develop life skills through the art making process. A main focus has been the development of public murals which promote peace, education and anti-violence awareness in various Chicago communities. The JDEF PEACE PROJECT has worked with over 150 teens in six communities in need. In 2020 Maldonado received The Purple Star award for his innovation and dedication in working with Chicago youth.
Maldonado created a documentary titled “19 and a Day: The Life and Times of J-Def” to honor his son and to bring a message of peace to schools in the Chicago area. The film was selected for the 29th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival, raising awareness to a wider audience.
Maldonado has been commissioned by Universal Studios to paint a mural for the film 47 Ronin and was commissioned by Warner Bros. Studio to paint a canvas for the film Mad Max: Fury Road.
Currently, Maldonado is working on a graphic novel entitled City of Lotus.
The mission of COLBY GALLERY is to exhibit todays most passionate and inspirational contemporary artists who create new paradigms of the empowered human experience and potential. COLBY GALLERY offers a wide range of original artwork and prints for private collections and installation in select public spaces.
COLBY GALLERY
1626 West 18th Street,
Chicago, IL, 60608, USA
colbyluck@sbcglobal.net
312-607-8353
Born in New York City, Colby Luckenbill grew up on the East side of Manhattan in a neighborhood of Diplomats next to the United Nations which strongly influenced her perspective that we are all one multifaceted human family of infinite potential. Her mother, Margaret E. Luckenbill, a painter, sculptor and humanitarian; her father Donald N. Luckenbill, Jr., a renown architect; and her grandfather, Donald N. Luckenbill Sr., a highly respected composer and musician, all taught her the language of art from a very young age.
Luckenbill attended a small private college preparatory school in Brooklyn Heights, The Packer Collegiate Institute. In addition she took classes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Elizabeth Seeger School in SoHo, and was awarded entrance to college level summer art courses at SUNY Ferdonia and Chautauqua Institution. She was the recipient of numerous artistic awards, including the Scholastic Art Award for New York, which led to state and national recognition including publication in Who's Who and being honored personally by New York Mayor Edward Koch.
Choosing to explore light and color, Luckenbill moved to the South of France to study painting at The Leo Marchutz Atelier near Aix En Provence. Following a year in Europe she moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend The School of The Art Institute of Chicago to major in fine art and filmmaking. While spending an exchange year in California at The San Francisco Art Institute she became interested in Latin American Art which led to intensive study trips through SAIC to Mexico and Central America where she also learned Spanish. She was especially moved by her visit to San Cristobal de las Casa in Chiapas, Mexico and nearby Indigenous villages.
Luckenbill was awarded residency at the renown Three Arts Club in Chicago after graduation and worked in numerous art galleries including the gallery of Latin American Art pioneer Aldo Castillo. In 2005 she moved to the historic Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and opened her own art gallery, COLBY GALLERY, to be close to the vibrant Mexican and artistic communities. Luckenbill quickly became integrated into the cultural landscape of the neighborhood. COLBY GALLERY represents local, national and international artists who inspire the human spirit. The gallery has participated in the annual 18TH STREET PILSEN OPEN STUDIOS art studio and gallery walk each year. Luckenbill served as the Assistant Director for their 10th year anniversary in 2012 when she brought in more artists than ever before including past participants and new local talent.
Currently Luckenbill curates exhibitions and works closely with artists assisting them in developing creative projects and promoting their careers. She assists artists of all disciplines in bringing their lives and work into greater alignment with their soul's purpose and high vibrational living.
ARTIST STATEMENT - COLBY LUCKENBILL
The archaic definition of Curate is "any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls." It is derived from the root of "cure" as in “curative: serving to cure or heal; a remedy.” A Curator seeks to do this not in a hospital, nor a church, but in the celebrated walls of a cultural center, a gallery or a museum. When curating exhibits it is my deep and heart felt mission to connect with the souls and visions of today's most passionate and inspirational contemporary artists and unite them to form ever new paradigms of the empowered human experience and potential.
All images and text copyright Colby Gallery and the individual Artists
Luckenbill attended a small private college preparatory school in Brooklyn Heights, The Packer Collegiate Institute. In addition she took classes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Elizabeth Seeger School in SoHo, and was awarded entrance to college level summer art courses at SUNY Ferdonia and Chautauqua Institution. She was the recipient of numerous artistic awards, including the Scholastic Art Award for New York, which led to state and national recognition including publication in Who's Who and being honored personally by New York Mayor Edward Koch.
Choosing to explore light and color, Luckenbill moved to the South of France to study painting at The Leo Marchutz Atelier near Aix En Provence. Following a year in Europe she moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend The School of The Art Institute of Chicago to major in fine art and filmmaking. While spending an exchange year in California at The San Francisco Art Institute she became interested in Latin American Art which led to intensive study trips through SAIC to Mexico and Central America where she also learned Spanish. She was especially moved by her visit to San Cristobal de las Casa in Chiapas, Mexico and nearby Indigenous villages.
Luckenbill was awarded residency at the renown Three Arts Club in Chicago after graduation and worked in numerous art galleries including the gallery of Latin American Art pioneer Aldo Castillo. In 2005 she moved to the historic Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and opened her own art gallery, COLBY GALLERY, to be close to the vibrant Mexican and artistic communities. Luckenbill quickly became integrated into the cultural landscape of the neighborhood. COLBY GALLERY represents local, national and international artists who inspire the human spirit. The gallery has participated in the annual 18TH STREET PILSEN OPEN STUDIOS art studio and gallery walk each year. Luckenbill served as the Assistant Director for their 10th year anniversary in 2012 when she brought in more artists than ever before including past participants and new local talent.
Currently Luckenbill curates exhibitions and works closely with artists assisting them in developing creative projects and promoting their careers. She assists artists of all disciplines in bringing their lives and work into greater alignment with their soul's purpose and high vibrational living.
ARTIST STATEMENT - COLBY LUCKENBILL
The archaic definition of Curate is "any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls." It is derived from the root of "cure" as in “curative: serving to cure or heal; a remedy.” A Curator seeks to do this not in a hospital, nor a church, but in the celebrated walls of a cultural center, a gallery or a museum. When curating exhibits it is my deep and heart felt mission to connect with the souls and visions of today's most passionate and inspirational contemporary artists and unite them to form ever new paradigms of the empowered human experience and potential.
All images and text copyright Colby Gallery and the individual Artists