My work negotiates the seemingly opposed polarities of minimalist and maximalist art.
My interest in minimalism — a compositional strategy that relies on essential elements — has inspired me to produce nonrepresentational paintings with clean lines, colorful curves, and interlocking shapes. Yet, I am also enchanted by the possibilities of maximalism — or my version of it, at least — in which I combine visually disorienting, “mix-and-clash” arrangements of graphical patterns and stripes, in the brightest colors possible.
I am not satisfied to produce art with only one kind of “look.” While I am fascinated by the minimalist impulse to achieve an economy of expression, through pared-down, “pure” forms, I find myself returning to the over-the-top, high-octane ornamentation common to maximalism. Time after time, I get inspired by a minimalist ideal, only to become bored and start decorating again.
Regardless of which compositional strategy I am employing, design remains the genetic thread that unifies my work. I find inspiration in everything from consumer products — particularly cleaning products and prepared food packaging — to sports uniforms, race cars, vintage geometric textiles, and fashion. I also have an enduring love for Op Art, hard-edge painting, and brutalist architecture.
Rather than explain away my work, I prefer to let my work operate on its own terms, leaving the viewer to experience, and hopefully enjoy, the literal act of seeing.
Born in 1973, in Cleveland, Ohio
Resides in Tempe, Arizona
MBA Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona
MA, English Literature Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois
BA, English Literature Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio
Circles with Corners; Soyal Gallery; Scottsdale, Arizona
Maximal Minimal; .anti_space; Phoenix, Arizona
Treasures from the Xerxes Nebula; reZurrection Gallery; Tempe, Arizona
Irrational Exuberance; Aosis/Freedom; Tempe, Arizona
(* Denotes juried exhibition; ** Denotes catalogue published)
Think Small 10 international miniature art biennial; artspace; Richmond, Virginia
Celebration; Octavia Fine Art; New Orleans, Louisiana
Pop!; {9} The Gallery; Phoenix, Arizona
Think Small 8 international miniature art biennial; artspace; Richmond, Virginia
Arizona Biennial 2015; Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona *
Curated by Irene Hofman, Phillips Director and Chief Curator, SITE Santa Fe
A Show of Hands; Tucson Museum of Art; Tucson, Arizona.
Punchline; The Institute Library; New Haven, Connecticut.
Think Small 7 international miniature art biennial; artspace; Richmond, Virginia
Biennial: Origins in Geometry; The Museum of Geometric and MADI Art; Dallas, Texas *
Curated by Clint Willour, Executive Director of the Galveston Arts Center
Beyond Minimalism; Hudson|LINC, at Design Lab at PDC (Pacific Design Center); West Hollywood, California
Chaos Theory 13; Legend City Studios; Phoenix, Arizona
Vivid Visions; Compound Gallery; Portland, Oregon
Thomas Hayes Gallery; Hollywood, California
Chaos Theory 12; Legend City Studios; Phoenix, Arizona
20″x20″x20″: National Compact Competition and Exhibit; Louisiana State University Student Union Art Gallery; Baton Rouge, Louisiana *
Curated by Julie Sasse, Chief Curator, Tucson Museum of Art
Think Small 5; ArtSpace Gallery; Richmond, Virginia
4square; Squeeze Gallery; Scottsdale, Arizona
Thomas Hayes Gallery; Hollywood, California
Chaos Theory 11; Legend City Studios; Phoenix, Arizona
Thanks for Being with Us: Contemporary Art from the Douglas Nielsen Collection; Tucson Museum of Art; Tucson, Arizona **
Meltdown; Soyal Gallery; Scottsdale, Arizona
Thomas Hayes Gallery; Hollywood, California
Chaos Theory 10; Legend City Studios; Phoenix, Arizona
2009 Arizona Biennial; Tucson Museum of Art; Tuscon, Arizona *
Curated by Tim Rodgers, Chief Curator, New Mexico Museum of Art
Painting; Foundry Art Centre; St. Charles, Missouri *
Curated by Ron Thomas
TCA Biennial: Paper; Tempe Center for the Arts; Tempe, Arizona *
Curated by Anne Coe, Joe D’Ambrosio and John Risseeuw
Think Small 4; ArtSpace Gallery; Richmond, Virginia
Global Warming: Artists Speak. Orange County Center for Contemporary Art **
2007 Arizona Biennial. Tucson Museum of Art; Tucson, Arizona *
Curated by Diane Perry Vanderlip, Curator, Denver Museum of Art
Think Small 3; ArtSpace Gallery; Richmond, Virginia
Five-Year Retrospective; reZurrection Gallery; Tempe, Arizona
2005 Arizona Biennial; Tucson Museum of Art; Tucson, Arizona *
Curated by Siri Engberg, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Art One Gallery; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona
Furniture Art Designers Showcase; monOrchid; Phoenix, Arizona
Fresh Paint; Phoenix Art Museum **
Mass Surrealism; Thought Crime; Phoenix, Arizona
Cannibal Flower Underground Art Show; Los Angeles (various sites)
Popped Out; monOrchid; Phoenix, Arizona
2003 Arizona Biennial; Tucson Museum of Art; Tucson, Arizona * **
Curated by Toby Kamps, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Modes of Variance; Kontrive; Tempe, Arizona
The State of America; reZurrection Gallery; Tempe, Arizona
Jil Sander. Milan, Italy. Fall/Winter 2015 Men’s Collection.
