Bert Monroy, Bodega Shadows

MORAGA, CA.- The Hearst Art Gallery of Saint Mary’s College will present a major survey of the preeminent digital master Bert Monroy, a world-renowned Photoshop artist and teacher, known for pioneering and innovative digital painting techniques. The Master Artist Tribute series was created to honor artists whose significant bodies of art work are rivaled by the influence of their teaching on generations of art students. Prior honorees have been Wayne Thiebaud , Nathan Oliveira, Manual Neri, Ruth Bernhard, Frank Lobdell, Stephen de Staebler and Carlos Villa.

Born to Mexican and Columbian immigrants and raised in Brooklyn, Monroy spent 20 years in the advertising industry as an art director and creative director for various agencies as well as his own. With the introduction of the Macintosh 128 in 1984, he embarked on a new career, embracing the computer as his artistic medium. The 45 astonishing super-realist digital art on view represent the last twenty-five years of his career. Several images from the exhibition are on view on the Hearst’s website, hearstartgallery.org.

Monroy has taught at colleges and universities across the country and at Pixar and Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). His largest following comes from his Photoshop talks throughout the country as well as podcasts and television appearances. Monroy’s clients include Apple Computer, Adobe Systems, Pioneer Electronics, Fujitsu, SONY, AT&T, Chevron and American Express. He has also done a considerable amount of film work for ILM, Pacific Data Images and R/Greenberg Associates.

On Sunday, January 18, at 2 p.m, using software as his brush and canvas, Monroy will offer a public Photoshop demonstration in the Soda Activity Center, followed by a reception in honor of the master artist. The exhibition opens Saturday, Jan. 17, and continues through Sunday, Apr. 5, 2009.

Bert Monroy, Damen