Donald Gruneisen
b. 1971, Louisville, Kentucky ∙ CE artist since 2014 - 2015, 2018
Photo by Evguenia Shtill
Donald Gruneisen’s favorite subject matters include horror movies like Halloween, old school Universal Studios monster movies like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and classic TV shows like The Munsters.
Donald left CE in March of 2015 to pursue full-time employment, but returned part-time in 2018 to resume his art making practice. Donald’s inspirations have grown to include The Beatles, The Polar Express, and colorful, tie-dyed creatures. He is a big San Francisco Giants fan and a Grateful Dead enthusiast who often wears outfits celebrating these loves. Donald is a positive and peaceful presence in the studio, full of warmth and good humor.
Gruneisen’s artwork is characterized by his use of geometry to segment bodies and forms, perhaps alluding to the mish-mash of parts that make up some of his favorite monsters. His movie monsters are typically depicted looking at the viewer or in profile – often inspired by movie posters and including titles in neat cursive.
