Onli is in the extension phase of his Rhythmistic Residency in Chicago at the Hyde Park Art Center. 

Curator Dan Nadel of Brooklyn came to learn about Onli's Rhythmistic practices.  Nadel has selected critical works by Onli to be exhibited Spring / Summer of 2021 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago in a group showcase featuring unique Chicago talents.

Earlier this year a Rhythmistic painting Onli did when he was 18 sold at the important Swann Auction in NY.  It was part of the prestigious Johnson Publishing Company Collection. A notable landmark from a non-represented visual artist.

Onli signing his limited edition Rhythmistic Graphic Novels.

This bench was done in 1995 by Onli and is in the

 permanent collection of the Chicago Childrens' Museum

 Now, in 2020, with this residency focus he has pivoted away from the decades long experimental aspects of his Rhythmistic practices to the affirmed status. Onli is unrepresented by an agent of gallery.  A bit of an outsider yet inside player in growing this future-primitif genre.

While Onli identifies as being a Black Man his works tends not to be of subject matter that celebrates suffering, oppression or focuses on the narratives of historic moments and figures.  He expresses ideas, intelligence and a cascade of styles and techniques that seem to elude the trends embraced and promoted around visual artists that happen to be Black.

After 50 years of rigorous complex practice Onli has declared Rhythmism a true genre in the Visual Arts. One of few art genres named and established by an Artiste.  Proven and tested in commercial and fine art circles using the traditional and experimental standards that are both universal and timeless.   Smart curators such as Nadel, gallerists and serious collectors will be astonished. 

By all metrics Rhythmism is real!

Rhythmism Lives!

 As she leaves the Valley of Death she is distraught but safe for she wore her mask. This is a recent Covid Inspired painting by me. Acrylics on 24" X 36" panel.

"My Rhythmistic Residency at the prestigious Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, was rescheduled for Covid concerns. it will open July 7th 2020 and run until early October 2020.  My focus will be a long awaited return to air-brush on textiles.  This will extend my vintage Rhythmistic Quilts Collection which re-contextualizes selected world icons in a future-primitif context. 

Residency Link

I hope to secure a gallerist to handle this amazing timeless group of virtuosic Rhythmisti art."

 This is a rare look at ONLI STUDIOS.

This is a panel pencil drawing recently done as an addition to my evolving "No Evils" collection.

"Here I am having a tender moment with my overture to my Rhythmistic Residency."

Residency Link

While in this Sheltering In Place era Onli took time to create a statement Rhythmistic painting addressing the need to wear masks. 

 Onli is a professor of Studio Drawing at the downtown Chicago Harold Washington College.  He anticipated the Shelter In Place orders form Illinois Governor Pritzker and insisted his students take their supplies home.  Then he prepared them for the transition to Distance Learning.  Now his class has made that adjustment.

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