Artist Bio:
Gerimi Burleigh is an illustrator, painter, animator, and graphic designer residing in Southern California. Born in 1976, he took an early interest in comic books and animation, which continue to be a heavy stylistic influence in his work today. Attending UCLA and graduation with a BFA in Fine Arts, Gerimi gradually began to expand the scope of his work from drawing and painting, to graphic design, digital illustration, and digital manipulation of artwork. During this period, he worked as an intern at Nickelodeon Animation Studios, gaining insight and experience in real-life animation production methods.

While participating in a couple of exhibitions in college, Gerimi was mainly focused on the commercial art and design world in the late nineties and early 2000s, but in June of 2002, he launched the website OPTICHOUSE.COM as a vehicle to expose his noncommercial work to the rest of the world. With a renewed interest in the fine art world, he continues to create short animated films, write, and paint, producing works in acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink.

Artist Statement:

Through drawing and painting I explore a variety of themes, including (but not limited to) erotica, the supernatural, pop culture influences (comic books and animation), external and emotional conflict, romantic and sexual power struggles, and the juxtaposition of horror and beauty, desire and revulsion...

...and a little tongue-in-cheek humor now and then

- G. Burleigh

Creative influences:
Bill Sienkiewicz, Ashley Wood, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Leonardo DaVinci, Peter Chung, H.R. Giger, Kyle Baker, David Mack, Brian Wood, Masamune Shirow, Terry Moore, J. O'barr, Aaron McGruder, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, J.G. Ballard, John Byrne, Kent Williams, John J Muth, Simon Bisley, Stephen King, David Sedaris, The Devics, Type O Negative, Stabbing Westward, Peter Gabrial, The Police, Black Sabbath, Faith No More, Megadeth, Quentin Tarentino, Jhonen Vasquez, Tim Vigil, Frank Miller, Evan Dorkin, Chris Moeller, Neil Gaiman, Piers Anthony, Clive Barker, R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, and especially my Mom and Dad.

Many of these people have websites, but I dont have time to link to them all. Some of the creators are people who's work I enjoy today. Some are people I was exposed to while growing up. All of them have, in some way, shaped the way I approach creativity.