ARTISTS BIOGRAPHY
Bob Fesser is an encaustic artist who lives and works in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.
Originally from Chicago, Bob is a relative new comer to art and encaustics. His paintings
and encaustic photo transfers have quickly gained recognition and acceptance.
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Bob graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1982 with a BS and MS in Mechanical
Engineering and a minor in Art. It wasn’t until 2016, however; that Bob’s inner artist was
awakened. He was asked to create a piece of art for a local fundraiser.
The Bird Cage light box he created was a huge success at the event and a follow up piece,
inspired by the musician Prince, also garnered notoriety. While his initial light boxes were
a good blend of creativity and technology, Bob wanted to explore other mediums.
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In 2017, encouraged by his wife, a successful artist as well, Bob was told about encaustics
and the process of encaustic painting. Bob was hooked as soon as he heard ‘fire.’
Feeling a passion in him had been ignited, Bob began taking classes in both 2D and 3D
encaustics, but he is largely self-taught. Bob continues to experiment with new techniques and explore the possibilities of encaustic art. He began doing commissioned pieces in June 2018.
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In 2019 Bob began exhibiting in gallery’s. He was one of 3 artists chosen from an emerging artist exhibit at Morpho gallery in Chicago to exhibit again in October of 2019. In March 2019 Bob received an award of excellence from Manhattan Arts International for his submission of “Calhoun” in The Healing Power of Art exhibit.
"Calhoun" also received a Best in Show from Saddleback Gallery of Scottsdale, AZ in May of 2019.
SInce 2019 Bob's work has continued to be recognized.
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Bob's work is now represented at - River's End Gallery in Waukesha, WI,
The Gallori in Oconomowoc, WI, Art Lounge in Menomonee Falls, WI, Woodwalk Gallery in
Egg Harbor, WI and Camelback Gallery (On-line) in Scottsdale, AZ
ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Awards, Shows & Exhibitions
2023
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League of Milwaukee Artists Member Show, Arts Mill, Grafton, WI August 11 - September 30
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"Fresh40" Exhibition, Shorewood Hub, Shorewood, WI June 2nd & 3rd
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"Bloom" Solo Exhibition, Waukesha Civic Theater, Waukesha, WI June 1 - September 13.​
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Honorable Mention "In Bloom" Juried Exhibition, The Art Garage, Green Bay, WI April - May
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"In Praise of Spring" Juried Exhibition, League of Milwaukee Artists, March - April.
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"The Further we Reach, The Closer we See" Exhibition at MARN, Milwaukee January
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Third Place "Home" Juried Exhibition, The Art Garage, Green Bay, WI February
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2022
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Art in the Garden, Boerner Botanical Garden, Milwaukee; May
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60th Annual Wall-to-Wall Juried Exhibit, Hardy Gallery, Ephraim, WI May/July
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Bronze Award Shades of Red 2022 Exhibition, Camelback Gallery, July
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Bronze Award Flower Power 2022 Exhibition, Camelback Gallery, July
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"The Healing Power of ART: Resilience 2022" Exhibition, The Healing Power of Art and Artists, September/November
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Members Exhibition, The Plymouth Arts Center, Plymouth, WI December
2021
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"Who's Afraid of Red" Exhibition, Gallery Studio Oh!, Chicago, IL; December 2020 - January 2021
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Bronze Award (Honorable Mention) "Black & White" on-line exhibit by Camelback gallery, February
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"Healing Power of ART in Honor of Nature", Manhattan Arts International; May/July
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2nd Place "artWork" at Grohmann Museum, Milwaukee School of Engineering, League of Milwaukee Artists; May/August
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"Botanicals" Exhibition, The Art Garage, Green Bay, WI, July/September
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"Summer Freshet", Plymouth Arts Center, Plymouth, WI August/October
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Silver Award Artist Invitational 2021 Exhibition, Camelback Gallery, September
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Affair of the Arts, Old Court House Arts Center, Woodstock, IL; November/December
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The Little Mini Tiny Show, The Pink Llama Gallery, Cedarburg, WI; October/December
2020
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Sum of the Parts, Oesterle Library Gallery - North Central College, FUSED Chicago, Naperville, IL January/March
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Curiosity, Old Court House Arts Center, Woodstock, IL; January/February
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Best in Show Finalist, "Abstracts with Red" on-line exhibit by Camelback Gallery. January/February ​​​
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2020 League of Milwaukee Artists Exhibition, Anderson Arts Center, Kenosha, WI; February
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Best in Show, "Bold Abstracts" on-line exhibit by Camelback Gallery. April ​
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Wisconsin Wax Encaustic Exhibition, Plymouth Arts Center; Plymouth, WI August - October
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"Seeing Double", Old Court House Arts Center, Woodstock, IL; September - October
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The Little Mini Tiny Show, The Pink Llama Gallery, Cedarburg, WI; November - December
​2019
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​Emerging Artist Exhibit; Morpho Gallery, Chicago IL; January
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Award of Excellence Healing Power of Art 2019; Manhattan Arts International; January/March
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"Art at the Garden" at Boerner Botanical Gardens, Milwaukee May
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Best in Show, "I Love Nature" on-line exhibit by Camelback Gallery. May/June
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Contemporary Ancients Exhibit, FUSED Chicago, South Haven Center for the Arts, South Haven, MI; August/September
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Best in Show Finalist, "Abstracts with Blue II" on-line exhibit by Camelback Gallery. September/October ​​​
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The Little Mini Tiny Show, The Pink Llama Gallery, Cedarburg, WI; September/December
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FAYUM 21, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL; FUSED CHICAGO September/October
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Go Wild! Exhibit, Scout Gallery, Milwaukee, WI; October
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Best of the Emerging Artists Show 2019, Morpho Gallery; October/ November
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FireWORKS, The Dole, Crystal Lake, IL; October
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Affair of the Arts, The Shores of Turtle Creek, Spring Grove, IL; November
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