Jim Bloom was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1968. He moved to Philadelphia in the mid 1980s, where he currently lives. Bloom attended Temple University in 1988 intending to study film, but left after his introductory year. From childhood on, Bloom has been making visual art that is directly related to his own experiences, as well as his interests in film, story-telling, and the visual languages of his culture. Influences include artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, and Red Grooms, who Bloom says impacted him early on with a sense freedom and boldness of expression which he extends to his own vision and work.
Bloom’s recent large scale expressive, colorful, textured paintings have evolved from signature drawing and collage styles which the artist has developed and honed since childhood. Portraits or scenes often evoke film stills loaded with information about the subjects depicted and the artist himself, telling stories with biting wit and irony, often incorporating text. Bloom says he wants to make artistic images that function like television; to capture the eye and quickly convey a message or feeling that will leave a lasting impact on the viewer.
Karl Slocum reveals passion for the work of Jim Bloom
Solo Exhibitions
2011
"Jim Bloom: Above the Waist" March 18 - April 10, 2011
St. Asaph's Gallery, presented by Coalition Ingenu in cooperation with Outsider Folk Art Gallery
27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwood, PA 19004
2010
Somewhere Inside
Just Folk
2346 Lillie Avenue
Summerland, CA 93067
November 2010
Social Phobia
The Knapp Gallery
162 N 3rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
March 5-28, 2010
2009
Them
Vivant Art Collection, in cooperation with Coalition Ingenu
60 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
January 2nd - 31st, 2009
2008
Jim Bloom: Recent Works
Outsider Folk Art Gallery
201 Washington Street suite 504 Reading, PA 19601
January 5th - February 29th 2008
Toxic Psychiatry
Allens Lane Art Center
Allens lane & McCallum Street
February 29 – April 29, 2008
Jim Bloom: Life Story
The Gallery at Home & Planet
25 E. 3rd St. Bethlehem, PA 18015
March 7- 30, 2008
2007
Jim Bloom
Outsider Folk Art Gallery
201 Washington Street suite 504 Reading, PA 19601
February 1 – March 31, 2007
Jim Bloom: Home Town
Sweet Mabel Folk Art & Craft
41 North Narberth Avenue
Narberth, PA 19072
July 6 – August 31, 2007
Selected Group Exhibitions
2009
The 4th Annual Outsider Art in the Hamptons Exhibition
Visionary, Art Singulair, & Self-Taught
Galerie BelAge
8 Moniebogue Lane
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
June 23 – September 8, 2008
2008
Between The Lines: Artists Using Words
Art Sites Gallery
651 West Main Street (Route 25), Riverhead, New York 11901
September 20 – November 16, 2008
Third Annual Outsider Art in the Hamptons
Galerie BelAge
8 Moniebogue Lane
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
July 3 – September 8, 2008
Internal Guidance Systems: A critical cross section of international artists who represent the vanguard of a new modern movement in visionary art. Anne Grgich, curator
Outsider Folk Art Gallery
201 Washington St. suite 504
Reading, PA 19601
July 13 - August 24, 2008
Festival International d’Art Singulier
Service culturel de la ville d’Aubagne
Espace Culturel Comoedia
Cours Maréchal Foch
13400 Aubagne, France
July 26 – August 24, 2008
Outside In: Outsider Art Festival
GaGa Arts Center (with the HAI studio in NYC)
55 W. Railroad Ave.
Garnerville, NY 10923
June 9 – July 13, 2008
Survey 2008: Outsider Art in America
Juried Exhibit of Outsider Art selected from all over the United States
The Gallery at HAI – 548 Broadway, New York, NY
January 9 – April 25, 2008
“NOTHING IS BLACK + WHITE”
Art by Outsider, Visionary, Art Singulier + Intuitive Artists:
Art Sites Gallery
651 West Main Street (Route 25), Riverhead, New York 11901
December 1, 2007 - February 4, 2008
2007
14th Annual Atlanta Folk Festival (with Sweet Mabel Folk Art & Craft)
North Altlanta Trade Center
Norcross, Georgia
August 17- 19, 2007
Coalition Ingenu: Core Group Sampler
Philadelphia Welcome Center
16th Street & JFK Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA
August -- October 2007
Coalition Ingenu: Observations and Interpretations
St. Asaph Gallery
27 Coshohocken State Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA
Survey 2007: Outsider Art in America
Juried Exhibit of Outsider Art selected from across the United States
The Gallery at HAI – 548 Broadway, New York, NY
January 9 – April 25, 2007
2006
“Coalition Ingenu: Selected Works
Creative Way / Wren Fellini Gallery
849 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA
November 3 – November 30, 2006
The Coalition Ingenu Collection of Outsider Art
The Gallery at HAI
548 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY
September 13 – November 7, 2006
Survey 2006: Outsider Art in America
A nation-wide survey of Outsider Art sponsored by Hospital Audiences, Inc. and Fresh Art
The Gallery at HAI
548 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY
January 11 – March 14, 2006
2005
Coalition Ingenu at RHD
Lucretia Mott Room – Resources for Human Development
4700 Wissahickon Avenue – Philadelphia, PA
October 11 – January 12, 2005
The Urban Outsider: with Coalition Ingenu, Hospital Audiences, Inc. (HAI) and fresh art
Journey Home Gallery
948 N. 8th Street – Philadelphia, PA
September 9 – October 28, 2005
Art for the Cash Poor
Sponsored by InLiquid
Old City Park – Philadelphia
June 23, 2005
Health Care for the Homeless Annual Conference
Marriot Hotel – Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
June 10 – 14, 2005
Coalition Ingenu – Small Works by Five Artists
White Dog Café and Restaurant
3420 Sansom Street – Philadelphia, PA
February 28 – April 1, 2005
Outsider Art in America – Survey 2005
A nation-wide survey of Outsider Art sponsored by Hospital Audiences, Inc. and Fresh Art
The Gallery at HAI
548 Broadway
New York, NY
January 12 – March 15, 2005
The Great Earth Planet Sun Expo:
Urban outsider art from the self-taught artists of Coalition Ingenu.
