Fontaine Scarelli
Chicago-born and raised, Fontaine Scarelli is an abstract expressionist painter whose work electrifies the art world with a blend of raw emotion and philosophical depth. A former fashion design student, Scarelli made an unconventional leap into painting, bringing with him a sense of defiant creativity and a visual language that’s entirely his own.
Scarelli’s canvases, often large-scale and immersive, pull viewers into a narrative space where time, memory, and perception collide. Drawing on influences from post-apocalyptic films, The Twilight Zone, and a solitary upbringing, his work speaks to existential themes of life, death, and the dissonance between reality and illusion. Each piece channels his fascination with the strange and the sublime, blending rebellion and introspection in a way that defies traditional boundaries.
This past year has seen Scarelli’s career take off, with solo exhibitions, representation by Virgil Catherine Gallery, Loisir Art Gallery, and Gallery 1871, and a debut at Art Basel Miami Beach through Luminaire. His piece Drifting Shards 2 was featured in L’Officiel St. Barth as part of their “Best of Art Basel 2024” coverage. In addition, his large-scale painting The Idea of Time, 2024 was acquired by global design firm Perkins&Will and is now on display in their newly remodeled Chicago studio.
His work, once featured at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago, is currently on view at Luminaire’s Hollywood Design District showroom. He was recently interviewed and featured in Visual Art Journal, further cementing his rising influence within the world of contemporary abstraction.
For Scarelli, every brushstroke is a form of self-discovery, a narrative of both solitude and universal experience that resonates deeply with those who seek something beyond the ordinary. Whether working with private collectors or bringing new audiences into his expansive, layered visions, Scarelli’s art doesn’t just invite you to look, it challenges you to question what you think you know about reality.
Fontaine Scarelli
Born: 1987, Chicago, Illinois
Resides and works in Chicago, Illinois
Education
• 2008-2011: Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois
Art Fairs
• 2023 – Glencoe Festival of Art, Chicago, IL
• 2023 – Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, IL
• 2023 – One of a Kind Spring Show, Chicago, IL
Selected Exhibitions
• 2025- What Dreams May Come, Group Exhibition, Gallery 1871, Chicago, IL (April 10 – June 14, 2025)
• 2024 – Fractured Continuum, Solo Exhibition, 737 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2024 – Temporal Nexus, Poliform, River North Design District Fall Gallery Walk, Chicago, IL
• 2024 – Miami Art Basel, Presented by Luminaire, Miami, FL
• 2024 – O.S.D. 7, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2024 – O.S.D. 6, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2024 – O.S.D. 5, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2023 – Mindscapes, HAZ Cooperative Studios, Chicago, IL
• 2023 – O.S.D. 4, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2023 – O.S.D. 3, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2023 – O.S.D. 2, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
• 2022 – O.S.D. 1, Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago, IL
Gallery Representation
• Virgil Catherine Gallery – Hinsdale, IL
• Loisir Art Gallery – West Hollywood, CA
• Gallery 1871 - Chicago, IL
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2024 - Fractured Continuum, 737 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
- 2023 - Temporal Nexus, Poliform, River North Design District Fall Gallery Walk, Chicago, IL
Selected Collections
Saks Fifth Avenue Collection – Chicago, IL
700 N. Michigan Ave.
• Traitors at Midnight Series
• Quiet Glitch
• Temporary Darkness
• Plethora of Crust (3)
Amy Kartheiser Design Studio – River North, Chicago, IL
• Dimension of Imagination
Luminaire – Hollywood Design District, Hollywood, CA
• Selected works on display and available for sale
Private and Corporate Commissions – Various Locations
• Psychological Oddity Series – Las Vegas, NV
• Evening Filth Series – Las Vegas, NV
• Sophisticated Suspicion – Las Vegas, NV
• A Place Back There – Las Vegas, NV
• Afterimage Reverie – San Francisco, CA
• Dual Existence Series – Austin, TX
• Nocturnal Interval Series – New York, NY
• Dreams Beneath Silence – Los Angeles, CA
• Metropolis Echo Series – Chicago, IL
• Various corporate commissions for Chicago-based businesses and private collectors across the U.S., with personalized abstract works reflecting Scarelli’s unique artistic vision
Press and Publications
- 2025 - Visual Art Journal, Interview Feature
- 2024 - L'Officiel St. Barth, "Best of Art Basel Miami Beach Week"
- 2024 - Meet the Maker series, Amy Kartheiser Design Studio
- 2023 - Featured Artwork: Dimension of Imagination in Amy Kartheiser Studio, River North, Chicago
Memberships
• Art Institute of Chicago – Member
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago – Member
Studio Contact Information
Scarelli Fine Arts
1806 W. Greenleaf Ave., Loft #2
Chicago, IL 60626
Website: scarellifinearts.com
Phone: (773) 704-4891
FONTAINE SCARELLI
Artist Statement
In my work as a contemporary abstract expressionist painter, I draw inspiration from post-apocalyptic films such as The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. As an only child, my unique perspective is shaped by a solitary upbringing, fueling an unconventional painting style that allows me to perceive the world in an extraordinarily different manner.
Creativity, for me, transcends the boundaries of the known into the realm of the unknown. I dive into the unexplored territories of time relativity, weaving a tapestry of dark perspectives illuminated by the flickers of positivity found within the strokes of my brush. Painting, to me, is not merely a visual expression; it is a therapeutic journey, a cathartic process that transforms the abstract chaos into a coherent narrative of self-discovery. Through my art, I invite viewers to explore the intricate interplay between the shadows and the light, encouraging them to find solace and beauty in the enigmatic landscapes of the mind.