CB2. Chicago, Illinois. Edition LMTD ‘Meltdown’ print.
Betsy Wentz. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Commissioned art for home renovation, which was awarded “Home of the Year 2014: Best Renovation” by Pittsburgh Magazine.
Hoch, Heather. “The Arizona Biennial 2015 Artists Have Been Chosen.” Tucson Weekly. June 17, 2015. Article available online.
Davidson, Lauren. “Home of the Year 2014: Best Renovation.” Pittsburgh Magazine. March 2014. Article available online.
Holden, Wynter. “Circular Logic.” Phoenix New Times. Mar 3, 2011. Article available online.
Sasse, Julie, Jennifer Gimblet, Vanessa Mallory Kotz, Tucson Museum of Art, et. al. Thanks for Being With Us: Contemporary Art from the Douglas Nielsen Collection (Exhibition Catalogue). Tucson, AZ: Tucson Museum of Art, 2010.
Reyner, Nancy. Acrylic Innovation: Styles and Techniques Featuring 64 Visionary Artists. Cincinnati, OH: North Light Books, 2010: 82, 134.
“Now Showing.” Tucson Guide. Summer 2010: 60.
Haller, Sonja. “Exhibit Features Wiggins.” Scottsdale Republic. May 8, 2010: 37.
“Geometry Rules.” Phoenix Home & Garden. May 2010: 138.
Rus, Mayer (ed.). “Culture(d).” LA Times Magazine. May 2010.
Heet, Erika. “Thomas Hayes Gallery Grand Opening.” Dwell.com. April 18, 2010. Article available online.
Andrews, Scott. “Grant Wiggins at Soyal Gallery.” Java. April 2010: 15.
Menconi, Lillia. “Bentley Gallery in Scottsdale Works to Revive Marshall Way.” Phoenix New Times. Article available online.
Regan, Margaret. “Multiple Strands: Early-Career Artists Take up Many of the Slots at the Tucson Museum of Art’s ‘Biennial ’09.'” Tucson Weekly. July 30, 2009. Article available online.
Patafio, Melissa. “Biennial Trifecta.” 944 (Phoenix, Arizona). June 2007. p. 62
Barzso, Tain. “It’s the Arts.” The Noise (Flagstaff, Arizona). Mar 2006. p. 12
Barzso, —–. “It’s the Arts.” The Noise. Jan 2006. Cover and pp. 12-3
Jhaveri, Keri and Brian McHugh (Producers). January 22, 2006. Sunday Artist Series. Phoenix, Arizona: KNXV-TV (ABC 15).
Roberts, Brady, M. Fresh Paint. Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Catalogue. Phoenix Art Museum, 2004
Phoenix New Times. “Who’s Cool.” December 12, 2003
Villani, John Carlos. “Downtown Artists Get Taste of the Big Time,” The Arizona Republic, November 16, 2003, pp. E1, E5
Buchanan, Susy. “Fresh Paint: Art Junkies,” Phoenix New Times, November 4, 2003, p. 51.
Scott, Miriam A. “The TRA25Capsule: Popped Art,” Switch, November 2003, pp. 8-13
Hiett, Christina S. “Kamping in Arizona,” Shade, June 2003, pp. 36-8
Tucson Museum of Art. Arizona Biennial ’03, 2003
Parker, Oriana. “The Downtown Phoenix Art Scene: Poised for Greatness,” The Arizona Republic, May 25, 2003, AZ Style p. 5
McIntyre, Ernest. “New Exhibit Proves that Pop Art Didn’t Die with Warhol,” The Arizona Republic, May 16, 2003
Koch, Jill. “Pop Goes the Easel,” Phoenix New Times. May 14, 2003, p. 41
Freedman, Mark, Oliver Hibert, and Grant Wiggins. “In Their Own Words.” Shade, April 2003, pp. 43-4
“Mass Market: Pop Imagery from a New Generation,” Metro, April 2003, p. 90
Rose, Joshua. “Modes of Variance: Paintings by Oliver Hibert and Grant Wiggins,” Shade, October 2002, pp. 42-3
Burnett, Roberta. “Wiggins’ Show Turns Ads into Art,” The Arizona Republic, August 17, 2001
Villani, —–. “Enigmatic Art Takes You on Road Trip through Desert,” The Arizona Republic, August 11, 2003, p. E3
Jones, Mark. “Lampooning Logos,” Scottsdale Tribune and East Valley Tribune, August 3, 2001, D1
Provencio, Claudia. “A Whole New World,” The Arizona Republic, February 21, 2001, The Rep, p. 30
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