John Collier

John Collier is an oil painter specializing in portraits and subtly narrative figurative pieces. Working from models and photographs, his figures are realistic in dimension, but have a flesh created from thick oil paint that appears to have been forced onto the canvas.

He is a scientist by training, earning B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Ohio State University. As a research scientist he had worked on technical programs for the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Homeland Security, the Food and Drug Administration and other U.S. Government agencies. He began the transition to a career in art in 2000, first through sculpture, and then on to oil painting. His work has since been exhibited in galleries and other venues in Los Angeles, Columbus, Nashville, and now the Washington, D.C. area.

Ave.To's Three Way Intersection is a conscious junction of hip-hop, jazz and soul but the name hints at many other interconnections that resonate through the project. The most immediately recognizable confluence is that of the electronic and organic worlds. It is not a new concept, as technology has propelled sampling to a legitimate artform and shaped popular music worldwide. Where Ave.To distinguishes themselves among collectives of a similar aim is in the equity of the exchange. It's not just some jazz musicians riffing over beat loops. Each tune is an integrated experience that tells a narrative. In the live setting, the drum machines, vocalists and instrumentalists of Ave.To converse fluidly.